Ford’s New Mustang Is Faster than a 911? Who !#$% Cares?

Ford (and the rest of the world) is making a big deal about the 2018 Mustang’s alleged 0-60 time, if you haven’t heard.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock all week, you’ve undoubtedly heard the news. Ford put out a press release touting the updated 2018 Mustang’s more powerful engine and “Drag Strip” mode, which enable it to achieve a reported 0-60 time in less than four seconds. But instead of going after the Mustang’s traditional foes like the Camaro, they took a jab at Porsche instead — namely, the 911 Carrera.

Ford specifically calls out the car’s $94,000 price tag and slower acceleration times. And they are correct. Purchasing a Mustang with the 460 hp/420 lb-ft of torque 5.0 liter V8, 10-speed automatic transmission and adding the Performance Pack (all required to hit that sub-4.0 second time) should run you around $40,000.

In the meantime, the base 911 Carrera makes due with a 3.0 liter flat six producing 370 hp. That car will sprint to 60 in 4.4 seconds, though you can opt for the Carrera 4S and slice that to 4.0 seconds. And obviously, you can just go up from there. But should Porsche owners be concerned about this alleged slight?

Let’s be real, nobody is cross-shopping the 911 and the Mustang. And we have a hard time believing anyone would ever choose a Mustang over a Porsche. 

Well, only if you care about a new Mustang smoking you at a stoplight. That is, if the driver knows what he’s doing. Otherwise, all this revelation proves is that Ford knows how to build a car that goes fast in a straight line for a budget price. The Mustang, as iconic as it is, lacks the prestige of the Porsche badge. It also lacks the balance, feel, and handling prowess — even with the addition of optional Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires and magnetic adaptive dampers.

At the end of the day, we give credit where credit is due. But let’s be real, nobody is cross-shopping the 911 and the Mustang. The two cars are not competitors, nor will they ever be. And we have a hard time believing anyone in their right mind, cost notwithstanding, would ever choose a Mustang over a Porsche. No matter how much faster it is in a straight line.

Brett Foote

Brett Foote has been covering the automotive industry for over five years and is a longtime contributor to Internet Brands’ Auto Group sites, including Chevrolet Forum, Rennlist, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts, among other popular sites.
He has been an automotive enthusiast since the day he came into this world and rode home from the hospital in a first-gen Mustang, and he's been wrenching on them nearly as long.

In addition to his expertise writing about cars, trucks, motorcycles, and every other type of automobile, Brett had spent several years running parts for local auto dealerships.

You can follow along with his builds and various automotive shenanigans on Instagram: @bfoote.