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March 15, 2016

Review: 2016 Ford Mustang 5.0 V8 GT Premium


At fifty years old, the Ford Mustang has been everything: the object of fantasies, a movie star, a tuner’s dream, a status symbol—needless to say, it requires no introduction. Yet, this newest Mustang marks the biggest change to the pony car since generation one and for that, getting reacquainted is necessary. And it’s not simply because this new car trumps the old one, but it redefines what the Mustang is and successfully brings it to the modern era. Forget everything you know about the pony car. History is about to be re-written here.

Basing everything on the cover though, it’s hard to tell that this is a new chapter of the Mustang story. In all angles, it’s instantly recognizable: pure muscle car with its angular design and squat-down stance. But because it pays homage to its long history, it looks more like a heavily massages version of the previous model rather than an all-new design. Still, it’s been tweaked and chiseled, modernizing the look while removing some of that retro flavor.



While the exterior still relies a bit on the Mustang’s storied past, the interior removes any traces of the model’s penchant for cheap plastics. It’s a major improvement inside with the design alone making for a nice viewing. And then, you settle in and start to poke around, noticing the well-finished plastics and crisp controls. The brushed metallic trim running the entire length of the dashboard is a great touch as is the commemorative plaque on the passenger side. There are only two gripes here: first is the sheer multitude of buttons. This can disorient a new driver, but after a few days, it’s easy enough to adjust to it. The second is the toggle style switches on the center console. The markings are just too light meaning you can’t tell what each toggle is for during the daytime.

Make no mistake though, it’s the best Mustang interior ever and this is something reflected in the ergonomics as well. The seats are more cushy than supportive and the position is more cruiser than sports car making it great for eating miles effortlessly. Despite the hood bulge, it’s easy to slot it around in traffic although the small mirrors do rob a bit of rear visibility. Thankfully, the rear parking camera helps during trickier parking maneuvers. The steering wheel falls right into hand and so do the other controls.




The outgoing 5.0-liter V8 could already eat some supercars for breakfast, and now, it’s just gotten better with even more power. Surprisingly, it’s quiet at idle but quick to change personality when you press the throttle. It obliterates the 100 km/h mark in about five seconds—faster than any Ford since the Ford GT super car. It sounds great doing that too, producing a well-orchestrated mix of burly, baritone notes. The 6-speed automatic is well-paired to the engine, delivering quick and smooth shifts. The Mustang finally gets paddle shifters, but they’re unneeded on regular or even spirited driving. It’s only when you flog it on a race track where that additional manual control is needed. Of course, such power and potency does have its drawbacks. In this case, it’s the penalty of living with a fuel mileage of 4.17 km/L.

Strangely enough, the V8 engine isn’t the best thing in the Mustang. Squirting the throttle to have your insides rearrange is still addicting, but the magic is in the way the entire chassis package handles corners and bends. The steering is much improved from before. It’s suitably firm and more direct while attached to a suspension that does more work than just point the wheels. It feels planted and stable while actually establishing a two-way communication between the road and driver.



Best of all: the suspension has cured the Mustang’s distaste to bumps. It’s hard to overstate how much the independent suspension on all four corners mean to the experience. Finally, you don’t have to wait for the chassis to settle down before entering a turn. You don’t have to worry about going onto rumble strips while the car skips around helplessly. You can even power out of a turn on uneven pavement without risking losing control. Finally, the wheels can put all that power down. There’s little need to tiptoe through corners. It finally has all the fun and confidence to let loose.

There’s still a lot you can say, but the bottom line is this: it’s not just a new chapter in Mustang history; it’s an entirely new book. Not only is it great in a straight line as a muscle car should be, but it actually handles like a proper performance car. And for P 2,999,000, it’s a steal considering the level of performance it can dish out. For the money, nothing can touch the Ford Mustang. Not even excuses.




2016 Ford Mustang GT Premium
Ownership 2016 Ford Mustang GT Premium 5.0 V8
Year Introduced 2015
Vehicle Classification Sports Car
The Basics
Body Type 2-door Sports Car
Seating 2+2
Engine / Drive F/R
Under the Hood
Displacement (liters) 5.0
Aspiration Direct Injection, Normally Aspirated
Layout / # of Cylinders V8
BHP @ rpm 435 @ 6,500
Nm @ rpm 542 @ 4,250
Fuel / Min. Octane Gasoline / 95~
Transmission 6 AT
Cruise Control Yes
Dimensions and Weights
Length (mm) 4,783
Width (mm) 1,915
Height (mm) 1,382
Wheelbase (mm) 2,720
Curb Weight (kg) 1,681
Suspension and Tires
Front Suspension Independent, MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension Independent, Multi-link
Front Brakes Vented Disc
Rear Brakes Vented Disc
Tires Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 255/40 R 19 W (f & r)
Wheels Alloy
Safety Features
Airbags 8
Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) Yes
Traction / Stability Control Yes
Parking Sensors Rear, with Camera
Exterior Features
Headlights HID
Fog Lamps Yes, Front
Auto Lights Yes
Auto Wipers Yes
Interior Features
Steering Wheel Adjustment Tilt/Telescopic
Steering Wheel Material Leather
Seating Adjustment Electric
Seating Surface Leather
Folding Rear Seat Yes, 50/50
On-Board Computer Yes
Convenience Features
Power Steering Yes
Power Door Locks Yes
Power Windows Yes
Power Mirrors Yes
Climate Control Yes, Dual
Audio System Stereo
CD
MP3
Aux
USB
Bluetooth
No. of Speakers 12
Steering Wheel Controls Yes

34 comments:

  1. Much better proportioned than the Dodge Challenger, better looking than the Chevy Camaro and really is a steal for the price compared to other cars on this price range (Local Pricing).

