My $60K Mustang GT Went to the Dealer for Warranty Work and They Gave Me a Mach-E, Now I Feel 'Like a Bit of an Idiot' for Dismissing What's Actually an Enjoyable Car

When the Ford Mustang Mach-E first debuted, it was like discovering your favorite dive bar had been replaced by a kombucha lounge. An electric SUV bearing the Mustang name? To enthusiasts, it felt like a marketing stunt from a company desperate to appease the sustainability crowd with one hand while clutching nostalgia with the other. 

The backlash was swift, loud, and predictable. After all, attaching the Mustang badge to a crossover felt, at best, like branding broccoli as filet mignon. But here we are, several years on, and Ford's electric gamble hasn’t just survived, it’s thrived. Against the odds and howls of the faithful, the Mach-E is proving to be more than an exercise in badge engineering. It’s a good car.

Confessions of a Mustang Enthusiast… How a Mach-E Loaner Won Him Over

And sometimes, the harshest critics make the most compelling converts. 

Consider this unfiltered dispatch from a Mustang forum user, The Ghost, who recounted his two-week stint with a Mach-E loaner while his beloved GT was in the shop:

“While my GT was at the dealer recently for warranty issues, they lent me a Mustang Mach-E. According to the sticker, which was in the glove box, it was a premium with a $60K price tag. (The same price as my GT.) 

It seemed to be a custom order that got abandoned. Anyway, I took them up on the offer to use it while they were working on my car. After all, I had never driven an EV before.

As soon as I drove off the lot, I realized two things. First, it was quiet. Like, I didn't even realize it was on, so I turned it off, thinking it wasn't already on. Second, it was punchy! Just a tap of the accelerator, and it was way quicker than my car. I took it on the freeway and was impressed at how smooth the drive was. It was eerily relaxing and calming.

Over the course of time I had with the car, I only had to plug it in once. And I'm glad I did when it hit 20%, seeing as how long it took to charge. But given the fact that I live in a major city and drive it a lot, only having to charge it after a week and a half, I was quite pleased. Not having to stop at the gas station was a nice change of pace.

Two weeks later, I don't want to say I was sad to return it, but I realized that I was a bit of an idiot for talking down about what really is an enjoyable and even soothing car. Of course, that's not what we buy Mustangs for, and I know 100% Ford is using the Mustang name on the Mach-E to make sales, which I can't fault them for doing. But I guess for me it was a case of knocking it before I tried it.”

That, my friends, is as close as we get to an automotive confessional. It also captures something essential: Ford didn’t just bolt a famous badge to an EV, it built a vehicle that earns respect on its own terms. 

2025 Mustang Mach-E Trim Specs & Pricing Breakdown

• The 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E lineup offers various configurations, including rear-wheel drive (RWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. The base Select trim features a single motor producing 264 horsepower and 387 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims, like the GT, come equipped with dual motors delivering up to 480 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. The GT Performance Upgrade further enhances torque to 700 lb-ft, enabling a 0–60 mph acceleration in just 3.3 seconds.
• The 2025 Mustang Mach-E starts at $37,995 for the Select trim, with the Premium trim priced at $43,990. The high-performance GT model begins at $56,490. These prices reflect a reduction from previous years, positioning the Mach-E competitively in the electric SUV market.
• The Mach-E measures approximately 185.6 inches in length, 74.1 inches in width, and 64.0 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 117.5 inches. It offers seating for five passengers and provides up to 59.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded down.
• The Mach-E's performance varies by trim. The base Select RWD model achieves 0–60 mph in about 5.8 seconds, while the GT Performance Upgrade reduces this time to 3.3 seconds. The Rally trim, designed for off-road capabilities, accelerates from 0–60 mph in 3.4 seconds and offers 700 lb-ft of torque.

The Mach-E sold over 40,000 units in the U.S. in 2023 alone, not just because of the Mustang name but because it delivers where it counts. Acceleration, ride quality, tech, and range are all genuinely competitive. 

