EVEN A BASIC-TRIM PONY CAR MAKES WORK MORE FUN
Salesman says six-speed manual provides a level of joy that a minivan never could
As a building materials salesman hauling samples, Darcy Kraus doesn't drive what many would consider to be a typical salesman's vehicle. Instead of an SUV or minivan, the Calgarian bought a new base model 2018 Mustang equipped with an Ecoboost four-cylinder engine and manual transmission.
“I work by this philosophy: What's the least amount of car I can get away with? If it's something smaller and fun, I'll always go for that,” Kraus reasons. “And I'm always concerned about road safety. I prefer a car with a trunk where I can securely carry samples rather than loose in an SUV — in a collision, those would be projectiles.”
He has two children, ages nine and four, and they're big enough to clamber into the back seat of a two-door vehicle and sit in their booster seats.
“Now was the time,” Kraus says. “I decided to take the plunge and buy a Mustang.”
He visited Maclin Ford in October 2019, and there he found two new base-model 2018 Mustang Coupes on the lot. He test drove a blue one with 19-inch rims and 10-speed automatic transmission. It wasn't as responsive as he'd like. So, he got in a red Mustang with a six-speed manual transmission.
“In the manual, I thought this is my dancing partner, and the standard transmission sold me on the car,” he explains.
Released in 2015 as the sixth generation Mustang, the iconic car was given a refresh for the 2018 model year. Notably, the
V-6 engine was dropped, and the base power plant became the 2.3-litre Ecoboost four-cylinder engine. Tuned to give increased performance, the Ecoboost engine delivers 310 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque. The 10-speed automatic featured a sport mode, while the six-speed manual transmission was revised to provide better shifter throws. In addition, Ford gave the manual Mustang a lighter feel at the clutch pedal.
A total of nine Mustang models were available in 2018, from the base Ecoboost Coupe, which is what Kraus bought, to the V-8-powered GT Coupe and the king of the heap, the Shelby GT350R Coupe. Both the Ecoboost-powered Mustang and the GT could be had in coupe or convertible format.
“It's a very basic interior,” Kraus says of his Mustang. “The seating surfaces are black cloth, and the entertainment and infotainment systems are basic, too. It's got a backup camera, and that's about it.
“The dash is really well laid out and the climate controls are easy to use — it's all buttons and knobs and there's no touch screen. You can feel where everything is. You don't have to take your eyes off of the road to look at a screen to find where you have to aim your finger to hit the control you want.”
Front seats are manually adjustable, and Kraus, who is six feet tall, says the driver's seat is well bolstered.
“I fit right into the car, and the seat is great for driving long distances.”
Storage space in the cabin is good, with plenty of room in the centre console and the glove box. One pet peeve is the lack of a secure tray to store his cellphone; he places it in a cupholder.
With those two big doors, he is selective about where he parks the car to avoid dinging another vehicle when his doors are opened. His kids are easily able to clamber into the back after releasing the front seat backs and folding them forward.
“It might not be the most convenient, but it's not impossible,” Kraus says. “If you grew up in the '70s or '80s, it seemed everybody's dad had a two-door car and it was just a part of life.”
Kraus is pleased with the Ecoboost engine.
“It's a fantastic motor, and with the manual transmission you can engine brake, or really have some fun with it. There's more than enough power and it builds gradually, but 3,200 r.p.m. is when it really comes on. The six-speed is geared really well, and the shift between second and third is a hoot. The clutch is nice and light and engages sweetly.”
When he bought the Mustang, it came equipped with 17-inch rims. Kraus bought a set of used aftermarket 20-inch rims with Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires to run during the summer. He was looking for factory 19-inch rims but couldn't find any within his budget.
“These do improve the look of the car, there were no clearance issues, and the car sticks when you throw it around a bit, and it launches hard now,” Kraus says of his upgrade. “The stock suspension is well set up and offers a decent ride. I drive in a lot of industrial parks and am always crossing tracks. It's not a luxury ride, it's a sporty car, but it works well.”
He has no problem running the car in the snow and says with winter tires it handles admirably in rough conditions.
“It's my rolling office. If I have to be out on the road as part of my job and I was in a minivan, there'd be no joy in that. For work or for pleasure, I'm happy to get in it and drive it.”