2015+ Ecoboost Mustangs: What's the Verdict?

I've been getting really bored lately with a non-driveable Trans Am, and even though my Mazda has been great, it's boring me to tears lately. I found myself looking at newer performance-oriented cars again, and while I really dig the Dodge Challenger, I would only want a too-expensive 2015+ model. Plus, getting 21-22mpg is probably not the best idea, since I drive a lot.

Then, I remembered the 2015 Mustang Ecoboost. 31mpg highway (3 more than my Mazda!), 310hp (nearly TWICE as much as my Mazda!), and it looks great inside and out. I'm finding ones with the Ecoboost Performance Package in the mid-$20k's used, and that's not too terrible.

Downsides are that I will need to buy new winter wheels and tires and it's basically a 2-seater. Other BIG downside is that my Mazda is nearly paid off, and the prospect of not having a payment for the first time since 2002 sounds really good right now.

Anyway, does anyone have experience with these? Are they terrible cars, or are they magical chariots of awesomeness?

I've driven one, and I like it a lot. It's quick, but by today's standards not overly so. But, they seem to be pretty tunable. The S550 is a great platform, certainly better than my S197, though I kinda like the crude solid-axle feel of mine. Feels more like a Mustang to me. The S550 interior is worlds better than mine.

I've considered the newer Ecoboost cars, as well, but at the end of the day, if I'm going to deal with the compromises of driving a Mustang (limited interior space, not great in winter, extra attention from law enforcement), it's going to have a V8 in it.

We rented a loaded up convertible in Vegas for a couple days. Put some miles on it with the top down driving out to some of the popular tourist stuff around there.

Very comfy seats, heated and cooled of course. Solid build quality, a really nice 2 person cruiser. Tiny, nearly useless back seat given the size of the car, but whatever.

Ours of course was an automatic. It was quick, but not an exciting car to drive in any way. Impressive MPGs.

It sounded awful. Droning and buzzy. The whole car had a sort of rubbery, isolated feel. Again, a great cruiser, but not a car that I had fun driving.

doc_speeder wrote: The whole car had a sort of rubbery, isolated feel. Again, a great cruiser, but not a car that I had fun driving.

I wonder if the Performance Pack would cure quite a bit of that?

In response to Petegossett:

Not at all. That was my most disappointing part about the couple of times I drove the S550 chassis. It was the thought that it would take another 2 grand to not be horribly annoyed with the car.

The new mustang has a wet noodle for a chassis compared to a new camaro. The engine note, not response, and the stupid bulge in the hood that makes it impossible to judge the ends of the car do it in for me.

Get a camaro. they are much much better.

We had a guy who autocrossed a '12 V6 Performance Pack Mustang with us and he was looking to jump to the S550. He drove the EcoBoost and was not a fan, something about the engine running out of breath surprisingly low in the rev range. And because they took all the performance goodies from the V6 now, he ended up just going with the full-boat GT, even though he really didn't want a GT.

A friend of mine bought one and now regrets it and wishes he bought a base v8 instead, previous year's gt, or another car like a used 370z.

I think he's silly and I think the car is fine, however I own a GT.

Ford does seem to be releasing the Mustang to appeal to the most people (and they sell a lot of them) but it does not take much to wake them up. I don't know about the EcoBoost, having not driven one.

Regarding the Camaro vs Mustang: That's like saying that the TIE Fighter is more agile than an X-Wing so I'll join the empire. In case you didn't know, I really, really don't like GM and wish someone else made the Corvette and Camaro.

mapper wrote: Regarding the Camaro vs Mustang: That's like saying that the TIE Fighter is more agile than an X-Wing so I'll join the empire. In case you didn't know, I really, really don't like GM and wish someone else made the Corvette and Camaro.

But, your feelings about GM don't alter the actual performance and/or value. They may impact your buying decision, but the car itself is no better or worse because of them.

In reply to secretariata:

I've driven the mustang and the camaro as both rental spec machines. Hands down the camaro in crappy rental car trim out handles, stops and accelerates the mustang. It's just that good.

In reply to secretariata:

I agree. I've said before that the 2016 Camaro is amazing and I can't wait to see them in competition. As far as value goes, I think the out the door price is still running higher for the Camaro. Ford discounts the Mustang quite a bit off the sticker price. That might change though which will make the Camaro the leader in performance for dollar.

secretariata wrote:

mapper wrote: Regarding the Camaro vs Mustang: That's like saying that the TIE Fighter is more agile than an X-Wing so I'll join the empire. In case you didn't know, I really, really don't like GM and wish someone else made the Corvette and Camaro.

But, your feelings about GM don't alter the actual performance and/or value. They may impact your buying decision, but the car itself is no better or worse because of them.

I think the design, of at least the last-gen Camaro, is worse. Only thing that factored in my choosing the Mustang over it. Mini slits of windows on that thing looked ugly as berkeley. Like a failed chop top project. I thought it was the ugliest new car on the road. I would have considered a Challenger but it was fatter and less powerful than what I ended up getting.

It's an opinion but seems to be a majority one. Nobody seemed to like that Camaro's design.

In reply to kanaric:

By last generation Camaro do you mean the 2010-2015? I thought this thread was about the most current generation of the Mustang and may have incorrectly assumed comparisons would be to the most current Camaro.

I haven't driven either and so I can't say that one is better than the other. I did drive each of the previous generations and didn't like either enough to cough up the $. Instead I would up with an undepowered subaru in drag...

The right time to buy a Camaro might be coming up. Chevy has a 140 day supply of 2016's and the 2017's are already on the assembly line. Sales for the Camaro have been declining throughout the year. Maybe heavy discounts will be available soon. Anyone shopping for a Camaro might be able to snag a deal soon.

Chevy made a great car and priced it accordingly. There are V6 Coupes sitting on lots with discounted pricing that is close to what you can buy a loaded Mustang GT.

Despite my dislike of GM, I want the Camaro to succeed and I want Dodge to make a Challenger that can compete. I want to see all three of them going head to head in as many series as possible.

secretariata wrote: In reply to kanaric: By last generation Camaro do you mean the 2010-2015? I thought this thread was about the most current generation of the Mustang and may have incorrectly assumed comparisons would be to the most current Camaro. I haven't driven either and so I can't say that one is better than the other. I did drive each of the previous generations and didn't like either enough to cough up the $. Instead I would up with an undepowered subaru in drag...

I think we both missed Silverfleet's point. I think he is looking at used 2015 EcoBoost Mustangs so a comparison to used Camaros would be better.

I dont understand how the Challenger got cut from this when you're willing to spend ~25k. Im pretty sure a v6/8spd Challenger can be had for 25k somewhere. And it also gets those 30 hwy mpg. Runs about the same 1/4 mile time as a stock Ecoboost Mustang and doesnt die off at 5k rpm. It may not be an automatic win but why is it out in the first place?

If I was going to get a new Pony Car, it would either be a Challenger or Mustang. I sat in a 2010-15 Camaro and and didn't fit. My head was hitting the roof and I had to do the "gangsta lean" to the point that I couldn't see out of the mail slot windows. I've heard that the 2016'S are even worse in that regard. I fit fine in the Mustang and the Challenger.

This car would be a daily driver, and I want toys. I want leather, heated seats, a nice stereo, etc. If I was going to get a Challenger, it has to be with the Hemi. It's the only way to get a manual anyway. The Ecoboost Mustangs appeal to me because of the possible potential for cheap tuning upgrades and frugal gas mileage, but of course I would rather have a GT!

I like the looks of the Challenger the best, but I feel that Mopar build quality is suspect. When just about every Ram pickup driving around up here has no rockers or wheel wells, that says something. Then again, I've been driving a Mazda for the past 5 years, and that hasn't rusted in half yet!

I too have rented many a Mustang- my favorite was the 2014 GT premium, they still felt very "mustang-y" when they had a live axle out back, and the interior was wonderful.

That said, the 2015 Ecoboost models aren't bad. They get a lot faster when you switch everything over the "race" mode or whatever it is that makes the little helmet appear on the dash, and they handle well- but my feeling with the newer stuff is "Ford figured out how to make a BMW!" and not in a good way. Basically if you want a pretty nice, heavy E36 with an Ecoboost that car is a good choice.