Always fancied a Ford Mustang, but never wanted to drive a LHD car in the UK? Well, since the arrival of the S550 you can now have a proper UK-spec, RHD Mustang. Here’s what to look for when buying one…
Guide first appeared in Fast Ford. Words: Dan Williamson. Photos: Matt Dear
Be honest: is a Ford Mustang S550 on your wish-list of must-have Fords? No? Not tempted by a thunderous V8 and sub-five-second 0-to-60mph sprint? Not enthralled by a rapidly-growing tuning market producing 1000bhp conversions, making the ‘Stang a serious Blue Oval alternative to a Nissan GT-R?
Of course you are. And rightly so. With official UK right-hand-drive imports starting in 2015 and so many Mustangs stampeding onto the used-car market, there’s never been a better time to jump on board.
Best of all, you don’t need to wave a star-spangled banner to get behind the wheel – because, with a few choice upgrades, the Ford Mustang S550 is good enough to compete with European rivals. And it makes a genuine (albeit left-field) alternative to that Focus RS you’ve been promising yourself.
The Ford Mustang S550 previewed in the USA in December 2013, beginning production at Ford’s Flat Rock factory in Michigan the following summer. Boasting fabulously aggressive styling, the new machine was offered with a choice of four-cylinder, V6 and V8 engines, manual or automatic transmission, two-door coupé (so-called fastback) or convertible bodystyles and a variety of trim levels. Unlike its predecessor (the S197), the 2015 MY (model year) Mustang featured independent rear suspension and – for the first time – a factory-built option of right-hand drive.
The 2015 UK launch offered four-pot or V8 power (the latter badged as GT), tin-top or drop-top, and Performance Pack as standard. There was an optional Custom Pack and broad choice of colours.
A facelifted Mustang was announced in April 2018, sporting LED headlamps, a more powerful V8, a ten-speed automatic and several new option packs. The four-cylinder Mustang continued alongside the GT, but it’s the V8 that attracts punters, and it’s the motor Fast Ford recommends.
Here’s how to get your hands on some throbbing muscle…
Ford Mustang S550 buyer’s guide
Engine & Transmission
It has to be a V8. Yes, the UK-supplied Mustang was offered with a 2.3-litre turbocharged EcoBoost (and you’ll find some left-hand-drive imports with the US-spec 3.7-litre Cyclone V6), but it’s the 5.0 Coyote V8 that attracts two thirds of customers – and it’s what this buying guide is about.
Not that there’s anything wrong with the 2.3 (it powers the Focus RS, after all). It’s just that the V8 is the traditional Mustang motor; it’s in the DNA. And if you’re going to buy a big, hefty Yank bruiser, it only makes sense to opt for all-out muscle.
The Ford Mustang S550 uses the Coyote engine was carried over from the previous Mustang, but it’s a thoroughly modern unit, featuring reinforced alloy block, four-valve cylinder heads and twin independent variable cam timing (Ti-VCT). It’s also pretty much bombproof.
The Coyote was improved for 2018 with increased capacity, plasma-coated liners instead of traditional sleeves, higher compression ratio, bigger valves, direct fuel injection, revised intake runners and raised rev limit. Power increased from 412bhp to 443bhp, although you’ll struggle to feel the difference.
What you will notice – on a standard car – is the sound quality: pre-facelift GTs had an underwhelming exhaust note but 2018 machines gained a brilliant quad-pipe active-valve system that lets drivers adjust the volume via a dashboard menu. By now, most pre-facelifts have had an aftermarket exhaust fitted, but if not you’ll need to budget for buying one – essential for any car enthusiast.
Indeed, it’s normal to find modifications on any Mustang because it’s what they’re built for: 500bhp-plus is easily achievable normally-aspirated, although many ‘Stangs are supercharged. The Coyote will handle 750bhp without a hitch, and Ben at Motorsport And Performance reckons, “It’s not working hard, so it will take upto 1000bhp with stock pistons and rods.”
