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2005 Ford Mustang Road Test

It Drives as Sweet as It Looks

If the Viper is Americas supercar and the Corvette its sports car, the Mustang has to be Americas GT, despite Ford dubbing its first blue-oval branded supercar in decades with the name. Even Camaro and Firebird fans cant dispute such a claim now that both models have been discontinued.

No, the Mustang holds the GT title based on its 40-plus years of service and absolute dominance in the market. Even in the current slow-selling coupe and convertible market, that has caused most competitors to have either pulled out or dramatically reduced sales projections for two-door models, the soon to be axed Toyota Celica is a good example, Mustang sales are strong.

The new 2005 model will be much stronger, according to recent reports. Orders are running sixty percent higher than expected (see automotive news archives for Sep 29, 2004: New 2005 Ford Mustang Getting Ready for a Dealer Near You), which of course is a problem most automakers wouldnt mind facing. Why such excitement about the new car?

If the Viper is Americas supercar and the Corvette its sports car, the Ford Mustang has to be Americas GT. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Not only does it look completely revised on the surface, while at the same time very similar to classic 60s pony cars that so many muscle car collectors adore, but it is also completely new under the skin.

I took the opportunity to test this out first hand at a press event in and around Los Angeles, CA recently, and came back impressed. And this from a guy who previously stated in a review of a 2003 Ford SVT Mustang Cobra coupe (see new vehicle review archive under "Ford" for June 13, 2003), ".... open the trunk and sloppy welds are immediately apparent. More so, what looked like porous body filler coated the trunk surround of my test car." I was equally overjoyed with the

I had the opportunity to test out the new Mustang first hand at a press event in and around Los Angeles, CA recently. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

interior, stating in the same review, ".... the 1-inch plus gap where the dash meets the door surround appears kit-car-ish and the heating and ventilation controls seem as though purchased out of an aftermarket catalogue."

In one, long-anticipated model year Ford has changed all that, and in doing so brings new respect to the venerable steed. Starting on the outside, panel gaps are straight, narrow and equally spaced. Paint quality is superb, and theres no body-filler present under the trunklid, despite my various test cars being pre-production units. Yeah, Ford got the new cars exterior quality spot on, a great leap forward from any previous Stang.

What about inside? Any Fox-bodied Mustang

Ford got the new cars exterior quality spot on, shown here in base trim. Its a great leap forward from any previous Stang. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

owner, that would be anyone who bought a 1979 through 2004 version, will be impressed with the new cabin. It looks superb, offers serious improvements in fit and finish, and even includes real aluminum trim featuring a unique horizontally etched pattern on GT models. The seats are supportive, switchgear much better than anything that came before and ergonomics also a major upgrade. Pretty well everything is better, including plastics quality. The latter subject, however, would be my only complaint. Although at its mere $19K and change starting point I find it difficult to gripe about common grade plastics, when fully loaded GT models get into the mid-$30s and the tactile sensation that comes from soft-touch plastics are more common. I was hoping that Ford would really stretch in this area,

Any Fox-bodied Mustang owner, that would be anyone who bought a 1979 through 2004 version, will be impressed with the new cabin. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

taking the opportunity to serve up similar perceived quality levels to what Chrysler Group is starting to offer in most of its recent products and GM is beginning to deliver inside its new Pontiac G6 and Buick LaCrosse.

This issue, however, while bothering a certified import snob like myself and possibly stymieing the purchasing potential of conquest buyers that could be lured away from premium brands such as BMW (again I would be one such customer), wont be an issue in the slightest to diehard Mustang followers. These will be blown away by all of the improvements, most importantly driving dynamics.

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