Rental Mustang Convertible 'Report'

[Kirby]

I have a 2003 Black Mustang Convertible rental car from Hertz in Florida. This thing pretty much sux. They were out of the full size rental I reserved (Taurus/Impala/whatever) , so they gave me an "upgrade" choice - Mustang ragtop or a minivan. I figured it was a good opportunity to "compare" a Mustang to my BMW. At the least it would be nice to have the convertible in Florida.

There is no comparison, needless to say. This thing just pretty much sucks. It says it has a 190 hp V6, but it feels like a 100 hp 4 cylinder. Step on the gas and downshift at highway speed, the engine revs up but you don't feel hardly any acceleration force. The engine just makes a BUNCH of noise. Do they detune these rentals or is it that bad? It is brand new - it had 7 miles on it when I got it, it now has about 200 miles on it.

The fit and finish of the convertible top is pretty poor. The rear window oscillates in the wind with the top up and it is brand new. About the only thing I can say good is that the seats are reasonably comfortable.

I wasn't expecting a lot to begin with, but it is really disappointing. One of the guys with me has a Mitsi Eclipse 'vert, and he says the Mustang sucks compared to the Mitsi.

I will be more than happy to give this thing back tomorrow when I head home. Damn, I miss (and appreciate!) my BMW!!!

 

[Tom]

hehe...yeah I've heard that the V6's are just plain awful. For me, the only good Stang is the Cobra. Anything else is a waste of money.

 

[mrferg]

The Cobra is pretty sweet, though I prefer the 'Stangs of the 60's.

 

[MrElussive]

Kirby, are they really that bad? In the summer, I always go to Florida and by far the most common car down there is the Mustang Convertible. I don't really have too much respect for Mustangs...I feel they are just obnoxiously loud and they are only good at straight-line acceleration.

 

[manuel]

you obviously dont get out much...there are some mustangs that will put an a$$ whopping to any car out there, visit your local autox events...

Kirby, are they really that bad? In the summer, I always go to Florida and by far the most common car down there is the Mustang Convertible. I don't really have too much respect for Mustangs...I feel they are just obnoxiously loud and they are only good at straight-line acceleration.

 

[E30 Kid]

V6 stangs are soooo weak! haha

 

[Kirby]

I haven't driven any 'Stangs other than this rental, which is definitely a base car. My travel buddies all think that it looks pretty nice on the outside, and the gray leather seats are comfortable. But the engine is just disappointing. I had a '77 Mustang II and an '81 Mercury Capri, both 2.3L 4 cylinders, and this car doesn't have much more guts than those cars did. The '02 325 loaner I had a few weeks ago put this Mustang to shame in the power department with less advertised HP.

The interior is OK, but you can actually see the foam in the top of the back seat where the top collapses into. I actually thought the vinyl was torn, but on closer look it isn't - it is just designed for quick assembly.

Don't get me wrong, I have always liked the Mustangs, having owned those two cars years ago. I really like the looks of the new one due out next year. I was just disappointed with the performance and the short cuts on the interior. I expected a little more. Hopefully the Cobras get a little more attention and upgrades.

There are a ton of them in Florida, that's for sure.

 

[xLibelle]

before you give the car back, make sure the rev. limiter works
while youre at it, check out its road holding too.

 

[Bryan330i]

I have rented a couple of them myself. I understand the 2005 will be better.

 

[Bryan330i]

Did not attach file with last post. I think I like this one.

 

[mallards]

I have a 2003 ... my BMW!!!

i agree ...

Ben

 

[phobiaz]

haha nice shot ben, good shit!

 

[mikev]

Re: Re: Rental Mustang Convertible 'Report'

i agree ...

Ben

What gear you in????

 

[Kirby]

Ben - that is a GREAT picture!!

I think it would have to be in 4th in that shot. I cruised in 5th at 100 - 105 mph on the Autobahn, and that equaled 3000 rpm, my limit for the break in period.

 

[PuShAkOv]

Mikev,.. I tihnk you need to add the other driver's face to the picture too.

 

[wileycoyote]

I love rental cars. I used to travel a lot for work so I had plenty of opportunity to enjoy them. The worst I ever had was a Chevy Cavalier - totally gutless engine, poor fit and finish, bad seats, etc. The only good thing about it was the parking brake worked really good and I could lock the rear wheel at 50. My two favorite rentals were the Jeep Grand Cherokee I got in British Columbia. Had a lot of fun with that, but for reason 4 - low stopped working (one to many shifts on the fly?). The other was a Subaru Impreza I had New Mexico (lots of dirt roads). Try as I may, I could not break a thing on that little Subaru. The only bad thing about it was not enough power.

 

[mikev]

Ben - that is a GREAT picture!!

I think it would have to be in 4th in that shot. I cruised in 5th at 100 - 105 mph on the Autobahn, and that equaled 3000 rpm, my limit for the break in period.

Now do you think you could take the "Stang" upto 105 during breakin

 

[epj3]

My friend in his '91 325is M-Tech beat the $hit out of a cobra. The cobra left some nice tread on the pavement but didnt move very fast. I'll have to ask him if he still has the video -- if he does i'll get it online.

 

[Kirby]

before you give the car back, make sure the rev. limiter works
while youre at it, check out its road holding too.

Are you ready for this? The rev limiter kicked in at 4000 RPM!!! I tried it both in neutral and in 1st gear. Redline was somewhere around 6000 RPM, I think. That has to be a mod done for the rental? I can't believe that is factory set at 4000 RPM.

 

[PuShAkOv]

Probably a rental mod so people do not abuse the cars and expire their engines in couple of years. It just wouldn't make sense to do that in a stock "sporty wanna be" car.