The V6 with a manual is a fun, engaging, somewhat raw car for the weekend. I really enjoyed it. It's simple, fairly light and adequately powered, making for a machine that sounds and feels good to drive. This is one of those cars that resets your brain. You concentrate on nailing the shifts, taking corners energetically and listening to the engine and the radio. The sound of the revs building in synch with a saxophone blaring through the speakers is car catharsis for me.
I'm a big fan of the appearance, too. The Mustang is buff, taut and looks more cutting edge than the last generation, which was flat-out retro. This Grabber blue and dark wheels combo looks pretty sharp to my eyes.
The Mustang is the kind of car that makes you roll down the windows and let the wind in. Now is it perfect? No. The chassis is a little ragged, it's easy (and fun) to make the rear end come unsettled, and the shifts can be a touch notchy. I'm not sure I'd opt for Recaro seats with the V6, though they're pretty comfy for an average-sized male. My disposable income would go to the V8, I think. Still, the Mustang has excellent dynamics and is a hoot to drive.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR BOB GRITZINGER: Lots of looks for this Grabber blue baby--everyone is so taken by the paint that they don't really care that it's only packing a V6 under the hood. I personally enjoy what Ford, GM and Chrysler have gotten out of their V6 engines in this new generation of fuel-efficient 300-hp pony cars. It's enough power to be fun, without driving (and fueling) a big V8 for your entire stewardship. Adding the six-speed manual is a major thumbs-up for the 'Stang.
I'd add that, in addition to the grabbing exterior, the Mustang sports the nicest interior in the genre right now--lots of soft-touch materials, simple throwback analog gauges, functional center stack, perfectly positioned shifter, steering wheel and pedals and a great driving position. Toss in the Recaro buckets and everything jumps up a notch. I am still annoyed by the placement of the center-console release button, which seems to pop open every time I lean my elbow amidships.
Ironically, the biggest rub for me with the V6 is that it's not a great driving powertrain. The V6 is raspy, with little if any exhaust note (seems like an aftermarket tune could fix that in a minute), and the clutch is hard to actuate smoothly. The steering is spot-on and quick, but the rest of the suspension doesn't feel quite so tied down. The result is a less than satisfying driving character in a car that has all the potential to be a value performance star.
It looks great though.
EDITOR WES RAYNAL: I love the color on this 2012 Ford Mustang V6 Premium. I don't know if Ford broke in to Richard Petty's shop and stole some of his Petty blue paint, but this looks dang close to that color. I think overall the car just looks cool.
I'm very fond of the rest of the car as well. I thought the seats were terrific and plenty of room inside--at least in the front.
I think the engine is stout, though of course I'd rather have a V8 in my Mustang. But this ain't bad bang for the buck, and 305 hp out of V6 is nothing short of amazing. Consider: A 1970 Boss 302 had less. Though, I'd want to sex up the exhaust note somehow.
As for the ride/handling, I suppose the best way for me to sum that up is that it rides and handles better than any live-axle car has a right to--that is to say it's a little bouncy and unkempt, but one gets used to it and you can actually plan for it. I thought the car was nice and flingable, and I'd happily drive it everyday. It would definitely be on my shopping list.
ASSOCIATE EDITOR JAKE LINGEMAN: I was a little surprised at the price of the V6 Mustang, but it's the Premium trim. The basic model starts at $22,200. I think the $31,200 price tag should get you a V8.
Despite that, this is the best year of the Mustang since the fifth generation debuted in 2005. The sequential taillights are still there, but now with cool black surrounds. The bulging hood looks tough from the front and from the driver's seat. The nose has become pointier in the last few years, and I think this is the first model to add a chrome strip around the center air inlet. The new headlight design looks sweet at night, and that will be the easiest way to differentiate a 2012 from a 2013.
The love fest continues for the Grabber blue paint. My family loved it, and people approved with thumbs-up around town during the day.
