In Canada we are often seen as being nice, polite and friendly, almost to the point of being boring, whereas those from south of the border are generally portrayed as being more brash, loud and in your face.
They do things in a big way when they do them, they want everyone to know about it, and
quite frankly some think their country's existence is the only one that counts.
For the most part Canadians try to ignore all these things, except for one. One which we have been living with since the '60s and one that is as loud as the most patriotic American tourist who just can't help telling everyone in the country he is visiting, that in America things are bigger and better.
This one item we can't ignore is big and brash; it is loud but not obnoxious; and it is as American as a college cheerleader who talks with a constant smile and her teeth closed together so she can show off the thousands of dollars her parents spent on her mouth.
Isn't she purrty?
We have been proud to open our garage doors to the Ford Mustang for decades. We continue to embrace it for all the reasons Americans get a bad name. We love it because it is big, because it is in your face, because it is a little brash and especially because it is loud.
But now you can add another reason to like the Mustang. It is cheap.
The Mustang I drove this week was not only a convertible, it was also a GT, and it was priced below $30,000. When is the last time you saw a Mustang GT at that price let alone a convertible?
I could just picture my mom sitting in this Mustang. She would gladly turn the key to start the engine, but after hearing the gurgle of the V8 would be scared to put the short-throw shifter into gear for fear of it ripping her arm off.
The sound is awesome, and unmistakably Mustang.
This is one of the very reasons people like it so much. When you hit the gas it does not answer in polite English with "Hello, I'm Geoffrey, I'm from Engulund, how may I be of assistance?
It shouts at you, "Hey, I'm an American damn it and I deserve a little respect around here."
And this is exactly why we love it. It will get you attention from passersby, it looks good, it has more power than you know what to do with, and it sounds fantastic.
Think about this. In the '90s a Mustang GT had a 5.0 litre V8 with 225 horsepower. You couldn't get a GT convertible then for this money, but now you not only get 315 horsepower, you get better technology like Bluetooth hands-free phone and satellite radio, better gas mileage and a lot more safety equipment.
You get more of everything including the most important thing, the power, and you pay less than you would 15 years ago.
The Mustang is a blast to drive. With all this power under your right foot and the superb gnarl from the exhaust pipes you will be smiling from the time you leave home to the
time you reach your destination.
This Mustang also handles well and feels good especially on the twisties. Ford has included a bunch of power options with cruise and stereo controls on the wheel. There is also the SYNC hard drive system for voice-activated stereo. You tell it what song to get and it goes and finds it on the hard drive.
The Mustang is a two-plus-two meaning there is only enough room for grocery bags in the back. There is also a small glove box, but who cares. This is not about the back seat passengers. It is about the driver and occasionally the front seat passenger, but only when you want to scare them.
One of the nice things about having 315 horsepower provided by a V8 is that there is no wait for a turbo to spool up. There is also no turbo whine. As soon as you tap the fun pedal it responds with immediacy and raucous energy. Try driving at 80 in third and tapping the gas. You will soon find yourself feeling like Woody Woodpecker with your head snapping forward and back at every tap of the gas.
The Mustang GT is loud, it is brash, it is in your face, but this is exactly why we love, but don't forget the price.
Ford Mustang GT
2-door convertible
5-speed manual
4.6 litre V8
Horsepower: 315 @ 6,000
Torque: 325 @ 4,250
Mileage: 13 l/100 km 22 mpg City 8.4 l/100km 34 mpg Hwy
Price as tested: $29,998
