Browncoat3000
Red 5 standing by
- First Name
- Todd
- Joined
- Jun 16, 2016
- Threads
- 90
- Messages
- 1,112
- Reaction score
- 1,080
- Location
- Ohio
- Vehicle(s)
- Civic Si, Odyssey EX-L
- Vehicle Showcase
- 2
- Thread starter
- #1
There is a comparison on the YouTubes between the Mustang GT and the Type-R. I just spent a week cruising with the Ecoboost version, and I think a similar comparison can be made between this less expensive and lower powered model and the Si. My rental was the convertible version of the 2.5L turbo-4 'Stang.
I'll start by saying that I know the RWD Mustang is a very different car, however the two cars are not that far apart in price, so someone who is looking for sporty fun could easily add the Mustang to their list. It's been a long time since I've driven a sporty RWD car, and I forgot how much fun it can be to wag the tail on a corner, and using the line-lock for...well it was a rental. That type of automotive shenanigans is different from the surgical precision of the Civic, and will certainly appeal to different buyers.
Here's what you do get with the Mustang: a very competent touring car. The Mustang seems big compared to the Civic, although that's mainly an illusion caused by the big front end. The front seats are very comfortable and are heated and cooled, which is better than the Si's heat only option. Visibility is good, even with the top up, and the automatic transmission really reduced fatigue on the long stretches of twisty hilly road that is the Pacific Coast Highway. If you want a fantastic road-trip machine, this is it.
Here's what it isn't: a refined sports car. That's never been the Mustang's claim to fame, although some of the high-end versions are trying to change that. The Si is clean and precise, think about it and that's where she goes. The gears are smooth, and the handling predictable, like the Thoroughbred 30 years of Si evolution has made it. The pony on the other hand is more like a Labrador Retriever, it's kind of dimwitted, rolls around a lot, and farts. I'm serious about that last part, the Ecoboost's waste-gate is very noisy.
And let's talk about power: the 310HP has to push around a whopping 1500 pounds more than the Si. The Mustang claims a 0-60 of 5.3, which is astonishingly close to the Si, and to me the two cars seemed almost identical in power with two key exceptions: the Ford has MASSIVE turbo-lag in it's normal driving mode, and the torque really falls off at higher speeds. Also, the automatic transmission's shifting logic was sometimes off, sometimes downshifting with a hard clunk at unexpected times.
Inside, the Mustang's back seat might as well not be there. The trunk is roughly half the size of the Si, and the exhaust note sets up an unpleasant harmonic when you get north of 80 mph. It's not fair to compare sound levels otherwise since one is a convertible. The Infotainment system uses Apple CarPlay, and seemed just as buggy as Honda's version. The display is less readable and less intuitive than Honda's, but that may be fixable with different settings. The Ford does have the edge with engine information. The dash screen has extensive information about everything from intake temperature to transmission oil temp. I also like having the individual tire pressures displayed. The one thing the Ford doesn't have is the outside temperature on the dash. Instead it's on the head unit, but it gets covered if you are using CarPlay. In the Midwest I find knowing the temperature to be very important on a wintery road.
The Honda build quality is superior. This car had only 5000 miles on it, and already it had several buzzes and rattles in the interior. Also, the Ford's wheel at neutral was about 10 degrees off to the left, a fact that bugged my OCD for the entire week.
So, there you have it. Personally, on a long road-trip I'd take the Mustang. Top down in the sun on a country road it's pretty great. But I don't think I could live with it as a daily. Also, I'd rather have the Si for Autocross or a track-day. The Si is just a better combination of fun and practicality for the money.
I'll start by saying that I know the RWD Mustang is a very different car, however the two cars are not that far apart in price, so someone who is looking for sporty fun could easily add the Mustang to their list. It's been a long time since I've driven a sporty RWD car, and I forgot how much fun it can be to wag the tail on a corner, and using the line-lock for...well it was a rental. That type of automotive shenanigans is different from the surgical precision of the Civic, and will certainly appeal to different buyers.
Here's what you do get with the Mustang: a very competent touring car. The Mustang seems big compared to the Civic, although that's mainly an illusion caused by the big front end. The front seats are very comfortable and are heated and cooled, which is better than the Si's heat only option. Visibility is good, even with the top up, and the automatic transmission really reduced fatigue on the long stretches of twisty hilly road that is the Pacific Coast Highway. If you want a fantastic road-trip machine, this is it.
Here's what it isn't: a refined sports car. That's never been the Mustang's claim to fame, although some of the high-end versions are trying to change that. The Si is clean and precise, think about it and that's where she goes. The gears are smooth, and the handling predictable, like the Thoroughbred 30 years of Si evolution has made it. The pony on the other hand is more like a Labrador Retriever, it's kind of dimwitted, rolls around a lot, and farts. I'm serious about that last part, the Ecoboost's waste-gate is very noisy.
And let's talk about power: the 310HP has to push around a whopping 1500 pounds more than the Si. The Mustang claims a 0-60 of 5.3, which is astonishingly close to the Si, and to me the two cars seemed almost identical in power with two key exceptions: the Ford has MASSIVE turbo-lag in it's normal driving mode, and the torque really falls off at higher speeds. Also, the automatic transmission's shifting logic was sometimes off, sometimes downshifting with a hard clunk at unexpected times.
Inside, the Mustang's back seat might as well not be there. The trunk is roughly half the size of the Si, and the exhaust note sets up an unpleasant harmonic when you get north of 80 mph. It's not fair to compare sound levels otherwise since one is a convertible. The Infotainment system uses Apple CarPlay, and seemed just as buggy as Honda's version. The display is less readable and less intuitive than Honda's, but that may be fixable with different settings. The Ford does have the edge with engine information. The dash screen has extensive information about everything from intake temperature to transmission oil temp. I also like having the individual tire pressures displayed. The one thing the Ford doesn't have is the outside temperature on the dash. Instead it's on the head unit, but it gets covered if you are using CarPlay. In the Midwest I find knowing the temperature to be very important on a wintery road.
The Honda build quality is superior. This car had only 5000 miles on it, and already it had several buzzes and rattles in the interior. Also, the Ford's wheel at neutral was about 10 degrees off to the left, a fact that bugged my OCD for the entire week.
So, there you have it. Personally, on a long road-trip I'd take the Mustang. Top down in the sun on a country road it's pretty great. But I don't think I could live with it as a daily. Also, I'd rather have the Si for Autocross or a track-day. The Si is just a better combination of fun and practicality for the money.
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