Test drive: 2005 Ford Mustang V6

Lots of power, improved road manners

For decades, most Mustangs had a solid axle between the rear wheels. This made them skittish on bumps, and when you added in all the power being sent to the rear wheels, Mustangs were a handful in the rain. The new 'Stang allows the rear wheels to move independently of one another, vastly improving traction. That said, despite being the "small" engine, the 4.0 liter V6 sends a lot of power to the rear wheels: 210 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. A heavy foot on the accelerator can cause the tires to spin and the car to fishtail in the dry. Forget about it if the roads are wet. An optional traction control system solves this problem; it comes bundled with antilock brakes for $775, and I wouldn't recommend buying a Mustang without it. My test Mustang channeled its power through a 5-speed automatic. Having 5 speeds rather than the traditional 4 gives the Mustang better acceleration and more accessible passing power, however the transmission is slow to downshift, even if you floor the pedal (a problem that plagues all Ford automatics). Once the downshift happens, acceleration is fast and furious. Handling and road-holding are great, though the car tended to wander side-to-side at freeway speeds.