And unlike the Model X it so obviously targets, the Mach-E doesn’t feel like a Silicon Valley prototype, it feels like a Ford. 

Part of that success lies in the talent behind the sheet metal. Forum user DeluxeStang shared, 

“I met the guy who designed the Mach-E at Art Center about 5 years ago... Jason, some last name with a C. Seemed like a genuinely cool dude. He penned the Maserati GranTurismo and the Ferrari P4/5.” 

The Mach-E isn’t some slab-sided EV blob, it has real presence. There’s genuine flair in its proportions, even if the front end looks like it’s trying to remember where the hood scoop goes. 

Real-World Range Tested: Mustang Mach-E’s Urban & Highway Performance

But for all the visual drama and performance credibility, the elephant in the charging bay remains: range. The Mach-E’s 270 to 312 miles of EPA-estimated range (depending on configuration) is more than adequate for urban and suburban life. 

Still, as Zengineer pointed out, “My F150 has a 700-mile range with a full tank… 200-250 miles of actual range that requires pre-planning and a long stop to recharge would simply not work for me.” 

That’s valid. EVs still aren’t perfect for everyone, especially not folks who drive until the tires go bald before refueling. But for the average American commuter, Mach-E ownership means never seeing a gas station again. That, too, is performance, just a different kind.

More to the point, the Mach-E captures something deeper than just numbers. It channels the same disruptive energy the original Mustang wielded back in ’64. As DeluxeStang put it, 

“Throughout history, there have been a ton of Mustang sedan, hatchback, and mid-engine concepts… It's like the full potential of Lee's vision is finally becoming a reality.” 

The idea of a four-door Mustang isn’t new, it’s just finally real. And like the original, it’s redefining what the Mustang can be for a new generation who might care more about kilowatt-hours than quarter miles.

2024 Mach-E Market Impact: Sales Growth & Charging Innovations

• In 2024, the Mustang Mach-E achieved U.S. sales of 51,745 units, marking a 27% increase over the previous year. This surge positioned it ahead of the traditional gas-powered Mustang, which sold 44,003 units in the same period.
• The Mach-E's charging duration varies based on the battery type and charging method. Utilizing a DC fast charger, the standard-range battery can charge from 10% to 80% in approximately 32 minutes, while the extended-range battery requires about 36 minutes for the same charge level.
• For residential charging, a Level 2 (240V) charger can fully replenish the battery in roughly 11.9 hours. In contrast, a standard Level 1 (120V) outlet would take approximately 60 hours to achieve a full charge.
• Starting in 2024, Ford Mustang Mach-E owners gained access to Tesla's Supercharger network through an adapter, expanding their charging options. However, some users have reported challenges, such as short charging cables and compatibility issues at certain stations.

Spend time with the Mach-E and you start to understand its appeal. Instant torque, smooth ride, intuitive tech, it’s not just convenient, it’s enjoyable. For many first-time EV drivers, the transition is less about sacrifice and more about discovery. 

As another owner shared on the Mach-E Club, “Up until now, my best has been 305 miles on one charge.” And while charging can still be slow, Ford’s partnership with Tesla to access the Supercharger network in 2025 will only make the Mach-E more viable. The infrastructure is catching up.

The Mach-E isn't perfect. It still carries the burden of a name that invites comparison to muscle cars with twice the cylinders and none of the battery packs. But that might be the whole point. The Mustang has always been more than a car, it’s an idea. 

And ideas can evolve. Just like one forum poster who went from a skeptic to an evangelist in two weeks, maybe we all need to let go of our assumptions and just drive the damn thing. Because if there’s one thing Ford has proven here, it’s that the future doesn’t have to be boring, even if it hums instead of growls.

What has your experience been like with the Mustang Mach-E? Let us know in the comments below. 

Image Sources: Ford Newsroom, Pexels

Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.