2007 Ford Mustang GT Convertible Premium (638)

Overview:
This week we’re looking at the 2007 Ford Mustang GT Convertible Premium. This 4-passenger sports car is one of those exciting pieces of history preserved for generations. Thanks to Ford Motor Company.

As I proceeded up the highway in the desert the words Yee Haa came to mind. Giddy up cowboy. This Mustang is fun and exciting. One of Steve Martin’s lines in LA Story comes to mind when driving this Mustang – “I feel young again”.

I don’t know if Muscle Cars ever lost favor totally, but there is a re-birth of the nostalgia of the breed. Mustang has been one of those to retain the look, feel and sound of those performers from yesteryear, in contrast to the newer high performance sports cars that make much less noise with improved performance. Cars like the Nissan Z and Lexus SC. Corvette has also maintained its historical look and feel. Pontiac GTO struggles to be counted in the big V8 performers while Camaro gave up the ghost.

Friend Richard bought his dream car cruiser Corvette that will turn you every way but lose… but what about the Porsche, says I? “Ah, that’s just a VW, powerful VW but VW none-the-less. To many men, the Vette is a real mans muscle car.

The Mustang is half the money of the Vette and is a daily driver that is a great value for the money in the muscle car arena – small as it is. But if you asked me what is the most important reason to buy a car like this Mustang it would have to be said in one word – “Funeral”. You can’t take it with you and if you’ve ever wanted a performance car – Just do it (as Nike says).

Two baseball fanatics were talking about whether there is baseball in heaven. Soon after one man died and not long after he appeared to his friend in a dream. He told his earthly friend there is good news and bad news. The good news is, there IS baseball in heaven. The Bad News is … you’re pitching tomorrow.

Public Service:

Suggestion to Cal Trans and the Highway Patrol – You can help smooth out the flow of traffic. Push the use of current technology to post the average speed of the flow (miles per hour) of traffic and then enforce that “Safe” flow. This pounding on the gas and breaking hard is stressful and dangerous. Knowing that traffic is flowing at 40 mph means all of us are best served by setting our cruise control at 39 mph and be assured we’ll get there in exactly the same amount of time and avoid quick starts and hard stops. It will reduce accidents and traffic will be much less stressful.

This is a band aid approach to help us all until government gets off its ass and solves the gridlock so common on our highways.

Handling & Performance:

Rear wheel drive is consistent with what muscle cars have always been – and the 4.6 liter V8 at 300 horsepower takes you from 0-60 in a quick 5 seconds. That will get your day started with heart pounding excitement. Subtle handling qualities found in steering feel is excellent. Some are just “Too Lose” as I noticed, for example, in the new Chrysler Nitro SUV.

I slipped into my Navy flight Jacket and got behind the wheel and felt like the “Red Baron”. Verrry coooool even if I couldn’t reach the clouds.

Styling:

Retro is the look most Mustang lovers are drawn to. The convertible top is excellent reflecting the evolving technology available. You can hardly tell it IS a convertible rag top. Tops this good eliminate the need for “Hard Top” versions that take up so much trunk space when the top is tucked away.

Rear seat leg room is sparse which doesn’t speak well of creativity. There must be a way to provide a better rear seat without sacrificing outer design. Long doors are also a part of the design required for access to the rear seat and still retain 2-doors.

Perhaps the most important benefit for American car makers is there is no competition, particularly from the Japanese. This is American Heritage supported by sentimental people who gravitate to such designs that revisit the past. One only need look at the popularity of such reintroduced cars like the Chrysler PT Cruiser, Chevrolet SSR and HHR and Ford Thunderbird. And if you think only old fogies buy them for the memories you’d be wrong since young macho guys also appreciate such all American icons. In any case it reflects the cars they grew up with when mom and dad bought them. Son Mike has a restored 1967 Camaro that was his first car.

Fit and Finish:

Solid feel with the quiet of a hard top. Assembly is very noticeably good.

Cost:

Affordable performance sports car.

Consumer Recommendation:

If you like the retro look and feel of the all American cars of the past 50 years this Mustang is truly an American icon. Great car.

Recognized Competition:

Ford Mustang $19-32,000, Pontiac GTO $31,290, Mitsubishi Eclipse $20-28,000, Mazda RX-8 $26-31,000, Hyundai Tiburon $17-22,000, Nissan 350Z $28-40,000.

Good News:

Great retro styling, fun to drive, powerful and sounds great.

Bad News:

Tight rear seat leg room.

Standard Equipment:

4.6 liter 300 hp V8 engine, 5-speet auto trans, power convertible top, rear spoiler, fog lights, stainless dual exhaust, dual power mirrors, rear window defroster, Shaker 500 audio with 6 CD changer and MP3, air conditioning, leather sport seats, 6-way power driver seat, cruise control, tilt wheel, power door locks and windows, power 4-wheel ABS disc brakes, traction control, dual air bags, power rack and pinion steering and remote keyless entry.

Gas Stats:

$2.59/ Gal avg. Feb. 20, ‘07

www.fueleconomy.gov

for more information.

17 City and 23 Highway MPG

Pricing:

MSRP $31,280.

General Info:

Parts – n/a

Assembly – Chicago , Ill. USA

Class:  – Subcompact

Cars: – Crown Victoria, Edge, Escape, Escape Hybrid, E-Series Van and Wagon, Expedition, Explorer & Sport Trac, F150,250 & 350, Five Hundred, Focus & Wagon, Freestar, Freestyle, Fusion, GT, Mustang, Ranger and Shelby GT500.

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