Mustang GT test drive
#1
Thread Starter
Mustang GT test drive
On the same day I tried to test drive and Acura TL, (ass of a dealer, with a real "who cares" attitude) I did manage to test drive a Mustang GT. The looks of the car just grab me. I have had several Mustangs over the years, so I am partial to the looks. But that said, I really do think this is one of the few distinctive cars on the road that looks great at a reasonable price.
Interior does not look bad to me. Some of the materials have a low price feel to them, so I understand how some comment on that, but it isn't "Chevy Cavalier" cheap. It is a step below the Mazda RX8 interior, just for comparison. I found the seats supportive and comfortable. Some complain that they could have better lateral support, but for a daily driver, I think the seats strike a nice balance of support and comfort. The shifter is much improved over older Mustangs. The throws could be a smidge shorter for me, but really not bad at all.
Start the engine and smile! They left her a little loud and it sounds great. I can't really do the sound justice, but you not only hear the V8 burbble, but there is a little extra "rip" in the sound that really gets the juices pumping. Kinda like the sound of the Mustang in the movie Bullit. I can see why they used Steve McQueen in the commercial.
The ride was exceptionally well controlled. The shifter was smooth and the shift transitions were smooth. I was prepared for some jerking shift transitions until I got used to the shif/throttle/clutch modulations for this car, but it was smooth and slick from shift one.
Power felt great BUT I did not take it over 4,000 rpm. The engine is very tractable and you can lug it down to 1,000 rpm in 5th and still accleerate away smoothly.
I have heard comments that the brake pedal is a little soft, but it felt fine to me. My Jag pedal is soft, so maybe it only felt fine in comparisson to what I am used to.
Steering was good. Nice feel to the wheel and good response to minor inputs, but I got no where near the limits.
Exterior body finish left a little to be desired. I don't know if it is just this one car, or all Mustangs, but the panel fit was a little inconsistent. Some gaps were larger than others.
Trunk is small. but not too small. Rear seats fold down 60-40 for added hauling capacity. The underhood view is not very pretty, but it means business and I'd rather open the hood and see an industial looking engine than a plastic cover.
Anyway, the search continues. But the Mustang makes it to the final rounds.
Interior does not look bad to me. Some of the materials have a low price feel to them, so I understand how some comment on that, but it isn't "Chevy Cavalier" cheap. It is a step below the Mazda RX8 interior, just for comparison. I found the seats supportive and comfortable. Some complain that they could have better lateral support, but for a daily driver, I think the seats strike a nice balance of support and comfort. The shifter is much improved over older Mustangs. The throws could be a smidge shorter for me, but really not bad at all.
Start the engine and smile! They left her a little loud and it sounds great. I can't really do the sound justice, but you not only hear the V8 burbble, but there is a little extra "rip" in the sound that really gets the juices pumping. Kinda like the sound of the Mustang in the movie Bullit. I can see why they used Steve McQueen in the commercial.
The ride was exceptionally well controlled. The shifter was smooth and the shift transitions were smooth. I was prepared for some jerking shift transitions until I got used to the shif/throttle/clutch modulations for this car, but it was smooth and slick from shift one.
Power felt great BUT I did not take it over 4,000 rpm. The engine is very tractable and you can lug it down to 1,000 rpm in 5th and still accleerate away smoothly.
I have heard comments that the brake pedal is a little soft, but it felt fine to me. My Jag pedal is soft, so maybe it only felt fine in comparisson to what I am used to.
Steering was good. Nice feel to the wheel and good response to minor inputs, but I got no where near the limits.
Exterior body finish left a little to be desired. I don't know if it is just this one car, or all Mustangs, but the panel fit was a little inconsistent. Some gaps were larger than others.
Trunk is small. but not too small. Rear seats fold down 60-40 for added hauling capacity. The underhood view is not very pretty, but it means business and I'd rather open the hood and see an industial looking engine than a plastic cover.
Anyway, the search continues. But the Mustang makes it to the final rounds.
#2
Registered User
If my other car wasn't an E36 M3 which I will keep until death (it's or mine), I'd get the new GT (next year - bigger tire option might make it an even better bet for FS autocross) in a heartbeat. I'd love to get something cheap with great performance. Sadly though my M3 is not a quick, it has a similar manner (torqey(sp?) GT type feel) and I like having cars that vary in nature.
One thing I still deplore in the Mustang is its brakes are not up to current standards - look at it's stopping distance - appalling.
Great job by Ford
One thing I still deplore in the Mustang is its brakes are not up to current standards - look at it's stopping distance - appalling.
Great job by Ford
#3
One thing I still deplore in the Mustang is its brakes are not up to current standards - look at it's stopping distance - appalling.
#4
Registered User
I'm not a big Ford fan, but from the 04 to the 05 Mustang is like night to day.
I wouldn't even want to test drive an 04 mustang. The 05 looks like a real car.
Not to say they're in the same class, but there's a V8 BMW (645Ci) that is about as fast has about the same weight and practicality as the GT but costs three times as much. 2 years of owning a 645Ci you'd loose as much as the cost of a GT.
Is the bimmer worth thrice the cost of a GT?
I wouldn't even want to test drive an 04 mustang. The 05 looks like a real car.
Not to say they're in the same class, but there's a V8 BMW (645Ci) that is about as fast has about the same weight and practicality as the GT but costs three times as much. 2 years of owning a 645Ci you'd loose as much as the cost of a GT.
Is the bimmer worth thrice the cost of a GT?
#7
Registered User
Originally Posted by rai,Mar 20 2005, 10:57 PM
I'm not a big Ford fan, but from the 04 to the 05 Mustang is like night to day.
I wouldn't even want to test drive an 04 mustang. The 05 looks like a real car.
Not to say they're in the same class, but there's a V8 BMW (645Ci) that is about as fast has about the same weight and practicality as the GT but costs three times as much. 2 years of owning a 645Ci you'd loose as much as the cost of a GT.
Is the bimmer worth thrice the cost of a GT?
I wouldn't even want to test drive an 04 mustang. The 05 looks like a real car.
Not to say they're in the same class, but there's a V8 BMW (645Ci) that is about as fast has about the same weight and practicality as the GT but costs three times as much. 2 years of owning a 645Ci you'd loose as much as the cost of a GT.
Is the bimmer worth thrice the cost of a GT?
I test drove an 02 (same as 04) Mustang GT, not what I necessarily want, but I've seen guys have them as very quick autocross/track cars for not nearly the money you'd spend on a bunch of other cars. The engine has always sounded awesome. Considering they wanted to sell it loaded for 19K - not a bad buy.
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#9
Registered User
A slippery slope that is.
But it's really a totally different market (oh gawd, the dreaded apples and oranges).
But it's really a totally different market (oh gawd, the dreaded apples and oranges).
What I'm saying about the Stang is that it's so cheap (to me) it's like I could one without a second thought whereas an M3 or 645 or 911 (more substantial cars), I could buy, but it'd be real money.
Are they worth 2.5-3 times the cost? Are they worth the cost when a mustang (essentially can do much the same as a M3 or 645Ci) plus for the same cost an Elise or a Boxster on the side (give a few tho here or there)?
#10
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by 330R,Mar 20 2005, 08:36 PM
So were you able to test drive the TL? I'm kinda confused by the "tried to" comment.
I can't stand dealers with attitudes.
I can't stand dealers with attitudes.