2017 Mustang GT (PP1) Review - Half the Price of Mach 1 or GT350, but is it Half the Car?

Nowadays, a used Mustang GT PP1 can be had for $30-35K, or half the price of a Mach 1 or Shelby GT350. Even with a few handling mods, is this track-focused Mustang just a glorified rental car?

Mod List:
⁃ ARP extended studs with 25mm front spacers
⁃ Ford Racing Track Shocks [M-18000-F]
⁃ BMR Handling Springs (250F/980R lb/in)
⁃ BMR 35mm front sway bar
⁃ Ford Performance Pack 1 rear sway bar (22.2mm)
⁃ Steeda roll center correction kit
⁃ Steeda tension link spherical bearing
⁃ Steeda camber plates - Strut tower cut open, plates slotted as far inwards as they will go for -3.3 front camber
⁃ Steeda rear camber adjustment kit, set to -1.8 rear camber
⁃ BMR subframe cradle bushing lockout/brace
⁃ Super Pro rear lower control arm polyurethane bushing
⁃ Ford Performance Toe Link Spherical Bearing
⁃ BG Synchro Shift II transmission fluid
⁃ Redline 75w140 gear oil - used as Torsen LSD oil
⁃ Ferodo DS1.11 track pads
⁃ Apex SM-10 19x11 with 295/30R19 Continental Extreme Contact Force

[danielmembrillo]

Coming from a 2019 1SS 1LE to my recent acquisition of a 2017 GT350 - Your comment around 6:20 is spot on. The 1LE feels much more hunkered down/glued/stuck to the road when you push it hard. The GT350 dances and you can feel weight transfer more. Dig your videos - don't stop making them!

[marcasswellbmd]

Every once in a while, I’ll get to 7000 7200 RPMs and then I’ll let off it does it no problem but I don’t do it often most of the time I’m short shifting my car everybody wants to race all the time.. I just hit 10, 000 miles with mine. It still looks like it was brand new.. I just bought a 2017 performance package manual with 8, 909 miles on it. She was garage kept and traded in for a Corvette. The guy barely put any miles on it one owner before me. Very well-kept car I couldn’t be happier..

[nathan]

Imagine the 5.0L engine and Tremec in a Camaro chassis. Instant classic.

[davidjohnson]

I just purchased a 2017 GT premium, PP1 with standard trans and only 9k miles. I had a 2010 Camaro SS2 with over 500hp. So far this Mustang is better FOR ME than the Camaro. I can actually see out of this car. It is soo much more comfortable to drive and the interior layout is a really nice blend of retro and modern. Add to that it has a "classic style " it doesn't look like a cartoon transformer !! Great video, just what I was looking for !!
Thank you.

[sunnyvalentino]

I had one of these (a 2015, I took delivery in Dec 2014) and sold it in March! Mine was a Performance Pack 1 heavily modified (tune and catback, shocks, springs, camber plates, sways, MGW, bearings, tires/wheels, GT350 wheels - you name it with over 10k in aftermarket parts), lots of it BMR, Steeda and GT 350. I LOVED the car. It was dead reliable and cheap to maintain, I had no issues in 7 years. The engine was glorious and the car was solid balance of practicality, huge trunk that swallowed my kids bike, stroller, toddler seat in back. The 2015-2017 engines also have iron cylinder liners, they are very durable and can take HUGE boost (I didnt boost mine).

Why did I sell it? The steering feel SUCKED and there was NOTHING that made a difference, LCA's, bearings, wheels, alignment. It had a really slow rack (16.4 to 1 or something), distant feel and no feel/feedback. The other reason was the rear would snap very easily, and its because of the geometry of the car (there is a reason it has a crowd killer reputation) and you can dial it out with sways and alignment only so far. There's a reason for this - the S550 chassis/body in white is largely similar to the S197 before that which has very humble sedan roots (with changes for the rear independent suspension), and its an old setup.

I test drove a manual GR86 and liked it a lot more, so I will buy one of those once they release the Performance Pack/Ts/Circuit Pack. It was everything I liked about the Mustang with infinitely better steering, 70% the size, a lot lighter and much much more agile. The only negative for me is it didnt have a glorious V8 Coyote bliss.

I didnt enjoy the Camaro SS 1LE I drove and autocrossed. I hate the high cowl (I'm short in torso) and the car is not playful at all. It is a much superior handling car and as you said is very buttoned down, but I found it boring on public roads and confining. It is clearly a track car if you can afford the tires.

[CubanDre]

Absolutely killing it lately. Great review

[marcasswellbmd]

There's a lot of small things that need to be done but the Base with the Performance Pack is the way to go definitely..

[bannister]

My 2016 GT-PP was a comfortable cruiser with a great engine. A car show on wheels.

[josephbielawski]

6:00 "Similar body motion to a stock gt350 or mach1", and 6:30 "not far off the later model magnaride" is high praise for a gt with just some bolt-on suspension mods. Given that the Mach 1 outperforms the SS 1LE on the road course, it would seem this "budget" version of the mustang would be in the running with those cars. Probably close enough that driver skill would be more important than suspension tuning in terms of lap times. Too bad about the steering.

[svandorst]

A tune will give it another 1000 rpm’s to play with. Not necessarily usable power with the stock intake manifold, but my Lund tuned 17 went to 7600 when I had it.

[amiller]

Nice review. I'm really surprised that the owner of this car didn't install an MGW or Barton short shifter considering all the other mods he/she has done. Apparently that makes a big difference and at least partially closes the gap between the MT-82 and the Tremec.

[FATmenDRIVEtrucks]

Yeah the steering is bad idk how to fix that on these s550. The shifter he should get a MGW or Barton improves the feel. For the revving higher get 18+ manifold there cheap and tune now rev to 7500 rpm

[Jmab-rvjc]

I got mine new for 35k, used should be around 25k-30k. Thats a lot if car for the money. And true with the streering rack. I wish theyre a bit better. The new mustang has an improve steering rack. Thank god they listened.

[LICobra]

I ordered a new 2015 Silver base GT/PP (manual only) at that time with recaro's and spoiler delete, I did ditch the stock exhaust for a Corsa Extreme cat back and a few cosmetic changes to front grill, tail light panel and rear bumper/diffuser. Now grated it was only 435 hp but it was impressive at the time especially with the new independent suspension. I traded the 15' GT/PP for a 2019 GT350. An exceptional in it's own right....to answer your question is the GT have the car....I guess it depends how you use it...I don't track my cars and there only street driven, and my GT/PP was just about half the price of the GT350 new....so in my situation the overall GT experience was much closer then the price.

[abr]

Gen 2’s are my favorite Gen of the 5.0’s, I own one, I daily it, 106k miles on it atm. That being said, the Gen 2 is at its best with boost.

Compared to a GT350, if it’s not a daily, I’m paying the extra for a 350.

[marcasswellbmd]

God I am so happy with my GT.. She is so clean.. I can eat off my motor.. It looks like it just came off the line..

[marcasswellbmd]

Red is at 6, 800 in mine and I always run her to about 7, 200 if I am going hard..

[gigi]

Just wait until that evap goes out lol $$$$ ask me how i almost knew lol

[thepassionofthegoose]

Half the price and 75% less car than a GT350.