Is The 2018 Mustang PPL2 Worth The $6,500 Price Tag?

When Ford launched its Build & Price website for the 2018 Mustang back in July of last year, we had some fun pricing out our dream cars to see just how much our perfect Mustang would cost. While the majority of us equipped our Mustang GT’s with the 5.0-liter Coyote engine, we also decided on the popular Performance Pack Level 1 option because, at the time, details on the yet to be released Performance Pack Level 2 were not available at launch.

This week, Ford updated the 2018 Mustang website to include the PPL2, and it got us thinking. Based on the newly released specs, is waiting for the next-level Performance Pack a smart option? And, is it worth the $6,500 price tag?

We spent some time this week examining the two available options on the 2018 Mustang GT to see if there are any major differences. As we already knew, the PPL2 option is only available with the six-speed manual transmission, so don’t think you can order one with that fancy 10R80 in the tunnerl

Although we were at first a little disappointed with not being able to choose between the six-speed manual or the new quick shifting 10-speed automatic, the majority of the upgrades in this package were designed for the hardcore track-day enthusiast.

2018 Mustang GT Performance Package

• 19×9-inch (front) 19×9.5-inch (rear) Ebony Black-painted aluminum wheels
• 255/40-R19 (front) and 275/40-R19 (rear) Summer-only tires
• Brembo six-piston front brake calipers with larger rotors
• Engine-spun aluminum instrument panel
• Gauge Pack (oil pressure and vacuum)
• Heavy-duty front springs
• K-brace
• Larger radiator
• Performance rear wing (Fastback-only)
• Silver-painted strut-tower brace
• Spoiler delete (convertible-only)
• Torsen differential with 3.73:1 axle ratio (manual)
• Torsen differential with 3.55:1 axle ratio (automatic)
• Unique chassis tuning
• Unique EPAS, ABS and stability control tuning
• Upsized rear sway barAnother option tough choice is deciding between the Recaro seat options. When you go into the Ford website to build a PP2 Mustang, the 301A package comes standard with the cloth Recaros, but if you want Recaro Seats with the 401A package, you have to dish out an additional $1,595 for the leather-trimmed version.

Some upgrades are shared between the PPL1 and PPL2. Both come with the upgraded Brembo six-piston front brake calipers and big rotors, but the PP2 takes traction a step further and adds 19×10.5-inch front and 19×11-inch wheels wrapped in 305/30-R19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires borrowed right from the Shelby GT350.

It’s also important to point out that if you want the new digital dash you are going to have to opt for the 401A package, which is true for both Performance Pack configurations.

As we shared in our prior story on the package, the engineers didn’t hold back on the PPL2 development to create an artificial gap between this package and the top-tier Shelby. As such, this package is closer in performance to the GT350 than it is to the Performance Pack Level 1 that it expounds upon.

2018 Mustang Performance Pack Level 2

• 19-inch x 10.5-inch (F) / 19-inch x 11-inch (R) Dark Tarnish stainless-painted aluminum wheels
• 305/30-R19 Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Tires (Summer-only)
• Brembo six-piston front brake calipers w/ larger rotors
• Engine-spun aluminum instrument panel
• Gauge pack (vacuum and oil pressure)
• High-performance front splitter
• K-brace
• Large radiator
• MagneRide damping system with track-inspired calibration
• Strut-tower brace
• Torsen differential w/ 3.73:1 axle ratio
• Unique rear spoiler
• Unique track-inspired chassis, stability control, EPAS, and ABS tuningIf you are looking for a car that can hold its own both on the street and during an occasional track day, for the price — unless you really have to have the digital dash — the 2018 Mustang GT with the PPL2 and the 301A equipment group would be the way to go. In fact, the only thing we can find wrong with ordering either equipment group is not being able to choose between the two different transmissions.

With the team at Ford enlisting the help of talented driver Billy Johnson on the development of the PPL2, the company was able to translate his on-track feedback into meaningful engineering changes which are sure to be enjoyed year round, which definitely makes the PPL2 worth the extra tariff for the shift-it-yourself crowd.