Grabber Blue GTPE arrived and first impressions

I saw on palsapp.com that it arrived this morning so I texted my dealer and he said it was there. They had to prep it and tint it yet. I was heading out to play golf with some buddies anyway, and said I'd swing by when I was done. I posted a few pics below. The sales manager told me to take it for a spin, and I had enough time to run home (about 10 miles) and head back to the dealership. (a lot going on today) My comparisons are to my other Mustangs and most were high hp and track prepped, except the 2019 Bullitt I still own.

2007 GT500 full Griggs suspension (640rwhp/625rwtq)
2012 Boss 302, headers, tune off-road X, aftermarket suspension
2016 GT350 cage and stock Voodoo motor, Magneride suspension
2019 Bullitt stock with Magneride

****Mach-E was still in transport mode and charge at 45% so not sure what limitations it may have had. I was in Unbridled mode the whole time****

1) Punch it from a dead stop or slow roll and it puts you back in your seat more than any of the above Mustangs.
2) Ride was awesome and very compliant. The Premium I drove had a tendency to start bouncing front to back occasionally on the interstate.
3) Took a 60 degree off camber turn from a stop onto the interstate ramp and barely chirped the tires and it just hooked up and was gone. RWD Mustangs above wouldn't allow much go pedal in that corner or you'd kick out the rear. The Mach-E will be quicker around some corners just due to AWD, but the skinny 245s won't come close to outcornering the other Mustangs I drove with 315s.
4) It is quicker than heck below 75 mph, but doesn't have the top end like the ICE Mustangs when you hit 3rd and 4th gears. They will outpull the Mach-E. Someone speculated the 1/4 mile time in another thread, but I'm not sure it's a 12 second car. Caveat is I rarely ran them at the drag strip so not very experienced there. I was more of a track junkie.
5) The sales guys were all impressed with how it looked. They said Ford nailed the wheels and were probably the best looking stock wheels they have seen on any Mustang.

That's on a 40% charge? You're definitely going to see an increase in speed with a normal charge, even above 80%. that's impressive it felt faster than all those other modified cars on a half charge.

I was dying to get a GT350 back when they came out, but my last mustang was a super charged, cammed, fully modified 92 5.0 that was a torque monster. I never knew how I'd feel with the lower torque higher revving motor. I drove a stock mustang GT and they felt super slow compared to that old 5.0 with almost the same horsepower.

I can't wait to get my MME GT, I think it's going to bring me back to the days of that torque monster 5.0 that would snap your neck in half in second gear.

I've been waiting for you to get yours Gary. Glad to hear it's got some giddyup off the line.

Dimwits dumb question of the day: Does it have blue stitching in the interior?

I've had two Mustangs, a white '67 small six with a 3-speed manual that was then ten years old and in showroom condition. Loved that car, had many adventures together. And there was an 80-something 4 cylinder poverty beater as a stopgap while I worked on my V8 Scout. I've driven a variety of other 'Stangs, including a 201X GT on track. They didn't move me. I tracked Miatas, Subarus, and motorcycles. The Mustangs just fell flat.

Was tempted by the 350 but by then my love affair w/ electrics had started. Had high hopes for the Mach E Premium but a test drive ruined it for me. The suspension, well, it couldn't "keep me in the manner to which I have become accustomed." I was ready to move on.

But now I hear what OP says about his GTPE. He seems like a track-wizened kinda guy. I may well need to take a second look at the MME. Unfortunately these things won't sit on dealer's lots waiting for a test drive, so I need to ask a couple questions.

1) Brakes on my test drive Premium RWD Big Batt felt ridiculously over-boosted. No feel at all. I know it's blended regen, but are the GTPE's fat Brembos more nuanced around town? do you find yourself over-braking?

2) You mentioned suspension and the Premium Pogo. Is the PE comfortable enough that my wife won't yell at me? (for reference, she was fine in a track prepped STi w/ factory seats)

3) Seats, they look a tiny bit goofy in photos but may be better in real life. Are they? My wife, how to put this, usually takes up most of any seat. She hated the Premium's seats as did I. Wide flat and squishy. Can you characterize how snug the bolsters are on the PE seats? Better for 20-something waifs or will typical American butts be comfy on long trips?

Long post, I know. Congratulations on your new car. Trying to decide if I should order one. Anything you care to share would be helpful.

blue92lx said:

That's on a 40% charge? You're definitely going to see an increase in speed with a normal charge, even above 80%. that's impressive it felt faster than all those other modified cars on a half charge.

I was dying to get a GT350 back when they came out, but my last mustang was a super charged, cammed, fully modified 92 5.0 that was a torque monster. I never knew how I'd feel with the lower torque higher revving motor. I drove a stock mustang GT and they felt super slow compared to that old 5.0 with almost the same horsepower.

