America's icon returns with a gallop
Page 1: Intro
There was a time, once, when the Ford Mustang symbolized everything Americans loved about their cars. Powerful. Fast looking. Practical enough to be convenient and impractical enough to be fun. Affordable. It could gallop like a wild horse and a regular guy could afford one. It was the people's icon of American car culture. We wrote songs about it, stars drove it in the movies; we gave it names and pinned it up on our bedroom wall. It was the legend and romance of the open road, made available at the corner Ford store.
And then it stopped. The Mustang stopped its gallop and started commuting. It stopped being something we would aspire to own and started becoming something we wouldn’t own – its long and heavy doors, plastic interior and ill-fitting componentry a turn-off in an automotive world that prizes perfection of fit and finish and super dependability.
Finally, 40 years after the original and goodness knows how many years since the last major redesign, the gallop is back. Here, in the fall of its 40th Anniversary, the soul of a car company in need of inspiration has returned, the spark behind the idea that a car could be – should be – something more than just an appliance is once again grumbling and bucking along the boulevard. The 2005 Ford Mustang has what this car company needs – a spirit than makes a statement about its driver, from the way it looks to how it sounds.
From top to bottom, the new 2005 Ford Mustang is a vast improvement over the outgoing model, a vehicle that is tantalizing in its imagery, delicious in the sights and sounds it conjures, yet short in terms of the cold, clinical perfection all cars are measured by in the 21st century. And that will hurt the car’s success, though how much remains to be seen. But things should fit tightly together. Plastics should go together, and feel nice when you touch it. To not have it that way is a crime when one considers the brilliant simplicity of the interior design, the comfort of the cabin, the improvements to the ride and handling and the stunning style of the car.
Page 3: Trims
The best thing about the 2005 Ford Mustang is that everyone gets the very best of the car – the exterior styling, interior design, and performance enhancements. From base to GT premium, it’s a case of everyone getting everything. The base version of the Mustang, priced at $19,410, gives customers a 210-horsepower, 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 engine with Tremec 5-speed manual transmission, 16-inch painted cast aluminum wheels with all-season tires, air conditioning, dual power mirrors and rear window defroster, and an AM/FM stereo with single CD player. Also standard are four wheel power disc brakes and power door locks with remote keyless entry, and power windows with driver and passenger door one-touch up/down. The Mustang V-6 Coupe Premium model also starts under $20,000 – at $19,995 -- and adds 16-inch machined aluminum wheels with chrome spinner, Shaker 500 audio system with six-disc CD changer and MP3 capability and six-way power adjustable driver seat. Option and appearance packages available on all Mustang V-6 Coupe models include an exterior sport appearance package ($295), interior upgrade package ($450), 5-speed automatic transmission ($995), anti-lock brakes with all-speed traction control ($775), side air bags ($370), leather seating surfaces ($695) and an active anti-theft system ($255).
Page 4: Trims
The 2005 Ford Mustang GT, at $24,995, will give owners a 300-horsepower, 4.6-liter SOHC 3-valve V-8 engine with Tremec 5-speed manual transmission, four wheel power disc brakes with four-channel anti-locking braking and all-speed traction control. Also standard is a stainless steel dual exhaust, front fog lamps, a rear spoiler and tilt steering wheel, 17-inch painted cast aluminum wheels with Z-rated performance tires, air conditioning, dual power mirrors, rear window defroster, AM/FM stereo with single CD player, power door locks with remote keyless entry and power windows with driver and passenger door one-touch up/down.The Mustang GT Coupe Premium model, which adds a Shaker 500 audio system with six-disc CD player and MP3 capability and Aberdeen leather-trimmed embossed sport bucket seats, begins at $26,330. Options available on all Mustang GT Coupe models include an interior upgrade package ($450), interior color enhancement package ($175), 5-speed automatic transmission ($995), side air bags ($370), 17-inch bright-machined aluminum wheels ($195), active anti-theft system ($255) and Shaker 1000 audio system ($1,295).
