I was hoping for a Motor Trend when i got home today, but i can settle with this.

Top of the front page of the Montreal Gazette today (you know, like, above the name of the paper): "MUSTANG RIDES AGAIN - New version of ponycar even better than first" with a front 3/4 view of a redfire GT. So thats a link to the Driving section, page E1.

Page E1 is a HUGE, almost half page pic of a torch red GT, looks like it was taken at the Launch Celebration, (sorry brad, can't see you, the background's blurry, what were you wearing? )
Title: "Mustang's rally -- The latest version of the iconic sports car is sure to catch attention with its styling, 300-horsepower powerplant and a smooth ride that can handle twists and turns easily"
And then there's a note on the side saying that they're doing something special and "turning the bulk of today's Driving section over to one car ...."
The main article continues on page E3 with a pic of another redfire, then on E5, "A rich history", just a little timeline with pics of the 64 1/2 model, a 68 fastback GT (looks like McQueen's car) and a 1979 featuring "Euro" design, lol.
Then under that article, "McQueen back driving a Mustang" an article about the cornfield ad and the rest of Ford's marketing blitz.

This driving section was recently revamped, so there's less in the way of all out test drives, more writing that can interest a broader audience, like this stuff. So no performance numbers aside from fuel economy. But the guy says, "predictable cornering characteristics with almost neutral handling and no bad habits... something that couldn't be said about its fourth-generation predecessor." ... "The GT also has one of the best sounds in the industry. Ford engineers worked long and hard to tune the exhaust system and get just the right rumble, and, under throttle, the new Mustang has an exhaust note that can give you goose bumps."
He had one complaint: ".. there is one small area that needs attention; the manual gearbox shift boot and mechanism are just a little too small. Energetic shifting will bring your knuckles into contact with the hard plastic shift boot cover and a little tweaking is needed here." What do you guys who have driven the car have to say about that? i don't even know what he means by the "shift boot cover", anyone care to explain?

I can't help but feel this whole special mustang section might've been thanks in part to me. The driving section in our paper just got revamped, and i realized that this guy Doug Sweet was the editor of the section. He's pretty much the guy who got me into cars, as he used to have a saturday column reviewing cars, and that's pretty much where i started reading about cars. And then they canned his column, as they already had car reviews in the weekday papers. So i was really happy to see him in charge of this new colourful driving section. I wrote to him, cause i also sorta knew his kids at school, and i told him how pleased i was and thanked him for getting me into cars. And then i slipped in a little note about how i'm a huge mustang fan, and i'd love to see any coverage on this car. Well, he sure came through on that one.
(I also told him i'm really into hybrids, and there was a big section on hybrids about two weeks ago too.)

 

Awesome. I'm sure the writeup will appear online.

And I think you may have just had an impact......I'm sure he read your message and maybe made it a bigger deal because of you!

A great story.

 

Good read. OH CAN-A-DA!

 

Thanks Dan, and right you were, although only the main article and non of the pics, i'm afraid:
http://www.canada.com/montreal/montrealgaz...1e-0e7d6f0aa75f


one interesting comment:
"Beneath the new Mustang's skin lies a completely redesigned body structure and chassis, with MacPherson struts up front and coil springs over a solid axle with a Panhard rod in the back.
For pony car buffs, this last feature is significant. Nothing gets the power down to the rear wheels like a solid rear axle, and if Ford had fitted an independent rear suspension setup, they would probably have lost a large number of potential buyers. It may be restyled and redesigned, but this is, after all, still a muscle car."

He doesn't even imply that the live axle is an old technology or that its not usually as good as IRS for twisty driving. Just about every other review i've read has at least mentioned the live axle as being a somewhat old technology. Maybe this is cause he's driven it and knows how well they've executed the suspension. Either way, he's certainly sold on this set up.

 

Ted Laturnus was named Canadian Automotive Journalist of the Year two years in a row. With Tony Whitney he co-hosted CBC's Driver's Seat which became a widely-syndicated program across North America before he left the show.

 

and if Ford had fitted an independent rear suspension setup, they would probably have lost a large number of potential buyers. It may be restyled and redesigned, but this is, after all, still a muscle car."

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Oh dear, just when Dan was complementing you, you had to mention IRS......

 

hahaha, i don't get it. Dan are you a fan of IRS and you wish it were on this car? Or do you get annoyed when people complain about the lack of IRS?

It seems to me that pretty much the only people complaining about the live axle are those who haven't driven the car. Articles have called the technology antiquated and said ford has gone too retro, but i don't really remember any complaints about the negative effects the live axle has had on handling. Only praise for how sophisticated they've made this set up.