The Ecoboost Disappointment

[Softballer77]

I am of course just speaking for myself, but had to just put this out there...

I have always prided myself in owning American Muscle. I own a Mustang, and have had different ones for a few years. I have never owned one that was not a V8 (current car '14 GT500). I understand that Mustang originated with a V6, and to be honest, even if that wasn't for me I understand that you have to kind of hold true to what helped start the whole legacy.

However, to me the years that Ford had a 4 cylinder in a Mustang, those were not great years. Especially the first ones. I figured Ford would have wanted to stick to what works, and stay away from what doesn't work. I understand the need for greater efficiency, changing with the times, etc...but I have always prided myself in hearing that tin-canned Honda running balls to the wall down the quarter or road course and thought "man am I GLAD I own a Mustang with real power and does NOT sound like that!"

Now, when I hear that tin-can rattling, high revving sound coming from an aftermarket cat-back turbo 4 cylinder behind my back, we are now in the time that it can, and will be a Mustang...

..at that point, I'm going to open up the exhaust on my Shelby, and let her howl in firm rebuttal. Ford has created a war between fellow Mustang owners in my opinion. (V8/4cylnder) Mustangs (more recent) have never been known to carry great resale values, but check the resale values on ANY 4 cylinder mustang. You could probably own one for the price of a go-cart now.


Can you tell I'm just a little disappointed?

 

[Softballer77]

I stand corrected. There was the SVO, and it has it's place with a few groups out there, but I have never seen one go down the quarter. To me, I never considered it to be a REAL Mustang anyways. I'm just overall disappointed. Mid 70s anyone? That was the start of the 4 cylinder mustangs, and we ALL know how much we loved that era. Most even go as far as saying it never even existed.

Bleh.

 

[rrg9946]

I stand corrected. There was the SVO, and it has it's place with a few groups out there, but I have never seen one go down the quarter. To me, I never considered it to be a REAL Mustang anyways. I'm just overall disappointed. Mid 70s anyone? That was the start of the 4 cylinder mustangs, and we ALL know how much we loved that era. Most even go as far as saying it never even existed.

Bleh.

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NlJzJxkqCUo

Here's an SVO going down the track lol

 

[Softballer77]

Ha! Looks like someone else didn't like a 4 cylinder in it either! That V8 in that SVO is pretty sick I have to say; however, I was really hoping it showed one going down the track as I still haven't seen one. lol. Those rolling burnouts down the street and that exhaust got me going for sure though.

 

[Clemson]

COMPLETELY AGREE! There will be a large tuner (ricer) faction among the mustang crowd now and that makes me sick to my stomach. Bad enough Ford decided it necessary to cater to the European crowd in the first place.

 

[Todd03Blown]

Here is a video that was just shared on the new 2015 Ecoboost car, done by SVTPerformance's new reporter.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrNpFAj2Ic8

 

[Voltwings]

You obviously dont fully understand the "need for effeciency." The 4 cylinder and v6 mustangs are the reason your GT500 even exists. Companys get taxed based on their overall vehicle fleet mileage, having vehicles that get 30+ mpg allows Ford to be able to have ones that get ... well, substantially less so. I have a bit of experience with turbo 4's and i can "somewhat" understand the purist point of view, but at the same time it is incredibly closed minded.

Let me start by saying i had a big turbo mazdaspeed3, built motor, clutch, E85, the works, and while the car certainly had about 600 whp potential, i kept it tuned to around 480-500 whp... My 5.0 is almost making that all motor on pump gas, so obviously a v8 is "better" for me. That being said, the ecoboost 4cylinder is making more horsepower than any GT prior to the 5.0... does that make it any less of a mustang, or is it simply because it does not "sound" like a mustang? I agree my mazda sounded nothing like my 5.0 lol but you are mistaken if you think an N/a honda motor is comparable at all to a decent T4 with a respectible exhaust.

They're also expanding the Mustangs horizon. Some people are perfectly content with their car being a 1 trick pony: just going in a straight line. However, a track pack ecoboost 4 cylinder would be a shit load of fun, and you're lying to yourself if you say anything otherwise. A light (or so we hope), nimble, RWD car with a good bit of torque and with some proper aftermarket and tuning a decent power band would be a blast! Also, look at any 2v now days and tell me thats not a ricey GT... The 2v is my FAVORITE body style, and maybe its just because i live in South Houston and Vatozone has an exceptional chrome catalog, but the 28-30k pricetag should keep the Ecoboost out of the hands of those with poor taste for quite some time.

