Better Without the Performance Pack or Recaros - 2015 Ford Mustang GT

Edmunds.com

Better Without the Performance Pack or Recaros - 2015 Ford Mustang GT

The Edmunds long-term Ford Mustang GT has the GT Performance Pack and Recaro sport seats. But what is the Mustang like without them? We find out.

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ebeaudoin

Glad to hear it is much better. I detest the black wheels, too. The Mustang pictured looks much more up my alley, though I would of course get the 6MT.

henry4hire

As a car enthusiast...it is so easy to check the boxes for max performance. But then the reality sets in that you are slogging in traffic every day rather than taking a high speed turn at Laguna and you realize you made a terrible mistake. It would be very difficult mentally to opt for the "lesser" package Mustang, but it sounds like in this case it is the right way to go. So many mods really just ruin a car.

boff

The best looking wheel is the optional 19's for the GT. I got the perf pack on my car because I did not do so on my previous Mustang and regretted it every time I got in the car. The ride is pretty rough...nearly intolerable in the winter but acceptable now that the roads have settled again. And I am sure the perf pack will pay off in autocross.

fordson1

This is not a daily driver. A Mustang GT's mission in life is not to have the most cushy ride.

I think buying a car like this without the performance options is like...I dunno...buying a pickup truck with the smallest possible bed.

Oh, wait...

s197gt

i think it can make sense to buy a stripper mustang gt. i did that with mine. less weight and i was gonna replace most suspension/brake/exhaust parts anyway. as i understand it roush and the like ordered base mustangs to upgrade into their versions. at least they did in the s197 chassis. haven't paid much attention to the new mustangs as i have little interest in them.

agentorange

I also detest black wheels. It would be interesting to see the differences in braking and cornering with this Mustang versus the long term piece. 50% profile boots give a better ride than 40s. Who knew ;-)

metalmania

Definitely agree on the black wheels, they just don't work for me. I do kinda like the 19's aesthetically but honestly these are pretty good. About the comments basically saying it's wrong to buy a car like this without the max performance options... I used to feel that way but not as much now (disclaimer, I don't and never have owned a car like this, but I've always wanted to). Maybe it's because I'm a little older, or that I recognize the reality of where and how I would be driving it 98% of the time. If you're going to take it to track days or autocross, definitely go for all the go fast parts. But if it's going to be a daily driver or a weekend cruiser, I'd probably enjoy it more if it was comfortable and easier to live with. I'm not talking luxury car comfortable, it's still a Mustang, but the reality is I'm going to be slinging around the occasional ramp or back road and not turn 7 onto the main straight of a road course. The rest of the time I'll be traversing the pot holed mine fields and traffic jams of real world roads. The motor is still there, and as long as it handles better than your typical family sedan I'm good with that and would probably drive it more often than if it rode like a rock - because I'm almost never going to have the opportunity to max perform it anyway. However I would NEVER buy a Mustang or Camaro without a V8 - that's where I feel like it would be missing the point. Even if a turbo 6 (or even a 4!) is quicker and gets better mileage, it'll never sound as good as the V8, and hearing that exhaust note would put a smile on my face just driving around town.

kirkhilles1

Also agreed on black wheels. Yuck! I like wheels that "pop" not look like they are covered in mud. Being a guy, you are genetically told that you need MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE!!!! More HP, better handling, firmer ride... but then you get the "oh god what have I done" when you now feel that your suspension is broken because you feel every-freaking-bump. Forget potholes, I mean every-imperfection-in-the-road. Its not worth it. For those who say "it's not a daily driver", I say BS! Nobody in middle class can afford to spend $45k on a vehicle and just have it for the occasional weekend run. You're going to want to enjoy it daily.

I've "seen the light". If there is a choice between 16s, 18s and 21s, I'll choose 16s thank-you-very-much. Especially when it comes time to paying either $700 or $1000 or $1500+ for tires.