Two days after owning my 2012 mustang gt, review

Will3212 · May 11, 2011

I will post pictures later this afternoon. It's a red 2012 mustang gt coupe stick shift premium. The car is awesome to drive and definetly looks good. The shifter is good and the interior is top notch. I'm coming from an 04 civic automatic by the way. Before I got the car I had the impression that the mustang gt was very powerful and when I accelerate my back will sink into the seat. This doesn't seem to be the case, unless I'm doing something wrong. Which gear should I pull in to get this back-into seat feeling? like should I be in 3rd and take it to 5000rpm or something? When I step on the clutch there is a small creak noise is this normal? it's not a loud noise but just a small creak. There is also a little noise coming from the suspension but I guess that's normal, I'm a little concerned about the clutch. I have 200 miles on the car.

Calpony666 · May 11, 2011

When i test drove a Mustang GT last month, I was disappointed in how little pull the car have down low. It has 412hp, I was expecting a lot more pull. The car pulls hard once you are at 4000rpm and more. The problem is with your gearing, your car have the standard 3.31 gearing (good for fuel economy. That's why there's 3.55 and 3.73 gearing options. The 3.73 have much better pull in any rpm, especially down low at the expense of a few mpg i guess. I ended up ordering a GT with 3.73 gearing as a result.

Oh..for a sink into the seat feel, do this.
1st gear...hold the rpm to around 3000 or 4000rpm then floor it to redline (7000rmp). 2nd gear should work too
enjoy your new car.

dynasty_365 · May 11, 2011

ive had my 2012 over a week now and at first i didn't know what i was doing really being new to a stick. but now that thing puts me in my seat. man u probably shifting early and being conservative. hit that first gear and then second. hold them all the way to 6000 rpms or so. i never go to redline but idk thats jst me but it puts me in my seat but i also have the 3.73 gears. i ride in 5th gear also keeping the rpms high so i can get on it when i want to. and the car just jumps when i hit the throttle on the interstate. if u in 6th gear u wont get that get up and go cuz the engine is turning slower than the transmission. that gear is really an overdrive and a fuel saver. i like 5th. hell with saving gas lol

Will3212 · May 11, 2011

Calpony666 said:
When i test drove a Mustang GT last month, I was disappointed in how little pull the car have down low. It has 412hp, I was expecting a lot more pull. The car pulls hard once you are at 4000rpm and more. The problem is with your gearing, your car have the standard 3.31 gearing (good for fuel economy. That's why there's 3.55 and 3.73 gearing options. The 3.73 have much better pull in any rpm, especially down low at the expense of a few mpg i guess. I ended up ordering a GT with 3.73 gearing as a result.

Oh..for a sink into the seat feel, do this.
1st gear...hold the rpm to around 3000 or 4000rpm then floor it to redline (7000rmp). 2nd gear should work too
enjoy your new car.

so the 3.31 is the one I have. It's better on gas? like what 1 or 2 mpg more? Here's a picture of my new 2012 mustang gt

Calpony666 · May 11, 2011

Yes, 3.31 is the standard gearing for Mustang GT. Unless your window sticker said 3.55 or 3.73 (both are $395 options). Me and my bro both test drove a 3.31 GT last month. We both were surprised at how smooth and quiet the car is and a little disappointed in the low end pull of a 412hp car. By low end, i mean 1000rpm to 3500rpm. the 17 city/26 hway are for the 3.31 gearing i am sure. The 3.73 should be 1 or 2 mpg lower. (Just my guess). Anyway, you can always change your gearing...but it's going to cost you way more than $395 thou.
P.s Love the color

Will3212 · May 11, 2011

Calpony666 said:
Yes, 3.31 is the standard gearing for Mustang GT. Unless your window sticker said 3.55 or 3.73 (both are $395 options). Me and my bro both test drove a 3.31 GT last month. We both were surprised at how smooth and quiet the car is and a little disappointed in the low end pull of a 412hp car. By low end, i mean 1000rpm to 3500rpm. the 17 city/26 hway are for the 3.31 gearing i am sure. The 3.73 should be 1 or 2 mpg lower. (Just my guess). Anyway, you can always change your gearing...but it's going to cost you way more than $395 thou.
P.s Love the color

thanks, so what would you recommend for that sink into your seat feeling? what should I do exactly like take 3rd gear up to 3k rpm then downshift to 2nd or something? sry this is my first stick shift car and just the 2nd day owning it

Calpony666 · May 11, 2011

well...in general, the lower the gear...the harder the pull. The higher the rpm, the harder the car pull.
so the hardest pull is 1st gear...from 3000rpm to 7000rpm it should pull the hardest. Anytime your car is in low gear (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and high RPM (4000rpm to 7000rpm) It should pull hard.

If you are in 4th, 5th or 6th gear and engine rpm at 3000 or lower, it will not have much pull.
Hope this helps. By the way, i live in Queens as well. My car will be here in about a month, maybe i will run into you someday

Will3212 · May 11, 2011

Calpony666 said:
well...in general, the lower the gear...the harder the pull. The higher the rpm, the harder the car pull.
so the hardest pull is 1st gear...from 3000rpm to 7000rpm it should pull the hardest. Anytime your car is in low gear (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and high RPM (4000rpm to 7000rpm) It should pull hard.

