Caught in the classifieds: 2015 Ford Mustang V8
The Ford Mustang is one of the most popular cars on the planet, but it’s also one of the most confusing ones to understand. What was initially America’s most popular muscle car (called a pony car) slowly evolved into something more akin to a sportscar. The Mustang always sold amazingly well in the US, but it didn’t have a ton of success anywhere else in the world. It was considered too large, bulky, unwieldy and unsophisticated for most markets outside the States.
Because everyone wants what they can’t have, or that which is extremely rare, people in the UK are infatuated with muscle cars, so much so that there’s an entire industry centered on importing muscle cars over from across the pond. There are currently over a thousand left-hand drive Mustangs registered on the roads in Great Britain.
When it was time to revamp the Mustang completely, as part of their “One Ford” campaign, Ford decided to build right-hand drive models for the UK market (and other similar markets globally). The end result was the S550, the most competent and modern Mustang they had built to date.
For this week’s “Caught In The Classifieds” section, I’m highlighting a rare, manual, bright red Mustang GT with just 5,000 miles on the clock. This is a car which has barely been worn in yet, as its break-in period ran out just a few thousand miles ago. It’s a 2015 model year first-owner car, meaning it’s been driven less than 1,000 miles annually so far.
As this is one of the most competent Mustangs ever built, as well as the most expensive, Ford has placed it dangerously close to cars like the BMW M3, BMW M4 and Audi RS5. In becoming a full-fledged sportscar, the Mustang has opened itself up to attacks from already-established sportscars, especially those of the German variety.
Exterior
Looks are purely subjective, but I’ve yet to meet someone who doesn’t like the way this latest generation of Mustang looks. Sure, the M4 is a great-looking car, as is the C63 Coupe, but they’re not what you’d call rare these days. It seems I see an M4 every time I go out for a drive, so much so that I don’t find them as attention-grabbing as I used to once. But a bright-red Mustang GT driving down the road? Now that’s what I’d call a real head-turner.
Interior
The Mustang’s Achilles heel has, traditionally, always been its interior. The Mustang used to be a muscle car built to a cost, and its interior reflected that with cheap materials and poor build quality. The very latest one solves those issues by using premium materials through and through, as well as upping the build quality significantly.
I love the fact that Ford hasn’t forgotten the Mustang’s roots or its heritage though. The way the dashboard protrudes out over on the passenger side is very Mustang-like, paying homage to classic Mustangs built in the 60s and 70s.
They’ve even gone as far as to equip it with their latest Ford infotainment system running on the central screen in the centre console, making it a very usable daily driver, not just another weekend toy. But honestly, this is a Mustang, so who really cares about any of that stuff?
Engine and Performance
The GT’s centre piece is a 5.0-litre Coyote V8 engine, cranking out 440 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to the rear wheels only through either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed auto. The manual box is my personal preference as it’s really smooth and precise, so unless you can’t be bothered to shift gears yourself, I’d suggest avoiding the automatic.
The Mustang GT will sprint to 60 mph in just 4.6 seconds and top out at 155 mph (limited). The engine is a real gem too. It makes a really intoxicating noise at the high end of the rev range, burbling and shaking the entire car at idle.
If you’re expecting a one-trick-pony, this new Mustang will pleasantly surprise you. It isn’t just great in a straight line, but it’s amazing in the corners as well. For the first time ever, Ford has given its two-door muscle car turned sportscar real independent rear suspension. They’ve ditched the old solid-axle setup in favour of something thoroughly modern too. Add in a limited-slip differential in the equation, and you’ve got a driving experience to rival that of most German and Japanese sportscars.
In many ways, the S550 Mustang feels like an old-school BMW M3 more than it does like a classic Mustang. It’s so fun and enjoyable in the way it drives that you almost can’t call it a muscle car, because it isn’t one. The steering has plenty of feedback and feels decently communicative, and the pedals are perfectly positioned for heel-and-toe. The throttle response is immediate because it’s naturally-aspirated, reminding me of the E92 M3 in many ways.
Model: Ford Mustang
Trim: GT
Mileage: 5,800
Price: £27,995
Why buy one
The S550 Mustang GT is all the car you’re ever going to need, and then some. It’s relatively affordable for what it is, it has room for four people (just), and it’s ridiculously fun to drive. If you don’t mind the fact that the V8 likes to guzzle fuel at a silly rate, I guarantee you’ll fall in love with the car almost instantly. Check out the used Ford Mustang cars for sale available right now on the DesperateSeller.co.uk
Rating: 9.5 out of 10
