√Saying goodbye to the sixth-generation Ford Mustang: Grampians road trip

A new Ford Mustang fast approaches, yet we couldn’t help but take one final spin in the current-generation car through a scenic Grampians road trip.

There is little doubt that the reintroduction of the Ford Mustang to Australia has gone incredibly well for the Blue Oval. It’s an old-favourite nameplate that arrived at the right time, just as the Falcon was being retired locally, and satiated the Aussie-specific lust for V8 power. However, the S550, sixth-generation Mustang is no longer available.

There is good news – its replacement doesn’t look to change much of the Mustang’s winning formula once it arrives on Australian soil later in 2023. It retains a V8 under the bonnet and it’ll also come with a six-speed manual transmission. Though it’s not exactly a dinosaur when it comes to automotive innovation, this is the exact reason why people like the Mustang – it’s the car you know, and one that subscribes to tradition.

With the advent of the new S650-generation Mustang a reality in the not-too-distant future, we figured it was well worth giving the outgoing warrior a fitting send-off.

An epic car like the Ford Mustang deserves an epic road trip. Out of Drive’s Melbourne office, we spend a lot of time testing out past the Yarra Valley. Not only is it relatively close to home base, but it offers gorgeous scenery, a dynamic driving route and, of course, plenty of bakeries for some delicious pitstops along the way.

But that kind of country isn’t a Mustang’s best friend. While it’s a sports car in name, the long-nosed body is far better suited to open country and flowing roads. With this in mind, we set course for the Grampians in Victoria’s far west.

Famous for its monolithic sandstone mountain ranges that are prime real estate for hikers and rock-climbers, the surroundings of Grampians National Park feature ‘big Australia’-type scenery with fast and flowing stretches of road ideal for the Mustang’s laissez-faire character.

We picked up a Race Red example of the 2022 Ford Mustang GT, which features the iconic 5.0-litre naturally aspirated Coyote V8. Walking up to the strikingly striped example (“Over-the-Top Stripes” cost $650) in the Ford car park, it’s a small upset that the car is equipped with an automatic transmission over a manual gearbox, but I’m excited nonetheless. It’s also fitted with a rear spoiler ($750) and a set of Recaro leather sports seats ($3000).

Ford would have charged $68,290 (plus on-road costs) for such a Mustang, but the Australian arm is no longer taking orders. Instead, it’s hyping up the arrival of the upcoming generation that is scheduled to touch down locally later in 2023 – however, this successor remains unpriced for now.

With Photographer Ted in tow to illustrate our journey, we start the day early at the southernmost point of the Grampians in Dunkeld. Though the weather isn’t quite playing ball with what the forecast predicted and a low cloud envelops the surrounding region, the looming expanse of the Grampians ranges is a faint outline in the northern distance.

After a brief refuel and a new coffee in the cupholder, we set off to explore. The roads are quiet and the inclement weather holds off for now, though the sight of a wallaby as we turn up towards Halls Gap fills me with a bit of trepidation. A not-so-subtle reminder of the big Australiana landscapes that lie ahead.

Trundling up to the 100km/h posted speed limit is no sweat for the Mustang, whose 5.0-litre engine rumbles faithfully under the bonnet as the countryside whizzes by on either side. The dirt shoulders hugging the side of the blacktop turn a shade of orange more commonly seen in the outback and the trees are sparser than the Victorian country norm.

It’s the type of open expanse that suits the Mustang to a tee, with long sight lines, sweeping bends, and big undulating straights to exercise its 339kW/556Nm outputs. Well, there would be long sight lines if it weren’t for the thick haze threatening a downpour. We wait with bated breath for the fog to ascend by motoring on with the adaptive cruise-control system enabled and the tunes pumping through the wired Apple CarPlay integration.

Though the roads aren’t particularly narrow, the Mustang is 1916mm across and feels every bit of its width on a two-lane road. It hits nearly every cat’s eye as I try to steady the ship between the lines. This is no lithe sports car like the newer Nissan Z or Toyota Supra. It’s unashamedly big and brash.

On the way to the lunch stop at Halls Gap, we take a brief pitstop at Lake Bellfield to appreciate the tranquil vista. It also gives pause to have a closer look around the Mustang. It’s left idling as we make a bathroom break, and you can hear the thing burbling away all the way to the toilet block and back – it’s loud even at a standstill.

