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2006 Mustang Convertible Road and Track Test

An Out of the Park Home Run!

Some things just dont need a lot of deep, introspective thought to be figured out. Take the new Mustang Convertible, for instance. Do you need a degree in marketing to figure out whether or not its going to be a number one hit? Hardly!

The sexy new drop-top is priced lower than some compact cars, seats four comfortably, includes a powerful V6 in base trim and a rumbling V8 when the GT badge replaces the pony on the faux gas cap at the rear of the car, plus most importantly, it looks fabulous!

I had the opportunity to test a few examples out for myself during a road and track event in la belle province, Quebec, Canada, on a warm spring day recently,

You wouldnt have needed a marketing degree to have figured out that the new Mustang Convertible was going to be a number one hit. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

and despite roads that appeared to have previously suffered through a cruise missile offensive it responded with grace and composure.

The first car at my disposal was a nicely upgraded V6 model, sporting a conservative coat of gray metallic paint and a rather spicy hot-red leather interior. Not only did the sporty

I had the opportunity to test a few Mustangs out for myself during a road and track event in la belle province on a warm spring day recently. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

Mustang convertible never once threatened me with a twitchy rear end when pushing the handling envelope, but its ride absorbed bumps that would unsettle some other drop-tops.

Actually, despite bearing a great deal of its weight on a live rear axle, a pretty sophisticated three-link version with a Panhard rod, mind you, but still not an independent setup,

Despite bearing a great deal of its weight on a live rear axle, the car is wonderfully stable at high speed, only getting ruffled when a particularly large bump on the road would raise its ugly head. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

the car is wonderfully stable at high speed, only getting ruffled when a particularly large bump on the road would raise its ugly head. Part of the reason for its agility is the independent front suspension setup and power actuated rack-and-pinion steering system, but more so the new Mustangs tight body structure is its greatest boon, unusual in relatively long-wheelbase convertibles. You can spend $60,000

At 210-horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque my testers 4.0-liter SOHC V6 offered plenty of fun in the sun driving enjoyment. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

more for a fully optioned version of Fords premium brand convertible, the Jaguar XKR for instance, and not get as tight a structure, and therefore not get a car that delivers such a confidence inspiring handling package.

The supercharged Jaguar will be quicker, however, at least when comparing it to the base Mustang convertible. Still, at 210-horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque my testers 4.0-liter SOHC V6 offered plenty of fun in the sun driving enjoyment. Actually, the burble emanating from the twin exhaust

Alex Tagliani was on hand for the track portion of the Mustang event, of which only 300-horsepower V8-powered GTs were used. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

pipes sounded very V8-like - my compliments to the fine tuners.

Another reason the V6-equipped Mustang convertible sped away so quickly from stop signs has to do with its five-speed automatic transmission, benefiting performance and fuel economy due to shorter shift intervals, and greater opportunity for the engine to remain revving in its sweet spot - or more specifically, where it makes the most power and torque in its rev range. I wouldnt go so far to say that the Mustangs five-speed automatic is the smoothest and most refined five-speed automatic on the market,

Alex Tagliani offered his services for a hair-raising fast lap or three. (Photo: Trevor Hofmann, American Auto Press)

and it is glaringly missing any sort of manual-mode operation, but it goes a long way to making the car more competitive with Asian and European sports models which offer five-, six- and now even seven-speed automatic transmissions - the latter only among high-priced premium brands.

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