This car is very much the ungly duckling. The car is quick, but not powerful to start with. The 0-60 of a 5sp conv is 6.5 and top speed of the 87-92 is 138mph. This is only a quick average car stats in todays standard. The stock handling is like mush; bouncing into and out of couners. Fish tailing and drifting into any turn when pushed. Only pulling a .82g at 60. It is a white knuckle driver.
The brakes do well under its condition of a rear vented drum and a unvented disc in front. You still need to down shift and the ply tires need a performance tire to make a quick stop.
The engine is a torque thrusted load mouth, than a high horsepower racer. Although this car does only have 225hp, it makes the most of it. With the rear sway bars and 300foot pounds of torque, this car is its lime light on a stip or red light. Ford obviously had only a staight line in mind when they built this car. That really accually hasn't changed over the years.
The looks of the exterior is dated and drab. All the hoods are the same, and only the GTs have a sporty look. On top of that, only the conv get peoples attention. Like wise the car is pretty in red, black, and blue. The other colors don't always sit well with it.
Transmissions are something to watch out for. The manuels are great and give a little more kick and extra mpg. The autos as the one that was tested; are infact clunky and really a let down on a stock 5.0.
Now the good. This is the easiest car to work on and find parts for. You can modify to what ever you desire. A 500hp supercharged monster, or a coldair,flowmaster daily driver. The brakes can be upgraded to front slotted that will help incredably or a four wheel disc conversion. Lowering kits, and shocks and struts are plentiful from drag to curcuit/street.
The guys who don't know why this is so popular don't understand a mustang for everyone.
