2008 Ford Mustang Review
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Retro, but modern, the 2008 Mustang is Ford offering of a muscle car with throwback style, but up to date technology. It delivers the bold styling, rear-drive performance and affordability that have been Mustang hallmarks for decades. The 2008 Ford Mustang is a carryover from 2007 with minimal exterior modifications. Also new for 2008 are front side airbags that come standard on all Mustangs, and high-intensity discharge headlights and interior ambient lighting are newly available. Yet another two versions that trade on the name of legendary racer and car developer Carroll Shelby: the Shelby GT convertible and the Shelby GT500KR are new for 2008. Economy range for the Mustang is 26 mpg highway and 17 mpg city. The American pony car has never been better. The reliability of the base and GT Mustangs has been an issue and is the main downside to owning a Mustang. Overall, the 2008 Ford Mustang offers the bold styling, rear-drive performance and affordability that have been Mustang hallmarks for decades, but it's smoother and quieter and better built than older models.
Mustang Power
The base engine for the ’08 Mustang is a 4.0-liter V-6 which produces 210 horsepower. The GT models get a 4.6-liter all-aluminum V-8. Both engines run on regular gasoline and work with either a five-speed manual transmission or an optional five-speed automatic. The more modest Shelby GT gets a power bump to 319 hp. It rides slightly lower and has firmer suspension tuning. The Shelby GT500KR puts out around 540 hp.
Driving the 2008 Mustang
The Mustang V6 Deluxe is a nice cruiser and its 4.0-liter V6 engine is a solid performer, all for around $20,000. The Shelby GT500 offers near-Corvette performance and we found it easy to drive. Its solid rear axle is bouncy on bad pavement, however, and all this comes at a substantial price increase. All Mustang engines are secured to the body with hydraulic mounts, which absorb and counteract vibration and pulsing. By adapting ideas and components from luxury cars, Ford has given the current Mustang a level of sophistication its predecessors never had. Ford claims the current Mustang's body/frame is 31 percent stiffer than the previous generation, and it feels it. The 2008 Mustang is much more rigid and rattle-free than its predecessor. The ride is fairly smooth, even with the available 18-inch wheels. The rear suspension uses coil springs and a lightweight three-link design with a Panhard bar to keep all motion under constant control. It's about as good as a solid-axle suspension gets, and it does a good job of controlling skipping and bouncing at the back of the car. The brakes work well in high-speed highway driving situations. The Mustang GT will run 0-60 mph in about 5.5 seconds.
2008 Mustang Design
The Mustang comes in two body styles: coupe and convertible. The 107-inch wheelbase and 187.6-inch overall length of the current model are the longest of any Mustang since 1973, and are within an inch of the dimensions of the 1969-70 model. The current Mustang features classic design cues that have defined Mustangs since the 1960s: C-scoops in the sides, three-element tail lamps and a galloping horse badge in the center of the grille. Yet the Mustang follows modern trends by offering ever-larger wheels, including two distinct 18-inch wheel designs for the GT and a new 18-inch wheel for V6 models.
Inside the Mustang
The Mustang interior has a throwback and sporty appearance and straightforward in function, but materials quality is lacking. Chrome-ringed air vents align with the gauges across the dash, and the steering wheel has three spokes with a center hub marked by the horse-and-tricolor-bars logo. Mustang offers an optional color-changeable instrument panel display, with 125 color schemes to choose from. The front bucket seats in the 2008 Mustang are comfortable and supportive. The back seat is cramped and lacking leg room. As far as cargo capacity goes, the Mustang is pretty good. The rear seat actually folds flat, and even without folding the back seat, the Mustang's trunk is as large as those in some more overtly practical sedans.
Packages and Trims
The Mustang comes in base V6 and GT trim levels. The two versions are further divided into Deluxe and Premium variants. The Shelby Mustangs, which take performance a big leap ahead, come in two versions, the Shelby GT and the Shelby GT500KR.
The V6 Premium coupe gets painted machined aluminum wheels with chrome spinners, plus a six-way power driver's seat, and 500-watt audio system with six-disc CD changer and MP3 capability. The V6 Deluxe convertible and V6 Premium convertible are equipped the same as the coupes, except they delete the split-folding rear seat and add a power folding top. The GT Deluxe coupe adds to the V6 Deluxe a six-way power driver's seat, in-grille fog lamps, a rear spoiler, sport suspension, and 235/55R17 performance all-season tires on painted aluminum whe
els.
The 2008 Shelby GT coupe and convertible features unique front fascia, special hood scoop and side scoops, high-flow exhaust, performance suspension, Hurst short-throw shifter, lowered ride height, and 235/50R18 performance tires on polished aluminum wheels. The Shelby GT500 has P255/45R18 front and P285/40R18 rear performance tires, Brembo front brakes, SVT-tuned suspension, standard leather upholstery, a short-throw shifter, a carbon-fiber hood with hood pins, and unique suspension tuning. KR stands for King of the Road. All also come with a gas-guzzler tax.
The Pony Package for V6 models adds a firmer suspension, 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, a custom grille with fog lamps, and other visual upgrades, giving these more economical Mustangs something closer to the look and handling of a GT.
The available Interior Upgrade Package, with satin or dark-finish aluminum inserts instead of chrome, goes a long way toward eliminating the feel of cheapness.
Summary
The Ford Mustang is an all-American car that is fast and fun – and affordable. Its safe too, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety scored the Mustang as Good (the highest) for side-impact protection and Acceptable (one step lower) for frontal protection. The V6 Deluxe is a stylish, sporty cruiser; The GT and Shelby GT are serious performance cars. And the Shelby GT500 raises it to near Corvette performance levels. The 2008 Mustang has a starting MSRP of $19,650 - $32,245. Read here for more specifications about the 2008 Mustang.
