Overview:
This week I needed a jump-start for a quiet heart. This 2005 Ford Mustang GT Coupe is just what the doctor ordered. You can just hear the doctor yelling, “Clear!” as the paddles are pressed to the chest of the heart attack patient in the ER, when all the patient really needed was to buy a car that gets the heart pumping every morning without caffeine.
Truly… you know down deep inside when you turn the ignition key you have a tiger by the tail. That’s one big pussycat. And you will enjoy your trip down memory lane back to the past while driving in the present and on into the future.
Last week I experienced the quiet performance of the Cadillac CTS. That was a ball to drive too. This Mustang is more of a braggart and makes a lot of noise but doesn’t perform any better. Sometimes it is the quiet ones that are the most exciting, not that either are homely. Know what I mean.
This is Hot, Sporty and Youthful and I like the robust exhaust sound reminiscent of the early Mustangs and most muscle cars of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Today there are only a few that come to mind – The Viper, Corvette and Mustang. Anyway this was a fun jumpstart every morning and the drive home from the office was somehow more alive and enjoyable.
General Info:
Parts – USA
Assembly – USA
Class: Sub Compact
Cars: Mustang, Crown Victoria, Escape (& Hybrid), E-series Van & Wagon, Excursion, Expedition, Explorer (& Sport Trac), F-150, 250 and 350 trucks, Five Hundred, Focus (& Wagon), Freestar, Freestyle, Fusion, GT, Ranger, Taurus and Thunderbird.
Handling & Performance:
The thought of the “Crest Test” was a little scary contemplating all the ups and downs and hairpin turns. I wondered how we would handle the curves together. Would it feel as confident as the 350Z or even the Cadillac CTS both of which were fantastic partners?
Styling:
Talk about growing old gracefully… this Mustang hasn’t aged a bit. In fact it is tighter and more stylish than it was in the 1950s. A few years ago I tested the Bullet version of this Mustang and even in this GT I envision Steve McQueen sitting behind the wheel. He added a bit of excitement and class in any situation. I guess you can tell I just love this Mustang, even though I’ve owned a few Camaro’s and never a Mustang. Perhaps it is the mystique of wanting what you’ve never had. And to go more easily back in time, Ford has used a lot of aluminum and chrome. Remember those days?
Fit and Finish:
As I said, this 2005 Mustang is tightly pieced together. Don’t you just love not having to deal with rattles and squeaks as you drive down the road in most of today’s cars? And it isn’t that the roads are better paved – it is the vast improvement of materials used to put the cars together.
Cost:
Cars, like most other things you buy today, are cheaper than they have ever been – relatively speaking. Consider a Ford Model T would have cost about $700 at the turn of the century. What’s the future value of $700 in today’s dollars? Huge. In no industry is the value improvement any more dramatic than in autos.
Conveniences:
Not an abundance of gadgets but I have to tell you I appreciated the simplicity. Quite frankly all the higher tech stuff only adds to the complexity of operation. And when I’m driving a performance car the simpler the better. Otherwise my kids are needed to help me understand how to operate what should be simple. Ok, one simple example that bugs the heck out of me is when they remove a simple knob for channel selection. I just don’t get it. What are they thinking when they design a radio with anything but a knob? Is it just me or do you feel the same way?
Consumer Recommendation:
I received one comment from a young man who said he didn’t like the red and black interior leather. I told Rickie I rather like it, but it’s an extra charge anyway so you don’t have to order it that way.
When you test-drive this car, listen and look for the ratchety sounds from the drive train. To me it seems too reminiscent of early cars. Yes, this car is tighter and quieter than older versions but there is a sense the mechanical end may still be a little loosy-goosy.
The Competition:
Mustang $19-31,000, Chrysler Crossfire $29-49,000, Pontiac GTO $32,000, Toyota Celica $18-22,000, Nissan 350Z $27-37,000, Volkswagen GTI $20-22,000, Mazda RX8 $25-32,000, Infiniti G35 $31-33,000, Hyundai Tiburon $16-20,000, 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse $19-24,000, 2006 Corvette $44-65,000, 2006 Acura RSX $20-24,000.
Good News:
Stylish, powerful, great sounding robust exhaust.
Bad News:
Not bad but a little noticeable tinny sound closing the doors – not as solid a sound as I’d like to see, the mechanical was a bit lose and obvious. That is something the Japanese have engineered out of their cars generally.
Standard Equipment:
4.6 liter 300 hp V8 engine, 5-speed manual transmission, fog lights, stainless steel dual exhaust, dual power mirrors, Shaker 500 audio system with CDX6 and MP3, air conditioning, leather seats with 6-way power driver seat, split fold rear seat, center console with armrest, cruise control, tilt wheel, power door locks and windows, 4-wheel power ABS disc brakes, traction control, power rack and pinion steering, dual front air bags and remote keyless entry.
Gas Stats:
17 City and 25 Highway MPG
Pricing:
MSRP $25,705.
