REVIEWS AND ROAD TESTS

Still alive

While General Motors is packing suitcases for its Camaro and Firebird, the Ford corporation is confirming its faith in the Mustang. To show the courage of its convictions, the blue-oval make gave the Mustang last year retro styling, independent rear suspension (only on the Cobra), souped-up engines,and traction control.

In more ways than one, all of these changes result in a more well-balanced and more sophisticated Mustang, but they also make it obvious that you can’t make something new with something old.What do you think of this Mustang? Powerful? For sure. Also tacky given its imitation side airscoops and the chrome stallion glued to its grille, just like in the old days. And things get worse. Open the long doors and you discover a passenger compartment with virtually no ergonomics at all. Still very narrow, the bucket seats provide minimal support when the vehicle corners and are hard to adjust. This makes it difficult to find the ideal driving position — a must on a car that bills itself as this sporty. Once you sit down you’re faced with a molded and dull-looking dashboard whose only quality is housing detailed and easy to read instruments. Other flaws: the need to push down on a latch to remove the ignition key, small radio controls, questionable assembly quality, and the lack of storage spaces, to name but a few. On the convertible version the top is particularly hard to fasten to the windshield pillars — at least on the model we test drove. Enough said.Just how sporty the Mustang is depends on which version you choose (base, GT, Cobra). The base model is the least sporty, but though purists may not like it, it’s still the most popular (60% of sales). Ford is well aware of the fact and as a result in the past years has introduced a number of changes to it — the aim being to make it even more appealing — beginning with a 3.8-litre V6. Meanwhile the GT version gets a 4.6-litre V8.

We happened to test drive the base version, equipped with the V6. For the occasion it was coupled with a five-speed manual transmission, a combination that proved interesting.

The V6 is economical and energetic, though not particularly smooth. As for the manual transmission, its lever is a bit stiff but shifting is progressive.

The Mustang’s handling depends on road conditions. In other words, if the asphalt is as smooth as the felt on a pool table, the Mustang’s handling is civilized and very satisfactory; on the other hand, its suspension has a hard time handling potholes and similar road defects and the solid rear axle on the base version and the GT skips and hops (the Cobra’s independent rear suspension is better at handling rough roads). The Mustang’s precise and linear steering system makes cornering easy and provides good handling in the city. Brakes are powerful but at times, they’re hard to gauge.

The Mustang has made surprising progress once again. Whether you like it or not, the base version (V6) is still the lineup’s most consistent, most civilized and — how lucky! - - most affordable alternative.

PROS
More civilized
Good V6 engine
Competitive pricing

CONS
Tacky looks
Uncomfortable bucket seats
Some poorly designed controls

CRASH TEST (five stars indicate the best protection)
Driver: * * * * *
Passenger: * * *