StangBangers Test Drive: 2011 Mustang V6 MCA Edition

Aug. 5, 2010 - PRLog -- What’s better? A car that feels faster than it is, or a car that is faster than it feels? Ford’s new 2011 Mustang V6 is a game-changer. It’s making gearheads think the up-until-now unthinkable: Should I opt for the V6 Stang instead of the V8?

When Ford Motor Company threw us the keys to a brand-new 2011 Mustang V6 “Mustang Club of America” Edition, we couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel. While it was not the new 412-hp GT 5.0 or 550-hp Shelby GT500, we were excited. Excited about a V6 Stang, you ask? You bet. The 2011 V6 is all-new, all-aluminum, displaces 3.7 liters, has 305-hp, and is connected to the rear wheels via a 6-speed transmission, whether you opt for the manual or the automatic. Ours was the automatic.

Back in the glory days of the old 5.0 liter V8, we would not have been as excited about the non-V8 engine option. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, that option was an anemic 4-banger. In more recent years, it was an archaic iron block V6, which was better suited to a rental car than an enthusiast car. This new 3.7L V6 changes all that.

To put this in better perspective... The 1995 Mustang GT 5.0 V8 was rated at 215-hp from the factory, took 6.9 seconds to hit 60 MPH, and gulped gas (24 MPG Highway). The 2010 Mustang GT 4.6 liter V8 left the factory with 315-hp under the hood, roared to 60 MPH in 4.9 seconds, while spending a decent amount of time at the gas station (24 MPG Highway). This new V6 Mustang has 305-hp, hits 60 MPH in 5.1 seconds, while sipping gas (31 MPG!) Kudos to Ford on a job well done!

Walking up to the car, I knew immediately that this was a car you not only drive, but make memories with. This Mustang had a presence. It was the “Mustang Club of America” Edition, so it sported an exclusive billet grille, graphics and wheels. Very cool, right down to the MCA sticker on the windshield. She was Red Candy colored, and loaded with just about every option you could get: navigation, HID headlights, rear video camera, etc.

Sliding behind the wheel, you are greeted to an interior that is light years ahead of previous Mustang interiors. The steering wheel is thick and fits perfectly in your hands. The leather seats look great and feel even better; they are firm and supportive. You feel like you could drive across America, coast to coast, without ever wanting to get out of the car.

Shifting the 6-speed automatic transmission into “Drive”, and pushing down on the accelerator pedal, you experience a ride you might expect from a Lincoln. Quiet. You can barely hear the exhaust during routine driving. Until you get on it. Then, you are treated to some wonderful sounds from the dual exhaust, and forward motion which continues to build as the tach approaches redline, until you slow down to observe local speed limits. Where is a race-track when you need one? Steering is precise, brakes adequate, and handing is crisp (perfect blend of comfort and sportiness). The 235/50-ZR18 Pirellis stick to the road like glue. This Mustang is a blast to drive. While the 6-speed automatic transmission does a great job of shifting for you, I can only imagine how much more fun this car would have been with the 6-speed manual transmission.

Warning: This is definitely not a car for an introvert. Everywhere you go, people want to look at the car, talk about the car, and share their Mustang stories. Young and old, male and female, everyone flocked to the car. Kids wanted to sit in the driver’s seat, pretending to drive, as their parents snapped pictures. Older folks would reminisce about Mustangs from their past. Even horsepower-jaded gearheads were anxious to look under the hood, and see for themselves what a 305-hp V6 looks like. If you need more friends, buy this Mustang, and your popularity will skyrocket!

When it came time to say good-bye, it was like saying good-bye to a new friend that you just met but felt an instant connection with. The other cars in my driveway were probably glad to see her go, because they sat idle while she was here. But not me, I’ll miss driving the first 300+ horsepower V6 powered automobile in history, which could keep up with many V8s, deliver 31 MPG, and look darn good doing it!

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