2011 Mustang GT 5.0

[MX793]

LOLz at the blue over spray on the GT500 pic, including the vertical sway bar link...

I don't think that's overspray.  I think the frame and chassis components are actually painted blue (the color is darker than the grabber blue on the body).

[GoCougs]

I don't think that's overspray.  I think the frame and chassis components are actually painted blue (the color is darker than the grabber blue on the body).

Yeah, upon second look you're right - look at the body sealant dripping at the top of the frame rail - plainly that was applied after painting. Plus, they gotta paint the unibody something, right?

[Cobra93]

Ford lies about rear brakes on Mustang.

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2011/01/2011-ford-mustang-gt-50-has-brembos-single-piston-sliding-rear-calipers.html

Yeah, it sucks that someone at Ford listed the specs wrong, but that really wasn't a deal maker for me.

Plus their brand new long term 5.0 GT has already broken down.

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtests/2011/01/2011-ford-mustang-gt-50-tsb-in-az-part-1.html

Yep. There's a TSB out for a bad fuel pump relay. This marks the first time ever that a major OEM has gotten a bad part from a supplier.
From the article:

"Except the AAA guy can't get the spout of his plastic gas can into the Mustang's capless fuel-filler neck. A metal flap within an inch or so of the Mustang's filler opening won't swing aside to admit the spout. The AAA guy looks at me and I look at him and then we both scratch our heads. Maybe we're doing something wrong? This capless fuel-filler thing is relatively new, after all. He replies that his service truck is a Ford F-250 with a capless filler. We walk over to his truck and find that the flapper in the truck's fuel-filler neck swings out of the way free and easy.

Well, maybe the Mustang thinks it's upside-down and has shut down the fuel pump and closed up the fuel system. The owner's manual tells us that you can reset the fuel-pump cutout by just switching on the ignition. We try it. Engine runs but no luck with fuel filler."

That very same owner's manual tells you that there's an adapter funnel in the trunk for refilling the tank with a gas can. 

[ChrisV]

Well, asking people to actually read the owners manual is a stretch these days. And the brake issue is an upgraded brake package all around that has been tested and works, and every test mentions the single piston rear caliper (as the rear brakes do very little of the work). Too bad it's in the press info and on the window stickers as dual piston.

[Cobra93]

Well, asking people to actually read the owners manual is a stretch these days. And the brake issue is an upgraded brake package all around that has been tested and works, and every test mentions the single piston rear caliper (as the rear brakes do very little of the work). Too bad it's in the press info and on the window stickers as dual piston.

Actually, it's not on the window stickers, but it was on the website and in the order guide.

[SVT666]

Which is unfortunate, but the Brembo Brake Package only upgrades the front brakes and that is mentioned everywhere.

[Nethead]

Which is unfortunate, but the Brembo Brake Package only upgrades the front brakes and that is mentioned everywhere.

Actually, the confusion may be from mixing Mustang GTs with Shelby GT500s:

The GT500 has Brembos on front, and IIRC the Mustang GT's rear brakes are then replaced with the front brakes that were removed to make room for the Brembos.  

In the Mustang GT Brembo package, I believe it is just a straight up replacement of the Mustang GT's front brakes with the GT500's Brembos and the rear brakes remain OEM (except possibly for the pads--check on that if you're interested).

No lead weights need to be applied--as they have to be in some rushed-into-production Brembo applications

[Nethead]

Meanwhile, back on the topic...Edmunds Inside Line is goin' 2011 Mustang GT, and will be presenting periodic updates during the year:

Long-Term Test: 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0



Introduction

By Mike Magrath, Associate Editor | Published Jan 12, 2011

"Mike, wait just a second. Sit down." The meeting with a key executive was going well until this. "One more question." Uh oh. Those are words you never want to hear. "We've got some budget to burn. What should we get: a 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0, or a [generic family hauler *redacted*]?"

The generic family hauler would certainly sell more units than the 412-horsepower V8-powered Mustang GT, and so the reply was carefully calculated. "I want the Mustang, but the GFH sure does have a lot going for it. It'll sell well and is crucial for that brand. But that new 5.0-liter engine is cool. And we did just give up our 2010 Chevy Camaro. And we don't have a muscle car right now...."

"And we haven't had a Mustang since 2005. That was before the blog," he replied.

A few days later, the search was on for a 2011 Ford Mustang GT for a 12-month/20,000-mile road test.

