New Ford Mustang or Holden Commodore or alternatives

I have driven 2 current gen Mustangs - a GT (V8) and 2.3 EcoBoost - as my mother was looking to get a new car. She ended up with one of the last XR8 Falcons instead though.

Biggest thing I would suggest - if she hasn't ever had/driven something like it before - go and drive one! Chances are she will either really like it, or it just won't click.

They are great value for money, and have great road presence. The interior doesn't feel as premium as, say, an M3, but that is jsut the reality of the pricepoint. The GT has really good Brembo's, the Ecoboost's ones aren't as good but not bad. The thing that she really needs to decide is if she wants a sports car to drive hard and fast, or she just likes the look/style. The reality is that they are heavy cars, the steering is quite light, they are a bit soft and the automatic a little slow. For an enthusiast like me, it was fun, but a little underwhelming compared to a more focused alternative like the new Focus RS. But my mother really enjoyed it, as it was fun to drive, but still had a respectable ride, with an auto box, and light steering that meant it wasn't hard to drive. For her, the softer edges were a plus. So it really depends on the perspective.

The 2.3l v V8 is also a hard one to answer without knowing her. The V8 is quicker, and feels a bit quicker. It is also louder (though not too loud), though an exhaust could make either sound a lot louder. The obvious downsides are it uses (potentially a lot) more fuel and costs a fair bit more to purchase. Internationally, Ford have sold more 2.3 Ecoboosts this generation than V8's. Many purists hate the 2.3 Mustang, but it's actually the one I would go for - almost as quick, a lot less money, and you could always upgrade it later. And they look almost identical; very few people could tell the 2 apart.

I would also suggest you don't think of it as a 2+2, but as a 2 seater. Yes it has back seats that are a decent size, but it is awkward to get into the back seats and even once there adults don't really fit in there at all...

So yeah - go and drive one and see what you think. Chances are she'll love it or hate it!

Any questions I might be able to help with just let me know.

MikeB4

Paulthagerous