Photo Gallery: 2008 Ford Mustang

Oshawa, Ontario - "Timeless" is a word that's bandied about a little too often these days; anything that lasts more than a couple of generations tends to get hit with the moniker. But if any car rightfully deserves it, the Mustang does.

With more than a nod to the 1960s, when auto stylists were busy de-cluttering the overwrought designs of the late 1950s, this current-generation Mustang's looks are still as fresh as when it was unveiled for 2005. It should be interesting to see where it goes from here - anyone who mouthed the words "Mustang II" should leave the room immediately - but for now, this is one of the hottest-looking cars on the road, especially for the price.

The 2008 model is basically unchanged from the 2007, save for some enhancements, including standard seat-side airbags, and my tester's "Warriors in Pink" package.

2008 Ford Mustang V6 convertible. Click image to enlarge

The package is a limited edition, with 200 set aside for Canada, and it builds on Ford's eleven-year relationship with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. The automaker has donated some $10 million so far; for 2008, $300 of each Warriors car goes to the Foundation.

The package is an extra $1,795, and can be added to V6 versions of the coupe or convertible; it includes 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, the "pony grille" with fog lamps, leather seats and wheel trimmed with pink stitching, pink door stripe, and the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon on the floor mats, and under the racing horse on the fenders. You also need to check off the box for the $1,250 automatic transmission: are they suggesting women can't drive stick?

Exterior colours with the package are limited to white, black or silver; while I'm sure it won't be a high priority for most male drivers, the pink stripe is a darker shade than the ribbon and looks quite good along the door.

The Mustang's 4.0-litre V6 is a great example of dollars-to-fun ratio; if I were putting one of these in my driveway, as much as the 4.6-litre V8 is a great experience (and the supercharged 5.4-litre V8 in the Shelby GT500 is simply awesome), I'd opt for the six-banger.

2008 Ford Mustang V6 convertible. Click image to enlarge

It's relatively economical, returning 9.0 L/100 km for me against its published combined 10.2; it has such a throaty rumble that, at start-up, you will probably mistake it for a V8; and at 210 hp and 240 lb-ft of torque, it moves everything out with authority when asked, but is also restrained enough that the daily commute doesn't become tiring. The automatic doesn't sap too much out of it, and truth be told, I often prefer an autobox in a convertible, where it's more about dropping the roof and enjoying a sultry summer evening, than in wringing the last ounce of performance out of the vehicle.

The V6 also makes less of a dent in your wallet: the convertible starts at $28,899, a $4,100 premium over the coupe, while the V8 ragtop will set you back $38,099 in base form. The V6's starting price includes six-way power driver's seat, cruise control, keyless entry, air conditioning, satellite radio, and 16-inch aluminum wheels.

The roof must be manually latched, but the rest all happens at the touch of a button. Its header panel forms a hard tonneau once the top is down, which looks fine all by itself; there's also a soft boot that covers the entire roof well, but it's a pain to put it in place, and I expect most people will go to the trouble once or twice, and then throw it on the shelf.

2008 Ford Mustang V6 convertible. Click image to enlarge

The Mustang's interior also pays tribute to pony cars of old, with heavy eyebrows in the dash cover, a metallic strip running across the dash, chrome accents, and an attractive three-spoke wheel. There's a lot of attention paid to lighting: my tester included an optional system that changes the cupholder and footwell lighting to different colours at the touch of a button, although heaven knows why, and the instrument cluster's hue can be changed to one of 125 shades. I'd rather have seen the money go toward a lock for the console box, which would provide more peace of mind should the car be left with the top down.

The front seats are quite comfortable, and you sit low in the car, looking out over that long hood. The rear seats are more 2+2 configuration, as there's nothing resembling legroom back there. That rear chair doesn't fold in the convertible, so the 80-cm-long trunk is all you get, but in its favour, the roof doesn't intrude into it when it's lowered.

The Mustang's driving experience has resulted in a great deal of pixel-ink being spilled, and some of it is negative. My take is that, for better or worse, Ford has aimed directly at a loyal core market, and given those buyers exactly what they want. In a world of super-smooth powerplants and razor-sharp handling packages, the Mustang is a rumbling machine with a firm ride and a fair bit of cowl shake. If you were raised on Japanese or German cars, you'll wonder why anyone in their right mind would want such a vehicle.

2008 Ford Mustang V6 convertible. Click image to enlarge

But if you are steeped in Detroit muscle, then it will probably be exactly what you want, and that's the audience for which this car is built. It's all electronic, of course, but it sounds mechanical, as if it's cables and carburetors, instead of sensors and injectors. Take it hard around a corner, and the back end will slide out; a decent set of real three-season tires would be an immense help, and I'm surprised that stability control isn't available, even as an extra-charge option. Even so, it's a nimble car, with light but accurate steering, and linear tracking for effortless highway trekking.

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