cheltonianmotoring
A LOT OF HORSE FOR YOUR MONEY
NewFord Mustang 5.0GTConvertible - Model on test: £51,355 ROAD TEST BY TOBY AIKEN
Ever since I tested theMustang Fastback a couple of years ago,my four-year-old daughter has compared everything to ‘the big blue noisy car’. So, before testing the convertible version, Iwas reasonably sure itwould be a hitwith her. But I had a concern, and not just the incredibly bright yellowthatmy convertible test carwas coming in. Usually,when you cut the roof off
a powerful car, there can be some issueswith roll and stability through the corners… andwith the amount of power going through the rearwheels of theMustang, thiswas a real concern. I needn’t haveworried. I don’t
knowwhat Ford have done to combat thewell-known phenomena, but they have succeeded.
It remained stable (classic horse pun, right there) through the bends, all thewhile providing near-insane amounts of power, and equally immense levels of noise. I amgoing to try and reviewthis
carwithout going on about the noise, but first, Imust acknowledge the all- encompassing sound. A V8 is something of an icon - especially when it comes toAmericanmuscle cars. It’s the building block of American automotive engineering, and it has a distinctive throbbing growl that (once familiar) is never forgotten. Evenwriting this I can hear the noise of aMustang V8 inmy head… burning up the fuel almost quick enough to see… potent, poised, ready to pounce. And pounce it does - plant your
right foot and youwill feel it unleash. With a shade over 440bhp on tap, and a0-60time of less than 5 seconds, youwill leavemost other cars for dust and hear the growl eating up the petrol. Coupledwith the all-new10speed
(yes, 10speed) automatic gearbox means that it accelerates like the wild horse it is named for andwon’t stop until you run out of courage or road. Twitchy under acceleration, the tyreswill throwoff the reins (yes, another horse pun) of the traction control and fight you for control of the rear axle. It’s not that unruly though… back of just a smidge, and it will give you back control and let you ‘charge’ off again. Iwill try to stop with the puns now… So that’s the performance
covered - it’s a handful, it has buckets of power and is a lot of fun. Butwhat’s it like to actually drive and livewith? Surprisingly good. I took three other adults out for a
drive, andwhile rear legroomis not generous (Iwouldn’t advise a lengthy tripwith rear-seated adults)we all fitted, and itwas remarkably easy to maintain a conversation over the noise of the exhausts - all four of them. It has a very generous boot as well. Taking it to a hockeymatch, I
48 MARCH/ APRIL 2019 THECHELTONIAN
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