2021 Mach 1 HP Review

“Godly Indigestion”

I love automobiles. Regardless of genre or provenance, redeeming qualities and interesting eccentricities can be found in most any vehicle. Everything from a quirky Geo Metro and it’s 1.0 liter of displacement to the absurd opulence of a Bentley Bentayga holds a place in the pantheon of automotive history. The S550 Mach 1 may be one of the last vestiges of a fantastic, but fleeting, interpretation of the motor vehicle.

After coming to terms with the reality that my Bronco reservation fulfillment would occur after both Tom Brady & Lebron James had retired from professional sports, I began to consider alternatives. In early 2021, my brother in law died unexpectedly at 42 (RIP Pete), I was reminded that tomorrow isn’t guaranteed and there was a good chance I may never get to drive that Bronco. Being that the Bronco would have functioned primarily as a top off summer cruiser rather than a wheeling rig, competitive 4X4s weren’t on my radar. As something of a Europhile, my immediate contenders were adorned with roundels, crests, and three pointed stars.

The Germans, as always, were precise, attractive, solidly constructed, and a bit sterile. Having owned several quick Volvos and VWs, and being a touch underwhelmed by the current Teutonic offerings, I decided to cast a wider net in my search for summer fun. Maybe a Civic Type R, an Alfa 4C, or a Supra would do, but nothing from Detroit, no way. My professional career began as an auto mechanic, I worked on countless poorly maintained and clapped out domestic cars that were destroyed by New England winters. I developed an aversion to the American marques, these turds were in the dreams of hillbillies and I would never own one.

I had driven some C4 Vettes, early Vipers, and Fox Body Mustangs, they all sounded good, were reasonably quick, handled poorly, and rattled like tambourines. I was admittedly a classic dash stroker, my standards were far too high to entertain being surrounded by hard plastics and live rear axles. Oddly enough…..paradigms have a tendency to shift; we got a 2016 Shelby GT350 on trade at the dealership one day, everybody was fawning over it for some reason, “settle down guys, it’s not like it’s an M3 or something”, I thought. A coworker suggested I drive it, “whatever”, I thought.

I decided to take my coworker’s advice, just to humor him obviously, and take the Shelby for a spin. I grabbed the keys and walked over…..“wait a minute, this thing actually looks fantastic!” Alright, so it looks good, I’ll give it that, but there’s no way its beauty is more than skin deep. I eased into the Recaro seat and had a quick look around, ”hmm, not too bad in here either.” Okay, it’s all show and no go, clutch in, where is the start button? Found it…… uh-oh this sounds incredible, my dash stroker status might be in question.

I got out on the open road, the Tremec shifted with a clear purpose, the Voodoo’s wail sounded like a duet between Bleeding Gums Murphy and a pterodactyl, the tires and suspension were seemingly unflappable. This is what I’ve been missing and it was right under my nose, it was in Detroit. Though I didn’t want to, I brought the Shelby back and handed over the keys.

Now, I really didn’t want a used race car per se and by this time there weren’t many new Shelbys to be had without huge ADM, what to do? I saw a press release for a new Mach 1 model from Ford, it appeared to have many of the Shelby components coupled with, arguably….no fighting, the more reliable cross plane Coyote V8. As much as I found the flat plane Voodoo intoxicating, I did feel like it was a little too rev happy for fun on the street, 480 horsepower from the 5.0 would have to do. I ordered my Mach 1 in January of 2021 and took delivery that July, below are my impressions.

Driving the Mach 1 feels more like an event than an activity. This car is equipped with the optional appearance package, while not overly outlandish, the orange graphics and calipers, coupled with the Fighter Jet Gray paint, ensure that the Mach 1 doesn’t blend in with traffic. The car gets attention and thumbs up from people across the spectrum, not just old school car guys and gals. It’s hard not to notice this car, the aforementioned appearance package, along with the swing spoiler and an exhaust note that sounds like Zeus after some bad souvlaki tend to draw the eyes and ears of fellow commuters.

