Background: The rear-wheel drive, compact, Ford Mustang remains one the most recognizable cars driving down the highway. During its 30-plus years on the road, it's also developed a loyal following. The Mustang was first introduced on April 17, 1964 as a 1964 1/2 edition. The current platform was introduced in the fall of 1993 as a 1994 model.
Trim Levels: Ford markets Mustang in three trim levels: Base, GT and Cobra SVT (Special Vehicle Team). Each of the three trim levels is available as a two-door coupe, or convertible. The Mustang GT and Mustang Cobra SVT come with V-8 power while the Base Mustang is sold with a V-6 engine. We test drove the top-of-the-line Cobra SVT. Ford produces a limited number of Cobra SVTs for sale in the United States. Only 7,474 coupes and 2,525 convertibles are scheduled for sale during the 1997 model year. The SVT possesses handling, braking and ride upgrades which work in tandem with its powerful engine. Only 707 Ford dealerships the United States, including 22 in the Chicago area, are certified to sell SVT products. For the 1997 model year, just two Ford products carry the SVT distinction: Cobra and the Contour SVT.
New for '97: Not many major changes for the 1997 Mustang. Two new exterior color choices were added this year and V-6 Mustangs now include the Passive Anti-Theft System. The system disables the engine when the proper key is not used. It was introduced in GT and Cobra SVT trim levels last year.
Price: Manufacturer's suggested retail prices for the Ford Mustang is as follows: Base coupe: $15,355; Base convertible: $20,755; GT coupe: $18,000; GT convertible: $23,985; Cobra SVT coupe: $25,355; Cobra SVT convertible: $28,135. Our test drive Cobra SVT coupe with a preferred equipment package including a compact disc player and anti-theft system totalled $27,390 including a $525 destination charge.
Engine: Each trim level has its own corresponding engine. Base edition convertible and coupes come with a 3.8-liter, six-cylinder, 150 horsepower engine. Both GT editions feature a single overhead cam, 4.6-liter, V-8 delivering 215 horsepower. For real power-hungry individuals, the Cobra SVT duo boasts a 32-valve, double overhead cam, 4.6-liter, V-8 engine delivering a thundering 305 horsepower. Cobra SVT engines are assembled by select two-person teams who sign their handiwork on a badge affixed to the top of the engine.
Seating comfort: Mustang gets high marks for its front bucket seat design. Unlike many competitors in the muscular, four-seat sports segment, drivers don't feel like they're sitting low to the ground. The seat position is higher up, which also makes entering and exiting the vehicle easier. One problem though, especially for those six feet or taller, the front bucket seats don't move back far enough. I had the power driver's seat as far back as it would go, and I still felt a bit cramped. Back seat legroom is better then most competitors, even with the transaxle hump running down the middle. It's not as good as your run-of-the-mill coupe, but an adult or two can actually fit in back for a reasonable amount of time. Headroom is tight in back though.
Interior: Controls and the overall design are well thought out. A deep, flip-top center storage bin sits between the front bucket seats and can serve as an arm rest. A single cup holder flips up and out of the bin when needed. Windshield wipers are controlled from the turn signal stalk. Halogen headlights activate from a pull-knob left of the steering wheel. Cruise control buttons are conveniently mounted on the steering wheel. Fan speed, temperature setting and air direction monitor from three easy-to grab dials situated above our upgraded stereo system. The stereo buttons were easy to reach, but the volume was also controlled by a push button rather than a more driver- friendly dial. Our optional compact disc player situated below the radio, but was blocked a bit by the manual transmission shifter. One nice touch was the digital clock located on the dashboard top, within easy view of everyone in the vehicle. Drivers have reasonably good roadway views in all four directions. An ashtray (which we used to store tollway change) and cigarette lighter stowed in a nice flip-top compartment in front of the storage bin. A second plug for cellular phone or other equipment needing electrical voltage was also available near the gear shift.
Safety equipment: Dual air bags come standard. Anti-lock brakes are optional and traction control is not offered. The passive anti-theft system is standard in all three trim levels.
Standard equipment: Ford markets Mustang with a reasonable number of standard features, but loads of options. Five speed manual transmission, tilt steering wheel, four-wheel disc brakes, tinted glass, dual remote-control sideview mirrors, intermittent windshield wipers, digital clock and power rack-and-pinion steering are standard on each trim level.
Options: Automatic transmission is optional in Base and GT editions and not available in Cobra SVT. Air conditioning, rear window defoggers, cruise control, compact disc player and power driver's seat are optional across the board. A rear spoiler is standard only in GT convertibles, and optional on every other Mustang.
Dimensions: Wheelbase: 101.3 inches Overall length: 181.5 inches Overall height: 53.4 inches Overall width: 71.8 inches Head room: 35.9 inches Weight: 3,439 lbs.
Exterior: Our jet black Mustang had two cobra snake badges on each front fender, and the unmistakable Mustang pony icon on the from grille. Our Cobra's Dual hood vents added to the power feel as did the $195 optional rear spoiler. Cobra editions feature big, road-gripping 17-inch performance tires with five-spoke wheels. The GT edition come with 16-inch all-season performance tires with five-spoke wheels (17-inch tires optional) and Base models come with 15-inch all-season tires. Exterior Cobra SVT color choices include: Pacific Green, Rio Red, Crystal white and Black.
Trunk: A low-liftover design makes moving items into and out of the trunk a little easier. Coupes have 10.9 cubic feet of trunk space, not bad for a sports coupe and enough room to accommodate three golf bags, but convertibles have only 7.7 cubic feet of space. All coupe editions also have the 60/40 split rear seats which makes transporting long items easier.
Fuel mileage: Great gas mileage is usually not on the minds of most Mustang purchasers. Our V-8 Cobra included estimates of 18 miles per gallon around town and 26 mpg on the highway. In combined driving, we averaged just a shade over 19 mpg with 7,100 odometer miles. Base Mustangs with either manual or automatic transmissions average 20 mpg in the city, and 30 mpg highway. The tank holds 15.4 gallons of unleaded fuel. The fuel tank door does not lock.
Final thoughts: Our Cobra's 305 V-8 engine coupled with manual transmission possessed tremendous pick up and acceleration. Rear-wheel drives also contributes to enhanced handling, but performance on ice and snow during Chicago-area winters is a concern. Even though the front bucket seats did not slide back as far as I would like, this four-seat sports coupe was still more comfortable and driver- riendly than most I've test driven this season. Area dealers who sell Cobra SVTs include: Arlington Heights Ford in Arlington Heights; Fair Oaks Ford in Naperville; Joe Cotton Ford in Carol Stream;Oakfield Ford in Villa Park; Spring Hill Ford in East Dundee; Victor Ford in Wauconda; Wickstrom Ford in Barrington; Larry Roesch Ford in Elk Grove Village and WoodField Ford in Schaumburg. |