Moving to the driver's seat, Wes is right; this interior is comfortable and exudes quality. The Recaro seats are awesome, but I'm not sure if they're $1,600-awesome. The radio controls took a minute to get used to. I had the iPhone plugged in, and you have to select it as a source every time you get in the car, which is a bit of a pain. Like Bob, I also noticed the center-console opener was exactly where your elbow falls when cruising, quite annoying.
I drove around two friends over the weekend, stuffing a 6-foot-2-inch passenger in the back seat. His knees were a bit splayed, but he said there was enough headroom to be comfortable. Bravo for that, Ford.
I'm a little torn on the powertrain. The 3.7-liter V6 gets this car going, and sounds great once you pass 5,000 on the tach, but it's a little underwhelming in the middle. It sounds more like a Nissan V6 than a Ford Mustang, but I'm sure a muffler shop could fix that. The shifter on the six-speed is tight, and throws are extremely short. From the 1-2 side to the 5-6 side is probably less than three inches, and the throw from front to back are only a bit longer than that. I didn't really notice the notchy operation that Greg did, but it does make some weird noises going into reverse.
Ford is still using the solid rear-axle setup, which doesn't exactly scream advancement. But it does have the system figured out as well as anyone. It can swing the tail out easily, and wheelhop is kept at a minimum.
Overall, the V6 looks like a gem on the streets and even gives enthusiasts something to enjoy. Of course, your other option is a stripper Mustang GT for $510 more, which is an easy decision.
ROAD TEST EDITOR JONATHAN WONG: It used to be difficult to take a V6 Mustang seriously, and often it would be grouped into the chick-car category. But a couple of years ago, Ford slotted in this more than respectable 3.7-liter, and now you can get your V6 Mustang equipped with a slick Performance package. For $1,995 you get 19-inch wheels wrapped with sticky Pirelli tires, stiffened suspension components and upgraded brakes. And for another $1,595 you can get some very supportive Recaro seats.
With all that, you can't turn your nose up at the V6 Mustang because it's a serious performance machine now--especially for the price. It can easily come in at less than $30k if you don't go too crazy with options.
As others have mentioned, the 305 hp provides plenty of push, and the V6 doesn't sound half bad when you have your foot in it and has decent throttle response. The gearbox features a good shift action, but the clutch does take a little time to get used to. The upgraded brakes included in the Performance package have plenty of bite with the more aggressive brake pads, which is nice to have.
When you throw it around, you'll notice its 3,501-pound curb weight when jogging through curves and some dive under braking. However, once you have a particular side loaded up, the car sticks to the road well, helped mostly by the wide Pirelli rubber. And if you want to have a little fun around a corner, a generous push of the throttle will rotate the rear out easily. Steering response is quick, and there's good feel available through the wheel.
Of course, when you start comparing the Mustang to others, the logical opponent is the Chevrolet Camaro. Comparing V6 models, I'm still going to go with the Ford because it is a bit lighter and offers handling that feels more eager and fun overall. Yes, even with the ancient solid rear axle back there, this continues to surprise me in the lower power applications. My feelings change when you start comparing Shelby GT500s with ZL1s, though.
Another car worth taking a look at if you're looking for a V6 rear-wheel-drive sports coupe is the Hyundai Genesis coupe, which is updated for the 2013 model year with more power, revised suspension and some light visual revisions.
2013 Ford Mustang V6 Premium Coupe
Base Price: $26,995
As-Tested Price: $31,280
Drivetrain: 3.7-liter V6; RWD, six-speed manual
Output: 305 hp @ 6,500 rpm, 280 lb-ft @ 4,250 rpm
Curb Weight: 3,501 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA/AW): 23/18.6 mpg
Options: V6 Performance package including summer tires, a limited-slip differential, 19-inch aluminum wheels, strut tower brace, larger front sway bar, SVT rear sway bar, unique front springs, unique front and rear calipers with performance friction pads, unique stability control calibration, 3.31 rear-axle, painted side mirrors, unique engine cover for manual transmission ($1,995); Recaro leather sport seats ($1,595); reverse sensing system and security package ($695)
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