Mechanical mumbo-jumbo aside, it wasn't until I took my blue metallic GT tester out on the open road that I truly saw the light.
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| I was surprised at how effortlessly the V8 lights up the road, leaving a long stretch of seared pavement in its wake. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
By light I mean how effortlessly the V8 lights up the road, leaving a long stretch of seared pavement in its wake if you defeat the standard traction control and get heavy on the throttle. During the initial stage with the GT, I took up navigation while my co-driver manhandled the wheel. While hanging on for dear life I started to get the sense that, while very well balanced, this Mustang wasn't fool proof. Let me explain. If you've ever driven Mulholland Drive, one of the world's most entertaining stretches of highway, and peered over a few of its many dramatic drop-offs, which have claimed many a careless driver and the victims thereof over the years, you'll quickly learn to pay respect to the limits of the single lane provided. As demonstrated beyond my control, the GT can quickly get out off line if driven at ruddy stupid speeds by someone not familiar with sport driving fundamentals. The car tends to understeer, or in other words plow out at the front if pushed into a corner too hard, which is a heck of a lot better than swapping ends. Fortunately for us, and the
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| While very well balanced, the new Mustang GT, like any car, isn't fool proof when pushed past the limit. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
lovely new Mustang, the passenger-side tires managed to stay glued to the pavement as they kicked up shoulder dirt during outside corners - if we had of gone off at some of these corners even Ford's renowned safety cage, improved by a 31 percent stiffer overall body structure couldn't have helped us. Also fortunate, there was no oncoming traffic while the front tires broke loose and sent the GT well into the opposing lane, not once but twice in a row. You'd think a person would figure out to slow down the second time. Yes, unfortunately, Mustangs can bring out the stupidity in many a guy, as most of us have witnessed countless times in our own home towns. Incidentally, a little dab at the throttle will force the GT into oversteer too, race fans, so don't get yourself worked up into a tizzy and then send "what did they do with my Mustang" letters. The new car runs true to sports car principles, it's just improved somewhat.
