C/D: 2015 Mustang GT first drive

[kevm14]

These will start trickling in.

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/201 ... ive-review

It's almost up to outgoing Camaro SS weight....that's not too good. Motor Trend weighed theirs at over 3,800...http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/cou ... irst_test/

[kevm14]

Ha, that's right.

You see, this isn’t the four-cylinder turbocharged EcoBoost model, or even the rental-counter base V-6. No, what we have here is what some might refer to as the real Mustang: the V-8 GT.

Evidently it loses about 5 hp (Ford says "about 1%") going from 93 octane to 87 octane. That's not bad. I wonder how much torque it loses. At peak, probably more than 5 lb-ft.

[kevm14]

Hmm.

The back seats remain strictly for kids, which is a bit disappointing given the Mustang’s 188.3-inch total length—within an inch of a Toyota Camry.

Unlike the Camry, though, the new Mustang GT is a whole mess of fun. Large doses of maturity and refinement have entered the equation, sure, but they make for an improved and more well-rounded whole. The 2015 Mustang handles better, it’s easier to live with, and it acts like a more expensive car. At its $45,885 as-tested price, the GT should behave like it knows its way around a monocle and top hat, and it does. The V-8 version does start at $32,925, but options drive it past $35,000 with ease.

Enthusiasts who crave a louder and prouder Mustang can look to the forthcoming GT350, which likely will pack a high-revving V-8 and even more horsepower

Curious about the GT350. I'd also like to see a head-to-head of the new GT against a Camaro SS 1LE. They would be priced the same, and a similar weight, with a very small HP advantage to the Mustang. So the big question is, is the chassis now up to the task?

[Bob]

I read a Top Gear review that claimed the Ecoboost version was much more balanced than the GT.

I spotted a 2015 Mustang on the highway in Michigan a couple weeks ago. I thought it looked nice.

[bill25]

The Camaro is the best handling muscle car platform on the market, with the only complaint being weight, and Ford adds weight to the Mustang. Brilliant.