Beware when buying, though, because exaggerated outputs are commonplace; unless you’re very familiar with Mustangs you could believe a 700bhp car has a claimed 800bhp or more. Check receipts for who’s done the work.
Problems? There are few. Early (2015-to-2016) cars had a potential oil cooler issue, when it ruptures and dumps the engine oil externally (onto the floor, or potentially onto hot components) or internally, into the cooling system. Either way, the motor will be wrecked, you won’t know until it’s too late, and you’ll face a £10k bill.
It’s rare but it’s possible (especially on hard-used cars), and most would have already been fixed under the three-year/60,000-mile Ford warranty. But if you’re buying an early car, invest in an aftermarket oil cooler kit (about £600) for peace of mind.
The Ford Mustang S550 are also prone to tapping from the engine – mainly at idle but sometimes though the rev range. Light ticking is sometimes caused by loose cables and heat shields, but more commonly there’s a noise from the bottom-end that sounds like a worn bearing.
Technically it’s fine, and the official Ford answer is to ignore it. Some engines have been stripped to search for the source, only to find nothing wrong, while others (the Coyote has been around since 2011) have covered high mileages while ticking.
If anything, the problem seems to occur after an oil change; Ben uses Millers Nanodrive 0w20 (5w40 on supercharged cars), and he’s never had any ticking…
Change the oil annually or whenever the display advises (service intervals are one year/10,000 miles), swap the spark plugs at 30,000 miles (much less in a big-power machine), and spend the rest of your cash on pursuing power.
Now the question is manual or automatic? Fast Ford would choose the stick-shift, but the auto is still rated as a driver’s car, and all ‘boxes are ultra-tough.
Manual Mustangs have the Getrag MT-82 six-speed, which received a duff reputation in the S197 Mustang for poor feel and breakages. Thankfully, the S550 version is much better, and few faults have been reported.
Ford issued a TSB (technical service bulletin) after some pre-June 2016 manual-transmission Mustangs wouldn’t crank the engine due to a damaged clutch pedal position switch – not the sort of fault you’ll find when buying used.
A revised manual ‘box (MT82-D4) was fitted for the 2018 facelift, with fresh gear ratios, larger synchro rings and dual-disc clutch. Some hard-driven cars exhibit problems with their aluminium shift forks on third and fourth gear snapping off; Ford fixed the problem pretty quickly, but check the gearchange on an early 2018 machine feels smooth.
The gearbox is otherwise strong, and even the stock clutch will handle serious power for a while, but it can be killed by bad drivers – and it’s a four-figure job to replace. The first sign is a high biting point on the clutch pedal; if there’s any sign of slipping (you’ll be able to tell immediately, with all that V8 torque) it’s already failed.
According to Spencer at Haynes Ford, automatic Mustangs make up around three-quarters of UK sales. Early versions had a six-speed version of Ford’s ZF-based gearbox, the 6R80. The 2018 facelift introduced the ten-speed update, the Ford-GM 10R80, which although not a dual-clutch design, does a damn good job of out-dragging its manual counterpart: quoted figures are a standing quarter-mile in 11.8 seconds (a whole second quicker than the manual). Autoboxes are reckoned to be good for 1000bhp.
Check the six-speed auto doesn’t clunk when going from neutral to drive or reverse, which will need the front transmission flange to be replaced.
Listen for vibrations, humming and rumbling from 40 to 60mph, which suggest an imbalanced driveshaft, although could also result from worn wheel bearings or tyres. Robbie from Steeda reckons some Mustangs have noisy differentials (UK cars feature the Torsen T-2R from the American Performance Pack 1), although it’s nothing to worry about. Half-shafts, he says, are the weakest point of the transmission: for street use they’re fine, but have been known to snap on the strip.
Chassis
You’ve seen the YouTube clips and heard the jokes: the Mustang-crashing-into-a-crowd scenario is a very real phenomenon. Partly it’s because showing off comes hand-in-hand with driving a muscle car, and mainly because many Mustang drivers aren’t familiar with powerful rear-wheel-drive machinery. Another factor is that, although the S550 is the first Mustang with independent rear suspension, it’s not exactly a sporty setup.
