GT still delivers on pony promise

I'd been riding a motorcycle exclusively for eight years, when I decided the time had come to get back on four wheels for awhile. The mean streets of Phoenix, Arizona are not known for their kindness to two-wheelers.

I had looked at a number of sporty cars, and I was also considering a pickup to help out with the household chores. After driving a bike for so long, the "fun factor" outweighed practicality and the truck idea was shelved.

The muscle car era was over before I got my first license, but there are still a few cars out there that continue to capture the spirit of the original pony car.

The 2002 Mustang GT incorporates the long hood, short trunk style of the first 64 1/2. Any 'Stang enthusiast will also recognize the channel extending from the front quarter panel to the rear simulated brake scoop on each side. The "dual cowl" dashboard and mustang emblems on the seats also evoke memories of the classic Ford ponies.

Unfortunately, both the brake scoops and hood scoop are tacked on for show. While that previous era Cobra Jet could claim some performance gain from increased air flow, all these decorations get you is a more difficult time washing your car. Water just loves to adhere to the hood scoop honeycomb front and release after the hood is dry. With typical Arizona hard water, this will leave long water streaks for you to clean again. I find the '02 brake scoops overdone, while the previous years I found stylish.

There are 2 GT models, the Deluxe and Premium. I found the Deluxe quite acceptable, and in fact have only one added option, the Mach 460 sound upgrade. When I bought the car I wanted no options, but the only black 5-speed manual on the lot had the 460 sound system. (460 stands for 460 watts peak output.)

I must say, factory car audio has improved greatly since my last car. I'm one who traditionally ripped out the factory system within days and replaced it with something listenable. I have no such desires after 2000 miles of driving in my GT. With a 6 CD changer in-dash, MP3 compatible, plenty of speakers and all optimally placed, I have enjoyed this system far more than any other I've ever had. The DSP "effects" are worthless, but there is one set of modes I've found invaluable. Setting for "Driver Only", "All Seats", or "Rear Seats" really does work as advertised, and perfects the sound for those areas.

You won't be using "Rear Seats" much, unless you have a dog or children. The backseat does not have enough legroom for any normal sized adult. The driver seat is just big enough for my husky 5'11" frame, but I would imagine it's tight for those over 6'. The driver's seat is powered and firmness can be adjusted, but it feels like a compromise - some comfort, some support.

The GT Deluxe comes with 17" alloy painted wheels. This means a bit more care when it comes to cleaning them, but they look great. You'll appreciate them if you're a fan of curvy, mountain roads. ABS and traction control also add to the feeling of control when pushing this car, but if you just have to do a big, tire-smoking burnout and fishtail, you can disable traction control with a dashboard switch.

Make no mistake, the GT is fun to drive. The dual exhaust provides a throaty, reassuring feedback whenever you step into the gas pedal. It is subdued enough that you won't be annoyed by it during everyday city driving. You can always crank up the tunes if you opted for the Mach 460 sound (there is an even better Mach 1000 option.)

I do have an unfavorable reaction to stoplights. With the hot summers and excessive traffic in Phoenix, the asphault near stoplights is often heavily worn. Startingly deep ruts appear in the road surface at times. While all vehicles have a tendency to follow these ruts (a biker's nightmare), the Mustang seems to me a bit worse than normal in this regard. It tends to show the most during a firm brake for a stale yellow light.

About 80% of my driving is stop-and-go, city traffic driving. I get 19mpg just about every tank. On a long trip I once broke 23, and the very first tank was 17.

I am absolutely happy with this purchase. I love driving it, and I have been spoiled by seriously fun motorcycle driving. It looks great, and though the car gets it share of attention, you don't look like you're having a mid-life crisis or compensating for something. I hope Ford continues to manufacture this pony for a long time, as this style gets harder and harder to find (see Camaro.)