Ford Mustang is a classic sports car that has been in production now for more than 40 years. Popular as a “muscle” car, the Ford Mustang has been helping drivers tear up the streets for four decades with its quick acceleration and sporty styling.
Features/Options:
Ford Mustang is available in either a two- door coupe or a two- door convertible. There are six trim levels for the coupe (Standard, Deluxe, Premium, GT Deluxe, GT Premium, and Mach 1) and five trim levels for the convertible (Deluxe, Premium, GT Deluxe, GT Premium, and SVT Cobra).
This sporty car is powered by a standard 3.8 liter, OHV V6 engine that produces 193 horsepower and 225 lb- ft of torque at 2800 rpm. This engine is the only one available on the Standard, Deluxe, and Premium trim levels of the coupe and convertible. Upgrading to the GT or Mach level brings with it a more powerful engine. Both the GT Deluxe and GT Premium come with a 4.6 liter, 16 valve V8 engine that has the power of 260 horses and 302 lb- ft of torque at 4000 rpm. The Mach 1 version of the Mustang offers a 4.6 liter, 32 valve engine that produces 305 horsepower and 320 lb- ft of torque at 4200 rpm. And for those who just can’t get enough power, Ford offers a 4.6 liter V8 engine that produces 390 horsepower and 390 lb- ft of torque at 3500 rpm, using a manual transmission. This powerful engine is available only on the SVT Cobra Convertible. Few vehicles offer such a wide range of engine sizes and horsepower as Mustang.
Many options are available on Ford Mustang, and most of them are typical of what you would expect in this type of vehicle. Standard options for all trim levels include remote keyless entry, 16 inch aluminum wheels, rear- wheel drive, independent modified MacPherson strut suspension, visor vanity mirrors, anti- theft system, and many others. All Ford Mustang trim levels come with the usual 3- year, 36- month basic and powertrain warranty.
Optional equipment on the Mustang would include MACH stereo sound system with 6- disk CD changer, leather- wrapped steering wheel, 17 inch aluminum wheels, leather- wrapped gear shift knob, stainless steel foot pedals, 4- way head restraints, and many more. Some of these features are standard on the higher- priced trim levels.
Other Statistics/Measurements:
Mustang is a medium- sized vehicle with an overall length of 15 feet, 3 inches; a height of 4 feet, 5 inches; and a width of six feet, 1 inch. The head room in the front seats is 38 inches and in the rear seats, its 35.5 inches.
Most all of the dimensions on the coupe and the convertible are the same or they are within a fraction of an inch of each other. The one exception is the trunk. On the coupe models, the trunk offers 10.9 cubic feet of cargo space. On the convertible, the cargo space is reduced down to only 7.7 cubic feet. The fuel tank in all trim levels has a capacity of 15.7 gallons.
Pricing:
Ford Mustang is a medium- priced car overall, with a price tag that ranges from $18,000 to $24,000 for the coupe and from $24,000 to $39,000 for the convertible trims. In the coupe trims, the lowest priced is the Standard Coupe, followed by the Deluxe Coupe, then the Premium Coupe, then the GT Deluxe Coupe, the GT Premium Coupe and then the Mach 1 Coupe at the upper- end of the price range. For convertibles, the Deluxe Convertible is the least expensive (note: there is no convertible at the standard level), followed by the Premium Convertible, then the GT Deluxe Convertible, and then the GT Premium Convertible. At the top of the convertible trim price level is the SVT Cobra Convertible, which carries an MSRP of almost $39,000.
Final Thoughts:
Ford Mustang is one of the first names that come to mind when automotive enthusiasts are asked to choose a favorite sports car. Since Ford debuted the Mustang in 1964, this car has been winning converts left and right with its fast, powerful engine and its reputation for speed and driving fun.
Ford Mustang offers a medium- quiet ride, once you get started. I drove the GT Deluxe Coupe with a V8 engine and a 260 horsepower engine. Based on the power and the reputation of Mustang, I was expecting a loud, noisy car with a roaring engine, similar to what you would find on the NASCAR circuit. The GT model was noisy- much louder than what you would find in some of the less powerful vehicles in the sporting class and in other classes- but still tolerable. This is to be expected, though, with a car that has a V8 engine and the force of 260 horses.