Under the bonnet there’s a cheap plastic engine cover that unfortunately hides the engine in all its five-litre glory – I used to love seeing the “Powered by Ford” inscription on the pre-facelift models, hiding away deep down in the engine bay. Closer inspection also reveals the 19-inch wheels get a set of grippy Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tyres, with a pair of Brembo brakes underneath the front two.

After the quick walkaround, we make a beeline for the Halls Gap Bakery in search of a sandwich to share with the local wildlife. Though it’s well past the region’s holiday influx through summer, there’s a steady stream of grey nomads and hikers rolling through town in campervans and large SUVs. It’s a popular tourist spot year-round for all to enjoy, so long as we’re not stuck behind them heading up the mountain roads.

Peel-out after lunch sees us take Mount Victory Road up towards Zumsteins, so named after Walter Zumstein, a returned First World War veteran who set up his own holiday retreat in the area with his wife.

Leaving Halls Gap, there’s an immediate change in road character where the going becomes tighter and more twisty as you wind up through hills and rocky outcrops. It’s obvious the Mustang is less at home on the more intimate stretch of road, requiring more steering effort to get its nose into a bend. It simply doesn’t relish the prospect of a corner like other sports cars do. But the braking performance is reassuring and bitey on an initial prod of the pedal, quickly washing off momentum from the 1746kg vehicle mass.

There is no shortage of performance from the Coyote engine either. Full power is felt at 7000rpm; it’s accompanied by a raucous exhaust note emanating from quad pipes at the rear of the car. Aside from a tunnel, some of the best aural amplification comes from driving alongside one of the many rock walls lining the road and giving the throttle a boot-full.

The 10-speed transmission isn’t part of the Mustang’s strong suit. Like we’ve experienced in the Ford Ranger at times – which uses a similar 10-speed gearbox – the transmission hunts around for gears and you regularly catch it in the wrong ratio. There are simply so many to choose from, it ends up feeling like a continuously variable transmission. It’s not a deal-breaker, but this car is best experienced with a six-speed manual.

Just before arriving at Zumsteins, we turn off towards Reed Lookout for a photo opportunity. There’s a slew of campers and day-trippers in the carpark either returning from, or preparing for, one of the copious hikes in the vicinity. But the Mustang’s unabashed arrival pierces the quiet and the public can’t help but ogle the eye-catching red-and-black Mustang.

Though there are so many on the roads, the humble Mustang can’t help but make an impression with its timeless looks and head-turning sound. More than a few onlookers take pause to have a chat about the Mustang as Photographer Ted snaps away. It’s the sports car that everyone has some kind of story with.

Growing up, my neighbour was a die-hard Chevrolet fan and had more than a couple of Corvettes in his garage in various states of disrepair. I’ve always held an affinity for the Mustang (thanks in no small part to the many Hot Wheels I had as a kid), so it was one of those things we could never quite see eye to eye on when the age-old argument of Ford vs Chevrolet came into question.

But, while he didn’t quite get me on the GM side of the fence, he shared a bunch of mechanical knowledge that helped me develop much more of a love for cars, which eventually turned into this career.

After we wrap our photos at the lookout, we jump back into the car and carry on northwards. While it doesn’t have the directness of turn-in you want out of a sports car, the Mustang does cling on around the bends with a surprising amount of grip. The 275mm-wide rear tyres put power down to the road with only the slightest tail-end wriggle under throttle load, and you can really lean on the lateral grip through a tight bend.

There are a series of drive modes to choose from that can alter aspects including the steering weight, throttle sensitivity and exhaust note. While it’s loud no matter what, the Sport+ setting gives the most entertaining exhaust note and tightens up the steering weight to a solid weight. It does lack tactility and directness, but it’s easy to forgive when you consider that’s not really what this muscle car is about.

The Mustang is a visceral experience about what’s beneath the bonnet, not how it goes around corners. Consider it for what it is, and the Mustang GT delivers so much character – it’s a muscle car experience like no other. From the epic soundtrack, to the old-school naturally aspirated power delivery, and of course the unmistakable styling, these attributes all combine in a unique recipe to create a Mustang.

And it’s great news the formula stays much the same with the incoming 2023 Ford Mustang too. We’re more than excited for the next generation to grace Australian roads, but for the meantime it’s ‘see you later’.

The post Saying goodbye to the sixth-generation Ford Mustang: Grampians road trip appeared first on Drive.

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