Page 5: Exterior
So it’s fair to say that the 2005 Ford Mustang is fairly priced and well equipped. A casual poll on the Autobytel websites, for example, revealed that 39 percent of those who took the poll thought that the $19,410 base price was fair, compared to the 28 percent who thought it was too much. The price and the extras, however, are not what makes the Mustang a special car -- what makes this Mustang unique is that it is the perfect expression of J May’s retro futuristic design touch. Like it or not, it’s a different look. It’s aggressive, with angular lines that echo the 21st century. Designed after classic Mustangs of the 1960s, the fastback roofline and trapezoidal rear windows echo 1965-66 Shelby Mustangs, and up front, the shark-like headlamps and grille suggest 1967-68 ponies. The hood is long and sleek and also comes from Mustang history, as do C-scoops in the sides, three-slotted backlights and the horse on the grille. Among the modern and aggressive touches are the short wheel overhangs – the Mustang wheels are pushed out to the corners – an improvement to the ride and to the look. It is an inspired design that echoes glory days of the past in a contemporary design that will not feel out of place on the road. It's not a classic car - it's the remaking of a classic. With an imaginative color palette, the 2005 Ford Mustang is a head turner and a conversation starter. Go with the torch red, or the windveil blue and really start up a conversation.
Page 6: Performance
Inevitably, that conversation will come around to performance. And here’s what you can say -- that the Mustang is a player, that the GT model has a sweet grumble and a growl that pays off into nice acceleration, surprising handling character and a top of the line grunt that’s expected from something that wears the ‘Stang. The power that comes out of the rear-wheel drive GT is impressive, and though it did loosen up a bit when pushed hard around a corner, there is no doubt that the 2005 Ford Mustang GT sticks to the road far better than its predecessor. That’s an example of the work done underneath – a new chassis, with a McPherson-strut front suspension and a rear suspension that features a new three-link live axle architecture. The new Panhard rod gives the rear suspension much better and more precise control of the rear axle – an improvement that’s especially noticeable on hard cornering. The way the car handles is a significant improvement over the previous model, so much so that to compare it to the 2004 Mustang is useless. One of the key elements to its improved performance is the shift of its weight – to about 54-46 front-to-rear, on a body that’s extended six inches. This pushes the wheels farther out, and improves performance.
Page 7: GT Performance
Power-wise, the new GT gets a boost of about 50 horsepower: The ‘05 GT, with its 4.6-liter, 90-degree all-aluminum V-8, churns around 300 horsepower – about 50 more than what you’d get from the old 4.6 liter V8, and the same as the Mach 1 Mustang. Torque for the new Mustang comes at around 320 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm, compared to 302 lb-ft @ 4200 for the ’04 Mustang. Controlling the power in the 2005 Mustang is a standard Tremec five-speed manual transmission. All Mustangs are offered with a five-speed automatic. The regular 2005 Ford Mustang V6 also gets a power improvement – a 60-degree 4.0-liter SOHC V-6 that replaces the 3.8-liter 90-degree pushrod engine. The new engine makes 210 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque, gains of 23 horsepower and 15 lb-ft. Ford claims that the new V6 is “smoother and more compact, providing more power and torque,” and for now you will have to take their word for it, as there was no opportunity to drive the V6-powered Mustang. More on this car later, after a thorough evaluation. As for the GT’s V8, Ford claims that the 2005 Ford Mustang engine (aluminum) weighs 75 pounds less than the 2004 engine. That’s important, because the new Mustang is a heavy critter, weighing in at 3,483 lbs, around 200 lbs. or so heavier than the previous version. The metal diet also includes the long, sloping hood: it’s aluminum, perhaps to provide weight savings. Stopping all that weight are standard four-wheel disc brakes than have, according to Ford, the biggest rotors and stiffest calipers ever fitted to a mainstream Mustang. The GT gets 12.4-inch ventilated front brake discs on GT models, and V-6 Mustangs get 11.4-inch ventilated rotors. There’s also an optional four-channel anti-lock braking system.
But really, stopping is just so boring when you can fly with your mane in the wind. The tough thing is to find a car that’s comparable both in performance, body style and price. Consider the 2004 Pontiac GTO -- by way of comparison, the 2005 Mustang GT is lighter than the 2004 Pontiac GTO, and costs around $5,000 less – and though you do get 40 more horsepower from a 5.7 liter V8 with the GTO, and the GTO has an independent rear suspension -- it would still be very interesting to cross-shop the two. The 2005 GTO is much more robust beast, however -- with a horsepower rating up to 400. In and of itself, however, Ford’s claim that the new Mustangs are better performing and more efficient is easy to agree with after a day behind the wheel of the new GT model and a week spent driving the old version.
