Used 2012 Ford Mustang Base for sale 

This year, the Boss 302 has been reintroduced into the Mustang lineup which makes the total count to five. These include V6, V6 Premium, GT, GT Premium, and the pricey Boss 302. All the trims have some exclusive features to them that make them special. The asking price for the base V6 is around $22,310 and extends up to 45 grand for the top-end Boss 302 with all the upgrades. 

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Look no further than the GT trim. Pricing for it touches nearly $30,000 but it is definitely worth it. It is a home for the more powerful 4.7-liter V8 engine. You could save some money by buying the V6 but don’t you want to maximize your car-buying dollar? Go for the Mustang GT. 

The base V6 and V6 Premium trims are powered by a 3.7-liter V6 engine producing 305 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. The GT, GT Premium, and Boss 302 trims are equipped with a 5.0-liter V8 engine that makes a monstrous 412 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque. You have your choice of two transmissions- a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual. This engine may be smaller in size but it’s more versatile and responsive. Off the line, power is good but the real strength of this engine is the mid-range torque. 

For easy passing and high-speed acceleration, the electronic throttle is very responsive making it easy to blip the throttle on downshifts for perfect gear changes with the 6-speed manual. The steering is responsive and the suspension is almost soft. Even though the Mustang still incorporates a rear axle instead of independent suspension, it proves to be very planted on the road, never really showing the lack of sophistication of the setup.

The powerful Chevrolet Camaro takes just 5.6 seconds to sprint to 60 mph and tops at 155 mph. Although the Dodge Challenger houses the same power as the Mustang, it is slightly slower in both the performance tests. Overall, the Camaro is a smart pick in terms of price and performance.

There’s no need to worry about your fuel costs as the Ford Mustang is the most fuel-efficient muscle car in the market currently. It delivers outstanding performance and at the same time keeping fuel control. According to the EPA, the Mustang returns 19 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. 

Despite housing a small fuel tank, the Mustang offers good fuel numbers and has earned respect in this category. The Dodge Challenger and the Chevrolet Camaro have similar fuel estimates but both of them rank below the Mustang. 

The interior of the Mustang definitely sets it apart from the Camaro and the Challenger. The fit and finish are far by the best. Plenty of high-quality materials and some impressively-swank optional leather seats prove that Ford has got a town square. The dash is well laid-out and everything’s easy to see. 

The optional bucket seats are very comfortable and the leather contrasting colors really pop your eyes and make it look bold and classy. The large gauges behind the steering wheel are surrounded in chrome and have reminiscent of the 60s era. The Mustang feels much more compact than the Camaro and the Challenger which is a good thing because those cars have a very wide stance on the road. 

In terms of passenger space, the Dodge Challenger is ahead of its rivals as it offers better head and legroom in both rows. It further leads this category by offering 16.2 cubic feet of cargo space. The Camaro offers just 11.3 cubic feet which can carry only two large bags. Some of the other features include:

• Scuff plate
• Aluminum foot pedals
• Leather steering wheel
• 6-way power-adjustable driver’s seat
• Tilt-adjustable steering wheel
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror

How intuitive is the 2012 Ford Mustang’s infotainment system?

All the Mustangs don’t come equipped with an infotainment screen. An optional 4.2-inch LCD screen is available that features SiriusXM and audio auxiliary input. The Premium comes with a SYNC communication system that adds an eight-speaker setup as standard. The iPod interface doesn’t suck even in the non-navigation-equipped Mustang. You can easily scroll right to hire lettered artists. Some of the other features include:

• Auxiliary audio input
• AM/FM radio
• SiriusXM
• 8-speaker audio system

The new Ford Mustang is one hot-looking car. All the teeny and tiny bits accumulate to give the Mustang an aggressive look. The angle of the bulging hood over the four headlights along with the crisp lines and more rear fenders make the car look like a late 60s Mustang. All these things in combination with the flush windows and modern bumpers also portray a thoroughly modern car. 

One thing on this car that gets the cool factor by passers-by is the sequence of tail lights at the back. They go from the inside to the outside and look very cool. A panoramic glass roof is an option but an expensive one. However, it is worth spending extra bucks for the optional 18-inch wheels over the base 17-inch ones. 

Compared to its rivals, the Chevrolet Camaro has very low ground clearance which means getting in and out isn’t much of a challenge. The Dodge Challenger has the widest wheelbase of 116 inches and that reflects its interior room. In terms of weight, the Mustang weighs almost 4000 pounds less than the Challenger. Some of the other features include:

• Dual & quad exhaust tips
• Rear spoiler
• Painted aluminum rims
• Power mirrors
• Fog lamps
• Auto on/off headlights

Speaking of crash tests. IIHS only conducted frontal and side-impact tests on the Mustang and yet the Mustang was able to bag ‘Good’ ratings in both these tests. It also received a total of four out of five stars from NHTSA. The Mustang is safe as a normal sedan. It comes equipped with some effective safety features that can reduce the risk of an accident. These include:

• Traction and Stability Control
• Post-Collision Safety System
• Dusk-sensing headlamps
• Rear parking sensors
• Anti-Theft Alarm System
• Six airbags

Sure the Camaro and the Challenger might be fresh and even more dramatic in their retro approach but the Mustang is like a gem that’s being polished over the 40 plus years it’s been in production. The Ford Mustang has arrived at a place that makes it a good car regardless of the styling. It’s easy to drive, the handling has good feedback, the engine is refined and the way it comes together makes it just simply a good car.