Two-Door Sports Car / Muscle Car

Ford Mustang

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Worth considering for the right buyer

#8 of 8in Two-Door Sports Car / Muscle Car

1064 sources · updated June 2026

Ford's latest GT delivers everything you'd want from a V8 sports car, a 5.0L Coyote that howls, handling sharp enough to embarrass the Camaro, and a cabin you can actually live with daily. The problem is the sticker shock: a base GT that cost $33k in 2021 now starts at $50k, and the Dark Horse pushes $70k-$80k, which is GT350 territory from just a few years ago. The car itself hasn't gotten worse, it's objectively better, but Ford has priced it out of reach for the young enthusiasts and budget-conscious buyers who made the Mustang a cultural icon. If you can afford it or find a deal, you're getting a legitimately great sports car. If you're shopping on the budget this nameplate used to own, you'll be cross-shopping used Corvettes and wondering what happened to affordable V8 thrills.

The generation that matters

This product isn't one story — here's how each era is regarded.

S550 (2015–2023)

2015–2023

Strong

Widely praised for affordability and value—users frequently cite sub-$35k GT pricing and strong performance. The 2017–2018 models appear especially popular among first-time buyers, with the platform regarded as accessible and capable.

S650 (2024–present)

2024–present

Mixed

Experts praise handling and power delivery, but pricing has surged dramatically (GT now $50k+, Dark Horse near $60k+). Community consensus is that Ford 'priced out their demographic'—sales plummeted 31.6% in one year, with users lamenting the loss of the 'cheap RWD V8' value proposition that defined the Mustang.

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Common complaints6 issues

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−Pricing has increased dramatically, base GT now $45k-$50k vs. $33k-$38k in 2021, Dark Horse approaching $70k-$80k

−Manual transmission removed from EcoBoost models

−Rear seats essentially unusable for adults

−Some reliability concerns on older models (coolant leaks, convertible top sealing issues)

−High insurance costs for young/new drivers

−Reputation for inexperienced drivers crashing (crowd memes persist)

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What owners praise8 strengths

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Powerful and engaging V8 engine with excellent soundtrack (5.0L Coyote)

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Strong driving dynamics and handling balance, especially compared to Camaro and Challenger

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Comfortable and livable as a daily driver with modern interior (S650)

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Manual transmission still available and prioritized by Ford

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Better visibility and practicality than competitors like Camaro

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Strong aftermarket support and enthusiast community

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Track-capable performance at multiple trim levels

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Iconic styling with retro-modern appeal

📊 How this score was calculated — 6-dimension rubric

High confidence▼

1064 sources analysed with long-term owner data present

1064 sources analysed — strong data quality

Reliability & Durability(22%)7.3

8 positive vs 3 negative long-term reports

User Sentiment(22%)6.7

18,420 positive upvotes vs 8,950 negative upvotes

Complaint Severity(16%)7.3

Complaints: 12 cosmetic, 18 functional, 4 systematic, 2 safety

Consensus Strength(8%)4.3

Opinion is use-case dependent — product divides opinion by intended use

Value for Money(15%)0.9

8 'worth it', 67 'overpriced', 15 mention better-value alternatives

Owner Advocacy(17%)8.2

6 repurchased/gifted, 12 unprompted recommendations, 4 regrets

Scores are percentile ranks: 5.0 is the median product in existence. 8.5+ is reserved for genuinely exceptional products (top ~10%). The score reflects consensus quality, what owners say about the product. Risk is tracked separately and shown above the summary when present. Both are calculated deterministically, so the same signals always produce the same score.

How we score every product →

Specifications2026

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Pricing

Starting MSRP

$32,640

Range

$32,640 - $103,490

Capability

Fuel economy

14-22 city / 22-33 hwy MPG

Drivetrain