2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt Review

We live in a time where everyone lives incredible lives. At least this is what our social media feeds would have us believe. If you just woke up from a decade-long coma, you’d be hard pressed not to assume that we’re all beautiful millionaires, travel the world, own 50 cars, and come up with the greatest quotes ever written.

It’s my turn: In order to live a full life, it is important to be happy, be surrounded with love and, at one point or another, drive a Ford Mustang Bullitt. If you’re a regular on the site, you’ve probably noticed that I’ve already reviewed the Bullitt but given that I’m living a full life, am happy and surrounded with love, I could not pass up the opportunity to drive it again.

I still struggle with the “why” I love this car so much. As best as I can figure, I’m nostalgic for an era that I never got to live through. This explains why the Challenger too, reaches so deeply inside my soul and gets me utterly emotional. It’s all so irrational, yet so good.

For the love of the V8

Obviously, it’s all very pointless and dumb if you’re not into cars. But if you are, you’ll find it impossible to resist the Mustang Bullitt.

The 5.0-litre Coyote V8 boasts 480-horsepower, up 20 from the GT thanks to an open air box, Shelby GT350 intake manifold, and larger 87-millimeter throttle body. Torque is unchanged at 420 lb.-ft. The Bullitt also gets unique powertrain control module calibrations which works mysterious magic tricks for equal parts smooth power delivery and beautiful normally aspirated V8 engine responsiveness.

The only transmission offered is a, blessed by thee Ford people, a sweet and mechanical 6-speed manual transmission complete with a cue-ball shifter.

The drive modes act upon throttle response, steering, and damping. Some elements can be altered individually, such as steering and exhaust note. As a self-proclaimed d-bag, I could not help myself but setting the Active Valve Performance Exhaust to Track by default. The rumble is enthralling and impossible to resist.

Drive today and every day

On the topic of dampers, the standard MagneRide damping system is what sets the car apart. Other sports cars, such as the Camaro, harbour such technology but Ford’s tuning of these brilliant pieces of driving tech enables the Mustang to be enjoyed in every situation.

Ford Performance left no stone unturned with the car as the included Brembo brakes (six-piston front, single piston rear calipers) with larger vented rotors, are very much up to the task.

Driving the 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is absolute bliss. No matter if I was tired annoyed (with work for example), pressing the ‘Stang’s start button would instantly put a smile on my face.

The Bullitt is Boss

Actually, my smile would grow from cheek-to-cheek to ear-to-ear. Looking out the window at the Bullitt parked in the driveway was enough to set the mood right. Yes, this car is not much more than a dressed up, or down GT but it’s its stealth and unadorned presence that takes me to another place.

Honestly, I think the Ford Mustang is so-so. The 6^th generation Pony car was designed to please everyone, considering in part that it’s a very popular rental fleet unit. The Chevy Camaro, by contrast, was conceived for diehards. The Bullitt’s large unobstructed blacked-out grille, complete absence of Blue Oval and prancing horsies tells me that Ford’s allowing the car to do the talking – by saying nothing. Well, other than roaring at wide-open throttle.

The cabin needs but one thing and that it the optional Recaro seats with green stitching. The remainder is all top-line Mustang kit, including the 12″ digital instrument cluster, Ford’s amazing SYNC 3 infotainment system and stupidly loaded steering wheel with oversized pods for controls and impossible to grip spokes. BTW Ford, Chevy listened and changed the wheel in the Camaro. How about you do the same?

The 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt is a Highland green feel-good apparatus. Think about your happy place – This is the Bullitt. With its black 19-inch Torque Thrust wheels, spoiler-less rear-end, it is my 2^nd favorite American musclecar.

At $57,525, or just shy of $60k with the seats, it is a car you’ll cherish for ever. It blends the past and the present superbly. In 25 years, it’ll still blend two eras and make you happy.

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