Page 8: Interior
So the 2005 Mustang is a runner – that’s good, because the interior is where the new Mustang runs into a bit of trouble. It’s a case of brilliant design and questionable execution. Taken from the 1967 Mustang, the design is sublime in its simplicity and organization. Controls are where they should be; they are designed simply and are not ostentatious. Chrome accents are a nice touch – but most people will probably be quite happy with the standard trim that comes with the base Mustang. Such is the beauty of the design – it flows from front to back, a cabin that brings to mind the clean lines of the sixties with a 21st century edge. In a decidedly retro setting, passengers and drivers will find a color-configurable instrument panel of more than 125 different color backgrounds and standard features such as one-touch up/down power windows, power mirrors, keyless entry and power locks, a heated rear window and interval wipers. The round air vents close all the way, a nice touch not seen in many $20,000 cars. These are the same vents used in the Ford F-150, but no matter – they fit in perfectly here. The seats are quite comfortable, too, with plenty of thigh support for aggressive driving. Compared to the 2004 Mustang, there’s more room, around an inch or so all the way around. The biggest improvement is in rear hip room – a whopping 5 inches more in the 2005 model compared to the 2004 version. Stats aside, there is headroom and legroom room in the back for average adults, though keep in mind that the Mustang is still a large coupe – and not a sedan.The trouble with the interior begins at the top – with a cheap fuzzy headliner and floppy sun visors. It gets worse in the front, where a multitude of plastics and grains converge into a mishmash at the center panel. There’s beige, with grain, and beige without, and black – all meeting together at the center of the car. There is too much hard plastic, not enough with a tactile feel, and some of the accents won't last. The 1-5 gear indicator on the shifter, for example, is not notched into the top -- just ink that will likely soon fade away. There is also a small amount of glare from the front window, and passengers feel as though they are riding in a pit. Overall, the execution could be better here, and it brings the driver back to reality – this is, after all, a $20,000 car.
Page 9: Wrap
Everything else about the Mustang is beyond that price. Any price, really – which is not to say the 2005 Ford Mustang is priceless. It’s just different, unique, special and all by itself. You don’t name your Camry, after all, and there are few – if any – movies that feature a Chrysler Sebring coupe. It’s a Mustang, and a better one at that. From its performance to the way it looks and the design of the interior, the 2005 Ford Mustang brings the romance and spirit back to this iconic American car. Buy one, and people on your street will want to look at it. They will want to sit inside, and they will marvel over the simple elegance of 1967, circa 2005. This is the Mustang reborn, and it is what Ford does best. Aside from some questionable materials on the inside, it’s a car that may very well once again become a company’s icon.
Page 10: FAQs
What kind of gas mileage can we expect from the 2005 Ford Mustang?
The GT is rated a 17/25 city/Hwy, and the V6 is rated 19/28. Expect worse, however, as most people will be mashing the pedal more often than the MPG estimates.
What’s the best thing about the 2005 Ford Mustang?
The exterior design, followed by its performance on the road. The new underpinnings – especially the work done to the rear live axle – make this a much better car.
What’s the worst thing about the 2005 Ford Mustang?
The interior materials. Ford could have hit a grand slam, but things such as the headliner material and differences in plastics were subpar.
Page 11: Notes
Test car: 2005 Ford Mustang GT
Base Price: $24,995
MPG: (city/hwy)
GT: Manual: 17/25 mpg / Automatic: 18/23 mpg
V-6: Manual: 19/28 mpg / Automatic: 19/25 mpg
Engine: 300-horsepower, 4.6-liter SOHC 3-valve V-8
Transmission: Tremec 5-speed manual transmission
Wheelbase: 107.1 in.
Length: 188.0
Width: 73.9
Height: 55.4
Head/hip/legroom: 38.6/55.4/42.7
Weight: 3,483 lbs
Standard safety equipment: dual-stage driver and front-passenger air bags, safety belt pretensioners and energy management retractors
Competitors: Pontiac GTO, Chrysler Sebring coupe, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Honda Accord Coupe, Acura RSX, Hyundai Tiburon, Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe, Toyota Camry Solara