2012 Ford Mustang V6 Review

In the spirit of the 4th of July I thought I'd review a 2012 Ford Mustang V6. This particular Mustang belongs to a close friend and thus I have had a great deal of experience driving it. As always, before I go into the details of what the 'stang is like to drive, I'll give you a rundown of the features and modifications.

Engine: 3.7 V6
Transmission: 6-Speed Manual
Options: Premium & Sport Package
Mods: Magnaflow Cat-Back Exhaust, Airaid Cold-Air Intake, 73mm Throttle Body, SR Performance Lower Control Arms, Bremmer Kraft wheels






As you can see, this particular Mustang celebrates the classic Mustang "make-it-your-own" mentality. This is one of the things I always appreciated about the Mustang community as almost all owners seem to personalize their ride. The first thing I'll tell you about driving the Mustang is that 13 years has drastically changed what the V6 pony represents. No longer is it the couldn't-afford-a-V8 choice that I owned. With 305 Horsepower before any of the modifications, this Mustang will outperform BMW 3-Series' and Nissan 370Z's alike. But I wouldn't care even if it was slower than those cars. Why? Because the Mustang has bad attitude in spades. Opening up the exhaust and throttle body to more air has quickened the V6's throttle response while giving it a unique burble and crackle on throttle-down similar to the 3.8 in my old Mustang. Handling was never one of the Mustang's strong suits and that doesn't change with this particular car. While the lower control arms help stiffen the rear end and reduce axle-hop, the car still doesn't communicate anything to the driver. Compared to a new GTI, the seating position is ridiculously high and still doesn't give the driver a good view of whats in front of him/her (I compare it to riding an actual horse).

So handling isn't great but who cares? If you're buying a V6 Mustang its not like you're taking it to Road America and running hot laps. What hasn't changed with this mustang is that its not afraid of being what it is. While the Mustang has picked up a ton a speed over the years, it still represents perhaps the best fun-to-dollar ratio and allows enthusiasts access to one of the largest automotive modification communities out there. American Muscle is where nearly all of this Mustang's aftermarket mods came from and one visit to the site will affirm that the Mustang community is still booming after all these years.


Fun:            9/10
Practical:    6/10
Fast:           9/10
Total:        24/30