Another one joins the dark side

Iceagetlc

Initial thoughts:

I sat in the car for about a half hour just fiddling around with everything. The DVD/Navigation screen was overwhelming at first, but now I have a grip on how to navigate around and use voice activation shortcuts. It's a pain to sync and save information but just like when getting a new phone or computer: once it's done it's done.

The Track Apps and overall Info gauge is something I had no idea cars were capable of. The level and presentation of something as simple as even an MPG readout being graphed to your scale of time period on a real-time color chart blew my mind.

Being able to read inlet air temperatures while stuck in traffic on a hot day, or seeing air-fuel/boost right over your nose is very comforting. The level of customization on the gauges and ambient lighting was also overkill but still nice.

The launch control, spring, and steering settings have yet to really sink in as far as their worth in spirited driving (seeing as I have not launched the car nor driven it hard), but knowing that they are there definitely boosts confidence that when needed, the car can perform.

The quality of materials as far as the seats and steering wheel/shifter are excellent, a tiny touch of luxury in an otherwise straight-forward coupe. If it weren't for the thousands of Cobras and GT500 and SVT and 20th Anniversary logos plastered everywhere I would assume I was in a smaller version of the new Camaro, except that instead I have a real shift knob and more visibility.

Now to the part people actually care about.

Power delivery is EXTREMELY different than any other muscle car I've ever driven. This is due solely to the fact that the gears are longer than a landspeed test track. Putting your foot into it at 3,000 rpms and you might think the car was broke. You get patted on the back of course by the constant torque always carried in the car, but you might think you've been ripped off.

Jump on it at 4,500 and it's a whole different car. The supercharger wakes up and 50-80mph isn't even realized, you're just there and quickly letting off to regain composure (assuming it's your first gallop).

Traction control in your average sports car can be a lifesaver in close calls. In this car it's more of a fail safe that you just won't completely total the car. Even when activated, a 3rd gear romp on damp roads will send the backend dangerously loose, and YOU will react faster than the TC.

Steering in general is tight and predictable however coming from a 370z, I'm a bit spoiled. A turn across railroad tracks in the 370z might startle the trajectory of the car, but not you. The mustang takes abrupt traction loss to heart.

The instinct of a seeing a turn and wanting to fling myself into it has quickly disappeared. Rather, you will want to steady yourself at a nice constant speed through the turn and let the sinister growl of the motor compensate via exit speed. Not to say that the mustang can't handle grip. It can, and damn good. It just can't handle the juggling of G's caused by tapping into the motor's historic horsepower while its busy thinking. (Mind you I haven't activated sport springs or steering)

The best judge of power comes from a passenger who is used to fast cars. Take my girlfriend for instance. She's been through rough waters in the 370z, from powerslides to 0-100mph runs to speedshifts, you name it, and she's never had the reaction she had to just a simple 3rd gear pull in this car.

Anyways, now I'm just rambling. If you have any questions about the car just ask me. I'll tell you now I've managed 14mpg in my first couple hundred miles.