2014 Ford Mustang 3.7 V6 24 Valve TiVCT DOHC from North America
Summary:
An outstanding performance bargain in disguise
Faults:
Airbag recall (Takata airbags).
OEM battery started having acid/corrosion issues on the negative terminal; replaced it at 35k in 2019. Still worked fine, but the acid was damaging under-hood paint.
Front bumper, hood and header panel is very susceptible to chips/scratches; unavoidable due to the large number of trucks kicking up rocks on my commute. Noticeable scratches and gouging on the bumper and header panel (annoyingly) as a result.
Driver's side vent chrome trim ring occasionally rattles. Slightly solved by using double-sided tape on the clips for the trim rings.
Aftermarket aluminum driveshaft resonates a lot of noise in cabin. Common, and lessened with some extra sound-deadening.
Stock MT82 shifter and shifter bushing replaced due to constant lock-out and missed shift issues. Replaced with Prothane bushing and Barton shifter; a huge improvement!
Driveshaft is apparently a weak point on 3.7s. I replaced this with an aluminum driveshaft to avoid this potential issue.
Water pump started leaking at 35k (common 3.7 failure). Replaced it myself in an hour; easy job and $73 total spent.
General Comments:
The 2014 Mustang with the 3.7 V6 is not what you think. Being a die-hard muscle car guy, I naturally wanted a 2014 GT with a manual when I was looking to buy a Mustang. But what I found was over-priced, worn-out GTs or overpriced low-mileage GTs that made buying a 2017 GT a better buying decision. I didn't want a S550 because I wanted a 2014 specifically, since I adored the look and I didn't feel like paying $30k for a nearly 5 year-old Mustang GT, especially as I was going to drive it nearly daily and not preserve it.
Then I heard about the 3.7 V6, which made 305 hp/280trq and returned 30 MPG on the highway. Initially I scoffed at it, then I read the specs, watched a few YouTube videos and found out that it was no slouch, while still returning great gas mileage. Test drove a 2014 with the 6 speed manual and was sold! The difference between my 2014 and a comparable 2014 GT was nearly $13,000 for the same mileage; this is how overpriced 13-14 GTs have become in the marketplace.
Now mine was a bone-stock base model with the 3.7 V6 with 2.73s, which stock performed very good. But being a car person, I had to upgrade it and did:
- Roush upper grille with the tribar pony emblem.
- Roush lower grille.
- GT-style spoiler.
- AMR Charcoal 18X10 wheels on 275/40/18 tires.
- Borla S-type axlebacks.
- BBK shorty headers.
- Airraid intake tube with intake wrapped in DEI heat tape.
- AFE air filter.
- MPT 93 performance tune.
- Ford Racing 3.55 gears with DSS 1 piece driveshaft.
- Steeda front/rear strut bars.
- Barton shifter and Prothane shifter bushing.
- Sequential tail light kit.
- Diode Dynamic LED side markers.
- BBK 73mm throttle body.
- Sprintbooster throttle controller.
After upgrading the car as above, it is a force to be reckoned with on the road. With a few mods, it's easy to squeeze low 13 second quarter miles out of the 3.7 and it's a ton of fun. This car is no slouch and has no problem roasting tires or being a contender at the track with other performance cars.
Driving the 3.7 daily, I don't find myself wanting more power. Generally, I find myself wanting less traffic to be able to enjoy it more because it performs so well as is. Passing power is excellent, and getting sideways if you're into Mustang memes is easy as using an iPhone, and off-the-line performance is outstanding.
Exhaust tone. Yeah it's not a V8 so it's lame right? Not a chance. With Borla S-types and BBK shorty headers, there is a very deep, rumbly tone that fools some people into thinking it's a small V8. Once driving, the tone is still deep with a unique performance-car tone that sounds great! Basically idle to 6000 RPM, sounds great! Still sounds great at 6000 RPM+, but you can tell it's more a V6 once you're there until the redline, where below, it sounds more V8-like in comparison.
