daviel

Researching my next car - 2016 Mustang. The 4cyl eco-boost engine requires premium gas to produce the advertised 310 hp. Ford does not advertise the fact that regular drops the hp down to about 280 hp. Even with my 2004 Focus SVT I never ran premium fuel. So if I get a 4 cyl. eco-boost, I pay extra for the engine and extra for the fuel. I never have run anything but regular in anything. Looks like the V6 is the only alternative to the GT, which I'd rather have anyway. If I cannot afford it and its higher insurance, looks like a V6.

bluebeastsrt

I own a V6. Great daily driver. Plentyof power 13.8@102 in the quarter mile is my best so far. Handles well. Looks just as good as the GT.

jz78817

if the cost difference between regular and premium is going to bust your budget, then you have no business buying a new car.

if, on the other hand, you have some sort of moral or philosophical refusal to buy anything other than regular, I recommend professional help. I don't know why you would be surprised that premium fuel is required for a 2.3 liter engine from which they're wringing 310 horsepower.

and by the way, the GT needs premium fuel to reach advertised horsepower too.

daviel

The professional help suggestion has been the way I roll. :-) I 'll probably wrangle a GT, anyway. It just annoyed me that the hp drop was so severe, putting the 4eco-boost behind the V6, which by the way weighs less than the 4, and runs on regular. Maybe the 4 should have been the entry engine. Looks like it really is. I can't see the advantage in the 4.

bluebeastsrt

For the 2016 Camaro the 4 banger is the entry level car at 270hp.

jz78817

two things:

1) the pull-back on regular fuel is "so severe" because what typically kills forced induction engines is detonation, either from going too lean or from too low an octane rating. 310 horsepower from a 2.3 liter 4-banger is pushing a lot of boost and Ford doesn't want to replace engines under warranty because people are cracking pistons on 87 octane.

2) the advantage of the 2.3 is low-end torque. The small turbos on the EcoBoost engines spool up faster than ****, and peak torque hits at 3000 rpm. The V6 has less torque and peaks at a higher rpm, and will need to be wound up more (and wants a lower gear ratio) to get it moving.