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| 2005 Ford Mustang (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
The handling feels solid, with minimal body roll which is pretty standard for a car of this size. The rear suspension is not independent- and this was a source of some controversy. It's rare to find a car without independent rear suspension because of its many benefits. In fact, the only car I can think of without independent rear suspension is the Kia Rio. Mustang owners like their solid rear axle because it allows the car to launch quickly off the line without annoying wheel-hop as the tires spin. Handling enthusiasts don't like this setup because using independent rear suspension tends to have more potential in terms of grip. Despite the horrible weather I would feel comfortable saying that the average driver would likely not notice the difference, though the rear end does tend to feel a little skittish around corners when you push it. The ride is firm enough to allow enthusiastic handling, but isn't harsh. I've driven harsher sedans than this Mustang. The steering is nice and heavy, and communicates well the weight of the car. Ford has installed a good old fashioned belt driven pump, not one of the rubbery feeling electric units found on some new cars. As a result, you'll easily find the cars ideal path when quickly entering a corner, with a steering ratio that is short enough to let you fling the Mustang around without thrashing the steering wheel. The standard brakes aren't antilock, but they are powerful and easy to modulate.
What Ford has done with this little Mustang is created probably the coolest looking, most powerful car available for the money, but delivered the package in a way that is both improved with experience but appropriately old-fashioned at the same time. As far as coupes go, I don't think you can get a quicker one in this price range. The V6 serves up more than enough power and struts it stuff like its older siblings. The formula of cheap speed is still here - 210 horsepower for $25,000 is fantastic bang
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| 2005 Ford Mustang (Photo: Justin Pritchard, Auto123.com) |
for your buck. Add the improvements in quality and materials, the fantastic styling, and more comfortable interior, and this car would impress many value-minded performance buffs without being a Mustang. Finally, you get to own a piece of a legend. A piece of American automotive history is bundled somewhere into that price- this means endless gawks from pedestrians and other drivers, children taking their parents to see your car in parking lots, thumbs up from every other Mustang owner in traffic, and hot summer nights when you can hang out in a parking lot with the local Mustang club. This new V6 is every bit as much of a Mustang as its older counterparts. In my time with it, I learned that isn't a wimpy, smaller alternative to the GT, but a powerful statement to all the other cars in its price range to watch their rearview mirrors.
