2005 Ford Mustang GT Test Drive

The new 'Stang turns so many heads, you'll wish you were a chiropractor

Today's business success stories have been created by men and women now mostly in middle age. These adventuresome types likely owned two cars on their way up the corporate ladder: a VW Beetle and a Ford Mustang. Ask them about either, and they fall into smiling memories. As of the 2005 model year, both carmakers are offering a retro-styled model to maximize appeal. Prices: US $24,995 base; as tested, $26,440. Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles.

First Glance

Not one negative comment about the 2005 Ford Mustang GT was heard in a week of driving it. The opposite happened, in fact. Wherever I parked it, the '05 Stang gathered people like mosquitoes to a sweaty neck. They wanted it - especially when they learned its base price was under $25,000. Ford vehicle sales are down this year after new models were introduced and the Mustang stands alone in increased popularity, with a 15 percent jump over last year. So when Ford says it anticipates building 175,000 Mustangs this year, it might want to build even more and ratchet up the hype. Of course, Ford already has one of coolest TV ads ever, where the late master of movie cool, Steve McQueen, steps out onto a newly paved track in a cornfield and then proceeds to drive the 2005 Ford Mustang as if he were still chasing the bad guys in that black Dodge Charger in "Bullitt". Externally, the 2005 Ford Mustang GT Premium I tested looks a good deal like those late-Sixties Mustangs that have showed up in more than 500 movies. Long hood, short deck, C-cuts on each side, three-element taillights, driving lights a chrome running horse in the grille. This new design is instantly recognizable as a Mustang, a return to its head-turning days.

In the Driver's Seat

The 2005 Ford Mustang possesses the fastback styling that attracted this writer to a new 1966 Mustang 2+2 in 1965. But the interior is anything but retro. Gone is the dashboard styling that reminded me of a yoke for a team of oxen. In its place are two areas separated by a console and the shifter. The tester had a 300-horsepower V8 coupled to a five-speed manual transmission. That's retro enough to remind us of a Boss 302 Mustang. But gone is the rear bench seat Mustang father Lee Iacocca demanded. Iacocca had done surveys before the Mustang was commissioned and he learned that young buyers (the target audience) wanted a bench seat for, er, recreational purposes. Bucket seats were sporty and fine up front, but the rear needed a smooth horizontal design. Alas, the new rear has two buckets. And even an average-size person will bump the headliner and feel cramped back there. Besides, the sun shines through a huge rear window and quickly creates shouts of "more air conditioning"! The instruments are also a problem. They're gray on black and almost impossible to read in daylight. Note that the front passenger seat does not have height adjustment, so those short of statue will feel they're sitting in a bucket.

On the Road

Crank up the 4.6-liter V8 and listen to that throaty exhaust. Mustangs have always had the sweetest exhaust sound around, and this time Ford gave the 2005 Mustang GT a 2.5-inch exhaust system all the way to its dual tips. Depress the clutch and shift into first gear. Note that this manual transmission isn't as difficult to operate as those in recent Cobra Mustangs, but it's not easy either. There is a $995 automatic available as an option, and Ford expects this will be found in the vast majority of the Mustangs. Frankly, I'd thankfully spring for the automatic and prefer it for commuting and around-town driving. After exiting first gear, the remaining shifts are easily done (but not snick-snick either!). Why so tough? This is a powerful car needing heavy-duty drivetrain components. It's got them - and a driver will pay the price. Okay, pop quiz: What category does the government put the Mustang in? Forget it. You'll never guess. It's a subcompact. Right. And I'm Spiderman. This subcompact gets about the worse mileage of any car in that category: 17 city and 25 highway. Yes, that's dreadful for a subcompact. But in reality the only competition this muscle car has is the Pontiac GTO which is bigger and more expensive.

Journey's End

As when I tested the New Beetle, the T-Bird, the PT Cruiser and the Prowler, this 2005 Ford Mustang turned heads and attracted a crowd wherever I drove. That always suits me fine. If I've just paid $25,000 for something, I'd like people to notice! So I'm always happy to talk with those who stop and ask questions. They most often expressed a fondness for the styling, and were pleasantly surprised to hear new Mustangs with a V6 start under $19,000 and the V8 under $25,000. These are realistic prices today. They also approved when I told them the Mustang rides on a modified platform shared with the Jaguar S-Type, the Lincoln LS and the Thunderbird. This one, however, has beefed up brakes and suspension to match its sporting intentions. It's 31 percent stiffer than last year, in fact. Zero to 60 in 5.5 seconds usually impressed folks, too. Back in 1964, the Mustang was the first car of its type, followed by Camaros, Firebirds, Cudas, Challengers, Javelins, etc. All are gone now. Except this Mustang. Ford never gave up on the Mustang, although some super-silly models were made in the 70s. All is forgiven now with this 2005 Mustang GT. Ford has already announced that a convertible version of the Mustang will be marketed next year.