Skip advert
Advertisement
Long term tests

Ford Mustang GT

Lots of miles covered by a number of drivers this month, with Brett Fraser, Andy Morgan and Harry Metcalfe all sampling the big-hearted Ford. All say the same, namely 'Phwoaar, it sounds good, doesn't it?' shortly followed by 'It's a bit bloody hairy in the wet!'

Lots of miles covered by a number of drivers this month, with Brett Fraser, Andy Morgan and Harry Metcalfe all sampling the big-hearted Ford. All say the same, namely 'Phwoaar, it sounds good, doesn't it?' shortly followed by 'It's a bit bloody hairy in the wet!'

They're right on both counts: the sweet-spinning V8 sounds fantastic, especially since we had the C&L (not CTS as I erroneously stated last month) induction kit fitted. However, such abundant grunt and a dousing of rain don't mix, especially with a set of war-weary US-spec Pirellis. On one particularly wet morning I swear I got to work with three prods of the throttle, and that was with the TCS system on. Turn it off and the morning commute is more like a scene from The Dukes of Hazzard.

All of which made my visit to Roush Technologies in Brentwood all the more timely. Nascar fans will know Roush as the builder of demon racing V8s, but it also builds highly-modified Mustangs, which can be ordered through thousands of Ford dealerships in the States. Better still, Roush also has a massive inventory of aftermarket tuning parts for the '05 Mustang. Hmm...

Sensing my wide-eyed enthusiasm, the good old boys from Roush handed me the keys to their '05 demo car. Currently awaiting the brake upgrade and supercharger, but fitted with the full suspension kit and the 18in wheel and tyre option, not to mention the complete Roush bodykit, it feels and looks like a far more serious proposition.

The Mustang's always been well-balanced but the suspension changes transform the handling and roadholding, with far stronger grip from turn-in to exit, a less floaty feel and added meat to the steering feel. And while the live rear axle's inherent limitations are exposed by particularly nasty mid-corner bumps, body control is generally far better. The upshot is you now feel connected to the car.

Impressed by the chassis improvements and rapt at the prospect of seeing a similar step up in braking, we've committed to dipping into Roush's chassis upgrades. Whether we go the whole Boss Hog and have the supercharged motor and bodykit fitted depends on whether I can catch Harry in a good mood. Wish me luck...

Running Costs

Date acquiredApril 2005
Total mileage8003
Costs this month£0
Mileage this month1893
MPG this month20.2mpg
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

TVR: Why we think it’s all over
TVR Griffith
Opinion

TVR: Why we think it’s all over

There’s barely a flicker of life when it comes to TVR and the ‘new’ Griffith. We can only fear the worst
17 Jul 2025
Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!
Range Rover
News

Save £30k on a new Range Rover and buy a Renault 5 with the savings!

Discounts on new Range Rovers are so big you could buy a new Renault 5 with the money you save…
15 Jul 2025
​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars
Best hot hatchbacks 2025
Best cars

​Best hot hatchbacks 2025 – affordable new performance cars

Contracted though the hot hatch market may be, there are still some great models out there, from the electric Alpine A290 to the five-cylinder Audi RS…
14 Jul 2025