“The suspension can’t deal with 400bhp, let alone 700bhp,” says Robbie, “it’ll be straight into a hedge.”
Although British Mustangs have the Performance Pack settings as standard, it’s very soft and vague. Poor alignment from the factory means the rear subframe can be so far to the left or right that, if spacers are fitted, you’ll notice wheels sticking out more on one side than the other.
Ben says Steeda’s IRS Base Pack is a must-have modification, even if you do nothing more than drive to the shops. By filling oversized bolt hole with void bushes, it takes the slop out of the suspension – which means you can feel what the rear end is doing. Add a set of lowering springs and subframe support bushes and your bill will be almost £1000, but you’ll need to budget for it if your previous car was an ST or RS – or you’ll be very disappointed.
Suspension upgrades will also help to eliminate wheel hop, for which the Mustang is commonly criticised. Again, factor the modifications into your budget before buying the car.
There are few suspension problems to be aware of, although it’s worth listening for rumbling from the rear wheel bearings, which can fail prematurely.
Be prepared for rear tyres to suffer a similar fate, and avoid anything wearing cheap budget-spec rubber. Robbie recommends the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, which suits UK roads and helps to reduce wheel hop too.
Finally, don’t assume any facelifted Ford Mustang S550 will feature fancy MagneRide damping, which adapts to road conditions – it’s a £1600 optional extra, but reckoned to be worth the outlay.
In the States, the Mustang isn’t such a big deal. The base model is a hire car; a shopping car; a car for middle-class families to give to 16-year-old kids for driving lessons; the basis for track cars and show cars where all the stock stuff is simply thrown away.
Thankfully, the UK didn’t receive the basic Mustang (apart from a few pre-official imports), and all British GTs include Ford’s Performance Pack 1 as standard – which provides whopping Brembo six-pot front calipers and 380x34mm discs, plus 330x25mm ventilated rear discs with floating callipers.
As you can imagine, they’re very good for street and track days, although you may find enthusiastic owners have swapped the heavy front anchors for lightweight two-piece discs. You might also see the pads are worn; thankfully, they’ re non-exotic prices.
It’s unlikely you’ll notice any issues with the brakes, albeit some pads tend to squeal more than others. A heavily-used Mustang might exhibit juddering through the pedal due to contaminated discs/pads in need of replacement.
An electronic line lock is found on all GTs, which lets the driver spin the rear wheels while stationary by applying the front brakes. But don’t get excited because it’s just a party trick and useless unless you’re at a drag strip.
Interior
It’s no AMG. And, to be honest, it’s no Vignale. But the Mustang’s cabin makes a good effort at looking exciting, even if it’s not exactly a premium product.
There are shiny switches and leather-clad seats. And, of course, that iconic pony emblem on the steering wheel (unless you’re lucky enough to bag a Bullitt, which has its own evocative design).
Sadly, it’s all built down to a price. Those switches are silver-painted plastic, and many owners are disappointed by the Mustang’s build quality. Early cars are particularly prone to cockpit rattles, squeaks and vibrations. Some have even been supplied with mismatched parts.
Pre-facelift S550s were supplied with one trim level plus optional climate-controlled heated seats, which were also included in the popular Custom Pack.
Facelifted cars gained better-quality cabin materials, aluminium door handles and more options: Ebony leather Recaro seats (fastback only; nice but rare), climate controlled seats, or a choice of four Custom Packs (which include hand-stitched centre console and climate-controlled seats). If you care about resale value, be sure to buy a car with a Custom Pack. Facelifted machines are also said to rattle much less, and feel that bit more luxurious.
You’ll not find a lot wrong with Ford Mustang S550 electrics. Puddle lights in the door mirrors are prone to breaking due to moisture (often fixed under warranty), and there was a recall in January 2019 due to a fire risk from the battery wiring harness, which runs too close to the exhaust manifold and needs insulating; check it’s been fixed.
Several cars have had faults with the air conditioning condenser, so ensure it all works. Dual-zone climate control is standard.
