I have have not driven a 2017 mustang but I have rented a 2020 mustang GT in las Vegas. I have a 2017 F-type and they drive very different. To put it in simple terms, the mustang is untamed wild horse while the F-type is a trained race horse. The mustang is very tail happy and it is a huge gas guzzler. I give an example - we rented a 2020 Lamborghini Huracan EVO and the 2020 mustang GT in Las Vegas. We took both cars the same places and the Mustang used a lot more gas than the Lambo while gong slower .

If you are looking at American cars fun to drive, look at the Challenger. I also rented a R/T it was a lot more fun that the mustang.

 

Yup. Mustangs are fun. I have owned 3 of them. If it were me (and I have one on my list) it would be a low mileage S-197I GT500. This is model year 2007-2009. I think the redesign in 2005 to start the fifth generation was the most significant in capturing the original design. So lots of power, convertible available, manual transmission, easy to maintain and reasonably priced. Performance just got better from there. I would agree that my Jag is more refined. Think of the GT500 being a jean jacket and the Jag being a sport coat.

 

A friend of mine has a bullit Mustang and, while Mustangs aren’t my thing, this car is awesome. Puts his two (small) kids in the back seat, daily drives, etc.

https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-...ckType=listing

 

Yeah naah, we have very limited options in Oz, in fact I thing the Mustang is the only manual v8 you can buy new under $100K, we dont get the Challenger at all except as an import converted, probably cost over $200K (I've seen one, looks epic), and my favorite which would be the Camaro we can get but which costs about 20% more than the mustang.

Oddly enough, for a manual muscle car under 5 years old Mustangs are really the best value. I tend to think with EV's coming on we wont be able to buy a v8 in Oz south of $200K within 5 years or so, maybe except the Mustang and Camaro, the latter being ridiculously overpriced here anyway.

 

just an update, I ended up buying a 2019 manual Mustang (keeping the f type). The Mustang is surprisingly good inside the cabin and sits nicely on the road. The gear shifts are good, it has a very tall first gear so you can get the revs up. Nowhere near as quick as the F type with pulley and tune but I didnt expect it to be, this is more about my left arm and leg being kept busy (we have RHD). Handling is pretty good, I am having forged wheels go on it later today which are bigger and fatter. The exhaust note is sweet, not loud enough for me as I am used to the VAP touring exhaust which is epic, but I love the throbby note that reminds me of the Jag 4.2.

It feels and looks like a lot bigger car than the F Type but they are actually within a bee's dick of each other in width and length.

Paint/clearcoat quality is nowhere near that of the Jags but I didnt expect it to be, but there are plenty of little surprises about it that belie its very reasonable cost, it's a lot of car for the money. I feel quite fortunate to have it as my "sensible car" and the F Type as my not so sensible car.

 

Great cars all around. When tuning Mustang sky is the limit. You can make it much faster than F-type for a lot less than delta between F-type MSRP and Mustang MSRP.

 

Cheers, and the cost of bits for the mustang is far less because there is such a market for them. Decent intakes, exhausts, suspension, cosmetic bits - all a fraction of what you'd pay for similar in a euro car. I feel like a kid in a candy store, but still have the love for the Jag which will go back to being my daily very soon.

 

Congratulations and welcome back to manual rowing.

 

Speaking of manuals, here's a current article that could have been written just for Lance (Unhinged): https://www.ericpetersautos.com/2021...ctible-manual/

 

I drove a 2020 auto mustang about a month ago as I was considering one as a second car. I've never been so disappointed in a car before. The suspension was far too soft making the car feel like it was falling onto the suspension even when changing lanes on a motorway, the gearbox was lazy and had far too many ratios, and it didn't feel very quick. The noise was great though, arguably better than my F Type R when just cruising around town, although the F Type has a fury that's missing from the mustang when you push on.
A manual would definitely be better, and maybe some aftermarket suspension could help, but overall it was a no from me. It's a shame, I really wanted to like it.

 

Cheers, that's odd as while the 2017 was sloppy, when I picked up the 2019 I was surprised at how much firmer it was even with the standard suspension, no magneride.

But I had already ordered the forged 20's for it so they went on the day after I got it. It sits nice and flat and handles quite well - a lot better than I was expecting. It's not a sports car, that's what I have the F type for (which I have on forged 21's), and I wouldnt push this one anywhere near as hard around corners. Not even as hard as the XE, though that car handles brilliantly.

Even the manual doesnt "feel" quick to launch though it is fairly brisk and I am still getting used to the gearbox. Watching the speedo it is quicker than in feels.

I bought it for looks, noise, and gears and it's delivering very strongly in those departments, but even though the handling and ride is better than I had expected it still feels like a bit of a fatty.

Looks - tick V8 - tick Manual - tick Handling - oh well, cant have everything

 

That's a beautiful Mustang. Has all the advantages, LOL! What do they call the color? One of the better shades of "Competition Orange" I've seen in a long time. Nice!

Jack

 

Cheers! They call it "Orange Fury", it is quite pretty up close as it is metallic. Oddly enough I never considered orange as a choice when I started with the exercise, but it really grew on me.