I drove 3.7 auto Mustang and I was a little disappointed.
By my highly calibrated butt-dyno calculations, my PT Cruiser pulls harder at 2000 rpm than the Mustang did. A lot harder. Earlier 4.0 Mustangs pulled better. My Mazda pulls that hard and it's about to turn 140,000 miles with a 700cc displacement deficit.
I realize that the automatic is programmed to maximize fuel economy but in manual mode in second gear at 2000 rpm, I really expected it to accelerate better. I won't be buying an automatic. I hate that chintzy little rocker switch on the side of the gear selector. It's kind of in an unnatural position and if you are going to take your hand off the wheel, you might as well move something. fore to aft like my Mazda or side to side like my Chrysler. Should have put paddles on it or stuck the +/- buttons on the steering wheel like Porsche was doing.
I still can't get over how sluggish it felt. I kept thinking that I liked the German SOHC 4.0 Ranger/Exploder mill that preceded it better. I know that the Cologne 4.0 will fall on it's face at the rpm that the 3.7 is hitting it's stride but it seemed easier coming out of a corner on the power in the old engine.
Does the 3.31 ratio Performance package make that much of a difference over the two 2.73 Mustangs I drove? If so there may be hope for a nice spot in the garage for a Mustang afterall.
By my highly calibrated butt-dyno calculations, my PT Cruiser pulls harder at 2000 rpm than the Mustang did. A lot harder. Earlier 4.0 Mustangs pulled better. My Mazda pulls that hard and it's about to turn 140,000 miles with a 700cc displacement deficit.
I realize that the automatic is programmed to maximize fuel economy but in manual mode in second gear at 2000 rpm, I really expected it to accelerate better. I won't be buying an automatic. I hate that chintzy little rocker switch on the side of the gear selector. It's kind of in an unnatural position and if you are going to take your hand off the wheel, you might as well move something. fore to aft like my Mazda or side to side like my Chrysler. Should have put paddles on it or stuck the +/- buttons on the steering wheel like Porsche was doing.
I still can't get over how sluggish it felt. I kept thinking that I liked the German SOHC 4.0 Ranger/Exploder mill that preceded it better. I know that the Cologne 4.0 will fall on it's face at the rpm that the 3.7 is hitting it's stride but it seemed easier coming out of a corner on the power in the old engine.
Does the 3.31 ratio Performance package make that much of a difference over the two 2.73 Mustangs I drove? If so there may be hope for a nice spot in the garage for a Mustang afterall.