Topic: Road Trip: 2015 Ford Mustang GT Convertible

[Autos_Editor]

2,700 km, some of the best roads in the South and a Mustang GT convertible make for one great long weekend.
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[Noto]

A really nice road trip, Jeff!  It's funny though - at $58,000, I wouldn't even think of this thing over the competition as listed (even if it is cheaper).

...the V6 convertible, however, at $20,000 cheaper?  Hellz yeah.  The Mustang is not the epitome of a track weapon, stock, but it is a platform to be enjoyed as-is, modified (if so desired), or to be used as a cheap sports car alternative.  For that, I cannot fault it at all for anything.  The interior is much improved, the mechanical upgrades are excellent, and the fuel economy is reasonable in all trims.

I dig it.  A lot.

...but it'd be V6 Convertible for me.

[KD]

I was a few days away from visiting the Ford store to have a look at the V6 Mustang drop-top before I found the S2K.  I would have speced it out similar to AS.  I really like this new Mustang.  The GT will be a nice CPO buy in a couple of years imo. 

[johngenx]

Artic Steve bought the "smart buy" in 'Stang 'Verts.  The V-6 with carefully chosen options is the best value - by far.

[Fobroader]

I do not like convertible vehicles to begin with, they are their hardtops fatter, less athletic sibling so for the Mustang....a V6 would be more than good enough. Nice enough car but I wouldn't spend that much on a cruiser.

[johngenx]

I do not like convertible vehicles to begin with, they are their hardtops fatter, less athletic sibling so for the Mustang....a V6 would be more than good enough. Nice enough car but I wouldn't spend that much on a cruiser.

I'm with ya there - I prefer the 911 Coupe, Mustang Coupe, etc - the exception being the very small highly purpose engineered open cars such as the Miata - using the open car concept as part of the "being light."  But, those cars are super-rare now.

I'd be torn between a Boxster and a Cayman.  It's the one that really fence sits.  Both are excellent.

[Fobroader]

I do not like convertible vehicles to begin with, they are their hardtops fatter, less athletic sibling so for the Mustang....a V6 would be more than good enough. Nice enough car but I wouldn't spend that much on a cruiser.

I'm with ya there - I prefer the 911 Coupe, Mustang Coupe, etc - the exception being the very small highly purpose engineered open cars such as the Miata - using the open car concept as part of the "being light."  But, those cars are super-rare now.

I'd be torn between a Boxster and a Cayman.  It's the one that really fence sits.  Both are excellent.

Thats different though, a roadster is a purpose designed convertible, it didn't have its roof hacked off at the expense of rigidity and weight.

[Noto]

Thats different though, a roadster is a purpose designed convertible, it didn't have its roof hacked off at the expense of rigidity and weight.

...but even a hacked-off-roof Mustang will outperform a Corolla any day of the week.  I would be plenty content with the structure of the Mustang for my own purposes.

The convertible aspect adds a sense of utility to an otherwise large outside, small inside car.  It's the anti-Doctor Who machine.

[Fobroader]

Thats different though, a roadster is a purpose designed convertible, it didn't have its roof hacked off at the expense of rigidity and weight.

...but even a hacked-off-roof Mustang will outperform a Corolla any day of the week.  I would be plenty content with the structure of the Mustang for my own purposes.

The convertible aspect adds a sense of utility to an otherwise large outside, small inside car.  It's the anti-Doctor Who machine.

Dude....a Focus with a sport pack will outperform a Corolla, its not really a fun car. How do you mean utility?? As far as I know all these convertible types affect their trunk room.

[Noto]

Thats different though, a roadster is a purpose designed convertible, it didn't have its roof hacked off at the expense of rigidity and weight.

...but even a hacked-off-roof Mustang will outperform a Corolla any day of the week.  I would be plenty content with the structure of the Mustang for my own purposes.

The convertible aspect adds a sense of utility to an otherwise large outside, small inside car.  It's the anti-Doctor Who machine.

Dude....a Focus with a sport pack will outperform a Corolla, its not really a fun car. How do you mean utility?? As far as I know all these convertible types affect their trunk room.

Utility does not only have to do with cargo capacity...then again, the BMW X6 is called a Sports Activity Vehicle, and not a Sport Utility Vehicle. 

I meant that the convertible function adds some amount of the car that can be, wait for it, utilized, in another way.  That is, the car can be enjoyed not only for driving, but for enjoying open-air transportation.  That, to me, is a function of utility.

My comment re: the Corolla was to suggest that we need not look at the 5.oh Mustang Convertible as the 'ultimate track weapon', but as a reasonably priced, V8, 400+hp, RWD, convertible.  In that way, it is a fantastic vehicle.  No question that the lighter, stiffer fastback will perform (i.e. track) better in every way.

