2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 Review
2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1
Price as tested: $59,390
Specs: 5.0 Liter V8
480 HP / 420 TQ
0-60: 4.2 Seconds
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Guy who did stuff: Yousef Alvi
This is the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 and while it may seem like another addition to the dozen Special Edition Mustangs out there…this one is different. Way different.
If you are too lazy to read any further….I’ll just spell it out for you:
“This is one of the best sportscars you can buy today and this is the best (all-around) Mustang you can buy today”
Oh yes, the GT500 is the pinnacle of sportscar engineering and Mustangdom but it’s well deserved price-tag makes it a bit unobtanium for the average human being. While this Mach 1, on the other hand, lays in the sweet spot on the price bracket. Not too expensive to push it toward the Germans but not cheap enough to think it’s just a decal special.
So what makes this darn thing so good?
“The sense of immediacy from every input is nothing short of amazing, from the brakes to the steering to the power delivery to the shifts (kinda)…everyone of those inputs feel like it is surrounding you in a cocoon of motoring bliss. ”
Well first, it’s so easy to drive at the limits that instead getting a sense of impending doom…you have a sense of raw confidence to tackle anything and everything. There is also a feeling of immediacy from every input, from the brakes to the steering to the power delivery to the shifts (kinda)…everyone of those inputs feel like it is surrounding you in a cocoon of motoring bliss. Everyone of those aforementioned inputs is glistening with anticipation of your next move and the Mach 1 responds accordingly, willingly and innately.
One of the most remarkable aspects is the turn-in response. Turn in, off throttle and the Mach 1 responds with a light nimbleness that is straight out of a Miata. Yes, this 4000 pound behemoth, has the reflexes of a vehicle literally half its weight.
Speaking of breathtaking, if you want said breath squeezed out of your lungs, then squeeze on the brake pedal and smile through the pain. The brake feel from the massive 6 piston Brembos is in the top 3 BEST feeling brake setups I have ever tested in my years…it is outstanding. It’s somehow immediate and instant but not grabby…it’s just well…perfect.
Speaking of perfect…let’s talk about the styling of the Mach 1. This is the best looking iteration of this Mustang generation by far! Other models, like the Bullitt, would sway a bit too far into nostalgia-land or like in the case of the GT500…too far in the wind tunnel. This Mach 1 lands right in the middle. It is the perfect combination of retro-styling (without the nausea) and performance (without a gaping front end).
Now, the only thing that I can complain about is the 10 speed automatic. Around town it is great! Rapidly shifting away without a care in the world and slipping into Sport + reveals an almost DCT like gear change. But that is only after third gear…first through third gear is jerky, bouncy and generally an unpleasant experience. So basically, at the end of the day, get the manual.
So overall? You want a sportscar? Buy this Mustang Mach 1. You want a Mustang? Get the GT500 but if you can’t afford it…get this Mach 1. You want to have fun behind the wheel of a car but also a docile daily cruiser? Get this Mach 1.