What We Bought
The 2011 Ford Mustang GT Premium starts out at $32,845. And for that you get some serious performance by way of a 412-hp DOHC V8 connected to a slick-shifting six-speed manual transmission. And with a curb weight some 200 pounds lighter than a Chevy Camaro, 412 hp is more than sufficient. A six-speed automatic is optional, but really, no thanks.

Apart from a manual trans and a V8 we had three more rules for our long-term Mustang: 1) It couldn't be a stupid color; 2) 3.73 rear end; 3) keep the price as low as possible. This is a Mustang; it's supposed to be cheap fun.

We managed two out of three.

Early in the shopping process we realized that a GT would be harder to find than a GT Premium. The Premium gets you Bluetooth, iPod integration, satellite radio, leather seats, a power driver seat, leather-wrapped steering wheel and color-adjustable gauges. It also adds $3,200 to the price. Rule three was already looking difficult.

The first Mustang we found was yellow and the second was Kona Blue. See Rule 1 for why those wouldn't work. And then came a spate of fully loaded navigation-equipped cars with dealer-installed wheels. No, no and no.

So when a black 6MT showed up with the requisite 3.73 gearing ($395), and the Brembo brake package ($1,695), we jumped on it despite some extras.

We could certainly do without the $1,200 1,000-watt Shaker audio system that has two trunk-mounted subwoofers. The rear video camera ($385) is nice, but unnecessary. HIDs are $525 and the Rapid Spec 401A package is $395 and gets us contrasting leather and a cool ball shifter, which the aforementioned executive really digs.

Altogether, our 2011 Ford Mustang rocks the register to the tune of $38,780. That price, however, was before the negotiation began. We were offered the Ford Executive Plan, which got us the car for just about $200 over invoice. There were also $1,500 in incentives on the hood so our price was $34,717.61, or, $38,850.94 out the door including all tax/title/license fees.

It's a lot of car for $34,717.61.

Why We Bought It
Life with a 2010 Chevy Camaro SS didn't end the way we expected. The limited visibility and Martian ergonomics meant that unless you had a need for speed, you passed on the Camaro. Despite 426 horses, it was often the last car out of the garage at night. In comparison, another muscle car, the 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T came in as a lame duck — low on power, big on flashy looks — but won us over in the end with its real-world livability and addictive soundtrack.

The Mustang seems to split the difference. It looks just wild enough to be cool and has just enough power to make you grin. The test remains, though, whether this "just right" blending of style and function works in the real world, 365 days in a row for 20,000 miles.

There is accommodation to be found in the middle ground, but rarely greatness. The Chevy Camaro outsold the Ford Mustang in 2010 without a convertible and without owners being able to see out of it. Still, our long-term Camaro lost us somewhere during the test, and the Challenger won us over. Will the Mustang cruise along in mediocrity, rise to the top choice in the fleet or simply fade away and make us wish we'd chosen that generic family hauler?

Twelve months and 20,000 miles will help us decide. Follow along on our long-term road test blog for a year of living with a brand-new 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0.

Current Odometer: 1,573
Best Fuel Economy: 21.5 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 13.0 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 17.2 mpg

Edmunds purchased this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Installment 2:

Track Tested: 2011 Ford Mustang GT
By Mike Magrath | January 23, 2011

This one doesn't need a whole lot of introduction: We bought ourselves a long term 2011 Ford Mustang GT with the 412-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 and a six-speed manual transmission. It rides on summer tires, has a 3:73 rear-end and the Brembo brake package. It was built to tear up the track.

So, no more waiting, want to see what this pony managed during our testing? 0-60, quarter mile, slalom, skidpad, braking and specs after the jump....

Vehicle: 2011 Ford Mustang GT
Odometer: 1,451
Date: 1/5/2011
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $38,780

Specifications:
Drive Type: Front engine, rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: six-speed manual
Engine Type: Naturally aspirated V8
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 4,951 (302)
Redline (rpm): 7,000
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 412 @ 6,500
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 390 @ 4,250
Brake Type (front): 14-inch ventilated disc with four-piston Brembo fixed calipers
Brake Type (rear): 11.8-inch ventilated disc with single-piston sliding calipers
Steering System: Electronic speed-proportional power steering
Suspension Type (front): MacPherson strut
Suspension Type (rear): Solid live axle
Tire Size (front): 255/40ZR19
Tire Size (rear): 255/40ZR19
Tire Brand: Pirelli
Tire Model: P Zero
Tire Type:  Asymmetrical Summer performance
Wheel size: 19-by-9.0
Wheel material (front/rear): Alloy
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,629

Test Results:

Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.2 (2.3 w/TC on)
0-45 (sec): 3.5 (3.6 w/TC on)
0-60 (sec): 5.0 (5.2 w/TC on)
0-75 (sec): 6.8 (6.9 w/TC on)
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 13.1 @ 109.5 (13.2 @ 109.2 w/TC on)
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 4.8 (4.9 w/TC on)

Braking
30-0 (ft): 27
60-0 (ft): 109

Handling
Slalom (mph): 69.0 (67  w/TC on)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.92 (0.91 w/TC on)

Db @ Idle: 48.8
Db @ Full Throttle: 83.6
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 69.8

Comments
Acceleration: As we've noted before, this car runs consistent 5.1-second 0-60 times, but getting under 5.0 requires an optimal launch with virtually no spin (or bog). Hard to "hear" if the tires are spinning or gripping -- they just sort of haze. Shifter felt a little tight / binding but never missed a gate. These are very short gears and I had to go to 5th for the quarter mile. (2-3 shift @ 59.5!)

Braking:  Little / moderate dive, moderate pedal effort and idle stroke, but straight, short and highly fade resistant.

Handling: Skidpad: Balance seems to shift around quite a bit with ESC off so there is some (not much) steering input required to maintain consistent arc. Mild understeer at limit with so-so steering feel/info. With ESC on, very subtle brake corrections and high threshold for intrusion. Slalom: Still amazes me how much better the 2011 is above the 2010 here: Crisp trustworthy turn-in, takes a set very well and so long as throttle input is minute and smooth, there's some lift throttle rotation available. Too much throttle-out and the rear end gets very lose. Steering is precise and weighted just right for quick "dabs of oppo" -- especially at the exit. Well done.

[Nethead]

2000 mile update:

Edmunds Long-Term Road Tests
Daily updates on our fleet of cars and trucks
That Didn't Take Long
By Karl Brauer | January 20, 2011

Seems like just yesterday we got our long-term 2011 Ford Mustang GT, probably because it was just a couple weeks ago and the Ford still has that new-car smell and sheen.

But the odometer passed the big 2-0-0-0 yesterday, proof of how easy this 412-horsepower performance coupe is to live with. I still haven't decided what I like best: the throaty exhaust roar, the properly-weighted steering, the comfortable seats or the rapid acceleration.

Another 2,000 miles might help narrow it down.

Karl Brauer, Edmunds.com Editor at Large @ 2,000 miles

[Nethead]

2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0: And That's Why You Buy a 5.0 Mustang
By Scott Oldham | January 24, 2011



This car rules.



Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief

[Nethead]

There's a photos-partially-obscuring-the-text issue at Edmunds Inside Line, so here's the readable part of this update:

2100 Mustang GT 5.0:  *Sigh*

So I guess this is part four.

Never mind how I came to drive our 2001 Mustang GT home, just know that while I was on my way to work I saw the above message ("CHECK FUEL FILL INLET") about fifteen minutes into my trip. Seeing the message, I paused. I turned the radio off, steadied the throttle and listened for a hiccup. A car can have a lot of problems that can go undetected for a few minutes, miles or months but an issue with fuel will get your attention immediately.

As I wasn't sputtering to a stop or bursting in to flames, I reached for the RESET button located to the left of the steering wheel and cleared the message from the display. When the message failed to reappear after 30 seconds, I whacked the throttle to the floor and tached it out through two gears.

I continued on my way to work.

Not more than ten minutes after I arrived at work, not the least bit on fire, Dan Edmunds was downstairs with a scan gauge in hand, ready to diagnose the Mustang.
fuel2.jpg

Yeah, that's frustrating. While I tried to convince Dan that perhaps the fuel filler just needed a good kick, he began thumbing through the owner's manual. And wouldn't you know it, there's a section in the manual for situations just like this one. To my surprise, it mentioned nothing of hammers, cursing or kicking any part of the ECU. Instead, it instructed us to go to the truck, lift up the mat and retrieve a small plastic funnel.

The funnel, the manual stated, was to be used to clear any debris from the filler area and/or reset the little filler flap (see below) to it's closed position.
fuel3.jpg

The manner in which Dan had to um, manipulate the filler door, bordered on pornographic. Naturally, I took a picture.
fuel4.jpg

After a flurry of funnel thrusting, and way too much laughing, Dan noted that according to the manual, the car would have to remain off for at least four hours and then have to be driven, perhaps multiple times, for the message to clear from the system. Since I was expendable familiar with the problem, I was charged with driving the car home and back again the next day, you know, just to be sure.

