Mustang GT roadtrip

[JST]

My parents have decided to retire from retirement, and asked me and my 12 yo daughter to ferry one of their cars up from Charleston to DC.

Our ride was a 2017 Mustang GT convertible. There are so many packages with the Mustang that it’s taken me a few min of research to unpack its specs, but it looks like 435 hp from the 5.0 liter V8 in this tune, with a 6 speed manual. The Performance package adds 3.73 gears with a Torsen diff, stiffer shocks, bigger brakes, a variety of other stuff, and summer tires.

Forecast temp for the trip? 40 degrees and falling. At least it didn’t look like snow.

In the end, it was a smooth and uneventful drive, split into two days. Total travel time was around 8 hours, with a couple of fuel stops and a short detour into South of the Border, because my daughter was fascinated by the idea of such overly racist kitsch. That is a gross and dirty place, fwiw, and I do not recommend the coffee there.

The Mustang in this configuration isn’t really made for highway driving. With 3.73s, it struggles to get 21 mpg on the highway, and even in sixth at, um, more than 80 it’s pulling 2600 rpm, which is a lot for a big V8. The range is a little less than my Model 3, at just over 300 miles.

But the seats are comfortable (a first for a Mustang), and you don’t have any trouble passing when the need arises.

What this Mustang is good for is lurid tail slides. Especially when it’s cold. Even if you don’t mean to. The traction control gives you a long leash, and you can find yourself auditioning for Formula D on the way to Outback Steakhouse with little provocation. Maybe it’s just been too long since I’ve driven a powerful RWD car.