Photo : Ford

2005 FORD MUSTANG GT CONVERTIBLE

Not only does the 2005 Mustang sport new lines inspired by the 1967-68 models, but it also features a new platform offering 31% more torsional rigidity than the old one. The new generation is larger, with most of the extra length going to the wheelbase, which has added 15 cm. The Mustang comes in coupe and convertible models, in either a base version with a V6 engine or a GT powered by a V8. Interior and trunk Front seat access is easier than in many other low-riding convertibles. Its very comfortable seats have good side support, fine for anything short of racing the car on a track. The driver position is very good and the driver’s seat is equipped with adjustable lumbar support. Unlike with other droptops, taller people don’t find themselves peering over the windshield, which has stronger side frames than the coupe’s for enhanced safety. Climbing into the back is a challenge. The front seats do not slide forward automatically nor do they revert to their initial position. The Mustang is a 2+2, meaning that the rear seats are there solely for backup and short trips. People of average or below average height can fit in the back comfortably enough, but will find they have limited leg, head, and foot room. Trunk capacity is good for a convertible and access to the trunk is easy. Convenience and safety Though the interior finishing is good, some materials such as the dashboard top and imitation aluminum on the front of the dashboard look cheap. Soundproofing is good,

with the top up or down. Total storage capacity falls short, with no map pockets on the backs of the front seats. And with the cupholders located behind the gearshift, using them interferes with stick movement. The location of controls and instruments is good. A set of options lets you choose from among 125 colours for the instrument panel. The air conditioner works well and its vents can blow air in any direction. Unfortunately, however, air will always blow over your feet in the DEFROST position. The power roof works very well—just unlock two locks and press the control button. Installing the tonneau cover is difficult and unpleasant. The Mustang’s safety features include two airbags as well as head restraints that are fairly high in the front but too low in the back. For many, the front head restraints are too close to the head. Side airbags are available as an option. Visibility is very good for a convertible when the top is up, as the rear pillars are relatively narrow and the outside mirrors are wide. The low-beam headlights lack power but the high beams do a good job of illuminating the road. Engine and transmission The 4.6-litre V8 engine packs 300 hp and 320 pound-feet of torque. With that kind of horsepower, it’s no surprise that acceleration is spirited. Pickup is not only very strong, it’s clean and instantaneous, and the car’s generous torque allows us to be lazy. At 1,000 rev/min in fifth gear, the engine doesn’t balk at all. The rich hum of the engine and exhaust system is mesmerizing during acceleration. Yet you don’t hear it at cruising speeds, making longer trips more comfortable. The five-speed manual transmission is crisp and easy to manipulate and the stick’s total travel distance is fairly short. The gears are well spaced. Clutch engagement is firm and gradual. Road handling The Mustang has independent front and solid-axle rear suspension. Engineers retained solid-axle suspension because it’s less expensive than independent suspension and because Mustang lovers asked Ford to. Why? Because many owners tune their vehicles and/or use them to drag race, and a solid axle works better for both. The Mustang’s suspension is unusually well calibrated, with remarkable range for a sports car. It absorbs bumps and roughness the way some European cars do, that is, firmly, but with enough flexibility to maintain comfort and stability. Handling is excellent. However, despite the improvements to suspension control, you still have to watch out for abrupt rear axle swerves on bumpy pavement. The suspension creates the impression that we’re driving a sturdy vehicle and provides good road feel.

The power steering is very well calibrated, stable, crisp, and quicker than average. It gives you a bit of the feel of the road and has a fairly short turning radius. The four disk brakes are very powerful, fade resistant, and smooth-braking. Let’s hope that the pads last, because they’re pricey. Inspection of the Mustang in a CAA-Quebec technical inspection centre showed that it rests on a sturdy frame without rust-resistant treatment. The gas filler pipe is exposed and unprotected on top. The windshield washer levels cannot be checked. There are two 9-by-24 cm openings under the front bumpers in which objects could get lodged, damaging the air conditioning condenser. The car needs a plastic grate to prevent objects from getting in and causing damage. Conclusion The word that best sums up the Mustang GT convertible is intoxicating. It isn’t perfect, some materials have a cheap look, storage is inadequate, and the cupholders need a redesign. But its engine power and road handling create sensations that stay with you and beg to be experienced again and again. And the best part is, you don’t have to floor the accelerator or drive the speed limit to appreciate this comfortable droptop. PROS: Powerful, flexible V8 engine, nice manual transmission, comfortable front seats, smooth ride, good handling, good visibility with the top up. CONS: Insufficient storage, weak low beams, large openings under the front bumpers, some cheap materials, front seats do not return to initial position, expensive brake pads.

2005 FORD MUSTANG Engine: 12-valve, 4.0-litre V6; 24-valve, 4.6-litre V8 Horsepower: 210 hp @ 5250 rpm; 300 hp @ 5750 rpm Torque: 240 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm; 320 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm Transmission: 5-speed manual; 5-speed automatic Suspension: independent/solid axle Brakes: 4-wheel disc Length: 476.5 cm Width: 187.7 cm Height: 138.1 cm Wheelbase: 272 cm Weight: 1,495 to 1,598 kg Tires: P215/65R16; P235/55R17 Towing capacity: 454 kg Air bags: standard front; optional side

Fuel consumption with V8 and manual transmission: Transport Canada rating: City: 14 L/100 km (20 mpg) Highway: 8.8 L/100 km (32 mpg) Test result: 13 L/100 km (22 mpg) Test temperature: 10oC to 28oC Fuel tank capacity: 60 litres Acceleration: 0-100 km/h: 6.1 seconds 60-100 km/h: 3.3 seconds Competition: Mitsubishi Eclipse Warranty:

Full basic coverage: 3 years/60,000 km Powertrain: 5 years/100,000 km Surface corrosion: 3 years/60,000 km Perforation damage: 5 years/unlimited kilometrage Emissions control system: 3 years/60,000 km (full coverage); 8 years/130,000

km (catalytic converter, electronic control module and onboard diagnostic device) Factory replacement parts: Rear bumper: $564 Front brake disk: $81 Brake pads: $218 Muffler: $391 Front fender: $198 Average insurance premium (Quebec City, replacement cost endorsement, claim-free insurance record, male or female driver 30 to 40 years old): $1,349 to $2,652 Price according to trim line:

V6 coupe: $23,995 V6 convertible: $27,995 GT coupe: $32,995 GT convertible: $36,995

Main options:

Automatic transmission: $1,220 Leather seats: $895 Side airbags: $495 Interior upgrade: $535

Price as tested: $39,610 Freight and preparation: $995 Dealers: Quebec: 127; Canada: 600 ® CAA-Quebec, September 2005. All rights reserved