A new Mustang that outdoes the legend

Recently I went with a group of friends to Willow Springs raceway for a "track day", and got to enjoy many laps around the "Streets" course, including a few laps in a very-souped-up BMW 323i and as a passenger, some hot laps in a 600hp Corvette. Most of the time, however, was spent in my own front-wheel-drive Mazda Protege, which despite doing far better than I could possibly have hoped, really made me long for a V8-powered, rear-drive car with light weight and a manual transmission. The unanimous recommendation of those I asked was to go out and buy a 15-year-old V8 Ford Mustang.

As I started pouring over classified ads for older Mustangs and generally got into the mood, I still had to take my car to my local shop to have new tires put on (the old ones were thoroughly shredded). I had never noticed before, but just down the street from my brake and tire place was a Ford dealership. With an hour to kill, I walked over and drove both the 2004 and brand-new 2005 Mustang GT, both with manual transmissions.

Before I talk about the 2005 specifically, I'd like to point out the contrasts with the outgoing 2004 model. First and foremost, the 2005 looks like a proper 1960s Mustang, while the 2004 still has that late 70s economy car look to it. The new car is cleaner, but at the same time more aggressive and, dare I say, gorgeous. Every detail, from the large round headlights to the forward angled grill shouts classic Mustang.

Inside is more of the same, with a dash that despite being fully modern, also looks like it came from the 1960s. The 2004 had a generic 1990s peformance car dash which while perhaps more functional (the gauges seemed more legible at a glance), just doesn't have that classic retro look. The rest of the interior was also an improvement, especially the driving position and the clutch.

The old car had a very nice driver's seat, but it was positioned strangely, never allowing me to feel like I got it positioned correctly. In the 04 you sit "on" the car, whereas in the 05 you sit "in" it. the shifted on the 05 seamed a bit looser and sloppier than the older one, but much better positioned and without the awkward bent lever that has been on the Mustang since at least the 80s. The new clutch is worlds better, easy to modulate and not so heavy as to give a sore leg after a few miles of stop-and-go like the old car's.

There were some really cheesy touches too. I drove the base model 05 Mustang GT, meaning that while it had leather seats (standard equipment), it had a plastic rimmed steering wheel and a plastic shift knob. These both looked and felt cheaper than the parts used in the econobox Focus, and were totally out of place on a Mustang. I saw the leather wheel and knob at the auto show, and honestly, if the leather seats are standard, how much more could it cost to give a leather wheel and shift knob and retain a quality feel to the most used controls in the car? The 04 had a very nice leather steering wheel which while also used in the Taurus, is still a very comfortable wheel and perfectly sized and shaped.

On the road, however, is where the biggest changes come to light. Where the old car was a bit numb in its steering, the new one feels as if it is on rails. Cornering is flat and and the steering is precise. Add the magic of 300 V8 horses and you have one really fun-to-drive muscle car. The V8 isn't as powerful as I expected off the line, but get the revs passed 3000 and things get urgent in a hurry. While the engine won't plant the seat into your back at low RPM, it ALWAYS makes wonderful V8 music as it goes about its business. The engine note rises and falls in pitch in unison with the tachometer, but unlike many engines, it is always a beautiful song, regardless of the note. It is also loud. the rumble is ever-present, whether you are gently motoring down the boulevard or roaring up an onramp, there is never any doubt that the V8 is running. This is a good thing, in my opinion, as a sonorous exhaust note is always a pleasure so long as it is muted enough for conversation at cruising speeds, which the Mustang GT is.

Cruising was probably the best type of driving in the old Mustang. The 04 tracked straight and was generally a capable tourer, not showing its ancient platform's flexible nature until pushed. The 05 is even better as a touring car, but the difference is that the new car really can be pushed, and is rewarding when pushed. The chasis, despite its live rear axle, takes corners well even when the road is not so smooth, a situation that would upset the older car.

In the end, the only thing that keeps me from buying the new 2005 Mustang GT is the fact that as a brand-new, much anticipated model, dealer markups are simply insane. I visitted three Los Angeles area dealers ready to write a check, but none of them would even sell for MSRP, all of them adding a markup, the smallest of which was almost $4000. I don't ever pay MSRP for a car, and certainly won't pay MSRP plus $4000.

Now, the 2004 Mustang GT is another story. No, isn't as good in any important way as the 2005, but it has a $3500 rebate instead of markup, and its pre-rebate price is extremely negotiable. Problem is, I'm not sure that I can find happiness with the 2004 model after driving the 2005. Yes its fast, yes it makes lovely V8 music (different, but equally lovely) and yes, with a little suspension work it will make amazing time around the race track next time, it just doesn't have the same appeal, and even at a savings of over $8000 at the end of the day, I'm not sure.

I won't be back to Willow for at least four or five months, so I think I'll sit back, breathe, and see if 2005 Mustang prices become realistic in the next few months. If they do, I'll take mine in black, with the optional leather steering wheel and shift knob.