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    Replies
    1. I agree, the v6 camaro costs in the 3 million range, less tech and less power. ford priced this right.

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  2. ^Its a car you can pass on to a future great grand son... the nameplate is a legend!

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  3. What about the rear seats? Can the average Filipino adult fit there?

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    Replies
    1. You're not buying a Mustang for the rear seats, I mean really? go buy a Vios if that's your concern.

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    2. Let's just say 3 women are better than one. That's why I'm asking if adults can fit at the back.

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    3. ^ comeback is real slowclap

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  4. don't flatter yourself.

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  5. A beautiful car indeed. Too bad most of these cars are going to fall under the hands of DOMs. What a shame.

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  6. Looks nice but it's a supremely impractical gas guzzler and it's not even close to the style of a sleek Lamborghini or a Sexy Ferrari. It looks like a fat chocolate bar! Got a race track and a personal gas station? Otherwise, forget it.

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    Replies
    1. You plan on buying a 5.0 V8 3M+ car and yet you are concerned with the amount of gas it drinks? You must be some special kind of stupid.

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    2. AnonymousMarch 17, 2016 at 12:36 PM, Spoken like a genuine comprehension-challenged individual. I take it that you have an imaginary race track and an imaginary personal gas station to feed this 4.17 km/L fat chocolate bar. By all means, buy it in your dreams, dreamer.

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    3. Apparently, I live outside Manila so I get to enjoy the full driving experience with it. I also own 3 gasoline stations so there's that. Sorry but fuel consumption should be the least of your concern when buying a vehicle at this price range so, quod erat demonstrandum, dream on. Have a nice day. :)

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    4. Langhiya! May quod erat demonstrandum pang nalalaman to! We're on the internet so might as well dream big. I also own a couple of malls, I have a Ferrari plus I have a hot celebrity wife and we have sex every night. It's on the internet so it must be true right?

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    5. Haters gotta hate bro. Hahaha. Clearly you are running out of arguments to throw so I'd say we have reached an impasse. So have a good day to you sir. :)

      Oh, and yeah and here I quote what you said "and it's not even close to the style of a sleek Lamborghini or a Sexy Ferrari". Dude, it's a Muscle Car and not a Sports/Exotic car. Learn the difference between the two. :)

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  7. I think this is not a Premium variant... it's just a base GT variant...

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    Replies
    1. Ford only sell the Premium trim Mustangs in the Philippines. The 2.3 EcoBoost Premium and the 5.0 GT Premium.

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    2. For the people that owned gasoline station.

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  8. Hi Mr. Ang,

    Were you able to test the 2.3 ecoboost as well? Would you recommend the manual transmission or automatic transmission with that engine? The wife is finally allowing me to get a "sporty" car on the condition that I use it for my daily work commute in rush hour traffic. Hence, my query about the 2.3. Thank you for your help.

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    Replies
    1. The Philippines isn't offering a manual transmission with any Mustang variant.

      I'll line up a Mustang EcoBoost review soon.

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    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  9. Guys i have a question.
    First, let me say i was able to go to ford libis, and saw the yellow gt premium on display there. My mistake was that i forgot or missed to asked this while i was there(was too star struck kasi).
    Second, im not sure if it's a 2015 or 2016 model, it pretty recent maybe 2 or 3 weeks ago so ill guess that it's a 2016.
    Ok so my question is/are(hehe)does the mustang 5.0 gt premium's hood have provisions for heat extractors, or only for hood scoop or both? I ask this because looking back at the picture i took, the hood seemed too seamless and i can't tell.do you have to cut the sheet metal? I doubt thats what you guys did with yours tho.or did you simply buy and replaced your stock hoods?im not talking about upgrading hoods to a carbon fibre material or the likes. I guess the heat extractors simply appeals to me and id like to know how much it will cost me.

    Sorry long post.
    Chris

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    Replies
    1. Hi Chris,

      It may not look clear in the pictures, but the heat extractors are flanking the power bulge on the hood. It doesn't really vent directly into the hood like a Subaru's top-mount intercooler does, but it does have plastic inserts, if that's what you're talking about.

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    2. Yup i think i may have just missed it.you're right, those are what i was referring to, the ones on either side of the bulge/grooves. Well to be precise, it's here...

      http://www.roushperformance.com/parts/2015-Mustang-heat-extractors.html

      It's just that I'm out of town right now,and can't go to a dealer to inspect it right away. Well, my frustrations down a notch right now =) so thanks.

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    3. I've got it!!!! Saw some old pix of the model units ford bonifacio have, and they've got it and for some reason the 5.0 from libis doesn't. Saw it in olx :) Different variant probably.

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  10. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  11. I have few questions:
    1. Ecoboost available with MT? or should I get AT?
    2. Which one is better for daily city driving in terms of color - M-Grey or Black? What is the stock mags for Eco2.3?

    I am planning to visit BGC tonight.
    Ian

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  12. Lexus IS350 Fsport or Mustang gt?

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  13. Sir this mustang have diesel engine?

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  14. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  15. Im planning to get a mustang this yr.
    Is there anyone here can help me to know how much the difference of FC on ecoboost vs 5.0.
    Thank you
    -jan

    ReplyDelete

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