No major problems to date.
Malfunctioning tires pressure warning sensors replaced by dealer.
Rattle in instrument panel caused by wiring harness, repaired by dealer.
I purchased this car because I always wanted a Mustang. And the dealer was offering some pretty impressive rebates at the time. I love the way it looks, but not the way it performs and sounds. It is still definitely a quick enough car to get a ticket or land yourself in jail. But compared to other V6 equipped cars (Altima, Accord, Camry, Malibu) the engine simply sounds rough and unrefined. It is also much less powerful. I didn't know this when purchasing the car, but the V6 is basically a hand me down from the Ford Explorer.
I also test drove a GT Premium, and honestly loved it, but $4 per gallon fuel prices at the time weighed heavy on my decision to buy a V6. The handling on the GT seemed a little firm but much more composed. But I'm not expecting a Mustang to ride like a Lincoln Town Car like some people seem to.
Fuel mileage is not that great for a V6 in my opinion, mine has ranged from 17 to 26 MPG, maybe over 27 on a real good day. With the V8 being only a few ticks lower, I feel like I've gotten the short end of the stick. Outside of fuel mileage, everything the V6 does the GT does better.
The front seats are comfy, and rear, well it's the same old Mustang. If you're over 5 feet tall or older than 12, you won't be very happy riding in the back seat.
It's still a sweet looking car, but I may look for a new GT V8 in a couple of years. One thing's for sure, I will never take dealer stock again.
I also have the option of buying a friend's 1989 GT 5 speed. Him and his wife are having a baby, and they need (or think they need) to clean out the garage to make room for a minivan, wagon, or SUV. I've borrowed the car occasionally. It's an old rough-rider, but at over 170,000 it still runs like a swiss watch. And the fuel mileage is nearly as good as my V6.
You gotta chime in on the Barrett Jackson review below with almost 140 comments. The V-6 Mustang guys seem to think their cars are so much better than a GT Mustang. Nice to see an honest review of the V-6 as unrefined and only marginally more efficient than the V-8 cars. One guy claims he gets twice the mileage of the V-8... truly entertaining to read for sure!
I haven't seen a single comment stating that the V-6 is "better". Getting better mileage is more sensible and economical, as well as paying $10,000+ less (based on the 2010's I've just looked at) and getting lower insurance rates adds to available discretionary income. If paying $10,000 more for 1 second quicker 0-60 times is what someone wants, then have at it. It's your money. Seems like a lot of money for 1 second. Gee, that comes to $600,000 a MINUTE!!! Lot of money just to be able to say "I own a V-8!!
Gee, you must be from the other thread! I also would buy something that was more refined in the V-6 category well before wasting any money on a base Mustang. The 4.0 was designed for an Explorer, NOT a sports car PERIOD.
When someone pictures a Mustang, they envision the performance of a Mustang GT, NOT the putt putting of a 6 cylinder Mustang! And FYI, there is a more than 3 second difference in 0-60 MPH between the Mustang GT and Mustang V6!
Mustang GT 0-60 is 5.5 seconds, while the V6 0-60 is 8.5 seconds!
Okay, I am for the GT too but the 0-60 time on the V-6 is actually pretty respectable at 6.5 seconds. It's just listening to that horrendous growl getting there that kills it for me!
"Mustang GT 0-60 is 5.5 seconds, while the V6 0-60 is 8.5 seconds!"
I have no idea where this figure came from. The 4.0 V-6 Mustang does 0-60 in 6.5 seconds. Mine is mildly modified and does it in 6.2-6.3 seconds consistently. Virtually every source reviewing the 4.0 gives it a 0-60 time ranging from 6.5 to 6.9.
There seems to be a lot of hostility on this site toward the people (a huge majority) who own V-6 Mustangs. This attitude is not only baffling, but is not rational. People have very different tastes in many things, especially cars. Savagely attacking people who choose a different ENGINE in the very same car doesn't make any sense at all.
"Mustang GT 0-60 is 5.5 seconds, while the V6 0-60 is 8.5 seconds!"
Check the following references.
2005 Ford Mustang LX 4.0, 6.9 0-60: ExoticCar. com 2005.
2005 Ford Mustang LX 4.0, 6.9 0-60: Car and Driver, Feb. '05.
"Also, this puts the new 4.0 V-6 just 0.6 seconds off the old V-8's 0-60 time and only 0.2 seconds slower in the quarter mile" Modern Racer 2005.
The V-6 Mustang is far faster than 8.5 0-60.
"Even with the V6, acceleration is brisk. An automatic-transmission coupe did a brisk 6.9 sec 0-60 mph with the automatic, but that transmission dulls passing response with reluctant downshifts... V6 or V8, Mustang's automatic lacks a manual shift gate. GTs are fast--Ford says around 5.2 sec 0-60 with either transmission. They feel a bit weak below 3000 rpm and need the manual transmission for best overall performance." -- Consumer Guide, 2005.
"It's just listening to that horrendous growl getting there that kills it for me!"
For less than $500 you can add duals to the V-6 and get almost exactly the same exhaust note as the GT. That's still saving you a hunk of insurance and about 10 grand. Check out the audio on some of the V-6 dual systems offered on the net. Downright cool.
"For less than $500 you can add duals to the V-6 and get almost exactly the same exhaust note as the GT. That's still saving you a hunk of insurance and about 10 grand. Check out the audio on some of the V-6 dual systems offered on the net. Downright cool."
First of all you can buy the exhaust for less than $500 but who is installing it? Most people don't have a lift so it'll be more like $750 installed. Secondly, I'd have to hear it to believe it.. so I am not saying you are BS'ing me, but I really would have to hear it. I'll check it out though.
My insurance wouldn't be a heck of a lot more on a GT as I have a really great company and an impeccable driving record. Right now I am about $500 per year... Most of my performance cars have been maybe 10% higher or so, and not the 40% to 60% that I see claimed on here, but even if mine was $750 it would be worth it.
If you order a base GT, you should only be about $6K above the cost of a V-6 car, but don't forget there is a lot more to the car than just the V-6. It is worth the difference to me, and I would probably opt for a different brand or type of car before settling with the V-6 in the Mustang. I wish they'd get smart at Ford and drop the 3.5 mill from the 2010 Fusion that puts out 263 hp and is a lot smoother. If they did that and added a bit of an upgrade to the suspension somewhere between the base and the GT, it would be a more competent car to me.
"First of all you can buy the exhaust for less than $500 but who is installing it? Most people don't have a lift so it'll be more like $750 installed."
I got a quote of $529 for a complete system installed by a local Mustang specialty shop. That included 2 new high-performance mufflers. I heard one with that system. They DO sound awesome.
$529 is not too bad for the whole system installed, and definitely worth the upgrade.
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