Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 GT
An evo track session reveals the Stang’s strengths and weaknesses
OUR MUSTANG CONTINUES TO CHARM all who drive or are driven in her – and yes, I have reluctantly relinquished the key to colleagues on occasion. You know you’ve really fallen for a car when you pine for its return, and I did really, really miss the Mustang while it was with editor Gallagher recently; even having the key to his R8 in return didn’t alleviate the symptoms.
On a happier note, the Mustang recently attended our inaugural evo track evening of the year, held at the Bedford Autodrome. As we rumbled into the pitlane I had a completely open mind as to how the car would fare. Would it just wallow hopelessly through every corner? Would the brakes be a smoking mess after half a lap?
The reality was quite different. The brakes hung in there gamely, just about lasting for each on-track session with a little TLC, and showing no ill effects afterwards. And while the car’s Achilles heel – a lack of damping precision and in particular a vagueness born from how the suspension is located on the car – meant it felt occasionally wayward and often rather approximate, the sheer grip generated via the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres meant the car’s pace around the lap really surprised me, allowing
the Mustang to keep ahead of and even pull away from some much more specialist kit. Most of all, it was the way the 444bhp V8 destroyed the long back straight that stuck in the mind, furiously gobbling up the tarmac and any other car in its path. I know I said it last month, but the Coyote really is a complete monster of an engine, even in its standard form.
During the evening’s entertainment the Stang consumed a tankful of super unleaded at a rate of 8.3mpg according to the trip computer. Predictably, the V8 has the potential for some indecently heavy drinking, but it’s not necessarily a constant binge consumer. Driven hard on the road the average will drop below 20mpg, rising to just above it with a healthy mix of driving, but on longer trips that figure can rise dramatically.
On one such jaunt recently, which included a few bursts of full throttle and certainly no holding up other traffic by eco driving, we achieved over 29mpg – better than our Volvo V60 T5 usually manages. You can thank the Ford’s long sixth gear for that, which sees the V8 slowly rotating away even at ‘optimal’ motorway speeds.
If I owned a Mustang I’d modify it right from the off, and Ford UK has realised that the majority of its Mustang customers feel the same way, hence it now offers a range of Ford Performance parts that have the added benefit of not affecting the car’s warranty.
As I write, the Stang is back with Ford having a shiny strut brace fitted, along with a short-shift kit for the gearchange mechanism; further down the line we’ll be fitting Ford’s coilovers, and a few more goodies. I’m looking forward to finding out what improvements they bring, on road and on track.
Date acquired April 2019 Total mileage 3025 Mileage this month 875 Costs this month £0 mpg this month 20.2
‘The Mustang destroyed the long back straight and gobbled up any other car in its path’