Of course, if you want to exact even more performance from the 4.0-litre V6, don't opt for a transmission upgrade at all. The
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| Alex Tagliani was on hand for the track portion of the Mustang event, of which only 300-horsepower V8-powered GTs were used. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
Mustang's five-speed manual is a nicely sorted gearbox, ideal for spirited driving. This would be my choice, but my guess is that I'm in the minority here. Even Alex Tagliani, famed Champ Car and Indy 500 race driver who was on hand at the event in support of his engine supplier, Ford if it needs to be mentioned, was vehemently debating the subject with his lovely wife Bronte during dinner. Ironically, she wants the manual and he didn't want to deal with shifting gears when traveling home from a hard day's work at the race track. Who could blame him after the countless "shifts" he puts in during a day at the office? Alex was on hand for the track portion of the Mustang event, of which only
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| Alex Tagliani offered his services for a hair-raising fast lap or three. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press) |
300-horsepower V8-powered GTs were used, giving tips on the benefits of vertical suspension travel when jumping the circuit's many curbs, how to best line up the car for a perfectly executed turn, or better yet, offering his services for a hair-raising fast lap or three. Always willing, hardly able, I took his advice as well as those fast laps, and thoroughly enjoyed hanging on while he hung the tail out to make short work of a number of hairpin corners. Defying the laws of physics he made that Mustang turn on its tail faster than even a magnanimous politician B-lining it for a cabinet seat... oh my goodness, I went political again. Sorry about that.
