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”.
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- Mike Wasnt even a 60/40 vote. Thats really i teresting.....
- SCE to AUX "discounts don’t usually come without terms attached"[list][*]How about: "discounts usually have terms attached"?[/*][/list]"Any configurations not listed in that list are not eligible for discounts"[list][*]How about "the list contains the only eligible configurations"?[/*][/list]Interesting conquest list - smart move.
- 1995 SC Milking this story, arent you?
- ToolGuy "Nothing is greater than the original. Same goes for original Ford Parts. They’re the parts we built to build your Ford. Anything else is imitation."
- Slavuta I don't know how they calc this. My newest cars are 2017 and 2019, 40 and 45K. Both needed tires at 30K+, OEM tires are now don't last too long. This is $1000 in average (may be less). Brakes DYI, filters, oil, wipers. I would say, under $1500 under 45K miles. But with the new tires that will last 60K, new brakes, this sum could be less in the next 40K miles.
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Ford should come out with a ZEV Mustang: "The Electric Mayhem!" Wakka-wakka!
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.