Friday, June 30, 2017 • Neepawa, Manitoba
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New Mustang: a faster horse
Allan Hyndman’s 1967 red Mustang sits next to the brand new 2017 model. While the new model is larger, the 50 year lineage is clearly visible.
By Ben Castle The Neepawa Banner Goldf inger, Thunderball, Bullitt, Gone in 60 Seconds, The Fast and the Furious, I am Legend, John Wick, Need for Speed— the Ford Mustang is arguably the biggest automotive icon of the silver screen. The original Ford Mustang, launched in 1964 for the 1965 model year, created the popular “pony car” class, affordable 2+2 sporty coupes with long hoods and short rear decks. To commemorate 50 years of continuous production, Ford released an all-new, sixth generation Mustang for the 2015 model year. The cheap interior was out and also controversially, the live rear axle replaced by a fully independent multi-link rear suspension. However, this is the first Mustang to be officially sold globally and finally has the mechanical sophistication to compete with the best sports cars that Europe and Asia can offer. Road presence The $54,098 tester supplied by Kelleher Ford in Brandon was the GT Pre-
mium Convertible, with the design touches, such as the there. motor do the rest of the six-speed manual transmis- HID headlights, sequential Ford has also managed to work. The roof lowers onto sion and optional Perform- rear indicators and some maintain the character in- the rear deck, so doesn’t imance Package ($3,700). fun design features, like side the car. The plastics are pede on trunk space, like in Available on both the the illuminated kick plates now of decent quality and a lot of convertibles, and you Ecoboost and GT fastback and on this model, lights the twin cowl dashboard have a usefully shaped 323 and convertible models, this mounted in the base of the and rocker switches gives litres of cargo space with package adds 19 inch black door mirrors that project Mustang a cockpit-like feel, either the roof up or down aluminum wheels, uprated the famous Mustang Pony with figure-hugging seats (the fastback has slightly brakes, stiffened chassis, a logo on the ground! Parked and an evocative view over more space, at 382 litres gauge pack with oil pressure up with Allan Hyndman of the long hood. The roof and also benefits from split and boost/ folding rear vacuum seats). This Ford Mustang at a glance gauges and is prett y a torsen rear decent for Powertrain: 3.7 litre V6 with 300 horsepower, 280 pound feet of torque; 2.3 litre differential a sports four cylinder Ecoboost (turbo) with 310 horsepower, 320 pound feet of torque; 5.0 V8 with a 3.73 car and with 435 horsepower and 400 pound feet of torque (6-speed manual/auto transmisax le rat io c r u c i a l l y, sion); 5.2 V8 with 526 horsepower and 429 pound feet of torque (6-speed manual) for better acover 50 per Trim levels: Fastback: V6, Ecoboost, Ecoboost Premium, GT, GT Premium, celeration, cent more GT350, GT350R amongst than its Convertible: V6, Ecoboost Premium, GT Premium other feamain rival, Starting price: $29,398 (V6 fastback manual), $31,398 (V6 convertible manual) tures. C he v r olet Price as tested: $54,098 (GT Premium Convertible w/manual transmission and I n e ye Camaro. Performance Package) catching The two Highway fuel economy: 8.8 litres per 100 kilometres (V6); 8.3 litres per 100 “Grabber rear seats, kilometres (Ecoboost); 10.2 litres per 100 kilometres (GT) Blue”, this although by Test fuel economy: 14.3 litres per 100 kilometres combined (GT Premium car has masno mea ns Convertible) s ive r oa d com mod iWarranty: 3 years/60,000 kilometres bumper-to-bumper; 5 years/100,000 kilopresence. In o u s , a r e metres powertrain my opinion, useable for Service interval: 8,000 kilometres this is the small chilbest-looking dren or Mustang since the first gen- Cardale’s beautiful original on all convertibles is fully small adults on short joureration, with some really and fully restored 1967 powered, with a heated neys and the convertible nice design details. It has Mustang convertible, the glass rear windshield. All actually offers marginally the signature long hood and 2017 Mustang looks very you need to do to lower the more headroom and an short rear deck stance, but large in comparison, but the roof is release one handle airier feel for rear passenalso with some nice modern 50 year lineage is certainly manually and then let the gers than the fastback.
PHOTO BY DAN COWELL
The driving experience All these practical observations are kind of missing the point though. This car is all about the driving experience. I was insanely excited about driving this car, as driving a V8 Mustang, not least a convertible, was the fulfilment of a lifelong dream and it certainly didn’t disappoint! The 5 litre V8 roars into life with a glorious rumble that is always present and never really goes away, whether you’re doing 30 km/h or 130! As you would expect, pick a gear and you have instant acceleration at any speed and the engine is very free-revving for a big V8 and happy to howl to the red line. The manual transmission has a nice and precise short-throw, but due to a very light clutch, can be quite difficult to drive smoothly at low speed. Kangarooing off the forecourt is not a good look, but personally, I would still go for the manual transmission, as it’s a nice shift and worth persevering with, as you learn to finesse your low speed gear changes. Continued on page 2