Gas mileage is still good with 3.55s, albeit it was best with the 2.73s where I've achieved 35 MPG before on a long trip with those. I can achieve 30-32 MPG with the 3.55s, but at lower speeds (60mph) with the 2.73s it was easy at 70mph to do nearly 35 MPG. I would say 21-24 MPG in the winter in mixed driving and 24-28 in the summer is what I do currently based on gas fill-ups. It will do teens for MPG though if you push it hard all the time.
Comfort is very, very good. This is a comfortable daily-driver and cruiser on the highway. Even the base seats are comfortable and the heat and A/C are the best of any car/truck/SUV I've had in recent years. You will never be cold or hot in this vehicle in 99% of conditions.
Visibility is OK. You sit low if you're tall like me and the mirrors are narrow. If you have louvers on the side window, visibility is non-existent there. I haven't encounter a situation where it's truly a problem, but sometimes have to adjust mirrors depending on road conditions.
Lighting. HID headlights with LED taillights stock! Love it and one of the reasons why I love the 13-14 design. Classic gauges look great at night as well.
Handling is very good even on the base model. I only changed the wheels/tires and am astonished how well this vehicle corners stock. I can imagine it would be even better with some upgrades, but I enjoy the ride comfort for now.
Manual transmission. If you bought this with an auto, you are missing out, and I have driven the auto. The MT82 granted is finicky, however with the right shifter/bushing/handle (knob) combo, it's a blast to drive! Great fun 1 through 4 and the double overdrive (5th and 6th) really helps you to get great gas mileage, even with higher gear ratios in the rear-end.
Rear-end. 8.8 rear with LSD standard even on the base model! Great move by Ford on this and with a gear upgrade, the performance was outstanding on my 3.7.
Brakes. 4 wheel disc with ABS that was standard on 05-09 GTs for the base model. No problem bringing this pony to a halt quickly.
Stock base radio is poor. I don't care though because I rarely use the radio; I'd rather listen to the engine in this car as I have other vehicles with better sound systems. Probably worth buying the shaker system or upgrading if you listen to music.
Looks are timeless. You get the classic looks with none of the high price-tag of a GT. Easy to make the V6 look and sound like a muscle car too, so that only a car enthusiast will be able to tell the difference.
Social. It's not a GT. Do you know who cares? The internet. Do you know who does not? The general public on the road. I've driven my 2014 considerably and only had 2 people say "why not the GT". Everyone else either said "that's a 3.7? Nice!", or "that isn't a joke, I know these cars", or asked if it was a GT or Shelby. Everyone else basically considers this another car on the road but the advantage is it gets some respect, meaning sometimes people will get out of your way in the left lane.
Overall, the 2014 Mustang V6 is a performance bargain in disguise. You get previous GT-level performance for a bargain price, along with great gas mileage, comfort, and modern features, plus the classic looks and design at an affordable cost. Sure the 5.0 Coyote is a great engine, but how often can you use the full 420hp on the street in most real-world driving situations? For most people, they'll find either a stock 3.7 or slightly modded more than enough for a fun weekend car or daily-driver.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 18th March, 2019
23rd Feb 2023, 14:52
I agree also. The V6 has plenty of power for everyday driving. It can also achieve something resembling economy, which the V8 cars cannot.
Still, the Mustang is about speed, so you will always get those who say anything less than a V8 is useless, but a V6 is a very use-able car. Heck some of these cars even come with 4 cylinder engines now, but they have a decent run of speed and economy as well.
23rd Feb 2023, 20:35
4 cyl power in a Mustang is nothing new. The Mustang II and the fox body generations had them as standard engines. Don't forget the rare turbo 4 cyl. fox bodies also.
24th Dec 2022, 15:08
I totally agree with this review. I still own my 2012 3.7 V6 Performance Package Premium and I’m still perfectly happy with it as it only has 59k miles on the odometer.
I did install all the same mods and tune in addition to a custom H pipe with Dynomax resonators and Roush axleback exhaust.
I would agree that MPT 93 tune does make all the difference, especially with the low end torque, and that the aluminum driveshaft makes for a smoother ride and peace of mind.
All in all one of the best car I’ve ever owned.