So I drove the piss out of it.

The next morning, there was no message. Even after I refilled the tank and drove it around some more, nothing. Had it not already had a TSB performed on a fuel related issue, I would chalk this up to this just being one of those things. But with the car's recent history, it left me a little wary.

I'm a little sad knowing perhaps the only time I'll ever spend with this car (it will never get to the bottom of the 'take-home' list again) was spent wondering if it would get me home. But I'll make no bones about it, I love this car.

Kurt Niebuhr, Photo Editor

[Nethead]

Long-Term Road Tests
Daily updates on our fleet of cars and trucks
2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0: Has Brembos, SINGLE Piston Sliding Rear CalipersBy Mike Magrath | January 19, 2011

This is a screencap from the Ford website. It says the same thing on our window sticker and it says the same thing in every press kit and vehicle specifications page we've seen. The Brembo Brake Package ($1,695) gets you 19-by-9.0 Dark Stainless wheels, Unique ESC tuning and a Brembo Brake Package. This includes 14" Brembo rotors with four-piston fixed calipers and 11.8" rotors with two piston calipers in back.

Trouble is....this Mustang GT (just like the Convertible we tested earlier ) with the Brembo package has single piston rear calipers.

Reader cz_75 called us out on our Ford Mustang GT 5.0 Convertible Track Tested saying, "The rear brakes do have sliding calipers, but they have TWO pistons, not one." Sure enough, the specs say two, but our data sheet, which we compile ourselves, said one.

I scolded the guy who made the sheet and changed the data to reflect the spec chart. When we got our long-term Mustang GT in, I supervised the brake inspection.

"How many pistons."

"One." came the muffled response from under the car.

"how many?"

"One."

"Try again. How many?"

"One. Go look."

Hmm

So a couple of [us] got dirty to check it out. Sure enough, the spec chart was wrong and our car, like the 2011 Ford Mustang GT500, has single piston sliders.

We called Ford from the track to find out what was going on. Told them we'd bought the car off a lot and that it was not a press vehicle or any other sort of pre-production / tuner vehicle.

A few hours (an eternity for a response from a PR rep) we got a call back that the 2011 Ford Mustang GT with the Brembo package does have SINGLE piston sliding rear calipers and not the two-piston ones as advertised.

Media and consumer information is set to be changed as soon as is possible. Expect some pissed off Mustang owners.

Mike Magrath, Associate Editor Inside Line

[Nethead]

Long-Term Road Tests
Daily updates on our fleet of cars and trucks
Ford Mustang GT: TSB in AZ, Part 3
By John DiPietro | January 19, 2011

"JDP, how would you like to take an all-expenses paid trip to Phoenix?" Seeing that I was already in sunny SoCal, I was a bit suspect at Executive Editor Michael Jordan's question. (I didn't yet know about the Mustang GT saga). He clarified: "Our new Mustang GT is at a Ford dealer over there and needs to be picked up."

It would be a quick, one-day deal. Fly in, take a taxi to the Ford dealer, hop into the new 'stang and aim it west for 400 miles. Well, we were talking about the new GT 5.0. The pick up could've been in Hades and I would've jumped on it.

As you've already read, MJ had logged only about 600 miles on the odo when the new pony lost its giddyup. A faulty fuel pump system was to blame, and our new GT was taken to Earnhardt Ford (no relation to the racers) where the TSB for this glitch was tended to. When I arrived at the dealership the friendly service advisor told me the car was all set.

Five minutes later I was outta there. I fueled up right before hitting the 10 Interstate -- love the capless fuel filler. After turning right onto the vacant on-ramp, I leaned on it, taking it to about 4500 rpm on each of the 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4 upshifts, windows halfway down so I could enjoy the crisp, urgent bellow of the exhaust. No, I didn't light 'em up at the mouth of the on-ramp nor chirp the tires on the subsequent upshifts. The 5.0 had less than 700 miles on it and even though there's no official break-in procedure, I don't believe in driving a car hard (hence the non-redline upshifts) until the engine's components have gotten to know each other a bit better.

I soon had a companion for the trip -- rain, which stayed with me nearly all the way to L.A. But apart from 8 miles of stop-and-go traffic just outside Phoenix where the 10 went from two lanes to one, it was easy cruising. A fairly quiet cabin, supportive seats, satellite radio and a Bluetooth connection helped pass the miles -- all that was missing were heated seats (though they're optional).

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable trip, despite the rain.

John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ around 1,100 miles.

