Got back a little while ago from the LA Innovation Drive. A few pics are here:

http://members.***.net/alnmik/Mustang/Mustang.html

Drove a black manual trans GT, and looked more closely at a black V6 in the display area. Here are a handful of observations:

-Design: I didn't have the "whoa it looks better in person" reaction, probably because I think I've seen so many pictures. it's just plain good-looking, no doubt about it. Favorite angle - looking down at the c-pillar, where the rear quarter panel rolls up onto the rear deck. Just awesome. the rear wing looks smaller in person, and it seems to be made of very light plastic. It's also made in Canada. Though I plan on a GT, I do prefer the no-fogs look of the V6.

-Fit and finish: looks good, paint quality (in black anyway) looked excellent. Doors close solidly, and while driving, I did not notice rattles, squeaks, or other tell-tale signs of poor assembly. There were some loose plastic pieces which had come loose in the interior (inside the center console and right behind the driver's seat) - however this seemed less about build quality, and more about some 6-footer like me trying to get in and out of the back seat too quickly.

-Materials quality: good overall, however there were some areas where cost-cutting was obvious (not necessarily a bad thing - I for one didn't expect a $50K interior in a $20K car). The dashboard top surface is a hard, large-grained plastic, some exposed metal bits are on display in a couple places. Switchgear (windows, stereo, A/C) felt pretty good, too.

-Sound: having no previous experience with Mustangs (minus an '81 4-cylinder my family had when I was a kid), it's hard for me to say. Compared with a GTO, the sound has a little more edge to it. Sweet spot is around 3500 - 4000 RPM. The car sounds better inside than outside, not sure why. Not that it sounds bad from outside, but the engine noise in the interior is just about perfect. Might be a little loud inside for some. Not me.

-The drive: There was a single V6, along with black, yellow, and red GTs. Nearly all were manuals. It was torture waiting for 30 minutes in line, listening as the cars accelerated off the line. Though traction control and A/C were on at all times, many people were able to bark into 2nd gear. A few people lost it at a downhill section at the end of the infield, dragging cones with them halfway back to the starting area. There were also some people who poorly timed their 1-2 shifts, causing the car to stumble a bit as they accelerated away. I was seated in a black GT, and got comfortable pretty quickly. Seats are a good balance of firmness and comfort. Wheel is a little large in diameter, but pedals are well-positioned.

Starting out, the clutch is pretty forgiving, and action is light. The shifter was stiff, probably from newness, not design. We were only cleared to 2nd gear, which was OK given the short course. Steering was surprisingly light at low speeds, though it was just right as speeds increased. I drove at only about 7/10ths, getting a better feel for the car than going 10/10ths (and prolonging my seat time by 2 seconds!).

Two observations about this engine: it has plenty of power, and it doesn't mind revs, it welcomes them. Power isn't overwhelming off the line, but it builds quickly and with very little effort. Fantastic engine noises. In the slalom portion, car seemed pretty nimble, but the light steering reared it's head again - probably most noticeable under acceleration when the front end unloads. Didnt get much of an impression from the brakes, which probably means they're pretty smooth and effective.

Unfortunately, 30 seconds or so just isn't enough time to really get a feel for a car, but from that short drive, I really like what I see with this car.

Got a few vids (low res), too, those will have to wait until tonight.

 

thanks for the review

I can't wait for a chance to drive the car

 

wtg

 

Thanks for the review and pics.



A big portion of the front grill on the V6 car is blocked off !
We had non functional scoops in the past now we have non functional grills :scratch:

 

Cool

 

I turned TCS off....will post vid after downloading it from my video camera

 

That's been my big concern all along. From the pictures, I could tell Ford is using that hard, grainy "cheapo" plastic that was quite common in automobiles from the '80s - and you just confirmed my worst fear. This is one area where they remain waaaaay behind the imports, for reasons I frankly can't quite fathom.

The imports are using a richer, more luxuriant plastic which just gives the impression of being four inches thick - not that cheap, pebbley stuff that looks so brittle it might crack!

 

My guess is that they had to do it to maintain the structural integrity of the plastic grill. It does look a bit flimsy.

 

Awesome. Wondering a bit why its not throwing people back off the line though?

Anyways, isn't the reflection in this pic kinda cool?

 

Great read and awesome pics. Thanks

 

yeah, Dan, that's cool, didn't even notice it until you pointed it out

 

I had a 2001 Grand-Am that had a steering feature that would make it easier to steer at low speed and tighten up as you increased speed. Is that a feature that is on the 05? Not sure what it is called. Maded it great when in tight parking lots.

 

I believe that its called "speed sensitive steering" and i had no idea that it was on the mustang, but I agree with you guys, the steering was real light at slow speeds. I really liked it!

 

The solid parts on the V6 grill are where the fogs go on the GT. I'm sure its non-functioning area on the car anyway then as far as air flow.

 

The solid parts on the V6 grill are where the fogs go on the GT. I'm sure its non-functioning area on the car anyway then as far as air flow. [/b][/quote]
No it is not where the Fog Lights go! The GT has it's own Grill! The Honeycomb areas that are filed in were done to control Air Flow Through the Radiator as well as to Reduce the Amount of Open Space in the Front End of the car to Reduce Aerodynamic Drag! The More Area that Air is Allowed to Enter the Front of the Car the more of a Parachute Affect it has on the Car.

As for the Quality of Interior Materials The 05 Blows the Current car out of the water! Most New Cars are using Hard Plastic for the top of the dash since Air Bags, make a Padded Dash Obsolete, as well as to reduce Cracking of the Padded Area on Older Cars. The Interior Looks Great in My Opinion, Not Cheap at all The Grain and texture look As Good or Better than an Infinity G35 Coupe to me. The only Real Complaint I have about the Interior is the Parking Brake Handle, it Needs to be Covered in Leather like the Steering Wheel and Shifter, not the Rubberized Plastic that it is made of currently

 

TampaBear67

I agree that's probably the reason why the grill is blocked off, but then why not make the grill the right size to begin with, as in previous Mustangs ?

I know... style over function...

 

Probably hiding the holes for the back of the GT fog lights. Probably stamped into the crossmember.

 

Duh, the GT has its own grill. And to your credit, Ford only needs so much airflow into the car. ITS ALSO THE AREA WHERE THE FOGS GO(see image below)! So, like I said, its a non-functioning area of the car so they blocked it off.

 

this was with TCS engaged? I noticed what looked to me like a lot of lag time coming off the line in some or all of the videos that have been posted, this in spite of the fact that they all barked second. I was hoping that this could be attributed to the TCS being engaged. Personally, I really like the idea of the TCS and am happy to see it offered. Gentleman I used to work with had TCS in his Mach, said it made for 'a heck of a hole shot', but he personally drove with it disengaged because it made it difficult to power through corners.

 

i looooooooooove me some mustangs