Ford's V-6 Pony "Saddled" With Stupid New Name

by Jack Baruth

Published: May 11th, 2011

ford s v 6 pony saddled with stupid new name

Facebook has spoken, ladies and gentlemen, and it has decided that the automobile formerly known as “Mustang V6 Performance Package” shall be known as the “Mustang Mayhem V6”. Be sure to tell your insurance adjuster. I suppose “Ford ‘Blood In Tha Streetz’ V6” was taken.

As fate would have it, we have a “Mayhem” in the metaphorical TTAC garage right now, and it’s leaving for the twisty “Shenandoah” course at Summit Point where we drove its V8 equivalent last year. I’ve only driven it thirty-four miles so far, but I’m smitten already. This is a fast, if not particularly furious, budget ponycar and when you consider that it costs $25,995, the case only gets stronger.

If only Ford didn’t have a little problem… and, naturally, it involves China.

I always get a little nervous when one of my driving students shows up with a C6 Z06, because the ultra-lightweight wheels on that car are made by “Amcast”. Of course, “Amcast” wheels are made in China, the same way the “Chicago Tools” air compressor and “Pittsburgh Products” wrenches you bought at Harbor Freight were made in China. At one hundred and fifty miles per hour, I’d prefer that I be sitting on rolling stock of known quality. To be fair, however, “Amcast” wheels are not known for failure.

If only the same could be said for the Getrag-designed manual transmission that Ford is using in the current Mustang. It’s also made in China and it’s apparently breaking left and right. I don’t like Getrag transmissions anyway — give me a Tremec TR-6060, as found in the GT500 variants — because they are occasionally junk even when they are made in the good old Fatherland. Add Chinese manufacturing to the mix, and it’s no wonder that owners are reporting multiple, diverse failures. What’s Ford thinking? If there is any group in this country known for being hard on transmissions, it’s Mustang owners. What would be the extra cost of using the American transmission? Five hundred bucks? A thousand?

In any event, if you want to shift your new “Mayhem” yourself, I’d recommend a combination of granny-shifting and double-clutching… and I’d recommend showing your insurance agent the window sticker for the car, which will continue to use the value-neutral term “Performance Package”.

Jack Baruth

More by Jack Baruth

Comments

Join the conversation

3 of 98 comments

Mazder3 on May 11, 2011

Ford should come out with a ZEV Mustang: "The Electric Mayhem!" Wakka-wakka!

Like Reply
Ry_Trapp0 on May 12, 2011

whoa whoa whoa jack!!! the getrag trans are not FAILING(I.E., breaking), they are having hard shifting issues. there are plenty of 10 second 600+RWHP full weight mustang GTs with 100% stock getrags(aftermarket clutch aside), and not one has broken(which is quite surprising based on previous GT trans). this is a VERY young trans, and, just like the 5.0l, there will be some issues that will take a few years to work out. the TR6060 is an upgraded version of the old T56, and is STILL having issues in the 2012 shelby GT500. as far as the 'mayhem' name is concerned, it was voted on by mustang fans on facebook.

Like Reply
- DrivingEnthusiast.net on May 12, 2011
  
  Not broken? Metal bits in the bottom of the tranny, broken off teeth, and broken shift forks. That doesn't mean "broken"? Look at all the pictures in the forums. Not to mention owners trust and dreams broken. Obviously another great example of Mustang engineering here. Their engineering and testing process is obviously broken, too. Or if not broken, then just plain crap.
  
  Like

Recent Comments

Honda1 Unions were needed back in the early days, not needed know. There are plenty of rules and regulations and government agencies that keep companies in line. It's just a money grad and nothing more. Fain is a punk!
1995 SC If the necessary number of employees vote to unionize then yes, they should be unionized. That's how it works.
Sobhuza Trooper That Dave Thomas fella sounds like the kind of twit who is oh-so-quick to tell us how easy and fun the bus is for any and all of your personal transportation needs. The time to get to and from the bus stop is never a concern. The time waiting for the bus is never a concern. The time waiting for a connection (if there is one) is never a concern. The weather is never a concern. Whatever you might be carrying or intend to purchase is never a concern. Nope, Boo Cars! Yeah Buses! Buses rule!Needless to say, these twits don't actual take the damn bus.
MaintenanceCosts Nobody here seems to acknowledge that there are multiple use cases for cars.Some people spend all their time driving all over the country and need every mile and minute of time savings. ICE cars are better for them right now.Some people only drive locally and fly when they travel. For them, there's probably a range number that works, and they don't really need more. For the uses for which we use our EV, that would be around 150 miles. The other thing about a low range requirement is it can make 120V charging viable. If you don't drive more than an average of about 40 miles/day, you can probably get enough electrons through a wall outlet. We spent over two years charging our Bolt only through 120V, while our house was getting rebuilt, and never had an issue.Those are extremes. There are all sorts of use cases in between, which probably represent the majority of drivers. For some users, what's needed is more range. But I think for most users, what's needed is better charging. Retrofit apartment garages like Tim's with 240V outlets at every spot. Install more L3 chargers in supermarket parking lots and alongside gas stations. Make chargers that work like Tesla Superchargers as ubiquitous as gas stations, and EV charging will not be an issue for most users.
MaintenanceCosts I don't have an opinion on whether any one plant unionizing is the right answer, but the employees sure need to have the right to organize. Unions or the credible threat of unionization are the only thing, history has proven, that can keep employers honest. Without it, we've seen over and over, the employers have complete power over the workers and feel free to exploit the workers however they see fit. (And don't tell me "oh, the workers can just leave" - in an oligopolistic industry, working conditions quickly converge, and there's not another employer right around the corner.)