The cylinder head design is quite poor on the Ecoboost, namely the integrated exhaust manifold, but mark my words; i bet there will be quite a few hurt feelings within a few months of them being out. Now dont be a cocky Gt500 owner by me saying that, your car costs over twice as much, so its somewhat a moot point. Thats where people get into the "well drop another $30k into the ecoboost" and blah blah blah... Drop $10k into an old fox body shell and you'll rape everyone, so its moot. My point remains the same however, Those new T4's should be pretty nasty.

 

[DHG1078]

You obviously dont fully understand the "need for effeciency." The 4 cylinder and v6 mustangs are the reason your GT500 even exists. Companys get taxed based on their overall vehicle fleet mileage, having vehicles that get 30+ mpg allows Ford to be able to have ones that get ... well, substantially less so. I have a bit of experience with turbo 4's and i can "somewhat" understand the purist point of view, but at the same time it is incredibly closed minded.

Agree 100%

It feels like 1974 all over again (I wasn't there lol). With ever stricter emissions and efficiency standards, Ford needed to do something big, err i mean smaller. We all know the Mustang II was much smaller and weighed in at 400 pounds less than the 1973 model. It also had the first ever 4 cyl. Yes it was incredibly under powered, and underwhelming to drive. But god dam did that thing we despise today [arguably] save the mustang. Ford sold over 385k mustangs in 1974.

We may not like it, but you can't be a mustang purist if you discount any credibility to a 4cyl in the mustang. The 4cyl is important to mustang history and it will do wonders to meet government standards and (no pun intended) boost sales, I hope lol.

Will I buy a 4 cyl mustang? Probably not. Not because I hate the idea of a 4 cyl, but because I just really like a v8 and I have an economy car so I don't need the mileage. the turbo 4 makes far more sense to far more people than a v8 does anyways. Without the v6 and 4 cyl mustangs, we wouldn't have a mustang today.

 

[Softballer77]

To each their own. My point stands, but I respect your opinions. Overall, it will depend on how many people feel how you do, or how I do. And that will be the tell tale on whether it was a good decision to put a 4 cylinder in a mustang once again...

...however, history doesn't paint a very good picture.

To say my GT500 wouldn't exist if not for 4 and 6 cylinder Mustangs...well you may have just made Carroll Shelby turn over in his grave as every Shelby owner would argue that one with you.

I have owned 4 cylinders, they had their place in my life. I have seen many a 4 cylinders out run a lot of V8s. But to me (again), it's not why most Mustang owners buy a Mustang. You look at the 87-93 Foxes, and you tell me who had more fun with them...the 4 cylinder crowd? Or ALLLL those Flowmaster equipped V8s.

I'm not running to my nearest Ford dealer for a "hot little 4 cylinder". And my "need for efficiency" was meaning auto companies having to fall under stricter fuel economies, etc. I knew exactly what I meant, as I'm the one who said it. If they truly need another car that gets 30 mpg so they can have more that don't, then they can sell Escorts again. So, with that being said...have fun with your 4 cylinder Mustang. If I ever bought one, (and I just may again some day) it will not be in a Mustang, I can guarantee you that.

 

[DHG1078]

To each their own. My point stands, but I respect your opinions. Overall, it will depend on how many people feel how you do, or how I do. And that will be the tell tale on whether it was a good decision to put a 4 cylinder in a mustang once again...

...however, history doesn't paint a very good picture.

To say my GT500 wouldn't exist if not for 4 and 6 cylinder Mustangs...well you may have just made Carroll Shelby turn over in his grave as every Shelby owner would argue that one with you.

I have owned 4 cylinders, they had their place in my life. I have seen many a 4 cylinders out run a lot of V8s. But to me (again), it's not why most Mustang owners buy a Mustang. You look at the 87-93 Foxes, and you tell me who had more fun with them...the 4 cylinder crowd? Or ALLLL those Flowmaster equipped V8s.

I'm not running to my nearest Ford dealer for a "hot little 4 cylinder". And my "need for efficiency" was meaning auto companies having to fall under stricter fuel economies, etc. I knew exactly what I meant, as I'm the one who said it. If they truly need another car that gets 30 mpg so they can have more that don't, then they can sell Escorts again. So, with that being said...have fun with your 4 cylinder Mustang. If I ever bought one, (and I just may again some day) it will not be in a Mustang, I can guarantee you that.

Yes we had shelby's before we had 4 cyl mustangs, but that was before the government put tighter standards on cars that necessitated a 4 cyl. Ford could bring back the escort or something, but people don't WANT to drive an escort, they would rather drive a Mustang.

 

[Voltwings]

If you ask anyone what mustang they WANT, it would obviously be a GT500, no one WANTS a v6 or a eco 4. For whatever reasons though thats all some people can afford and its a good engine, in a good platform nonetheless, it will be a fun car. I understand your point, that at the heart and soul of American Muscle is a v8 mustang... I however live in the real world and can aknowledge that this turbo 4 has its place in the line up, and will be a good car to a good many people.

