Fun to Drive--Just What I Expected For What It Is
My Mustang is a V6 4.0 Liter Premium Coupe with a standard tranny and an after-market BBK cold air intake. Vista Blue. Goodies include leather upholstery, powered 3-way adjustable driver's seat (IMPORTANT FOR DRIVING COMFORT--IMHO), a Shaker 500 sound system with 6-CD changer, "Bullitt" style 17" rims, a rear spoiler and a "Pony Package" grille fitted with the classic fog lights. I love that grille. Retro style at its best IMHO. The Vista Blue (a medium-blue metallic) is the most beautiful of all of the colors available on the '07s--IMHO.
It's a cruiser. If you like multi-g-force to throw you back in your seat, it's there. 0-60 in 6.5 is the Ford claim. Properly tuned (just a standard mechanic's tune-up--not a custom Bama-style, computerized tuner job) and shifted (hitting the "sweet spot" with each shift), it will do it. I just tried it--glory be! However, against a V8 Mustang--all things being equal--you will see its tail lights rather quickly in a sprint. But hey, I am not planning on racing. GT's, Shelbys, Cobras or Coyotes! My niece has a '16 5.0 liter GT covertible. A different creature, but mine is still a comfortable member of the Mustang clan. Side by side, I like mine better! Much more of a "blast from the past"!
My pony is more in keeping with the stock Mustangs of days gone by. A sporty cruiser with a bit of "get up and go" when you don't feel like mowing the lawn or trimming your hedge. Major attitude came in in '66 with the Shelbys and so forth. I love the fact that the '05-'09 body style harks right back to the '70-'71 vibe. I was born in '66 and I remember the classic Mustangs were all over the place during my childhood. Mine would be pretty comfortable in that company.
There is a number of after-market items one could swap out the stock stuff for on the power plant side of this V6. Bigger port throttle body (70 mm vs. 65 mm stock), throttle body extender/spacer, dual exhaust, hotter coil pack, higher performance suspension components, etc. Got the cash? Like to tinker? Knock yourself out. I did my homework: All of this will probably actually cut down your MPG by a few miles and will probably not be worth the time or money unless you just HAVE TO HAVE everything tweaked to maximum handling and power. One thing though: My mechanic informed me that a cold air intake (CAI) WAS a good idea as a retrofit to my V6. This DOES help the efficiency of the engine without compromising MPG. Especially above 40-45 MPH. There is a pleasant jet-like whistle from the CAI beginning at that speed. I like that.
I will be concentrating on customizing my Mustang in the body, lighting and cabin interior areas of interest; more of an emphasis on style and looks rather than the power and suspension. It is my understanding that dual exhaust can provide added efficiency, but at the higher speeds of 55 and up. This is no doubt in tandem with a CAI and the aforementioned 70 mm port throttle body--at least. I do a lot of in-town driving, so I am not in that frame of mind. WITH EVERYTHING IN GOOD MECHANICAL CONDITION AND ADJUSTMENT: Stay light on the accelerator, coast a lot and shift at 11, 19, 30 and 40 on this 5-speed and your MPG will be pretty good in-town. Watch your tachometer. Coasting should put you at about 500 RPMs and--on the flat--your cruising RPMs shouldn't get above 1-1.5K or so. A trick: Cruise in a higher gear than what you would normally shift into when accelerating to high speed. 15 in third, 25 in fourth, 35 in 5th. Lower RPMs=lower gas consumption. Your in-town MPG should be good then. 18-19 MPG is reasonable to expect barring constant stop-and-go. Choose your routes of travel carefully, if possible. SAVE YOUR BRAKES. Use that standard tranny (if equipped) to maximum advantage by down-shifting to slow down. This "engine-braking" makes your brakes themselves a "braking assist".and REALLY extends their lifespan. Be careful not to down-shift too soon. Feel it out. I down-shift 5 to 4 at 45, 4 to 3 at 35, 3 to 2 at 25 and 2 to 1 at 10. Ford warns against shifting to 1 at speeds over 15.
So fun to drive! A real hoot compared to my '12 Camry and '91 Corolla!
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