If you are in 4th, 5th or 6th gear and engine rpm at 3000 or lower, it will not have much pull.
Hope this helps. By the way, i live in Queens as well. My car will be here in about a month, maybe i will run into you someday

it's cool seeing another mustang owner on the road lol. I wish I got the 3.71 gear ratios, I mean I know the 3.31 i have is better on gas but..do you think the 3.71 will pull much harder? they're the same engine so i was thinking it's very similiar

prae_21 · May 11, 2011

"The car is awesome to drive and definetly looks good."

Wow, awesome review. Who knew?! Now, I will leave work right away to go trade in my '10.

BTW...shouldn't this thread be entitled "How to shift gears?"

Calpony666 · May 11, 2011

Will3212 said:
it's cool seeing another mustang owner on the road lol. I wish I got the 3.71 gear ratios, I mean I know the 3.31 i have is better on gas but..do you think the 3.71 will pull much harder? they're the same engine so i was thinking it's very similiar

Well, it's not how much harder the 3.73 pulls. A 3.73 gearing GT feels different from a 3.31 gearing Gt. It feels more lively...you know...more kick of the pants feeling. It's like a bicycle...same person riding, so you have the same power. But if you ride a 18 or 21 speed bicycle, and your bicycle have 2 or 3 different rear end gearing that you can choose then you will know what i mean. Best thing to do is test drive a 3.73 then you will know if it's worth it to change to it. Maybe someone else can explain better chime in here?

jag989 · May 11, 2011

If you decide you don't want to change your gearing (or maybe even if you do), something as simple as a CAI and tune combo can add a surprising amount of responsiveness at lower RPMs.

You'd be very surprised how much you can get out of about $350-500 and maybe a 30-45 minutes of installation. I went with Steeda's intake from AM, very happy with it.

TheCPE · May 11, 2011

Well I'd wager that you aren't familiar with how to drive a manual.

Unlike in your automatic civic (which probably had about 140hp) when you press the peddle it doesn't automatically down shift for you and put you in the power band.

If you don't know how to put the car in the power band having 400hp doesn't mean anything.

I doubt the 3.31s are the problem. I've got the 3.55s and it will put me in my seat no problem...the difference between 3.73 to 3.55 to 3.31 is not going to be SOTP obvious.

Learn the 6 speed and at what gear for what mph to get you into the power band and you'll be set.

dynasty_365 · May 12, 2011

Yea man I have the 3.73 in mine and at first it took some getting used to driving the stick but and I wasn't in the right gear and wasn't holding my rpms long enough. I'm a week and a half in and I cam say I pin my ass in the seat everytime I shift into a gear now. I still have a little trouble on my take off into first gear but after that it pins me in the seat. Btw stalling in a major intersection sucks complete ass lol

Ateup · May 12, 2011

Get a cold air intake and a tune.

arcwcb · May 12, 2011

I'm going to agree with everybody on saying it's not the car, it's your shifting that's keeping you from getting the brutal acceleration. Aren't you the person who posted on here saying you'd never driven a manual before and needed tips on how to get the car going and not stall out in the lot? How can you say the shifter is smooth and give a review of a car that you can't really even drive yet? Keep practicing, drive it for a while, get used to the car and then in a couple months when you can actually shift and drive the car, post a review.

Will3212 · May 12, 2011

Calpony666 said:
Well, it's not how much harder the 3.73 pulls. A 3.73 gearing GT feels different from a 3.31 gearing Gt. It feels more lively...you know...more kick of the pants feeling. It's like a bicycle...same person riding, so you have the same power. But if you ride a 18 or 21 speed bicycle, and your bicycle have 2 or 3 different rear end gearing that you can choose then you will know what i mean. Best thing to do is test drive a 3.73 then you will know if it's worth it to change to it. Maybe someone else can explain better chime in here?

hey by the way, do you hear a rubbing noise coming from the suspension? i don't know if this is normal or not. My friend rode in it and said it's because the suspension is new and very stiff.
I just drove the car and it's a "groan" noise, is this normal? you know how to get rid of it?

lokstag1 · May 12, 2011

I have a 2012 with 3.31s. I can burn 1st and 2nd easily with traction control off and get serious scratch on 3rd on a little bite on 4th. If that's not good acceleration I don't know what is. Remember, your horse power peak is at 6500. You need to be shifting after that to get the most out of your motor. Also remember this is one of the smoothest motors on the market, for any car manufacturer. That will make it seem like your not running as hard as you are because its not harsh. additionally this isn't a turbo four. It has a nice smooth linear power curve above 4k. That will contribute to the lack of "brutal". This ain't your daddies muscle car...

lokstag1 · May 12, 2011

I just reread your first post. "...in third gear and take it to 5000 rpm..." Dude, your peak torque just checked in 750 revs ago and your peak horsepower doesn't hit for another 1500 revs. If your banging your shifts at 4500 youre really missing the point...

kyle_99gt · May 13, 2011

im really not sure how you dont get a kick in your pants when you put your foot down, my car has 130 hp less then you and i get a good push back in my seat when i punch it at close to 3000 rpm.

Calpony666 · May 13, 2011

I think it's expectation. 412hp and you don't get the woooooooooo feeling till 4000RPM+
A change of Gear can give him that wooooo feeling earlier. A tune can do the same.

Ordered 4/2/2011
2012 Kona Blue Mustang Gt Premium, 3.73 gearing, 19" premium rim, Hid+Sec, Glass roof, 401A package
Build date 5/5/2011, In transit, ETA May 19th, 2011 wooooooooooooooo

Two days after owning my 2012 mustang gt, review

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