2005 Ford Mustang GT from North America - Comments

I was an avid GM fan for years. My first "car" was a 1959 GMC panel truck (which I still have) in which I installed a late model V8 and 5-speed manual transmission (I got it in '96, I'm only 26). It's safe to say I'm a GM man all the way. Turns out I'm at the point in my life where I can afford a 30k+ sports car and the only one offering one woth looking at is Ford. I also happened to rent a V6 automatic Mustang in Las Vegas last winter (and after spending some time beating on it in the Hoover Dam area) I'm willing to put my money down. I don't have my car yet; apparently it's hard to get a GT Premium Comvertible these days with a 5-speed manual (I'm stuck in the middle of a dealer trade) but I should have it soon! I've yet to drive a 5-Speed manual (I've driven a GT Convertible with an automatic).

For those that say the GTO is a better car, from what I know your probably right. I've only driven an '04 350 horse automatic, but it went from 20 to 120mph on a highway onramp (while I miss-shifted the 4 speed automatic from 2nd to 3rd) so I know they have potential. But if you're comparing coup to coup, you have to factor in at least a $5000 price difference, depneding on the options you get on the Mustang, I guess there aren't many on the GTO) in the favor of the Mustang. I guess if you're racing for pink slips the money is worth it, so if being able to get over the legal speed limit in 4.5 seconds vs 5 seconds is worth $5000 to you, then get the GTO. Otherwise get a car that does everything else better, including offering the option of a convertible. I know in my case I don't earn my car payments racing.

I read that gm and dodge were copying ford because they brought back the old design of mustang and dodge has the charger and gm has the camaro, but lets not forget the pt cruiser was put out based on an old design back in like 2000, so I guess ford kind of scammed dodge yet again.

The PT cruiser is a cheap get around car, the stang is a performance car. Totally different.

Just recently talked to a GM dealer and they had one GTO on the lot "marked down" said they just didn't sell as well as they thought they would. He agreeded with me, that they just blended in with the rest of the vehicles on the road. There is nothing special about them, they look like a grand am. They just don't have that "WOW" factor about them. We have a 2006 Mustang GT, just there to get company truck for husbands business.

The Pontiac GTO will outrun the Mustang GT hands down. However the resale value of the car will be terrible as dealers can't give these cars away. The Pontiac is a great car, howevever it doesn't look anymore inspiring then say a Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. The car looks ugly - let's face it guys, if the GTO was such a hit, GM wouldn't be killing it off after the 07 model year.

The Mustang is a legend and will continue to be. If you want a GTO, buy a 60's vintage with the 389 tri-power, now that's a classic!

The Mustang is a fast affordable car, and you can't get the GTO in a converitable.

The Camaro will be back for the 2008 or 09 model year, and the Great Mustang-Camaro rivalry will be back in full force. Throw in the Dodge Challenger, also due for the 2009 model year, and things will get very interesting. Camaro's and Mustang's are both great play toys that are both fast and fun to drive. I personally own a 1990 LX 5.0 with 58,000 miles, and it's a blast to own and drive, not a practical car mind you.

I'm not sure what kind of Mustang you Mustang fans are referring to, but its surely not the fastest car on the road. Granted it is pretty quick in GT form only (beause 210HP 4.0L is a joke). My moms Buick has almost the same power of the V6 Mustang with a smaller engine.

I've raced a Mustang GT, don't know if it was the '05 or '06, but it had the vintage look so I know it was pretty new. My '06 Pontiac Grand Prix GXP (303HP/323 lbs ft torque) rocked that Mustang down the highway for a good 2 miles. Granted I never lost sight of the Mustang, but he never passed me either. I would have continued, but had reached my exit.

Give me my Grand Prix GXP Sedan over a Mustang GT (sport coupe is that's what you want to call it) anytime, anyday.

To the previous comment.

Considering that all the manufacturers performance specs and the "real-life" road tests done by Car and Driver magazine say the Mustang is faster and handles better than your GXP, the guy in the Mustang must have been a 16 year old who didn't know how to drive yet.

GXP "real-life" road test: 0-60 in 5.9 sec, 1/4 mile in 14.40 sec.

Mustang GT "real-life" road test: 0-60 in 5.20 sec, 1/4 mile in 13.80 sec.

I don't see a comparison there, considering the same model years have a $5000 sticker price difference, in favor of the mustang.

Well, it's pretty sad that a new GT can only do 0-60 in 5.2. In 2002, a Camaro SS could do that no problem. The SS could do it in 5.3, and has a top speed of 162, while a stang only can get 143... And ford had 3 years to build a better car!! The Grand Prix GXP really isn't a competitor to a Mustang, but it does have similar performance figures and room for a family. As for a GTO, it can outperform a Mustang with ease. The Mustangs do look cooler, but that doesn't matter on a drag strip...

To the comment above. There were V-6 camaros, the Z-28, and the supersport. The Mustang gt is comparable to the Z-28 not the SS.

Mustangs look great and the only wish I would have is to buy one the same physical size from the 60's. I think a lot more would sell and I would be in line. I do not feel the new GTO should have been put on an unindentifiable body style. They may be more aerodynamic, but I cannot stand the look of them.

Personally, I have always been a Ford guy, but to be honest, I think the new Dodge Challenger is buy far better than the Mustang and any Camaro ever built. But that's just my opinion. I recently had the opportunity to check out the Challenger at a local Dodge dealership. I did not get to drive it, but as I understand, it is equipped with a 6.1 Hemi engine, which I feel safe to assume it moves pretty well. The build quality of this car is superior to any Mustang I've driven, and I assume the Camaro as well. I think Dodge may have finally beat both of them out. Although I hear the next model year, the Challenger will be mass produced and available with a 6 cylinder as well, so we'll just have to see...

Although I own a 2007 Mustang, I have to admit that Chrysler has done an awesome job with the new Challenger. The build quality of Chrysler products has long been grossly UNDER rated. My last Dodge car was sold with nearly a quarter of a million miles, still ran flawlessly and used no oil, and had had less than $800 in repairs in its entire life. My Dakota truck was also flawless and never required a single repair in the 5 years I owned it.

It's always seemed strange that even though the Camaro was always a faster and better handling car, the Mustang always sold rings around it. In 2001 I drove a V-6 Camaro that was faster than my 5.0 Mustang (actually, my new V-6 Mustang is also faster than my old 5.0). I'm happy to see the new Challenger and Camaro, but I don't really expect they will be any threat to Mustang. Mustang owners are like Toyota owners. Their cars can be obviously less reliable, worse handling and inferior, but we'll defend them to the death and keep buying them!!