My Car Feels Slow...

[Dave2013M3]

It's not...but it feels it. I think I know why and how to fix it, but I would like some smarter people than me to sanity check my logic. I'm not the most knowledgable with gearing so any help is appreciated.

For comparison sake, I am coming from a 2018 Camaro 1SS (non-1LE) 6-speed. I understand this car has 3.73 gears and hit peak torque at 4,400 rpm. (I bought it used so I cant speak to every spec on the car). This car delivered immediate throttle response and would slam you back in the seat with little effort. The car just "felt fast."

My Mustang GT is a non-PP 6-speed. I understand this means 3.55 gears (highway). I also understand that the peak torque is at 4,900 as well. This combo seems to overall make the car "feel" much slower. The car simply does not have the "slam you back in the seat" feel that the Camaro had.

I am thinking of swapping out the 3.55 gears for the Ford Performance 3.73 gears. Lots of threads on here about them being a good "all around" gear. Thats not my question. The question is, for those that can compare, will the 3.73 gears replicate the type of acceleration that I am looking for (aka 2018 Camaro SS) or are there other factors I need to consider.

For additional context, my Mustang is my "economical car" so I would be hesitant at this point to go shorter, such as 3.92 or 4.10 due to commute and gas prices.

Forget the 3.73's if you are going to do it go for the 4.09s. You are going to need a tuning device ala ProCal to do the gears. The jump from 3.55 to 3.73s isn't that much. As someone who had an S550 GT with PP and it came with the 3.73s, the 4.09 gears was the best mod I did for the car.

Sponsored

 

[rush014]

Forget the 3.73's if you are going to do it go for the 4.09s. You are going to need a tuning device ala ProCal to do the gears. The jump from 3.55 to 3.73s isn't that much. As someone who had an S550 GT with PP and it came with the 3.73s, the 4.09 gears was the best mod I did for the car.

100% agree......I'd start with that.

The best mod I did on my C4 ZR-1, was too source some 4:10s out of a Dodge Viper. Totally changed the personality of the car........Gave me way more torque down low. I can stay in 6th gear on the highway to pass, no need to down shift into 4th or 5th........ And the snappy-ness was improved for the whole power band.

The redline on my ZR-1 is 7250 or 7300 RPMS if I remember right....Loves to sing at higher RPMS like the DH and GTs. I think the redline is 7500 on the Coyote?? 4:09s will really wake up the car and your butt dyno will immediately know.

 

[MidwayJ]

100% agree......I'd start with that.

The best mod I did on my C4 ZR-1, was too source some 4:10s out of a Dodge Viper. Totally changed the personality of the car........Gave me way more torque down low. I can stay in 6th gear on the highway to pass, no need to down shift into 4th or 5th........ And the snappy-ness was improved for the whole power band.

The redline on my ZR-1 is 7250 or 7300 RPMS if I remember right....Loves to sing at higher RPMS like the DH and GTs. I think the redline is 7500 on the Coyote?? 4:09s will really wake up the car and your butt dyno will immediately know.

I've always thought the C4 ZR-1 has a fascinating engine. Congrats on owning one!

 

[Robe81]

You guys are really making me want to do these 4.09 gears...

What kind of gas mileage did you guys really get out of them on the highway? 75-85 mph on average.

 

[VBLUE]

I have a 2025 mustang GT with PP 3.73 gears, And till date it is the slowest feeling car I’ve had.
I myself was used to pressing the gas pedal and felt the power right away, not with this car though!
But being that I just said that my car is in the shop as we speak getting a stage 2 whipple, I’m sure that’s going to take care of my complaining

 

[Alex381]

Maybe it's just your new baseline? Unfortunate side effect of fast toys is the fast becomes normal and we crave faster. My car scares the piss out of the people I give spirited rides to but like you, I want more

You're also likely acceleration limited by your tire and traction control. If you turn traction control off and your tire lets go, then better rubber is probably your most effective first mod.

Yeah my last car was a model 3 performance. It is basically impossible to make a Mustang GT launch as hard as that car did. But launch speed has nothing to do with why I bought my car. I wanted something that would be fun to drive at any speed and not a one-trick pony.

 

[Dave2013M3]

You guys are really making me want to do these 4.09 gears...

What kind of gas mileage did you guys really get out of them on the highway? 75-85 mph on average.

Keep in mind the install isn't cheap and you want a shop that can handle it. The MPG drop is minimum...gas mileage really!!??

 

[AZ_Ryan]

I get the same feeling since my A-10 Auto has 3:15 gears. It is slow on the take-off. At high rpm's it's O.K. The BULLITTS I owned in the past had 3:73 gears. They were just right.

Wouldn't the automatic have drive modes that adjust acceleration?

