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2005 MUSTANGFord's new-generation Mustang is an amazing blend of the better of two different worlds. It looks very much like the late-‘60s...
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Ford's new-generation Mustang is an amazing blend of the better of two different worlds. It looks very much like the late-‘60s Mustangs that were so popular in their day, while it drives exactly like the fully contemporary performance coupe it is. For 2005 came the ultimate accolade to those much-loved first-generation Mustangs on a substantially superior platform. It looks so much like the ‘67-'70 Mustangs at first glance that you have to look again (and know what you're looking at) to realize it's the new one.
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38 Reviews from Shopping.com
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An American Legend Reborn
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Pros: Performance, style, SOUND, and, dare I say, craftsmanship!
Cons: Fuel economy. But with a little self-discipline, you should get decent mileage.
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The Bottom Line:
To someone seeking outstanding performance at a great price, look no further.
I bought my 2005 Mustang GT on Thursday, May 5th, at Mike Shad Ford here in Jacksonville, Florida. Mine is the Premium Coupe and has, I believe, every option and upgrade available, except for the convertible top and the Shaker 1000-watt stereo. As to the stereo, I settled for the optional 500-watt system, which has all the features of the 1000, except for that extra 500 watts.
I've heard a lot of horror stories about how dealers are marking the prices up to obscene levels, sometimes well over 30 grand. Mine stickered at $28,060, but with my employee discount (my company ships Ford's cars), I got it down to $25,900. Plus, the dealer gave my much more than I expected for my trade in. All in all, my buying experience was very pleasant. There was no pressure, as I walked into the dealer knowing I wanted the car and what it was going to cost.
As to performance, the power wrought by the 300-hp engine is remarkable, and I sincerely hope not to destroy my driving record; my insurance only went up 16 bucks a month (versus my last car, an '01 RAV4), and I want to keep it that way. Mine has the 5-speed manual transmission, and I for one would have it no other way. The shifter is perfectly placed, and the throws are short and sure. The Mustang has 4-wheel disc brakes, and they bring the car to a stop quickly and confidently.
One of the best features of this car is the exhaust note - the sound is nothing short of intoxicating. I merely have to idle through a shopping center in 1st gear to turn heads, though the car does that well enough when parked with the engine off. Under acceleration, the sound is simply sublime. It fills the cabin, and is music to the ears of anyone who grew up loving muscle cars. I spend lots of time driving with the stereo off. But when you're cruising at highway speeds and the engine is turning a constant speed, the sound fades away, leaving the cabin surprisingly quiet. Being that this is a sports car with fairly low-profile tires, a taut suspension, and a very stiff body (something like 100% stiffer than last year's), you will hear (and feel) more road noise than you would in, say, the Nissan Maxima that I also considered buying. Typically, though, people shopping for Mustangs aren't going to concern themselves with that.
The interior is very nicely done; mine is black with red leather seating, red floormats, and aluminum accents in the dash, steering wheel (which is also leather-wrapped),and shifter. And as I wrote earlier, I also have the MyColor instrument lighting system. These are all optional upgrades
All in all, I can say that I am overwhelmingly satisfied with my new car. Ford took a real leap of faith with such a radical, top-to-bottom redesign of an American classic, a move clearly aimed at the Mustang faithful. In so doing, they've won themselves a new convert.
If I've left anything out, please feel free to e-mail me. I'm at kevinb671@yahoo.com
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