Steering and handling of Ford Mustang are what I expected in this type of car. The vehicle turns corners and whips through curves with ease. But the steering is a little tighter than what you get with some of the family- oriented vehicles. In other words, this isn’t the type of vehicle that can be steered with one finger, like some of the more sensitive steering cars. The Mustang requires both hands to negotiate most turns. But this isn’t bad, really. In fact, it’s the way I expect a sports car to behave.
The ride isn’t necessarily the smoothest I have ever experienced. Bumpy roads were easy to navigate, but the suspension didn’t do the best job of absorbing these abnormalities in the driving surface. And the passenger comfort is not very good at all, particularly for those in the rear seat. The front seat, with 38 inches of head room, is adequate for most passengers (expect for the very tall), but the rear seat with only 35.5 inches of head room, will present some problems for many passengers. I stepped into the back seat and put the front seat back in place, just to see what it was like and I quickly got right back out. Two adults can fit here (or so the manufacturer claims), but it’s a tight squeeze that could make many people suddenly become claustrophobic.
Two other negative aspects of the Mustang are the fuel economy and the cargo space. Gas mileage is not very good, even on the trim levels with less powerful engines. The GT gets a paltry 14- 20 miles per gallon (The fuel economy on the Cobra is so poor that it comes with a $1,000 gas- guzzler tax). Add to that the 15.7 gallon fuel tank and you will be lucky to drive even 300 miles on a full tank of gas. Cargo space is also lacking, with only 10.9 cubic feet of space on the coupe and an astonishingly low 7.7 cubic feet on the convertible. Needless to say, you don’t want to borrow your buddy’s Mustang to help you move. The hauling space is very limited in this car.
Now that we’ve talked about the negatives, let’s go over some of the good qualities about Mustang. Most obvious among these is the acceleration. With a 260 horsepower, V8 engine on the GT model, the Mustang can pick up speed quickly, burning past other cars and trucks as it weaves in and out of traffic. I can only imagine how powerful the Cobra must be, with its 390 horsepower engine. A car the size of a Mustang doesn’t really need a V8 engine at all. But it sure makes a difference in the acceleration and power of this vehicle. It rockets from its starting position, like a brightly colored stock car anxiously awaiting its chance to cross the finish line in record time.
On the interior, I like the fact that Mustang comes with two cup holders in the front. Too many sports cars (especially in past years) offer only one cup holder in the front, right behind the gear shift. This means that either the driver or the passenger (I would hope it would be the passenger, for safety’s sake) will be stuck holding his/her beverage the old fashioned way. I also like the leather- wrapped steering wheel and the easy to read/reach instrument panels and controls. They make the interior stylish and slick.
One other cool feature that is available on Mustang is the Sirius Satellite Radio. This satellite radio brings music, talk shows, and other radio entertainment into your automobile from all over the country, regardless of your present location. The display panel even shows information on the radio station, the artist, the song title, etc.
Ford Mustang is offered in eleven different colors, including black, white, silver, dark grey, dark blue and azure blue. There are three shades of red- Redfire Metallic, Anniversary Crimson red, and Torch red. And for those who really want to make a statement, Ford offers Screaming Yellow and Competition Orange. These latter two colors are intended for those who want their Mustang to stand out in the crowd, with a bold, assertive look that demands attention.
It would be easy to write- off the Ford Mustang as an impractical, fuel- wasting, cramped, inefficient vehicle that is uncomfortable to ride in and to control. But it would also be inaccurate to label the Mustang this way because this is not a family sedan or an SUV. This is a sport coupe/convertible and it is designed for performance, not practicality. And as for as performance goes, Ford Mustang can easily match its closest competitors. I like it better than Chevrolet’s Camaro and other sports cars. It’s stylish exterior and interior, quick acceleration, and performance driven characteristics make the Ford Mustang a sports car to consider if you happen to be in the market. It will cost you a little more in gasoline expenses, yes (Dodge Neon, this isn’t!). But it will also make you stand out in a crowd, with the strength of as many as 390 horses to blaze a trail to your favorite destination.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 24000
Model Year: 2004 Model and Options: Gt Deluxe Coups
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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