Home > Ford Mustang GT vs Ford F-150 Coyote: What’s the Best Base for a Build?

Ford Mustang GT vs Ford F-150 Coyote: What’s the Best Base for a Build?

By Brett Foote - October 8, 2025

In today’s world, we’re blessed with two great go-fast options in the form of the Ford Mustang GT and Ford F-150 Coyote, but which is best?

It wasn’t too terribly long ago that if one wanted to make something fast, they simply chose whichever V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive coupe that their preferred brand sold at the time. It was Mustang versus Camaro or Challenger/Charger, and from there, the hardest decision to make was whether or not to slap something like a supercharger or a pair of turbos on there. However, in more recent years, the Coyote-powered Ford F-150 has become a serious contender to something like the Ford Mustang GT in that regard.

We’ve seen a flurry of built Ford F-150 surface as of late, many of them regular cab pickups with forced induction, breaking the laws of physics by ripping off some seriously impressive quarter-mile times, too. While there was a time when it was easy to scoff at the notion of building a fast truck of any kind, that’s no longer the case, and it’s hard to deny the popularity of such builds. Thus, here, we’re going to take a more detailed look at the pros and cons of throwing money at both of these models to make them faster.

Ford Mustang GT Pros

Weight

No matter which trim level of F-150 one opts for, it’s going to weigh at least a little – or a lot – more than a Ford Mustang GT, which tips the scales at around 3,800 pounds. As for the F-150, the absolute lightest configuration out there comes in at more than 4,000 pounds, and it only goes up from there, giving the pony car an advantage right out of the gate.

Handling

Given the fact that it sits lower to the ground and is actually a sports car designed to handle corners, it’s no secret that the Mustang GT is going to handle better than the F-150. The pickup also has quite the weight bias, with most of that residing up front, which doesn’t help out when the road gets twisty, not to mention its rather ancient rear leaf spring suspension setup that debuted during the times when we rode around in a horse and buggy instead of an automobile.

Aftermarket Support

While both of these vehicles enjoy robust aftermarket support, the Mustang has a bit more in that regard, with quite a few third-party companies dedicated solely to making go-fast parts for the pony car. This is understandable since folks have been modifying Mustangs for 60 years now, but it’s also safe to say that performance-focused F-150 aftermarket support is quickly catching up, too.

Cost Effective

Dollar for dollar, one will get more performance from a Ford Mustang GT than an F-150, largely due to the fact that it weighs less out of the box, and thanks to the fact that it already comes packing some supportive parts such as a more track-ready suspension setup.

Ford Mustang GT Cons

Cost of Entry

It will certainly come as a surprise to some (at least, those that haven’t been watching prices), but a brand new Ford Mustang GT with zero options will set one back $49,250 today, with destination charges included. That’s a ton of money for a car with a cloth interior, one that used to be sold in the low $30k range just a few years ago. Of course, the alternative is to find a nice, clean S550-generation Ford Mustang, which can be had for much less and has essentially the exact same power potential.

Lack of Passenger Space

Any adult-sized person that has ever tried to climb in the back of a Mustang already knows that, well, those seats aren’t designed for anything but kids and extremely short people. It’s basically a two-seater in that regard, and getting in and out of the rear passenger area takes some gymnastic skills to pull off, too.

Single Purpose

As such, the Ford Mustang GT is really mostly a single purpose vehicle. Sure, it’s definitely capable of being a daily driver, and lots of folks use it as such. However, the pony car is better-suited as second vehicle for fun weekend cruises or track days, at least, if you have more than one other person living in your household that you need to transport somewhere.

Ford F-150 Pros

Utility and Flexibility

The Ford F-150 has been around for a very long time now, and for good reason – it’s a fantastic all-around vehicle that’s also quite capable for its class. You can buy a base XL for work purposes, or spend a lot more money and go with a super-luxurious trim chock full of technology and amenities. Either way, there’s a large bed out back to haul things, not to mention towing capability, meaning that even slapping something like a supercharger on your F-150 doesn’t mean you can’t use it to work, either.

Passenger Space

Unlike the Mustang, the F-150 – at least, in SuperCab and SuperCrew configurations – has room for more than one other adult inside. In fact, SuperCrew models have a truly massive rear passenger space that can fit NBA-sized players and still have some legroom to spare. It’s quite comfortable to haul around five folks in one, making it very much practical for smaller families.

All-Wheel Traction

Unlike the Mustang, the F-150 offers four-wheel-drive, giving it superior traction off the line – as we’ve seen in plenty of drag races between these types of builds. That also helps out in the event of inclement weather, and makes the pickup more capable off paved surfaces as well, if you’re into that sort of thing.

Upfront Costs

One can slip behind the wheel of a new Ford F-150 for as little as $40,000, or nearly $10k less than a base Mustang GT, and it comes with the 5,0-liter Coyote V8, too. Heck, there are dealers selling those same XL regular cab pickups with a supercharger already installed for around $55k, churning out 700 horsepower right out of the box (such as those sold by Lebanon Ford and various other dealers) – making them the deal of the century, or at least, the moment.

Ford F-150 Cons

Weight

As previously mentioned, the F-150 is going to weigh a bit more or a lot more than a Mustang GT, depending on how you spec it, and its brick-like shape doesn’t help out in terms of aerodynamics at the top end, either.

Less Cost-Effective

Outside of the sleeper builds one can buy these days, building a Ford F-150 that’s as quick or capable as a Mustang GT is likely going to cost a bit more, thanks to its truck-specific traits such as added weight, lack of aero, and inferior suspension setup.

Handling

One can certainly spend some money and make an F-150 handle a whole lot better, but let’s be honest – this is a truck, and it’s always going to perform like one. On the flip side, the Mustang is a sports car, and as such, will provide a much different, confidence-inspiring feel in the corners.

Conclusion

Honestly, we’re thrilled that we have two great choices in the current Blue Oval lineup when it comes to building something seriously quick. The emergence of the fast F-150 in recent years is great news for everyone, even if you don’t ever plan on buying one. Regardless, if you’re on the fence between these two options, it really boils down to how you plan to use your vehicle and how much money you want to throw at it.

Photos: Lebanon Ford