How bad are 05-10 V6/Auto rental spec mustangs?

I know the SN95/New Edge V6 auto stangs are sleep inducing soul crushing cars, but how bad are the 05-10's?  Would be used for Rallycross since i want something RWD/Auto and not a miata. 

One timing chain is in the front of the engine. The other is on the back in-between the engine and trans... Seriously the 4.0L cars are pretty crap. You'd do way better in an SN95/New Edge GT. Now, the 11+ V6 (300HP 3.7L) is a honey of a car and the 05-10 GT (305HP 4.6L 3V) is a very good one as well.

Cue that video that was in a thread here a while back of a BRZ trying real real hard to catch an 05-10 v6 mustang on stock (skinny) wheels on a road course. 

I mean, powertrain wise they're an old Explorer on a diet. Sounds bad but they are quicker than people expect. For example, i had one get away from me a little in my old Dodge Dynasty. Sounds funny but the Dynasty ran 15.2 in the 1/4, so those v6 mustangs really are not slouches like all previous ones. 

Suspension wise they are Mustangs with less weight up front, which is to say YUUUGE aftermarket and will turn better than a v8 in any given suspension spec. 

For another comedic example i'm currently working on a 94 5.0/5spd Mustang for somebody. A 4.2/auto 05 Mustang is probably a little bit quicker than this old 5.0.

They were fairly successful in SCCA showroom stock. 

Javelin said:

One timing chain is in the front of the engine. The other is on the back in-between the engine and trans... Seriously the 4.0L cars are pretty crap. You'd do way better in an SN95/New Edge GT. Now, the 11+ V6 (300HP 3.7L) is a honey of a car and the 05-10 GT (305HP 4.6L 3V) is a very good one as well.

I know the 11+ cars are significantly better they are just out of what i want to spend. Because around here most non 200k mile examples are around the price of a BRZ/FRS.

Not sure why the S197 4.0 gets alot of hate but I've driven many iterations of Mustangs - '86-11 and the 4.0 equipped cars are far from being the worst.   They have 210hp/240tq and still fairly lightweight.  The manual is just an updated T-5 but the automatic is also a 5 speed unit.  Throw a FRPP handling pack kit, a trac-lok w/ 3.73 gears and some good tires and it'll certainly help making it a competent performer.  I know the early Rangers w/ the 4.0 SOHC and maybe Explorers had issues with timing chain guides? but believe this was resolved before they were put into use in the Mustang.  

Vigo said:

Sounds funny but the Dynasty ran 15.2 in the 1/4, so those v6 mustangs really are not slouches like all previous ones. 

15.2 is a pretty slow time here in 2018.

It's also more power than you can hook up on dirt in a 2wd car, and we are talking about rallycross here. If you're interested in going fast on pavement.. you're free to ask. 

I own the stick shift version. It is an impressive car out of the box on a road course. The 4.0 is willing enough. The T-5 isn't happy being speed shifted though. The V6 won't have a limited slip diff but the V8 one bolts in with a different yoke although I'm told the 2011 up rear is a direct replacement. While the timing chain tensioner issue isn't a complete myth I've read very few reports of them actually being a problem. Yes, you have to pull the engine to get to the rear one. No, it probably isn't hard to do in a V6. They handle far, far better than the New Edge that preceded it.

I recently learned that you can fit 29" tires stock. So cheap mud terrains are making this more and more favorable for rallycross. There is an s197 v8 gt running in Rally America on nothing but bilstein HD's with 255/55/18 on gt500 wheels.

I shared one with my brother for a track day at Phoenix International Raceway.  Ten sessions in one day and it soaked it up fine.  Suspension refused to drift.  I think it had about 500 miles when we started and it did pick up some creaks in the ~300 track miles we hammered into it.

I don' recall if I ever spent time in a v6 auto unit, but the 05-10 was the first mustang that I ever thought had really good ergonomics. Everything just felt so right, visibility was good, I just love them. Another huge bonus is they are really easy to work on. You can actually open the hood and see/ touch the back of the cylinder heads. Same deal underneath. Uncluttered, simple, really good. So yeah, I endorse the 05-10 mustangs.

This is relevant to my interests as well. It seems that, performance wise, they're about on spec with other GT cars of the era, but often get the "not a v8" hate. I'll freely admit that that's a hang up of mine as well. Mine would be for pavement, but on dirt, I think they'd be a lot of fun and not wanting for power.