Remember when a V8 wasn’t deemed necessary for the BMW M3? Those times can be remembered fondly. Look back to the moment when a smooth inline-six was considered downright lovely in a Jaguar XJ; no V8 required. Do you recall the moment when you first noticed the 4-cylinder turbo in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo FQ-400 was wanting for power? There was no such moment.
Times, they are a’changin’. He who loveth not a good V8 is sneered upon in the automotive enthusiast world. But at GoodCarBadCar.net, he who accepts not a V6 with V8-like power and V6 efficiency lacks logic and understanding. The 2011 Ford Mustang, like the 2010 Ford Mustang before it, is casually handsome, like a perfect pair of jeans and a crisp white t-shirt. Tucked and trimmed in all the rear’s right places with a menacing front end and a low-slung stance, the latest Mustang’s exterior speaks loudly. Fortunately, for the first time in history, the V6 Mustang is not a disappointment. Powerful enough to reduce the intensity of V8 GT fantasies, the Ford Mustang V6 is now the smart choice.
No other car this cheap is this powerful and economical. This is the entry-level Mustang, remember, the one regular people can afford. You could have a 4-cylinder Honda Accord or… this. You could have a Toyota Prius or… this. You could have a heavily-optioned Ford Fiesta SES or… this, a muscle car with more than 300 horsepower and more than 30 miles per gallon.
Engines: 305 horsepower; 280 lb-ft of torque froma 3.7L V6
Base USD/CAD Price: $22,145 / $22,999
City Fuel Economy: 19 miles per gallon
The Old GT: Before Ford replaced the Mustang GT’s 4.6L V8 with the stonkin’ 5.0L V8 in the 2011 model year, the 4.6L Ford Mustang GT was making 315 horsepower. That meant the 2010 Ford Mustang GT was pushing around 11 pounds with every horsepower. The new, much less expensive 2011 Ford Mustang V6’s power-to-weight ratio is only 2.4 ounces worse than the brutish V8’s.
Sales Stats: In Canada, not a traditionally strong sporty car buying market, the Mustang finished off the Chevrolet Camaro with months to spare in 2010. In fact, through ten months of 2010, Ford Mustang sales were up 21.9% on the Camaro. South of the border, the Camaro had pulled out in front early on in the year, forcing the Mustang into second place. The trend reversed in October, however, with Mustang sales up 11% to 5317 and Camaro sales down 38% to 5013.
Fiat 500 – Ford F-150 – Infiniti G25
Jeep Wrangler – Nissan Juke – Porsche Boxster Spyder
I think I'd need a little more testosterone to have this in my good 12, but it's not a bad car.