Some owners also report difficulties with the audio system’s DAB radio and connectivity. Early models were fitted with Ford’s SYNC 2 8in colour touch-screen, but from April 2015 gained the preferable SYNC 3.
Surprisingly, satellite navigation wasn’t standard-fit but included in various Custom Packs – a car without nav is worth less. The pre-facelift Custom Pack included Shaker Pro premium audio system with satellite navigation and reverse parking sensors, while 2018 Custom Packs added sat nav and 12-speaker B&O sound system.
The facelift also introduced an LED instrument cluster, which many buyers are keen to acquire; fortunately it’s not a deal-breaker, because it’s an achievable upgrade for earlier cars. Not so the 2018 LED tri-bar headlamps in place of the original HID xenons, which involve cracking open lights and lots of rewiring.
Style
Make no mistake: the Mustang is a big car. If you normally drive a Fiesta you could be surprised by the Yank’s bulk. And – not that we’d expect any Fast Ford reader to fall into this trap – make sure it fits your garage before signing on the dotted line…
If you want a Mustang fastback rather than convertible (eight-out-of-ten buyers do), you’ll have a wider choice on the used market. Drop-tops are a couple of grand more expensive new, but second-hand prices level out.
Colour choice will be important too. Race Red is most popular in the UK (specified on around a fifth of cars), with greys and blacks similarly sought-after. If you want a lairy shade (such as Need For Green) it may take longer to find, but you’ll be rewarded with something mighty special.
Facelifted Mustangs (in the UK from around April 2018) had new colours (including White Platinum, Grabber Blue and Lightning Blue); they also tend to be better bolted-together.
Many owners of pre-facelift cars complain of dodgy panel gaps, particularly at the front and rear bumpers but also around the bonnet, front panel, sills, rear quarters, boot lid, rear window, lights, fuel cap and doors (which may also drop when opened). Convertible tops often look askew when raised.
Some Mustang are so bad they look like they’ve been rolled down the road – yet it’s simply due to poor quality control in America. Occasionally the misalignment is wide by a couple of millimetres; often it’s so bad that panels are rubbing together. Compare a few different Mustangs to check.
Obviously, it’s vital to inspect any car for accident damage, such as creased inner wings and floorpan; being rear-wheel-drive, it’s best to check a Mustang’s boot floor and rear quarters – behind any trim if needs be.
To make matters worse, the paintwork on some cars is shoddy, with runs from the factory, and scuffs and dents from transportation; rear spoilers and other plastics may also be off-shade.
Facelift cars don’t seem so bad, although there was a 2018 recall for a towing eye with the wrong thread. Nothing to worry about.
Mustangs come with a lengthy anti-perforation warranty (often meaningless when attempting to make a claim from…), but some ‘Stangs have already exhibited rust bubbles on the wheelarches and the edges of the bonnet.
Bear in mind that factory anti-corrosion treatment leaves a lot to be desired, and Ben recommends treating the floorpan to high-quality underseal. Otherwise, a few years of salted winter roads will spell trouble.
Choose a car with Custom Pack. The pre-facelift pack included chrome window surrounds (fastback only) and Lustre Nickel finish to the multi-spoke 19in rims. Facelift Custom Pack 1 is the same but Custom Pack 2 features black 19in alloys and no chrome; Custom Pack 3 includes 19in forged alloys plus chrome surrounds, and Custom Pack 4 looks the same but without the bling.
Identity
Keyless entry and push-button start: great to have, but an invitation to thieving scum. It’s standard on all S550s, so consider it an advantage if the car you’re buying has additional security measures installed. It also means you’ll need to be vigilant when it comes to cross-checking the VIN (vehicle identification number) on the logbook with the number in the windscreen, under a flap in the carpet beneath the driver’s seat and on a sticker on the driver’s-side B-pillar.
Naturally, with a car of this value it’s essential to invest in a full history check to ensure there’s no outstanding finance or hidden accident damage.