3.55 gears make the autos way better off the line. Yes drive modes do adjust the throttle inputs.

 

[AZ_Ryan]

It's not...but it feels it. I think I know why and how to fix it, but I would like some smarter people than me to sanity check my logic. I'm not the most knowledgable with gearing so any help is appreciated.

For comparison sake, I am coming from a 2018 Camaro 1SS (non-1LE) 6-speed. I understand this car has 3.73 gears and hit peak torque at 4,400 rpm. (I bought it used so I cant speak to every spec on the car). This car delivered immediate throttle response and would slam you back in the seat with little effort. The car just "felt fast."

My Mustang GT is a non-PP 6-speed. I understand this means 3.55 gears (highway). I also understand that the peak torque is at 4,900 as well. This combo seems to overall make the car "feel" much slower. The car simply does not have the "slam you back in the seat" feel that the Camaro had.

I am thinking of swapping out the 3.55 gears for the Ford Performance 3.73 gears. Lots of threads on here about them being a good "all around" gear. Thats not my question. The question is, for those that can compare, will the 3.73 gears replicate the type of acceleration that I am looking for (aka 2018 Camaro SS) or are there other factors I need to consider.

For additional context, my Mustang is my "economical car" so I would be hesitant at this point to go shorter, such as 3.92 or 4.10 due to commute and gas prices.

Its 3 things that are making you feel this -

1. The 3.55 gears.
2. The tall gearing of the getrag 6-speed.
3. The torque band of the Coyote is much higher than the GM pushrod.

I drove two GT manuals when I was shopping for my car and got the same impression. They were very underwhelming off the line with the 3.55 gears. IMO Anything manual under 3.73 is just too low. As soon as I drove the auto with 3.55 rear end and short gears it was NOTICEABLY faster off the line and it made up my mind against the standard manual.

I did not drive a PP with the 6 speed (3.73 gears) so I can't comment on the difference. I did however have a Mach with 3.73 gears and the Tremec and it felt much better that the S650 GT manual. Granted that transmission also had a shorter 1st gear.

Also keep in mind the Coyote makes its torque at higher RPM and it peaks around 5k. They like to rev and aren't know for low end torque like the GM V8s.

 

[MachNroll]

Just some reading I did while researching. I can't remember exactly and I'm not sayings its right. I clearly prefer the acceleration of the 6.2 personally based on my question. Much more prefer Mustang for almost everything else though. I appreciate the incite though.

I had a 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack. auto trans, 485 HP, 475 torque, 3:09 gears (the spec sheet said 3:09...seems low but..). Anyway, that car absolutely launched. But on a twisty road, forget about it. I had it for a year, hit every darned gas station in the region on a very regular basis... and eventually ended up in a base '21 Mach 1 with a 6 speed manual. The Mach had totally different manners. Overall, the Mustang was an upgrade but wow that Scat Pack would get up and go!

 

[Will2]

For comparison sake, I am coming from a 2018 Camaro 1SS (non-1LE) 6-speed... This car delivered immediate throttle response and would slam you back in the seat with little effort. The car just "felt fast."

Former '21 Camaro LT1 here, your take is very similar to mine (https://www.mustang7g.com/forums/threads/10-speed-tune.175113/post-3506221).

The Camaro had immediate low-end power in nearly any gear, would push you back in the seat whenever you floored it. That feeling is addictive because of the immediate gratification feedback. The Mustang just isn't that way, unfortunately. I've accepted that my Mustang is a "boomer cruiser", at least in base GT form

 

[Q6543]

Throttle input lag is what I suspect.

OP, picture half throttle is where the gas pedal starts, floor it a ring it out here and there, let off early.

 

[Ace]

What you experience is just the lack of torque. That's the force you feel as being pushed into the seat. The Coyote in comparison to the LT1 or HEMI just needs it's higher RPM to deliver that, it's bascially where the bigger displacement shines. It get's even worse if you've driven turbocharged cars that delivers their peak torque quite linear from 2,5k RPM to the redline.

Here in europe it's even worse since our Mustangs lose like 10+% of their power with how badly Ford just simply detuned to meet emission standards. I was really disappointed with the test drive of the EU Dark Horse since it felt like a 300hp car at best. Couldn't get it in 0-60 to get below like 5.5s

 

[Aki]

To me the difference in gearing with performance pack made a major difference, so yeah test drive one and see how you feel.
Keeping the revs up with the coyote helps it not feel slow, and it does also sound its best above 6k.

 

[robvas]

I had a 2020 Dodge Charger Scat Pack. auto trans, 485 HP, 475 torque, 3:09 gears (the spec sheet said 3:09...seems low but..)

Hellcats can come with a 2.62, talk about low.

Sponsored