The 2024 Ford Mustang comes in six variants, not counting the Shelby American Super Snake, which is an entirely different beast in and of itself. Today, we're focusing on two more accessible Mustang GT trims with a slight difference of 12,000 US dollars between them. One has an automatic gearbox, and the other a manual. So, the question is: will they perform differently over the quarter-mile, or is that $12k a marketing scheme by Ford to rack up more of your hard-earned money? Let's find out.
In the posh or rich corner, we have the 6-speed manual RWD Ford Mustang GT Premium Fastback. In the opposite corner, there's its sibling rival, the basic Mustang GT with a 10-speed automatic transmission system.
Typically, the Mustang's 5.0-liter Coyote V8 engine outputs 480 horsepower and 418 lb-ft (567 Nm) of torque. However, if you slap on the $1,225 Active Valve Performance Exhaust GT option, which both have equipped, you get six more horsepower, meaning 486. Now, let's see how they performed over the 1/4-mile mile and then check out what really sets them apart.
Predictable or not, the base 10-speed auto Mustang GT left the 6-speed manual GT Premium in the dust, crossing the finish line with bus lengths to spare. The former did it in 13.89 seconds at 109 mph or 175 kilometers per hour. Unfortunately, we didn't get the race time for the more expensive one. They went again for a second race but the outcome didn't change.
Photo: The Fast Lane Car
Soon after, followed two final roll races from 30 mph (48 kph) with a bit of a plot twist. The standard automatic GT also switched to the paddle-shifting manual for a more balanced race, but it still didn't matter. It pulled away from the Premium version both times like it was in a Fast & Furious cop chase.
Finally, the last event tested their brakes. The base Mustang with Continental all-season tires and standard brakes stopped completely after 122 feet (37 meters), while the GT with the Performance Pack stopped 98 feet (30 m) after hitting the brakes. Twenty-four feet or seven meters is quite the difference, safety-wise. The Premium finally won one, but lost every single race.
The manual GT Performance model has a Torsen Differential with a 3.73 axle ratio, while the automatic version boasts 3.15. Even though the manual GT Premium has a shorter axle ratio, the 10-speed auto still won by a landslide, which makes this race even more exciting. It's a shame they didn't have a cartoonishly long tarmac strip to see the top speed difference.
Now, let's talk shop; Ford's shop, that is. The cheapest Mustang money can buy is the 2.3-liter EcoBoost Fastback, starting at $30,920, with the Premium version at $36,445. The GT begins at $42,460, with the Premium Fastback at $46,980 and Convertible at $52,480. The "belle of the ball," as The Office's Michael Scott would say, is the Dark Horse, starting from $58,935, with a deluxe $62,930 Premium variant. The dark pony replaced the former Mach 1 as the beefiest version, producing 500 hp while keeping the same amount of twist (418 lb-ft).
Photo: The Fast Lane Car
The GT Premium is about $4,500 more expensive than the standard GT Fastback. Still, with the $5,295 Performance Package, $1,395 Mustang Nite Pony Package with blacked-out logos and emblems, $295 Vapor Blue Metallic paint job, and other extra tidbits, it adds up close to a whopping $60,000, which is around $12k-$13k more than the base model. The 10-speed Select-Shift auto gearbox is $1,595 more, and if you want the Ford Co-Pilot 360 Assist+ feature, that will run you an extra $1,295.
There are many visual differences between the two, inside and outside. Some of the more glaring ones involve the wheels and tires. The standard has 18-inch wheels with all-season tires and big Mustang lettering on the calipers, unlike the other trim, with completely different 19-inch wheels, Pirelli P Zero tires, and huge Brembo branding on the brakes.
Another dead giveaway is the blacked-out Nite Pony Package, which darkens the headlights, Mustang and 5.0 logos, mirrors and roof. It also has a rear wing that might even get a nod of approval from Steve McQueen.
While the acting legend's nod is debatable, he might not approve of the two mirror-like iPads that replaced the classic dashboard which not long ago featured cool muscle dials. The base version has two separate screens, while the GT Premium has a more unified monobrow look. Another unfortunate part is how long the system takes to boot, which will wake your neighbors up until you get to the Quiet Mode from the Exhaust menu.
Maybe a dedicated physical button on the center console would have been more prudent on Ford's side. It's not really quiet if you can get through half your coffee while the 4th-gen 5.0-liter Coyote is casually doing its thing from a cold start in the dead silence of the morning.
Photo: The Fast Lane Car
The automatic base variant has cloth seats, an electronic handbrake, and many plastic elements. While the more expensive version didn't get rid of the hard plastic, it definitely looks better in each department, with ventilated seats and stitching on top. Oh, and the manual has a drift brake, which can make things more fun under the right circumstances. Now for the hard question: Is the interior difference worth the extra $4,520? The boys from The Fast Car Lane say no, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, after all.
After all was said and done, the drivers' takeaways were at polar opposites, each recommending what they drove. The GT Premium Faastback with GT Performance Package driver said his ride was better and smoother, especially after 100 miles per hour (161 kph). The $1,750 adjustable MagneRide Damping System and better brakes certainly improve the driving experience. On the other hand, the driver from the base Mustang GT with the automatic gearbox said the cheaper 5.0-liter version is the one customers should turn to.
The takeaway is that the verdict depends on who you ask. Some prefer a faster, more adolescent-fun, accelerating experience without the bother of shifting gears. In contrast, others want more comfort and stability at over 100 mph, whether it's a manual or automatic. In either case, it's a lot cheaper than the $160k 830-hp 2024 Shelby Super Snake.
Interestingly enough, the quarter-mile drag and roll races and the braking test took place at the one-mile-above-sea-level drag strip where the nice folk from "The Fast Lane Car" YouTube channel usually conduct their wacky races business. Luckily, the team also tested the GT Premium version through canyon roads, so we'll get feedback about that experience in a future video.
Codrin just loves American classics, from the 1940s and ‘50s, all the way to the muscle cars of the '60s and '70s. In his perfect world, we'll still see Hudsons and Road Runners roaming the streets for years to come (even in EV form, if that's what it takes to keep the aesthetic alive). Full profile
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