The Muscle Car Car is Well and Alive as Mustang Turns 35
By Jason Hackett
Contributing Editor
If, as they say, absolute power corrupts
absolutely then the 1999 Ford Mustang GT dances on the edge of
illegality.
When I first saw our test car, a canary yellow 35th anniversary
edition Mustang GT, with a 4.6 liter 16-valve V-8 engine, racing
tires and the MACH 460 sound system, I began drooling like Pavlov's
prize dog. This car is a speeding ticket waiting to happen. Not that I'm
complaining mind you. Let's just say it's awfully comforting for
a lead foot to know it can "relax" and help such a powerful
car do what it was designed to do.
The Mustang received a few tweaks since the 1998 model. Ford upped
its horsepower by 35 to 260 at 5,250 rpm. It also boasts increased
torque - 300 foot-pounds at 4,000 rpm, an increase of 10 foot-pounds.
The Mustang is also available with a 3.8-liter 12-valve V-6, generating
190 horses at 5,250 rpm - an increase of 40 over last year.
Some automotive afficionados have criticized Ford for once again
ruining a good thing. They cite the breathtaking new look and
design of the 1993 Mustang and the changing, adjusting and modifying
done to turn it into a more "pedestrian" car in 1999.
But we think the improvements make the 'Stang even more visually
pleasing, with a unique identity all its own.
Ford
says the '99 model's look is a hybrid of the previous few years
and the "knife-edge lines of the original." It features
a more chiseled look all around, with lots of edges and angles.
It still has the trademark three-section tail lights, hood scoop
and rear spoiler. This year it has wraparound headlamps and bigger
dual tailpipes (for better "growling" of course).
But the design isn't simply for looks. It's also for stability
- putting to use the most stable geometric form possible, the
pyramid. Everything about the shape, suspension and weight distribution
of the the car is honed to take advantage of that shape as much
as possible.
Adding to that stability of shape is technology. This year the
Mustang offers an all-speed traction control system on all models.
Wet and slippery roads are much less of a problem as the system
uses its antilock brake sensors, computerized ignition timing,
fuel-flow control and cylinder cutoff to counteract the elements.
But for nominal conditions or those drivers who prefer to trust
themselves more than a computer, there's an in-dash switch to
turn off the traction control.
The interior of the Mustang is stocked with options and controls
while maintaining a minimalist feel. Cruise control buttons are
integrated into the steering wheel, including on cars like our
five-speed manual transmission test model, which also includes
six-way power seats, remote keyless entry, rear defrost, an extra
outlet for a cell-phone cord, AM/FM cassette and a CD player.
While the actual car is the envy of Tim Allen types,the MACH 460
sound system's six speakers, with two dedicated amps and heavy
duty subwoofers, can blast the eardrums of even the most musically
battle-tested teen-ager.
The interior of our test car has leather seats, steering wheel
and gear shifter. Either the Midnight Black (like ours) or the
Medium Parchment colors schemes are tailored to the eye in two
ways; aesthetics and glare reduction.
Ford says the extra inch it added to the driver's seat track makes
the '99 model more comfortable for taller drivers. All I can assume
is that Ford's designers average five feet, four inches in height
and think any six-footer ought to be in the NBA. At 6-3 the Mustang
is a bit of a squeeze for me. Except for the fact that one sits
much lower in the Mustang, the "knee-eating quotient"
of the car isn't much less severe than that of an Escort.
Also, wide-bodied drivers may have difficulty in the Mustang since
it's built with a racer in mind. Because drivers aren't supposed
to move side-to-side a lot at high speeds, the cruising capabilities
of the Mustang include intentionally keeping the driver as "in-line"
as possible. There's a reason the Mustang is the sales leader
in its segment for 12 years running - history. The 35th anniversary
Mustang is true to its muscle car ancestry while affording all
the luxury of cutting edge technology on the market today. And
to mark its birthday all '99 Mustangs are decorated with 35th
anniversary badges on the sides of the front fenders and embroidered
pony logos on the seats. After driving it all I can say is "I want one."
