Good, Bad, Ugly?

Experiences etc?

Things to watch for or issues to keep on top of?

__________________
SWCA 1646

Depends on what you wanna do with it. I am having a bit of fun here with this, but here is an opinion:
Mustang GT500 car review - Top Gear - BBC - YouTube

I think they are getting a bit carried away with the retro design. It's getting a bit too complicated, a bit too busy. Mustangs were always meant to be simple. On the other hand the new 5.0 is a hoot. I test drove a 2012 with one and man what a rocket.

I do have a dog in the hunt. My 2005 GT. 1st year of the retro design.

__________________
I love Mausers

mine is a 289 c.i.from 1966

__________________
SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

Ford FINALLY got their engine sorted out with the 5.0; however the MT-82 six speed has presented an entirely new set of issues. The Auto's have been holding up, but if you were wanting a manual I'd suggest you do some reading as some seem to last and others are bad in a couple thousand miles. If they had only put a T56 in it they would've had just about a perfect car.

__________________
Mark

+1 IIRC The folk at Edmunds.com killed the manual tranny in their long-term tester quite quickly.

You would think that the manual tranny be a little bit hard to break due to how simple it is.

__________________
Don't look, reload and shoot!

The problem is clutch dumps with clowns wanting to do burnouts and "power shifting". With an auto the torque converter acts as a cushion.

prefer the 64 1/2

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
we're all in this together

LVSteve, No disrespect to you, but if I paid the price for a new high performance Mustang I would expect it to be able to take "dumping the clutch" and "powershifting".

I'm 56, don't consider myself a "clown" and I still like to dump the clutch once in a while and still can pull a power shift.

Just an old gearhead hotrodder.

__________________
Big Fred
SWCA #1927

I test drove one a few weeks ago. Much nicer, more comfortable than I expected. Definitely fast, sounds good. On the down side, it now has the electric power steering instead of hydraulic like everything else these days. So the steering was a bit numb. Not as bad as the new BMW's though.

I did notice on the sticker that the transmission was made in China. It worked ok for me, but I didn't abuse it.

I test drove one recently, and it was comfortable, fast, and fun to drive. However...

I drive about 25,000 miles per year, and I generally buy a new car every three to four years. The resale value of a four-year old Mustang GT with high mileage just ain't that good. Other concerns were gas mileage, and winter driving.

If I could have a muscle car for occasional use, the Mustang would be it. As a daily driver, I just couldn't see it.

GT500 or Boss 302

__________________
Huh?

I actually like the looks of the 2013s and they run good, I think he was talking about the clowns that abuse cars for a living and then write about how cool they are. I would prolly trade my 01 GSXR-1000 for one and I too am that magical age of 56, just entering geezerhood. and yes I rode my gixxer to church Sunday, and did't get "much" over 100mph, nice beemer! Buuuut, I would prolly buy a new Camaro, buuut I'm still ticked about the bail-out, and thanks to the BHO healthcare cuts, I lost my three jobs at a for profit Hospice, and they replaced me with two part timers with no benefits. So, I'm thinking about tradin the GSXR for an old Busa! for a much more comfortable ride.LOL Billy

My dog in the hunt.
Mine is a GT with the 4.6 V8 and auto tranny.
It is sturdy and comfortable for touring.
I sometimes wish for a 5.0 or the new BOSS but realisticly--the 4.6 is a lot of fun.
I like convertables and this top is bullet proof.Mine is a 2010.
Blessings

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
TEXAS, by GOD

I've had a 1969 Boss 302 and a 1989 LX 5.0 coupe. I would really like to get my hands on a new 5.0 and "clown" around with it.
BillyMagg, at your age, I don't see how you can think a Hayabusa is comfortable. You should try my old '79 GS1000E. Now, that's comfortable. Of course, now, it's stone slow, it only runs around 11.5 @114.

__________________
Torn & Frayed

I've also got a dog in the hunt. Mine is a 2005 Legend Lime 4.6, but I have a Roush supercharger in it. Makes about 435 hp. Couldn't ever go back to 305!

It's a SPORTS car, jeez, the tranny oughtta live up to a few clutch drops and drag runs....Especially a Mustang, with a solid live axle! THE last drag car available in the US.

All I can say is go to the dealership and drive one. Take your time and look at it very closely.

If you like it buy it.

But be aware that all new cars gonna have some sort of "child sickness..."

I really like the Saleen and Roush vehicles... but have to wait few more years before I can afford them...

__________________
Jorge

It doesn't sound like you're very familiar with the transmission failures that have taken place. While some can, of course, be attributed to abuse there are significantly more failures with the Chinese built MT-82 than there have been with the T56 in all of its iterations. Surely Mustang owners are no more "clownish" than Camaro/Corvette/Viper/CTS-V/GT500/SVT Cobra owners (all of which, incorporate the T56). The fact of the matter is that Ford saved what probably equates to a couple hundred dollars by foregoing the time-tested T56. The GT500 still uses the T56, it will bolt right into the car.