[Nethead]

Yes, our long-term 2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 is alive and kicking. I drove it over the long MLK weekend and had no problems at all.

There are some stylish details on the Mustang, including the rear turn signals.
The 3-section repeaters strobe from inboard to outboard when activated.

Very nice.

Albert Austria, Senior VE Engineer @ 1,950 miles

[Nethead]

2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0: Nineteens

By Albert Austria | January 18, 2011

When Edmunds Consumer Advice Associate Ron Montoya informed me that we bought a Mustang GT, the first thing I asked him was "Did we get the Nineteens?" When he confirmed that, I responded, "Yesssss."  So we did get the 19-inch wheels fitted with 255/40 ZR19 PZeros (all part of the $1695 Brembo brake package.)

We ended up with 18s on our dearly departed Dodge Challenger R/T, and I hated them. That vehicle was huge, and from the back it looked like it rode on bicycle tires.

I'm happier with the Mustang GT and love the look of the 19s; they really improve the stance.

And the ride quality is just fine too.

Albert Austria, Senior VE Engineer @ 1,945 miles

[Nethead]

Yeah, upon second look you're right - look at the body sealant dripping at the top of the frame rail - plainly that was applied after painting. Plus, they gotta paint the unibody something, right?

Yeah, BlowCougs, we were sorta negligent not warning you that there will be blue paint on blue Mustangs.  And we're really remiss in not warning you that Ford also paints the undersides of the vehicles they produce, a technique you may not be familiar with.  'Sorry--our bad...

[MexicoCityM3]

Just want to share that a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to ride shotgun on a new 5.0 at the track that I usually attend. The car was a six-speed, mostly stock except for firmer springs, and better tires and pads. The driver was very very good.

Well, I loved the Stang. It definitely felt as fast as my M3 or probably even faster in the hands of this particular guy with great hands. Engine sound was magnificent, handling balance seemed great and wilder (re: more oversteer-prone) than the M3. Couldn?t compare times b/c I wasn?t running my car that day (and the track was in a different configuration) but like I said I wouldn?t be surprised if the stang ran better times.

There is no other car I would get in that price range. This is a driver?s car. I am happy for Ford, it?s great to see an american manufacturer doing such a good job.

Of course the interior and "refinement" sucks compared to the M3 but at that price, who cares? A 5.0 here is less than half the price of an M3. Is the M3 better overall? Yes. Is it better as a performance, driver?s car? Slightly but debatable. Is the price premium over the Stang worth it? Probably not unless you are a BMW lover (like yours truly).

[Cobra93]

Convertible comparison:

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/convertibles/1101_2011_chevrolet_camaro_ss_ford_mustang_gt_comparison/index.html

Let the  begin.

[GoCougs]

LOL - two large paragraphs complaining about the steering wheel and shift knob? And the dude's fingers actually hurt from driving the car??? 

Shades of how M/T tried to justify the Camaro V6's last place finish despite being a better performer than the Mustang V6. Sure, don't like the car because you don't like the styling but at least be honest about it. LOL.

And oh noes, in addition to better ride and braking the Camaro is now the better handler. Nethead, where are you? The Mustang needs you. Badly.

[SVT666]

First Place
Mustang GT Convertible: A loveable and affordable performance car, top or no top. It's hard to overstate how wonderful the new 5.0 is.

Second Place
Chevrolet SS Convertible: While we prefer the convertible to coupe, the Camaro is just too flawed to challenge the Mustang's American performance hegemony.

[SVT666]

LOL - two large paragraphs complaining about the steering wheel and shift knob? And the dude's fingers actually hurt from driving the car??? 

Shades of how M/T tried to justify the Camaro V6's last place finish despite being a better performer than the Mustang V6. Sure, don't like the car because you don't like the styling but at least be honest about it. LOL.

And oh noes, in addition to better ride and braking the Camaro is now the better handler. Nethead, where are you? The Mustang needs you. Badly.

I guess you missed this part eh Cougs:

"The Mustang's a different story. "This car makes me want to do bad things. Dangerously bad things." Evans' voice crackled over the radio after driving the Mustang about 140 feet. While the Chevy is much improved, it's still not competitive with the Ford. As a driver you feel more confident in the Mustang. Not only that, but it's more fun and a better dance partner in the corners. The rear tires hop around less. The steering feels more direct, the pedals are placed better, the shifter shifts better, and (broken record time), because you can actually see out of the thing, the Mustang allows you to drive faster and more aggressively. All very good attributes for a sports car to possess, no? Plus the Ford sounds great and looks good, just like the Camaro. The problem for Chevy is that we can't think of a single thing the Camaro does better than the Mustang, save for braking and brake pedal feel. You might whip out the clich? mentioning that the Chevy has an independent rear end whereas the Mustang makes do with a solid rear axle. But I'd argue that the Mustang GT features the most refined solid axle ever fit to a production vehicle, while the Camaro makes do with a very average independent setup. Case in point: Evans and I both liked how the Mustang handled better. As did our entire testing crew, even though the Camaro put up better figure-eight numbers."