I can't wait to get my MME GT, I think it's going to bring me back to the days of that torque monster 5.0 that would snap your neck in half in second gear.

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Glad to hear there will be more power on a higher charge. I read the posts about that with another GT delivery a couple days ago. This is my first EV so I have zero experience with changes to the power band at different charge levels.

My Bullitt feels relatively slow compared to all my previous stangs, but I'm getting older now and that's probably a good thing ?

Congrats and the ride looks killer! The GTPE sounds really impressive, looking forward to more driving impressions in the coming days.

Fat Mach said:

I've been waiting for you to get yours Gary. Glad to hear it's got some giddyup off the line.

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Yes it will be interesting when I get it fully charged. The AWD and instant torque is the main difference off the line. I always had low pro road race tires and you can't launch those very well without blowing them off.

JoeDimwit said:

Dimwits dumb question of the day: Does it have blue stitching in the interior?

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LOL I have no idea. The seats still had the plastic on them and I was driving in flip flops! As you can see the paint protection stickers were still on it and it was pretty much fresh off the truck. They're keeping it inside for me until they get the tint done on Monday. Good thing because we just got hammered with a heck of at T-storm an hour ago.

It will run deep 12s for sure, the 4X runs 13.5-13.6 with 130 less HP and 200 less lb ft of torque. Similar weight. Only question now is, how deep in the 12s.

BillK said:

I've had two Mustangs, a white '67 small six with a 3-speed manual that was then ten years old and in showroom condition. Loved that car, had many adventures together. And there was an 80-something 4 cylinder poverty beater as a stopgap while I worked on my V8 Scout. I've driven a variety of other 'Stangs, including a 201X GT on track. They didn't move me. I tracked Miatas, Subarus, and motorcycles. The Mustangs just fell flat.

Was tempted by the 350 but by then my love affair w/ electrics had started. Had high hopes for the Mach E Premium but a test drive ruined it for me. The suspension, well, it couldn't "keep me in the manner to which I have become accustomed." I was ready to move on.

But now I hear what OP says about his GTPE. He seems like a track-wizened kinda guy. I may well need to take a second look at the MME. Unfortunately these things won't sit on dealer's lots waiting for a test drive, so I need to ask a couple questions.

1) Brakes on my test drive Premium RWD Big Batt felt ridiculously over-boosted. No feel at all. I know it's blended regen, but are the GTPE's fat Brembos more nuanced around town? do you find yourself over-braking?

2) You mentioned suspension and the Premium Pogo. Is the PE comfortable enough that my wife won't yell at me? (for reference, she was fine in a track prepped STi w/ factory seats)

3) Seats, they look a tiny bit goofy in photos but may be better in real life. Are they? My wife, how to put this, usually takes up most of any seat. She hated the Premium's seats as did I. Wide flat and squishy. Can you characterize how snug the bolsters are on the PE seats? Better for 20-something waifs or will typical American butts be comfy on long trips?

Long post, I know. Congratulations on your new car. Trying to decide if I should order one. Anything you care to share would be helpful.

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It's going to be hard to say given your previous rides. I LOVED the Mustangs on track because it was raw muscular power, and with wider rubber and suspension upgrades could be tamed enough to throw it around the corners. Definitely more a sledgehammer than a scalpel. I ran with a lot of Miatas, but despite their handling, they lacked the raw power and visceral experience of a high winding powerful V8 with off road exhaust for me. The STi was a formidable competitor, but again a totally different animal.

I didn't have an opportunity for any hard braking, but with one pedal off I liked how it handled. I had no issue braking smoothly with the limited amount of driving today.

As far as the ride, my wife would approve of the MME. She does not like riding in my other Mustangs.

The seats were absolutely fine, and I didn't even spend much time adjusting them yet. I'll need more time in them (with the plastic off ) to have a real opinion. I'm 5'11" 165 so they fit me great. I have no basis for judging how someone smaller or larger would fit at this point. P.S. on track I was always in a Recaro or Sparco race seat, but that was under extreme conditions you'd never have (safely) on the street.

Pushrods&Capacitors said:

It will run deep 12s for sure, the 4X runs 13.5-13.6 with 130 less HP and 200 less lb ft of torque. Similar weight. Only question now is, how deep in the 12s.

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Makes sense. I may have a different take with a full charge. Will be interesting to see if it improves the higher speed acceleration.

I think I've seen them mentioned, but when do the air ducts/louvers above the front air dam open? Are they for aero or cooling?

JoeDimwit said:

Dimwits dumb question of the day: Does it have blue stitching in the interior?

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I thought the blue/red stitching was only on the First Edition (for North America).

Congrats on the arrival of your new GT-PE! Can’t wait to rear more after it’s charged and stuff.