Test Drive of New Mustang

[BMWDave]

TEST DRIVE: 2005 Mustang GT a beautiful beast
Convertible joins stable of upgraded Ford classic
Russ Devault - Staff
Friday, May 6, 2005

Drop its top and, from virtually all angles, the 2005 Ford Mustang GT is a strikingly handsome car. Give it a ''screaming yellow clear-coat'' paint job like the test car's, and it will turn heads and never be hard to find in a parking lot.

In addition, the lone never-been-gone survivor of the pony car wars launched in the 1960s by American manufacturers is a mover. Even burdened with a five-speed automatic transmission, the GT is capable of running to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, according to Motor Trend magazine and other publications that clocked hardtop versions.

The test GT Premium convertible, a solid-feeling 3,500-pounder, never got that sort of serious timing, but it was quick enough. Mashing the pedal produced a leap to 40 mph (possible in 3.2 seconds, the buff books say) and the speedometer spun to the interstate speed limit after two or three punch-in-the-back gear changes.

While the exterior is a pleasing throwback to the Mustangs of the late 1960s, everything else has been updated. Ford has pretty much gotten everything right with the convertible ---including its introduction. The new and first seriously revised version of the Mustang since 1979 appeared last fall, but Ford cannily waited until spring --- when young and old buyers' fancy turns to ragtops --- to launch the convertible.

Its appearance means dealers can offer eight versions: V-6 Deluxe, V-6 Deluxe convertible, V-8 Premium, V-8 Premium convertible, GT Deluxe, GT Deluxe convertible, GT Premium and GT Premium convertible.

Base prices start at $19,410 and top out at $30,550. Options and a $625 delivery fee pushed the GT Premium convertible tester's total to $34,655.

Drivetrain choices are more limited than trim levels. Buyers can drive away with a 4.0-liter V-6 (210 hp and 240 pounds-feet of torque) or a 4.6-liter V-8 (300 hp and 320 pounds-feet of torque). Transmission choices are five-speed manual or five-speed automatic.

Like the Mustang tested shortly after launch, the GT Premium convertible has excellent front-seat accommodations, with little top-down turbulence and minimal road noise with the top open or closed. The rear seats are usable.

This Mustang has good visibility, easily read instrumentation and a kicking Shaker stereo. Note that the trunk-mounted subwoofer's positioning impedes removal of the temporary spare tire's cover. Hardly a big deal, however, and one of the few irksome features of the GT Premium convertible.

Note, too, that this Mustang is strictly a four-passenger vehicle with a skimpy 9.7 cubic feet of trunk space and no rear drink holders. But it's got oomph, a throwback three-spoke steering wheel and it really starts looking great when you unlock the two pillar-mounted latches for the top, push the down button and go motoring in what it's easy to conclude --- as other reviewers have --- is the best Mustang ever.

[ifcar]

The rear seats are usable.

Additional information past this one sentance would have been useful. For while the seats are "usable" (in that even most adults can fit back there) they are very difficult to get in and out of, and are far from comfortable, even by coupe/convertible standards.