[jyarkony]

Utility does not only have to do with cargo capacity...then again, the BMW X6 is called a Sports Activity Vehicle, and not a Sport Utility Vehicle. 

Actually, I believe it is called a Sports Activity Coupe. Yes, a SAC. Make of that what you will.

Whether Coupe or Convertible, if i could afford it, I would jump to the V8 in a Mustang. IMO, the V6 lacks punch and sounds a bit lacklustre. Might as well get an Ecoboost.

[Fobroader]

Utility does not only have to do with cargo capacity...then again, the BMW X6 is called a Sports Activity Vehicle, and not a Sport Utility Vehicle. 

Actually, I believe it is called a Sports Activity Coupe. Yes, a SAC. Make of that what you will.

Whether Coupe or Convertible, if i could afford it, I would jump to the V8 in a Mustang. IMO, the V6 lacks punch and sounds a bit lacklustre. Might as well get an Ecoboost.

Oh no....not the Ecoboost thing again.....

[Noto]

Actually, I believe it is called a Sports Activity Coupe. Yes, a SAC. Make of that what you will.

[snip], err, I meant to say, "wow...forgot about the horrendous "coupe" addition to the 4-door SUV that has been crushed from the back end." (sorry, Quad!)

Whether Coupe or Convertible, if i could afford it, I would jump to the V8 in a Mustang. IMO, the V6 lacks punch and sounds a bit lacklustre. Might as well get an Ecoboost.

The V6 only lacks punch when compared to the V8.  Compared to a, say, Corolla , the V6 is plenty fast - hell, the 0-60 time is in the upper 5s range..."punch" could be related to its lower torque figure, for which I'm sure the 2.3T would be better, but I wouldn't consider the V6 'weak'.

I still don't care much for the sound that a car makes as I'm often not driving it at full throttle.  I don't love the cringing sound that the 'Rolla makes when pushed, but it gets me where I need to go.  The V6 'Vert Mustang would be plenty in this segment.

[Cord]

Normally I don't like convertibles - too much sun and dirt. It wasn't until the 2013 model that I could stand driving a convertible Mustang for any length of time. The cowl shake was massive and the top and windows often didn't line up properly. It truly felt like a car with the top hacked off. Then in 2013 they seemed to get it together. I have been driving a 2014 5.0 Convertible for a while now and I think the average driver wouldn't even notice a difference in cowl shake between a coupe and convertible. The off-rental 2015s should show up before long and I'm looking forward to spending some time in one.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Is putting the top or down hands free?
 Is there a cover over the roof once it is down ?
Can you get a windscreen? A windscreen is a must on a road trip

[DriverJeff]

Is putting the top or down hands free?
 Is there a cover over the roof once it is down ?
Can you get a windscreen? A windscreen is a must on a road trip

Some good questions there.  There is a grab handle to twist and release the clamp at the windshield header, otherwise, the top is fully push-button and takes maybe 20 sec to fully open or close (I didn't actually time it).  The top sits neatly down in its well, forming the appearance of its own tonneau cover.  It's a clean design that looks good down. 

As for the windscreen, there does not appear to be one listed on Ford's site as an accessory.  I've sent a note to my Ford contact to get confirmation.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Is putting the top or down hands free?
 Is there a cover over the roof once it is down ?
Can you get a windscreen? A windscreen is a must on a road trip

Some good questions there.  There is a grab handle to twist and release the clamp at the windshield header, otherwise, the top is fully push-button and takes maybe 20 sec to fully open or close (I didn't actually time it).  The top sits neatly down in its well, forming the appearance of its own tonneau cover.  It's a clean design that looks good down. 

As for the windscreen, there does not appear to be one listed on Ford's site as an accessory.  I've sent a note to my Ford contact to get confirmation.

Thanks for the answers
Funny as our 2000 BMW is just push and hold the button and the rest is automatic, and the roof is covered by a separate tonneau cover

[OliverD]

Some good questions there.  There is a grab handle to twist and release the clamp at the windshield header, otherwise, the top is fully push-button and takes maybe 20 sec to fully open or close (I didn't actually time it).  The top sits neatly down in its well, forming the appearance of its own tonneau cover.  It's a clean design that looks good down.

Just one clamp? The previous gen had two, one on each side.

[ArticSteve]

the top is fully push-button and takes maybe 20 sec to fully open or close (I didn't actually time it

If windows are up it's 10.5 seconds.  If windows already down 8.5 seconds.

No windscreen available.  Can't really see how that would work out.  Perhaps doable with the Mustang light bar.

[ArticSteve]

Just one clamp? The previous gen had two, one on each side.

Completely different top and structure.  Two rods run across the leading edge (internal) and depending on which way one turn's the handle these rods "pin" each corner to the windshield.  It takes a fair grip to turn.