Choosing a Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang is one of the most legendary American cars. On the secondary market, there are quite a lot of these cars, and the spectacular coupe costs quite adequate money. What the buyer of a used Ford Mustang gets, we will tell you in detail in the article.
For almost 60 years of production Ford Mustang has changed seven generations, the last one was presented this year. We will look at the sixth generation of Mustangs, such cars are found on the aftermarket most often. They were produced from 2014 to 2023.
The pros of the Ford Mustang
Design. Appearance is certainly one of the main features of the car. Mustang looks sporty and stands out in the stream among other cars, brings joy and pleasure not only to the owner, but also to others.
Dynamics and power. Even with a basic engine Mustang accelerates to 100 km/h in 5-6 seconds, and the modification with a powerful V8 and at all leaves five seconds (4.6-4.7 s).
Two body types. Buyers of Mustang from Ford are traditionally offered a choice of two options: coupe (it is also called fastback) or convertible with a soft folding roof.
Competitions. Buyers can choose from several modifications with different motors and gearboxes. And you can find Mustangs with “mechanics”, which is quite rare on American cars.
Equipment. Mustangs have a lot of options for equipment and additional equipment packages (package), so some even call it a constructor. There are practically no “empty” cars on the secondary market. In most cases, you get a leather interior, a large colour screen multimedia system, heated and ventilated seats, cruise control and other options.
Disadvantages of the Ford Mustang
Trim quality. Materials of trim cannot be called bad, but the plastic itself is rather simple and hard, which does not correspond very much to the spectacular appearance and price of the car. Already at the mileage of about 100 thousand kilometres some elements of trim are rubbed, and the leather on the seats can crack badly.
Practicality. The salon is designed for four people, but the rear row is quite cramped, so the car is more suitable for two. The volume of the boot is small (382 litres), because of the small and narrow aperture there may be problems with loading large things. The opening button is located at the bottom under the lid, so in bad weather your hands will get dirty.
Winter use. Rear-wheel drive, high power and low ground clearance are not the best helpers when driving in winter. In uncleared yards you can easily get stuck, and on high-speed roads powerful rear-wheel drive Ford Mustang requires attention and experience, otherwise you can easily snap in a skid. Except for seat heating, the car has no other “warm” options.
Differences of packages for different countries. Cars for Europe are equipped with fewer options than American ones. Also, some exterior elements are different, for example, optics and rear view mirrors.
How the Ford Mustang drives.
Motors and boxes. On sale Mustang of the sixth generation is mainly found with turbo engines 2.3 (309-330 hp), such proposals are about three quarters of the total number. Less common are the 3.7 (305 hp), and 5.0 (421-480 hp) atmospherics. With any of these engines you can get both a six-speed manual transmission and an “automatic” (6 or 10 gears).
Dynamics. With any of the engines Mustang has good dynamics (4.6-6.1 to 100 km/h), thanks to the rear drive you can drift. But lovers of real American cars are not very sorry for the basic four-cylinder motor, giving preference to the big V8. Cars with such five-litre engine are designated as Mustang GT.
Fuel consumption. According to the manufacturer, the turbo motor on average consumes about 10 litres/100 km. This is quite a real result, which is confirmed by owners’ reviews. But if you drive dynamically, the consumption even in the younger motor can pass over 15 litres, and V8 engines will consume even more.
Suspension. In the sixth generation, the running gear has been seriously changed: instead of a rear axle, the Ford Mustang received an independent multilever suspension. This had a favourable effect on handling and smoothness. Ground clearance is about 130 mm, so it is necessary to be careful when driving on bad roads.
Visibility. The Mustang’s windscreen and side windows are narrow, while the front pillars are wide. Side mirrors are small, rear window is also small, so visibility from the driver’s seat leaves much to be desired. The rear view camera is partly helpful when parking.
What are some Mustang malfunctions
There are very different opinions and reviews about the reliability of the Mustang. Some people drive for several years without problems, changing only consumables, while others have a motor falling apart at a mileage of up to 100 thousand kilometres.
Body condition. This point is related to the specifics of importing the cars themselves. Often resellers in the States are looking for the cheapest options, buying beaten copies or drowned cars. The quality of restorative repair can be very different, so you should carefully check not only the body, but also the history of ownership in the United States.
Motor 2,3 Ecoboost. It is difficult to call resourceful and durable this motor. A number of constructive features together with a sporty style of driving can lead to serious expenses even on small mileages. Among the common problem areas: fuel sensor, oil separator, purge valve and absorber solenoid.
10R80 automatic transmission. After restyling in 2017, quite reliable 6-speed “automatic” was replaced by a new 10-speed. It is more sophisticated, advanced and is designed to save fuel, but reliability here is far from the best. Typical problems are described in blogs of owners, they can start long before the mileage of one hundred thousand kilometres.
The windscreen is often cracked. This is due to the peculiarities of the design and temperature differences, plus the accidental past of some models.
The cost of maintenance and the delivery time of spare parts. This point can not be called a full-fledged problem, you just need to keep in mind when buying. Since Mustang is a rare car, not all spare parts are available, waiting for parts can be several weeks. Plus transport tax will be high in any case, as all modifications are more powerful than 300 hp.