It’s also wise to familiarise yourself with what’s on the market: left-hand-drive Mustangs are likely to be lower-specced than official UK cars, and – unless it’s something awesome such as a Shelby – are best avoided. The facelifted Mustang of April 2018 fetches more money (and rightly so) thanks to a whole host of improvements; it’s recognisable from its lower nose with LED headlights and more aggressive front bumper.
It’s also worth looking out for a special edition such as the 2016 Shadow Edition (Race Red or Grabber Blue with black pony grille emblem, black Y-spoke alloys, Custom Pack and optional black roof) or the 55 Edition of 2019 (stripes, black grille, black roof, Custom Pack, unique black alloys and optional rear spoiler). Such Mustangs really are limited-runs (even Mustang main dealer Haynes Ford has single-figure allocations).
Of course, it’s the legendary Bullitt that gets most attention. Fastback/manual only, it boasts more power (thanks to GT350 Open Air Induction System, 87mm throttle bodies and remap), heavy-duty front springs and rear anti-roll bar, black Torq Thrust-type five-spoke alloys, red Brembos, debadged grille, Recaro seats with green details, and cue-ball gearknob. Paintwork is McQueen’s choice of Dark Highland Green, but Shadow Black is available on later cars. The first batch of 2018 sold out almost immediately, so Ford extended production into 2020. Worth having? Oh yes!
Want to know how to get the most performance from your Ford Mustang S550? You can check out our tuning guide right here.
Tech Spec: Ford Mustang S550
Engine:
Coyote 4951cc (2018-on: 5038cc) DOHC 32-valve V8 with aluminium block and heads, cast aluminium pistons, forged steel con rods, 11:1 compression ratio (2018-on: 12:1), sequential multi-port fuel injection (2018-on: direct injection), stainless steel tubular exhaust manifolds and twin-exit system (2018-on: Active Valve performance exhaust with quad tailpipes)
Transmission:
Rear-wheel drive with Getrag MT-82 six-speed manual gearbox or 6R80 six-speed automatic (2018-on: 10R80 ten-speed automatic) gearbox with paddle shifters, Torsen T-2R limited slip differential, final drive ratio: 3.55:1, electronic launch control
Suspension:
Front: double-ball-joint independent MacPherson strut and tubular anti-roll bar; rear: integral-link independent with coil springs, monotube dampers and anti-roll bar. Bullitt with uprated spring and anti-roll bar
Brakes:
Front: 380mm ventilated discs with Brembo six-piston callipers; rear: 330mm ventilated discs with floating callipers; ABS, AdvanceTrac electronic stability control, electronic line-lock
Wheels & Tyres:
Front: 9x19in alloys and 255/40×19 tyres; rear: 9.5x19in alloys and 275/40×19 tyres
Exterior:
Unitary steel two-door coupé or convertible with aluminium bonnet and front wings, auto HID (2015-2017) or LED (2018-on) headlamps, heated power-folding door mirrors, LED tail lights, rain-sensing wipers, GT grille and badging. Colours include Competition Orange, Race Red, Oxford White, Absolute Black, Deep Impact Blue, Guard Grey, Magnetic, Ingot Silver, Ruby Red, Triple Yellow, Shadow Black, Velocity Blue, Iconic Silver, Kona Blue, Grabber Lime, Twister Orange, Lucid Red, Need For Green, Orange Fury, Dark Highland Green
Interior:
Electrically-adjustable front seats, leather upholstery, colour touch-screen SYNC stereo with nine speakers, rear camera, dual-zone climate control, KeyFree with PowerStart button, MyColour ambient interior lighting. Optional Recaro seats (not convertible) or climate-control heated/cooled seats
Ford Mustang S550 performance stats
Made: 2015-present
Price when new: £32,995-£51,045
Price now: £19,000-£60,000-plus
Power: 2015-2017: 412bhp @ 6500rpm; 2018-on: 443bhp @ 7000rpm; Bullitt: 453bhp @ 7250rpm
Torque: 2015-2017: 386Ib/ft @4250rpm; 2018-on: 390lb.ft @ 4650rpm
Top speed: 155mph (Bullitt: 163mph)
0-62mph: 4.3-4.8 seconds
