Is the clutch pedal on the '11+ Mustang GT as heavy as it seems?

So I've now test driven a 2011 and a 2012 Mustang GT. I love the car overall, it's hella impressive. But the one thing that really stuck out to me is how heavy the clutch pedal seems. Maybe it's just because I'm used to driving my '09 HHR, which has a really light pedal. Since my afternoon commute is in Atlanta rush hour traffic, it's something to consider. It's so hard to tell after just a few test drives if it's something you can really get used to. For example, when I got my '06 Miata, I HATED the seats in the first few drives. Almost wanted to get rid of it just for that. But after time, I got used to them. Never "liked" them, but they didn't bother me.

Any Mustang owners weigh in on this? Is it day to day livable for some stop and go use? Beyond the heavy clutch pedal, I enjoyed the E36 M3 out of driving them...and both test drives were in the rain, so I didn't really get to completely stomp on it.

I've driven a 2014 GT at autox a few times, pedal seemed fine to me. But some of my previous vehicles had heavy clutches so the Mustang was light by comparison.

A friend of mine has a 2015 GT that I've driven a couple of times. I thought the clutch was rather heavy, much more so than my LS1 Camaro FWIW.

I've got an '05 GT, so different transmission than you were driving. Clutch is still factory and not terribly heavy. In fact when a relative who is a Mustang guy and drag racer from way back tried it, he commented how light it was. Compared to the '88 Honda I had, it is a little heavier. Compared to the '69 big block F100 I had, it's light as a feather. It's certainly light enough that driving in traffic isn't too bad.

Having said that, if I were in Atlanta and fighting that traffic again everyday, I think I'd test drive an auto. They're very good and slightly faster than a stick in the quarter mile. You might be happier in the long run. I spent a lot of hours stuck on I-75 in that Honda with the light clutch and it still sucked.

Of course, I still bought a stick...

It's all what you get used to. When I drive my father's '04 Mach 1, the clutch feels like exercise equipment compared to my Mazda 2. After acclimating, getting back into my car makes it feel like the clutch is purely digital as if I'm playing a driving sim.

The newer Mustangs clutches feel MUCH lighter than the SN95 Mustangs, FWIW.

My 15 feels like normal to me. I've had cars that have felt lighter and much heavier.

Mustang clutch is kinda in between. It's certainly lighter than a C5 Z06 clutch. You get used to it, but even when you're used to it being stuck in traffic still sucks.

It's not so much the fact that I'm sitting in traffic that bothers me, I'm used to that. I'm just not sure if it's a matter of me not being used to it, or it's unusually heavy and it'll create knee pain after an hour or two (I have bad knees).

I could look at the autotragics, but it just doesn't seem right. If I get one, it will serve as my DD, and I just don't want my one and only car to be an auto if I can avoid it.

Tactical Penguin wrote: It's all what you get used to. When I drive my father's '04 Mach 1, the clutch feels like exercise equipment compared to my Mazda 2. After acclimating, getting back into my car makes it feel like the clutch is purely digital as if I'm playing a driving sim. The newer Mustangs clutches feel MUCH lighter than the SN95 Mustangs, FWIW.

This. The 11+ Mustangs actually have the lightest clutch of any Mustang I've driven, and I've got legs like a giraffe.

I honestly dont think it's all that bad.

But then again, dad's 1983 911 feels like you have an industrial spring pushing against you...

I got a 2012 KB for sale btw... (6spd, prem, gt, comfort package)

Mad_Ratel wrote: I honestly dont think it's all that bad. But then again, dad's 1983 911 feels like you have an industrial spring pushing against you... I got a 2012 KB for sale btw... (6spd, prem, gt, comfort package)

How did you like the car living with it day to day? Anything really bother you? How was mpg? Yeah, I know, it's a Mustang, but I drive a lot.

Buddy has an '11 5.0 that he drives around Atlanta. He doesn't have to drive it every day, but he doesn't like having to deal with traffic. He had knee surgery a year or two back as well, I think on the left knee. He gripes some, but he's so happy with all other aspects of the car I don't think he minds it. After driving it once and feeling the wonderful torque in every gear, I got used to the heavy clutch pretty quick. Where in Atlanta are you?

The one that felt like leg presses to me was my neighbor's 03 Cobra.

classicJackets wrote: Buddy has an '11 5.0 that he drives around Atlanta. He doesn't have to drive it every day, but he doesn't like having to deal with traffic. He had knee surgery a year or two back as well, I think on the left knee. He gripes some, but he's so happy with all other aspects of the car I don't think he minds it. After driving it once and feeling the wonderful torque in every gear, I got used to the heavy clutch pretty quick. Where in Atlanta are you?

Live in Acworth, work in Lawrenceville....55 miles each way.

ive always found mustangs to have heavy clutches, i always accounted it to them having cable clutches vs hyraulic clutches like alot of other manual cars ive driven, but im not sure if the newer mustangs still use cable clutches

I was able to drive my dad's 2012 a week after getting out of the hospital in a walker, so I don't think it's too heavy.

It's only marginally heavier than my N54 BMW.

edizzle89 wrote: ive always found mustangs to have heavy clutches, i always accounted it to them having cable clutches vs hyraulic clutches like alot of other manual cars ive driven, but im not sure if the newer mustangs still use cable clutches

Same here, but I am fairly positive the Coyote cars are hydraulic. Not sure about the earlier S197s.