2005 Ford Mustang Convertible Test Drive

My first ride in the new Mustang Convertible at the press introduction in late August 2004 had me riding shotgun for CART star Alex Tagliani. To demonstrate the Mustang’s exceptional rigidity, Alex accelerated to about 40 mph on a closed off portion of the port street near the 5-star Pan Pacific Hotel at Vancouver’s Coal Harbour, then took us over some railroad tracks and up over a curb onto a sidewalk and back down again. The shaking and shuddering so common in ragtops of the last generation – especially older Mustangs - was totally absent.

With the new Mustang, Ford Motor Company has signaled its intention to re-claim its top tier position in the North American car market. What first appeared as mild revisionism on the part of Bill Ford, new CEO and great grandson of the founder, may yet turn out to be a full-blown revolution producing both beautiful looking and beautiful driving cars. All of this would be talk would be for naught if the Mustang wasn't an "it" car. But the 2005 Mustang is proof-positive that Ford can walk the walk. Check prices at Edmunds.