WHY YOU SHOULDN'T BUY THE 2024 MUSTANG

Summary

In this review of the 2024 Mustang S650, the owner shares multiple frustrations, highlighting key issues such as inadequate cooling, rapid oil temperature increases, and limitations on tuning. Other problems include buggy Apple CarPlay, cheap interior plastics, transmission quirks, and costly air filter maintenance. The lack of a standard Whipple supercharger is also criticized, especially for the Dark Horse model. While the S650 boasts some improvements over the S550, these persistent issues may lead potential buyers to consider alternative options like the S550 or other performance cars.

Takeaways

• 😀 The 2024 Mustang S650 lacks sufficient cooling, particularly due to the absence of performance pack features like extra oil and transmission coolers.
• 😀 Oil temperatures on the S650 rise quickly, especially after a few hard accelerations, causing the car to limit performance to prevent overheating.
• 😀 The transmission shifts at lower RPMs (around 6,000-6,500 RPM) to protect the engine and transmission, limiting the car’s potential during high-performance driving.
• 😀 The S650 Mustang is currently untunable, which is a major drawback for enthusiasts who want to modify their car’s performance. Tuning may be available in the future, but not yet.
• 😀 Apple CarPlay on the S650 is buggy, with issues such as no sound output and problems with parking lines, requiring system resets to resolve.
• 😀 The plastic interior materials in the S650 are cheaper than expected, with the side skirts easily scuffing and interior plastics feeling lower quality compared to the S550.
• 😀 The 10-speed automatic transmission occasionally shifts to the wrong gear when going uphill, requiring manual input to ensure proper speed.
• 😀 The air filters in the S650 are costly to maintain, with a recommended change every 3,000 miles. The filters quickly get dirty, impacting performance.
• 😀 The S650 Mustang should come with a Whipple supercharger from the factory, as aftermarket options are expensive (around $10,000-$12,000) for what the car offers.
• 😀 The S650 Mustang is a solid car overall, but it has several issues, including cooling and tuning limitations, that may make some buyers opt for the S550 or another vehicle.

Q & A

What is the main concern the speaker has regarding the 2024 S650 Mustang?

The speaker is concerned about the cooling system in the 2024 S650 Mustang, specifically the lack of additional oil and transmission coolers found in the performance pack models.

Why does the speaker regret not getting the performance pack for the S650?

The speaker regrets not opting for the performance pack because it includes extra oil and transmission coolers, which would help prevent rapid overheating of the car's components during performance driving.

What happens when the S650 Mustang's oil temperature reaches 260°F?

When the oil temperature hits 260°F, the car starts pulling timing to protect the engine, causing a noticeable reduction in performance.

What issue does the speaker notice with the car's shift points in the S650?

The speaker observes that the shift points in the S650 are short and do not reach the expected 7,000 RPMs; instead, the car shifts at lower RPMs like 6,000 or even 5,000 RPMs to help prevent overheating.

Why is tuning a major issue for the 2024 S650 Mustang?

Tuning is a major issue because the 2024 S650's Gen 4 Coyote 5.0 engine is not tunable yet, which is disappointing for many buyers who want more customization options for performance.

What workaround is available for people wanting to increase performance on the S650?

A workaround is available through Whipple, which offers a 3.0 Whipple supercharger with an out-of-the-box tune, allowing users to make up to 900 horsepower to the wheels.

What problem does the speaker encounter with Apple CarPlay in the S650?

The speaker faces a bug with Apple CarPlay where the sound does not play even when the volume is turned up, requiring a full reboot of the system to restore functionality.

What is the issue with the plastics used in the S650 Mustang's interior?

The issue with the plastics is that they feel cheap and are prone to scuffing easily. For example, the side skirt gets scuffed with light contact, which did not happen with the previous S550 Mustang.

What issue does the speaker experience with the 10-speed automatic transmission in the S650?

The speaker mentions that the 10-speed transmission sometimes selects the wrong gear, especially when going uphill, requiring extra pedal pressure to get the car to downshift and gain sufficient speed.

What is the concern about the air filters in the S650 Mustang?

The air filters are expensive to replace (around $150 for two) and get dirty quickly, which is normal maintenance but could be a hassle for those who put many miles on the car.