2007 Ford Mustang

2007 Ford Mustang GT - Click above for high-res image gallery Sometimes, things just work out. The Memorial Day weekend weather forecast called for hot, sunny conditions -- perfect for the unofficial official kickoff to summer. Backyard parties would be devoid of no-shows and parade routes were assured to be standing-room-only. It was going to be a good weekend anyway, and Ford made it even better by entrusting yours truly with keys to an '07 Mustang GT for the duration. The big holiday weekend would be spent with a big, brassy muscle car sitting outside as driveway candy. And oh, what sweet, sweet candy... nostalgic styling covered in a Grabber Orange finish, a thundering V8, and a top that tucks behind the back seats, all to better appreciate the wicked roar coming from the stainless steel pipes in back. The whole thing is glorious Americana. For Memorial Day weekend, one couldn't ask for anything better. %Gallery-3680% This isn't the first Mustang GT we've reviewed here, so I'll keep the impressions short and to the point. The retro styling is great. It pushes emotional buttons and it fits this car perfectly. The interior works well, too, with a throwback look that's in keeping with the exterior, and the unique-to-Mustang steering wheel that helps tie it all together. Yes, there are some chintzy plastics in play here, but they're generally out of sight or otherwise unobtrusive (lower door panels, speaker grills that would look more at home in a Jeep Wrangler, etc). The loaner's premium package that adds stitching to the dash hood in a stitched hide and the contrasting, metal-look trim is patterned to simulate either turned aluminum or carbon fiber (flip a coin). The booming audio system uses basic, straightforward controls, but keeping it off may be a better bet anyhow. That makes it easier to enjoy the Mustang's exhaust note. Underpasses beg for a blip of the throttle, and parking garages are instantly transformed into a Carnegie Hall of V8 clamor. The 300-horsepower 4.6L V8 offers excellent, immediate power, is seamlessly channeled rearward via the car's 5-speed manual. The live rear axle isn't an issue. It's like anything else, respect the car, learn it, and it won't give you any fuss. Highway merging and passing are mere afterthoughts, as the 'Stang's got more than ample juice on tap, and the car will cruise at highway speed while pulling down around 20 mpg. Not bad. There's no wind deflector, but buffeting seems fairly manageable. (Then again, my short hair isn't easily mussed.) Local, low-speed driving's a blast too, as even the most mundane tasks (a trip to the supermarket, for example) are transformed to impromptu cruise nights. I'd have been content to simply enjoy a weekend of open-air motoring with the Mustang, but the town of Trumbull, CT issued a call for convertibles to participate in its annual Memorial Day parade. I volunteered the Mustang and was told where and when to be. When Monday arrived, I jumped in …
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