This is a short story featuring experiences of blog writer Alex Nunez, DRIVE’s Shakedown host Leo Parente, Travis Okulski from Jalopnik and Roger Garbow from R&T spending a day at Monticello Motor Club driving and testing 2014 Hertz Penske Mustang GT. This vehicle has a huge past. The special edition of Mustang cars has hit the car market in 1966 with a race car Shelby GT350H. It took some forty years before its follower appeared in 2006. It was a GT-H car which was made both as convertible and coupe. Another novelty was the introduction of the S197 Mustang, which was recently followed by the launch of 2014 Mustang GT. The event was initiated by the rental company Hertz which was collaborating with Roger Penske.

The car is called 2014 Mustang GT or Hertz Penske GT. It is full of pleasant surprises from Recaro, Brembo and Ford Racing Performance Parts of the total value of some 4,500 dollars. These include new mufflers of GT500 type, additional gauges, CAI tune and new pack for handling. The parts are black and decorated with racing badges from Penske Racing. Right through the middle of the car and covering the doors there is a long yellow stripe. Only 150 items were produced, marking the end of the series.

Above all 2014 Hertz Penske Mustang GT is intended for rental purposes. Therefore it is important to notice that it follows American trends by offering only automatic transmission. A small amount of some ten cars with manual transmission are not intended for rental fleet and will be distributed among executives from Hertz and Roger Penske.

 

The Hertz Penske GT seems to be an amazing vehicle with all Brembo upgrades and handling pack from FRPP. It is lower by one inch. Even though automatic transmission is not very popular among the professionals, we must admit that it suits this car perfectly well. The Monticello track proves that the slushbox is superb. The car acts very well when left in the S mode: it stays within a given gear. Models made in 2013 have additional rocker of Buick Enclave type by the side of the shifter which enables some models to be driven with manual transmission. We notice that a paddle would be a better choice for that purpose. It is also our opinion that Mustang GT always goes better with manual transmission.

Compared with 2013 series, the 2012 series does not feature manual transmission, but they also do not have S mode, which means that their automatic transmission ends up in wrong gears all the time. The 2012 vehicle originates from Hertz collection, but it does not leave a good impression. In the absence of Brembo parts the car drives sloppy. Unlike with other Mustang heroes, it feels impossible to leave the Hertz Penske GT fast enough.

The car is after all not boring. There are further tests scheduled in Texas with Zach Bowman and there is already publishing place reserved for the first impressions.