Nice car, addictive driving experience for the seasoned driver

The Mustang coupe in premium trim offers a lot for a low price. Present $3k rebates make the car a steal at about $17K.

Philosophy moment: Owning a proud American car takes a bit of self-esteem. The Camry conformity group will try to co-depend you into their faceless society of stellar reliability. It is too dull a life for the expressive and passionate driver.

Key attributes:
193 horsepower, 225 ft-lbs of torque
225/55 R 16 tires
5 spd with traction control
4 wheel disc brakes with ABS
Mach 460 6 disc CD changer
6 way power driver seat
Leather-wrapped tilt steering wheel

From the list above, it is clear you get a lot for your money in the Mustang Coupe Premium. Further, the trim and badging are tasteful, subtle, and true to the Mustang images so familiar to most Americans.

Handling is predictable and mild-mannered in dry conditions. The goodyear eagle LS tires are surprisingly squeal resistant. This allows pushing the limits without attracting much attention. The brakes are decent, but not on par with Ford's SVT vehicles. They will stop the car, but are not made for the abuse a racing car might see.

The powertrain, 3.8L V6 with 5 speed, is flexible and torquey. As the rpms build past 3500, so does a considerable amount of horsepower. The car will chirp the tires in second and third if you are not smooth with your shifts. The car is happy to cruise at 90 to 100 MPH but is governed to 115 MPH top speed. As a long term member of the 100 MPH club, I can say that this is fast enough to pass 99.99% of the cars on the freeway.

For this type of vehicle, gas mileage is respectable ranging from 22 to 26 mpg on average. You can do even better on the highway with cruise control.

The fit and finish is good, but some interior parts show uneven gaps between panels. There are no squeaks or rattles and the materials seems very robust. By and large, fit could improve but this year's Mustang shows Ford does care about quality.

The feel of the car is extremely solid. The gear shifter feels like it is part of the transmission (it is) and the engine seems composed and strong even with the throttle wide open.

To be objective, there are areas for improvement. Wind noise is noticeable but not excessive. The back seat is not comfortable for adults. And, the rear live axle can occasionally make the back of the car feel a bit sloppy.

These gripes withstanding, it is clear that no other car can match the Mustang's equipment, performance, and comfort levels at this price.

Any questions? Or, are you on your way to the Ford dealer already? Get a Mustang. It will revive your love for driving. Or get a Camry so it can steal your soul.