__________________
Mark

One improvement for 2013, apparently the 1 -> 4 skip shift has been removed.

Hurry up if you like the retro look - the Mustang is due to lose the live axle and go to a more "Euro" look very soon - much like the latest Escape has done. Heck, it may turn out to be a better car, but it won't say "Mustang" to many of us.

I've driven a '12 and liked it, the drivetrain seemed solid enough but I'm going by seat of the pants. From outside I just prefer the earlier S197's. The interior is certainly more comfortable than my '07. 'Course the suspension, poly motor mounts, and rumble of that stroker don't help that much either

2013 CAN B HAD WITH 950 HP.-I got a buddy that just ran a 6.90 in 1/8 @ 105 mph in a 1984 street legal through the mufs @ thunder valley in Oklahoma 2 weeks ago. I had a 70 mach 1 I bought new --red w black interior. My cousin Sunny still has his 70 torino Cobra Jet he bought new-same color -375 hp auto 429-fully restored. Damm--We r old. I am an old drag racer. Just about worn plum out.

Theres nothing wrong with the modern stuff, I'm constantly amazed at how much horsepower they are extracting from small cubic inch engines and also how much mileage they are capable of extracting from large cubic inch engines.
I tested a brand-new "Bullit" themed Mustang back a few years and was amazed at the seat of the pants excitement and then equally amazed at its around town civility. A friend of my son has a later model Mustang GT, not the fully blown model but a pretty hot when you mash the throttle down. I found they need to be driven agressively to get the most out of them.
I never was a huge Mustang fan, I have a '51 Ford two door sedan with a hopped up flathead engine, old school hot rod. A buddy of mine that is a first rate builder put together a beautiful '65 Mustang Fastback, GT-40 type 351, late model 6 speed tranny, 9" differential, huge disc brakes all around, engineered suspension, electric exhaust dumps...its the ****. He claims he's only into 20 grand but he's done nearly everything except some of the suspension components, he did all the body and paint and its truly gorgeous, black with gold racing stripe...thats my idea of a Mustang.
From everything I've heard talking to everybody that owns one including one of my wife's girlfriends that drives a late model GT, white with blue stripe. She calls it her "Man Magnet", big ugly girl like her needs all the help she can get. Everybody that owns one likes them, only one guy I know had one and traded it for one of the late model hemi powered Challenger or Charger because he always wanted a Hemi.

spend a little more and get the boss 302 laguna seca model. sound great and run even better. just no back seat or air cond available,or power windows because the original boss mustangs didn't have them.

i work for several ford dealers. the boss 302 is bad a**, 400+ horse and several great colors. drove one a couple of weeks ago, peel the tires in 4 gears. great way to get in trouble...

__________________
George Jamison
S&WCA #2143

I can see a red convertible, just like Williamlayton's in post #15, in my future.

__________________
God spelled backwards is dog.

Ok, I will fess up.






I took my last international bonus pay and picked up this one. It is a 2013 GT/CS or California Special automatic. My wife said she wanted a sports car which we never owned. We were more the Camry, Highlander, S-10 type of family for years and she wanted something more fun. When the time came she backed up a bit and said, well its your bonus you pick so I got this one.

Now she drove it for a few weeks while I was on a business trip and when I get back, I find I really love it as a commuter car to and from work. A lot more fun then the hybrid!

What got me really thinking about this is my wife said for christmas she wanted a red convertible. So yesterday we put money down on another 2013 Mustang GT/CS in Red and a convertible.

Now I am really committed to these cars for at least the next 7 to 10 years and I wanted to know what to watch for. We are both in our late 40's so we don't race them, don't burnout or do anything but just commute back and forth to work and the like. I find it a great car just to cruise to the office and back in. Nice easy to drive, 20 to 22 MPG on the commute. It actually does better than the Highlander on the commute.

The big 5.0 liter are a lot of fun though. When you hit the gas, well you go. The traction control works well on wet roads if you are careful. I find backing it up and parking still a challenge but I will sort it out eventually.

So what I read above is that the cars are reasonably well made, no systemic problems noted so far and if you don't try to race/hot rod them I am probably in great shape.

I will say the California Specials are great styling. I have never owned a Ford before and this one really struck me.

__________________
SWCA 1646

Yours is like what we ordered. Same basic "race red" but with the 5.0 liter GT/CS California Special option pack. We also put the same interior comfort package and upgraded stereo options in it. Beyond that there is not much you can put on the 2013 GT's with an automatic.

Also the Automatic does 420 HP according to the brochure. It is more power than I can handle so I have yet to floor it.

A big V8 is why I like working for an Oil Company!

__________________
SWCA 1646

Makes scene, I thought it was something related to normal driving and not abuse.

