Living with the 2005 Mustang - the first 500 miles

OK, we didn't buy the GT, instead we opted for the fully loaded V6, with the red leather bucket seats, aluminium dash etc. Price was the main consideration; the GT would have been nice, but the extra $10,000 just didn't seem worth it.

First impressions were great, the styling is beautiful, the driving position awesome, and the overall level of comfort is superb. Having always driven sporty cars, the suspension and handling felt tight and stiff, in fact all the controls felt extremely positive. We decided to take the 'stang on a trip up to the Smokey Mountains to really test out the car and what a trip it was.

On the Interstate, the V6 hussles the car along with smooth yet progressive acceleration. The ride is so good that it is deceptive how fast you are going. It pulls impressively in all gears and is so relaxing and easy to drive. The wide three-quarter mirrors negate any blind spots.

But interstates are no place to play with this puppy! Getting onto the winding roads up into the mountains brought this car into its element. Pulling easily up steep inclines and pushing the car through switch-back corners, the Mustang took it all in its stride. Superb grip, no body roll and positive steering made cornering a breeze. Being rear wheel drive, a touch of oversteer can be induced by adding power through the corner.

The engine develops 202, 210 or 220 BHP depending on whose review you read, and does so at a mere 5250 RPM. It has masses of torque, which negates many of the gear changes you would have to make in a high revving, narrow power band sort of car.

The manual gearbox is smooth and reasonably positive, though it is easy to select 3rd instead of 1st gear when starting off. The clutch is light and the brakes are powerful.

Once installed in the drivers seat everything is, well, where it should be! All the controls are to hand, the central glove box acts as an arm rest at exactly the right height for the short gear lever. The central glove box is big enough to fit cds (in their cases) and also has a secondary power outlet (nice touch there).
There are of course the obligatory 'Starbucks' coffee holders between the seats.

The instruments are retro style, mounted deep into the dashboard, and there is a huge range of back lighting effects to choose from. The on-board computer gives clear readings on a large range of information, most of it useful, some of it not so.

The drivers seat is electrically adjustable which should suit most drivers, the passenger seat however is not. Though there are manual adjustments for the passenger seat, there is no height adjustment and my wife (5 foot 1 inch) was craning her neck to see over the hood, and when she put her elbow out of the side window, it was inclined upwards at a 45 degree angle!
Neither of the front seats are heated.

There are powered side mirrors, though unfortunately for our friends in the north, not heated. The mirror control is a rather tacky affair somewhat out of keeping with the rest of the interior.

Climate control is delightfully simple to operate and the heater output is probably only bettered by those found in Volvos or Saabs.

Apart from the large central glove box, there is not much in the way of storage room. There are two (very small) pockets in the doors and there is a lockable glove box on the passenger side, though the owners manual leaves little room for anything else.

The two rear (bucket) seats look really nice, which is probably the way they will stay for most people. This is after all a 2+2 and who wants passengers anyway. At 5' 10" and slim, I struggled in to the rear seat, knees pressing hard against the drivers seat and head firmly wedged against the rear window. If I ever had to travel like this I would be praying for no bumps in the road. Trying to get out of the back was even worse than getting in. I suspect for most people the back seats will become expensive and beautifully contoured grocery/coat shelves.

One really irritating 'feature' is that when the front seat back is tilted to let someone in the rear seat get out, it does not return to its original position.

There are a huge range of safety features on this car. There is even a 'black box flight recorder' which continuously measures all sorts of things about the car, so that in the event of an accident there is little point in telling the police officer that you were only doing 40, when the black box will ultimately reveal your true velocity!!

Niggles apart, I really like the interior. It is simple and uncluttered. The red leather seats and trimming and the aluminium dash are stylish and add an extra touch of class to this already stunning looking vehicle.

All in all this car is a winner. As an everyday car to use, it is docile and smooth, but when asked to perform, it does so with impeccable style!

There are a few niggles with it, but what the heck, it is a classic and I love it!