 

[Softballer77]

We shall see. To me, if you want a fun 4 cylinder car, there are way too many others out there built by other manufacturers that have not only a higher resale value, but better reliability and gas mileage to boot. I don't know anyone who says "ohhh, I remember the day when I got my first 4 cylinder mustang". Nope...they remember the black marks they laid 500 feet down their street in the v8.

My whole point was, I used to make fun of those Honda's, etc that sound how they do with a tuned aftermarket exhaust. Now, there will be Mustangs that sound like it too, and I will hate that. No denying that one.

 

[Voltwings]

We shall see. To me, if you want a fun 4 cylinder car, there are way too many others out there built by other manufacturers that have not only a higher resale value, but better reliability and gas mileage to boot. I don't know anyone who says "ohhh, I remember the day when I got my first 4 cylinder mustang". Nope...they remember the black marks they laid 500 feet down their street in the v8.

My whole point was, I used to make fun of those Honda's, etc that sound how they do with a tuned aftermarket exhaust. Now, there will be Mustangs that sound like it too, and I will hate that. No denying that one.

There really isnt, the only Factory turbo options at this time are the Focus ST and like the WRx really. The Mitsubishi lancer Evo has 300 hp but is damn near 40k, and the ralliart only has a measly 230 or so. The dodge Dart SRT-4 "should" be coming out soon, but thats still hardly a hotly contested field.

Again though, look up any turbo 4 and you will notice it is distinctly different than a naturally aspirated 4 cylinder. Still distinctly a 4 cylinder, but the sounds are much different.

And at least it wont sound worse than the current V6 lol, those things are awful.

 

[onlya302]

COMPLETELY AGREE! There will be a large tuner (ricer) faction among the mustang crowd now and that makes me sick to my stomach. Bad enough Ford decided it necessary to cater to the European crowd in the first place.

Uhh, there already has been, for a long time now...

 

[DHG1078]

I just wanna add that even though the 1974 model had triple the sales of the outgoing model, I don't think the sales bump will be that extreme today. Ford has to walk a very fine line between government requirements, and customer wants/needs/ and cost. We may not agree with all of their decisions, but we can all agree Ford is playing the game very well currently.

 

[DHG1078]

COMPLETELY AGREE! There will be a large tuner (ricer) faction among the mustang crowd now and that makes me sick to my stomach. Bad enough Ford decided it necessary to cater to the European crowd in the first place.

Ford is a business, and like all businesses, they are in the game to make money. They have to open up to new markets to sell more cars. There is a huge demand for the mustang in other countries. Why lose out on money when you can sell to more people?

 

[Mach828]

Just jumping in to say I am more interested in the new ecoboost mustang than any other one in the line up.

From what I've heard and seen so far, I'm impressed with the entire design. It will make a great daily, highway cruiser, and I think it will have the capability to be a top contender in the handling department. If I got one I would want to make it an autocross car.

Not to mention you rarely hear any 4 cylinder with a good exhaust setup. With the right exhaust, they can sound pretty dam good.

 

[04svtsnke]

Lol at comparing today's tech to 40 years ago. The motor will make 310+ stock. You can't tell me with a intake/tune/exhaust it won't touch 350-360. Bigger turbo and injectors and you're north of 400. All of this to say that if you don't want a tin can sounding mustang, then get a full 3 inch cat less exhaust, and a cam tuned from an aftermarket vendor later on. As someone stated above its more or less for fuel efficiency to offset the terrible mileage in the halo cars. It's 2014 man, not the '70's. Get with the times.

 

[04svtsnke]

There really isnt, the only Factory turbo options at this time are the Focus ST and like the WRx really. The Mitsubishi lancer Evo has 300 hp but is damn near 40k, and the ralliart only has a measly 230 or so. The dodge Dart SRT-4 "should" be coming out soon, but thats still hardly a hotly contested field.

Again though, look up any turbo 4 and you will notice it is distinctly different than a naturally aspirated 4 cylinder. Still distinctly a 4 cylinder, but the sounds are much different.

And at least it wont sound worse than the current V6 lol, those things are awful.

This!!! Have you ever even heard a srt4, sti, or evo with a real exhaust compared to a tin-can honda? Literally night and day. Some sound like pure sex.

 

[Mach828]

This!!! Have you ever even heard a srt4, sti, or evo with a real exhaust compared to a tin-can honda? Literally night and day. Some sound like pure sex.

My favorite 4 cylinder exhaust would probably be an SRT4 I heard with full exhaust with Borla mufflers. Big turbo and all the bolt ons. It sounded awesome. I've heard a lot of Mustangs with poor exhaust choices that sounded as a bad as some tin can Hondas.