__________________
Don't look, reload and shoot!

Peter, I love that blue and the GT/CS is a great pick. I have a GT/CS rear Fascia on my '07 thanks to a Camry, ironically

I have a red '68 convertible as well that I love to cruise but push come to shove I love DRIVING my late model more. I push it harder and faster than the old one because that's why I bought it. Even with an upgraded clutch it is a fun car to drive frequently. Welcome to the Mustang family you dove in head first!

A buddy of mine looked at me a few weeks ago as we were about to leave the office and asked me if I wanted to go to the Ford dealer with him.

I asked "why?"

He said he was looking at a car.

I asked "what?"

He said a 2013 Shelby GT500.

I said "as long as you don't expect me to be the guy talking you out of buying it I'll go."

An hour later he owned it. I was supposed to drive it the next day but I had already left work to go fishing by the time he got there. I told him I'd drive it Monday.

Monday I show up and ask him for the keys. He looks down at the floor and with no shortage of disappointment in his voice he tells me "it's in the shop."

"What?!? Did you wreck it?"

"No" he replies "the clutch is gone."

It had exactly 90 miles on it and the clutch burned out. He says it's a faulty part and the dealer says it's his bad driving so there was a stalemate on who was going to pay to fix it.

Ford wanted roughly 5 grand to fix it. He left it there and said it was a warranty deal and if they hadn't fixed it in 30 days it was a lemon law deal and he'd get his money back.

Ultimately the dealer caved and put in a new clutch, throwout bearing, and pressure plate. He asked me to go pick it up for him and ask some questions about what they fixed (I know more about cars and I work for him so it was an easy thing to do).

So...I was handed the keys to a supercharged V8 that puts out 668 HP...in the middle of rush hour traffic.

It was a blessing and a curse. Unless I got pole position at a light there was really nothing I could do....but when I DID get pole position I was able to give it a little gas. Not much gas mind you...I was brand new to this car and I'm smart enough to know that that there's a learning curve. The last thing I wanted to do was get this thing sideways in three lanes of traffic.

My first impression was just how smooth the ride is and how comfortable the interior was. It's a really nice car. The second thing I noticed is that there is no way to leave a stoplight in first gear without it sounding like you're about to roar down the track...this thing has a significant growl all the time. At one point I was rolling through a neighborhood and a little old lady was checking her mailbox and I made a conscious effort to not touch the gas as I went by...I actually put it in neutral and coasted to the end of the street. I was THAT worried about scaring her to death with the exhaust note.

I know the area well and I was able to find some places to do some 10 MPH to 70 MPH runs and the acceleration in this car is nothing short of impressive...I mean it rocks you back and opens up every adrenal gland in the human body. It is ELECTRIC when you stomp on it...you kick and this pony RUNS.

I'd read that the car does 0-60 in the mid 3 second range...and that you don't have to shift...it does it in first gear...and I found out that's true.

You can do a lot in first gear in this car. There is SO much power in this car that it's a colossal waste to drive it around town. It would be similar to using the space shuttle to make 20 mile flights.

The problem I found with this and the Cadillac CTSV is that they have SOOOOO much power that you don't get much fun time. You get maybe 1 to 1.5 seconds in the throttle and you are already over the speed limit on most roads. Unless you are getting on the highway in which case you might get 3 seconds of acceleration before you are really breaking the law.

In the end I found it to be fun, well built, comfortable, eye catching, fun, hugely fun, and last but not least...fun. Expensive...but fun. Impractical...but fun. And did I mention that it's fun?

when taking a lady out on the town ... ya best know how to dance

__________________
it just needs more voltage

That's always been a problem. I've got more left feet than a millipede.

I would hate to spend that much money and not be able to gas on it. That's the whole purpose of buying a car like that.

have your lawyer on speed dial when owning a fast car.

I can't comment on the 2013. I have had no issues with my 2011 Mustang GT 5.0L. I love it. It's never been back to Ford (I do the regular maintenance work).



It was a little over $29K out-the-door:


I may be biased. I've owned one or more Mustang since I was 15 years old.

I just bought this one:


I built this one in 1997 and still race it:

__________________
S&W and Colt collector

Today my shooting buddy and I went to the Ford dealer.

He wants a Grey or Red 2013 GT/CS like mine. He and I were talking with the salesman and seeing what he can get. My bet is he has one by the end of the year.

I will post pictures of the Red one when we pick it up. Next week I should have is build date.

__________________
SWCA 1646

I don't know about that. A friend of mine (Bill Tumas) did some racing this year in the NMRA SST class, racing with their companies Mustang (CJ Pony Parts) on the stock trans/clutch. Car's been as fast as 11.05 @ 123 mph.

Here is the article from NMRA Race Pages.

Gotta Have It Race and Bill Tumas are featured in the December issue of Race Pages! | CJ Pony Parts

One example of one transmission holding together does not do much to counter the numerous others who have had this chinese gearbox fail. The T56 has a MUCH better track record and I stand by my original comments that it would've been an infinitely better decision to standardize on the Tremec.

__________________
Mark