The interior, while not on par with most comparably priced imports, is far from a penalty box. This car is equipped with everything you need and most of what you want, there are, however, some hard plastics on the tunnel console and center stack that don’t exactly convey a premium vibe. I opted for the rear seat delete and the “standard” leather seats which are heated and ventilated, the leather is of decent quality and as I don’t know anyone small enough to fit in the back of this car, the seat delete saves a little weight while giving a clean appearance. Bolstering on the seats is deep enough for spirited driving, but track rats will probably want to opt for the Recaros and their more aggressive bolsters. The standard seats are supportive and comfortable for longer trips, the ventilation is nice to have on a hot summer day.

The overall appearance of the interior is sporty but a touch spartan. While there are some interesting accents such as the striping on the seat backs, cue ball shift knob (manual), dash plaque, and unique door sills, Ford could have done a bit more to differentiate the Mach 1 from the GT. I, like many, wish the steering wheel was more bespoke, it’s a good size and feels fine but it is standard GT fare. Ergonomics are on the better side of good, all of the important functions are accessible, the knobs and buttons are responsive with good tactility. The infotainment system works well and has a pretty mild learning curve, it is a proven configuration that will be familiar to Ford loyalists and easy to learn for newcomers. My vehicle is equipped with the Bang and Olufsen premium audio with 12 speakers including a sub in the trunk. The audio is good, not on par with the Bowers & Wilkens system that was in my last Volvo, but I would rather listen to the exhaust note of the Mach 1 anyway.

You spend the money on this car for the way it looks, sounds, and drives, I would suggest everything else is a secondary consideration. An M2 or a Porsche Cayman will offer more refinement and better materials, they will even more than hold their own on a track with the Mach 1. The difference between those options and the spendy Ford is their character and how they approach a similar goal. The Germans feel more like street cars that do well on a track, the Mach 1 feels more like a race car that does well on the street. While both the M2 and the Cayman have terrific powertrains, there is a rawness to a big naturally aspirated V8 that is hard to duplicate. I love a good forced induction 6 cylinder or 4 cylinder, but a bellowing V8 is more of an occasion to modulate, if you like it, you love it.

As previously stated, driving the Mach 1 feels more like an event than an activity. It has an analog feel, especially with the 6 speed, that is absent in most vehicles currently on sale. The exhaust is amazing for a stock setup and gives the impression that one is piloting something special and fantastically impractical. The foot plus wide Cup2s on the Handling Package are sticky as hell in the summer, scary in the cold, and won’t last long. I can’t speak for non HP cars, but the aforementioned Cup2s are extremely prone to tram lining, this can be a bit alarming but can be remedied by switching to a Pilot 4S or similar. The Magneride suspension is surprisingly compliant and smooth in Normal Mode, it does get a bit harsh in Sport+ and Track, those modes are best reserved for backroads and not the Interstate.

The linearity of the Coyote 5.0’s power delivery makes things relatively easy to modulate, this car won’t bite its driver if they are sensible. Cars and Coffee attendees should feel safe when they see a Mach 1 preparing for launch, but there are no guarantees in life. While the modern V8 lacks the instant low end grunt of its forced induction (and electric) contemporaries, it is a more engaging dance partner that doesn’t run out of breath until the end of the song, a little over 7000 RPM. Find your favorite backroad or track and you’ll be borderline amazed by the grip the Mach 1 provides. This is certainly not the pony car of yesteryear, it is planted in the corners and well set up for heel-toeing or auto rev matching, if you prefer. There is a bit of wheel hop if you cook it too hard but aftermarket remedies exist for those who like to push it. The mid and upper range power of the engine is addictive, you won’t win every drag race but that’s not really the point of the Mach 1.

That this car, in its V8, RWD, manual transmission glory still exists is fortunate for enthusiasts. This interpretation of the motor vehicle probably won’t be around for too much longer as the industry is quickly shifting gears toward a gearless future. The Mach 1 is worth a look, whether you’re a Dash Stroker or a Hillbilly Dreamer, it’s a hell of a good time.