[Nethead]

LOL - two large paragraphs complaining about the steering wheel and shift knob? And the dude's fingers actually hurt from driving the car???  

Shades of how M/T tried to justify the Camaro V6's last place finish despite being a better performer than the Mustang V6. Sure, don't like the car because you don't like the styling but at least be honest about it. LOL.

And oh noes, in addition to better ride and braking the Camaro is now the better handler. Nethead, where are you? The Mustang needs you. Badly.

BlowCougs:  Not since I read reviews of the Yugo years & years ago have I read of a new car that STANK as much in the review as the Camaro convertible did in this article.  It's positively deplorable!  I will go so far as to say that Chevies were better built in the late 'Sixties and early 'Seventies than the Camaro in this review--and that is a damnation beyond all human contemplation!

Did you fail to pick up that this car may be built worse than Consumer Reports all-time build-quality loser, the Chevy Venture?  Or does your PC have a rose-tinted screen cover???

Someday, hot steaming turds will come to realize that IT IS THE WHOLE VEHICLE THAT MAKES A GREAT VEHICLE.  Sometime thereafter, hot steaming turds with mullets will come to realize this, and then you'll get it...maybe  

[the Teuton]

Hey Nethead, don't hate on the Venture. My mom's may have rusted apart and the electronics may have failed well before the transmission and engine, but it still made it to 185k miles before they sold it for scrap.

That said, I have a friend whose mom bought a 1999 Sienna new. It still feels new with 200k on it to the point that we drove it from Pa. to Va. with no concerns whatsoever.

[Mustangfan2003]

I have a hard time figuring out what kind of cars that Cougs even likes.  He seems to like the Camaro despite not driving one but then he bashes GM for taking a bailout.  Then I've seen him bash about every other car that's been posted here. 

[SVT666]

Oh and Cougs, if you hate the way the steering wheel and shifter knob feel in your hands, then it will really diminish your driving enjoyment since those are the only two things you actually hold onto while driving.

[GoCougs]

January 2011 sales figures:

Camaro: 4,763
Mustang: 3,165 (third lowest sales month in Mustang history)
Challenger: 2,526

Camaro convertible production begins this week.

[SVT666]

FUCK!  Camaro must be the better car then.

[Cobra93]

January 2011 sales figures:

Camaro: 4,763
Mustang: 3,165 (third lowest sales month in Mustang history)
Challenger: 2,526

Camaro convertible production begins this week.

And in <a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/watching-mullet-haircuts-for-men-make-a-comeback.html">related news... 

[Mustangfan2003]

FUCK!  Camaro must be the better car then.

Yep, just like Bud Light is the best beer and McDonald's is the best restaurant

[Nethead]

From www.edmunds.com:

2011 Ford Mustang GT 5.0: Boom-Boom Radio Not Required

By Jason Kavanagh | February 3, 2011

First off: this is a killer engine. Killer.

Our longterm 2011 Ford Mustang GT's V8 is super tractable, pulls with authority and sounds great.

The honkus you see above doesn't do a thing at all for the first two items. But it does help with the latter bit.

The honkus is the corrugated tube that's teed off of the snorkus.

This guy is plumbed around the engine bay and under the tower brace, where it is then connected to a drum-looking resonator whozit before terminating at the firewall. The whole purpose of this assemblage is to transmit certain intake frequencies to the cabin. It's purely for sound, and nothing else. We've seen a similar device on other cars like the GTI.

I have to say, the intake note in this car sounds great, and this tube is surely helping to create that impression. Ford clearly valued a good-sounding engine enough to spend the little bit of extra time and money to develop and produce the honkus, and I like that too. I'd personally like it better if they instead put those resources toward an independent rear end, but that's a subject for another day.

Mustangs of 2010 vintage also came equipped with a sound tube like this, and I've noticed that it's somewhat common for owners to remove it. For looks, or to save the pound or two, I guess. Me, I'd leave it in there. Sounds too good to mess with.

What about you, fair reader -- would you keep the honkus, or pitch it?

Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor