Ford Mustang 5.0 GT
There is a way to achieve 30mpg, but it doesn’t involve the redline so why bother?
How not to tease out 30mpg
The curious and sudden disappearance of the projector lights located in the wing mirrors was, as suspected, down to failure of the light units in the wing mirrors and my local dealer sorted that in a day under warranty. Soon after the lights went pop, I also got a warning every time the ignition was turned on telling me the engine oil needed changing. The dealer reckoned this was due to the system not being reset properly at the factory and the problem was easily during the same visit.
When I first drove the Mustang on a press launch, I was in two minds as to whether the engine and exhaust note was just right or a little too subdued. I had a chat with my stunt driver friend, Paul Swift, who owned a Mustang at the time and had fitted a Milltek exhaust. I toyed with the idea of doing the same but decided against it because the soundtrack has grown on me.
The naturally aspirated V8’s colossal mid-range torque is pretty sensational and the temptation is to drive around with the rev counter hovering near the 4000rpm mark. It tricks you into thinking that’s all you’re going to get, because it pulls hard from 2000rpm and road speed quickly gets naughty. But hold on to the lower gears to let the revs run up to the start of the redline at 6500rpm and life really gets interesting.
From 4500rpm, the Mustang gets a second wind and changes stride from canter to flat-out gallop, covering the ground at an alarming rate. It doesn’t help the fuel consumption, of course, but what the heck. Buying a Mustang and obsessing about fuel economy is like switching to a diet of doughnuts and then worrying about your weight. The alternative is to head for the nearest motorway, reset the trip computer, and keep the speed on or below 70mph. Then it’s possible to nudge the consumption up to around 30mpg from the low 20s, but it is about as much fun as driving a Toyota Prius and snacking on carrots. I prefer doughnuts.