The Best Year For the Ford Mustang
Ford Mustang V6 Coupé (VI) by © M 93 — CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
It’s a hard pick when thinking about which year is the best for the Ford Mustang. Each generation had its own contribution to American car pop culture except between about 1974 and 1978 when emissions and gas mileage mandates crushed carmakers ambitions. But if you had to pick one best year for the Mustang, that would have to be to the 2016 year.
Not only did the 2016 Ford Mustang offer great styling and performance efficient cars even if you went with the base V6 model, but Ford also offered the Shelby GT350 which was a beast that stood alone in its own pack as one of the most capable Mustangs that Ford ever put into production.
The Ford Mustang 2016 Competitors
It has never been a big surprise that the Chevrolet Camaro has always been in competition with the Mustang from day one of its creation. But in 2016, another competitor starting stepping back into the spotlight just like in the old days. The Dodge Challenger also starting bringing competitive horsepower and style to the table.
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2016 Ford Mustang Trim Levels
By all accounts, no matter what Mustang trim level you choose, you will be getting a fun-to-drive, good-looking sports car. The only problem you might want to think about before you make a purchase is you will not have a lot of back seat room for passengers. For some Mustang drivers that might be right up their alley, for others, you might want to think about it that before you purchase.
Trim levels are as followed: a V6 fastback and a V6 convertible, an I-4 EcoBoost/EcoBoost convertible, EcoBoost Premium, a GT/GT convertible, a GT Premium, and a Shelby GT350 and GT350R.
Ford Mustang Engine/Transmission Options and Power Ratings
V6 Standard
The standard 3.7-liter V6 engine gets 300 horsepower and 280 lb.-ft. of torque. That may not seem like much now but think back to the ’80s, if you purchased a V6 Mustang than, you’d be just huddling over the 100 horsepower mark.
The 3.7-liter V6 will be controlled by either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. When it’s all said and done, the automatic transmission will help you get a little better horsepower with an EPA-estimated 19 city and 27 highway MPG.
EcoBoost I-4
There is an available EcoBoost option that hosts a four-cylinder turbocharged engine. The 2.3-liter puts out 310 horsepower and 320 lb.-ft. of torque. Like the V6 option, you also get a choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission. These setups have a little problem with turbo lag, but they do get the best gas mileage in the bunch with an EPA-estimated 21 city and 31 highway MPG.
GT V8
The most common Mustang that everyone seems to love is the GT which comes with Ford’s famous 5.0-liter V8 that gives you 435 horsepower and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Again, this configuration also comes with a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual option. For this V8, you get an EPA-estimated 16 city and 25 highway MPG.
Shelby GT350
This Shelby GT350 stands pretty far apart from the other models helping the 2016 model become ranked as the best year for the Ford Mustang. The Shelby packs a huge punch with a 5.2-liter V8 that uses a flat-plane crankshaft to push out 526 horsepower at 8,000 RPMs.
Along 429 lb.-ft. of torque, MagneRide dampers added to an upgraded suspension, massive crossed-drilled rotors with Brembo calipers, and a set of custom-made Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires, going fast in a straight line or around corners has never been more fun. This beast can only be ordered with a six-speed manual transmission and gets an EPA-estimated 14 city and 21 highway MPG.
All Convertibles
With all Mustang convertibles configurations, you will notice a slight decrease in gas mileage performance because convertibles are heavier than their coupe siblings. You may also notice that although you might put out the same performance numbers, the convertible doesn’t perform as well when it comes to timed performance on the track, that also has to do with the extra weight added from the convertible configuration.
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Ford Mustang Sync 3 Multi-Media System
Although the sports car is made more for the trill of the drive, this 2016 Mustang can be ordered with a Sync 3 multi-media system. This system will give you the comfort of hands-free driving through its enhanced voice recognition system. You can control your heat and A/C, radio controls, phone, navigation, and other apps while you keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.
Important Mustang Features
The Mustang rolls around on 17-inch rims and comes with standard electronic stability control, an antilock brake system, and a set of dual exhaust tips. You’ll also get to enjoy standard and available features such as keyless entry, backup camera, tilt/telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, and heated and ventilated seats.
2016 Mustang Safety
Although sports car safety is a big worry for many people, the best year for the Ford Mustang gets pretty good scores from both the Insurance Insitute of Highway Safety (IIHS) and National Highway Traffic Safety Agency (NHTSA). With mostly 5-Star ratings from NHTSA and the best rating of Good in almost all categories from the IIHS, you should feel very comfortable and safe in this larger-bodied sports car.
Ford Mustang Recalls for the Year 2016
Recall Number: 15V707000 Recall Date: 10/26/2015
Component: Front and rear seat belts and child tether seat anchors: Mustangs built between Sept. 26, 2015 to Oct. 1, 2015, seat anchors may have been damaged before installation causing them to work inproperly.
Recall Number: 16V779000 Recall Date: 10/26/2016
Component: Engine Cooling Hose/Line/Piping/Fitting: Certain model year Mustangs built between Feb. 24 2015 to Aug. 30, 2016 could suffer a disconnected engine oil cooler tube assembly causing an oil leak with the risk of loss of oil which could result in engine failure or an engine fire.
Warranty Issues for the 2016 Mustang
Most likely, a 2016 Mustang has run out or is about to run out of all of its factory and pre-owned warranties. But always ask and make sure, whether you go through a private owner or a dealership. There might have been some extended warranties put on the vehicle, but it’s your responsibility to ask.
How Much Will My Insurance be on a 2016 Mustang
Insurance rates will vary, let’s not forget even if you do go with a V6, insurance companies will still classify the Mustang as a sports car. But a V6 will help your annual cost. When you move up to the V8 Mustang, your annual cost of insurance will also move up. When you move up to the 5.2-liter Shelby GT350, except to pay a pretty penny.
IS GAP INSURANCE WORTH IT?
Gap insurance can prevent you from making payments on an already-totalled car, but is gap insurance worth it? We break down what gap insurance is, if it’s worth it, and more - simply and with plenty of examples.
Last Words for the 2016 Mustang
It’s simple, if you’re looking for a cool sports car that has nice power, handling, technology advantages, and front-seat creature comforts, then the best year for the Ford Mustang is the 2016 model. By now you can get them well-priced and most all of them are still sitting in good shape - more so for the GTs.
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