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9th
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I think I'm jaded. I want more. No, I need more. What may have once impressed me no longer makes me take notice. I need more excitement, more oomph, more... something. Perhaps, had I not had the privilege of driving the Shelby GT500 or the BOSS 302 I'd have been more taken with the 5.0L GT.
It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the drive, far from it -- I had a blast. I just felt like the vehicle could have given me more somehow. I'm afraid someone shelling out their hard-earned dollars will eventually feel the same way, especially if they take their friend's BOSS for a spin, and that's just not cool.
What is a Ford Mustang GT?
The Ford Mustang is the original “pony car,” and Ford's most legendary nameplate. First introduced in the ‘60s, there have been five generations of Mustangs over the years. While various trim levels have been offered over the decades, on the most popular and well-known trims was and is the GT.
The Ford Mustang GT is the sportiest affordable edition of a traditional Mustang. The price is the key here, as there are more powerful and better-performing models such as the Shelby GT500, but it costs quite a bit of coin.
2013 Ford Mustang GT Price and Specs
The Mustang GT is the most powerful “regular” ‘Stang in the lineup. Equipped with a 5.0L V8, the Mustang GT is good for 420 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque pushed out the rear wheels. And while there is a 6-speed automatic transmission available, I recommend the 6-speed manual (especially as it is in the GT with a short shifter for quick, tight throws).
A base 2013 Mustang GT will set you back $40,099 (at the time of writing there were, however, close to $7k in allowances and employee pricing discounts). However, I'd say very few people take the bare-bones Mustang GT, and so the price can go up very quickly. My tester had over $5k in options that included a $1,000 Shaker audio system (which isn't worth the money, in my opinion).
Driving the 2013 Ford Mustang GT
While I may have been a bit underwhelmed by the whole affair, I still enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the 2013 Ford Mustang GT. It's got plenty of grunt and just the right amount of attitude when asked to show a bit on the open road. Getting the back end to squiggle around a little is quite easy, as is usually the case with rear-wheel drive American “muscle” cars.
So, why underwhelmed? Well, I feel like the V8 could be louder, the exhaust note a bit more obnoxious, and the overall feel of the car a bit more hard core. I guess that's where my comparison with the Shelby GT500 comes in -- that car is a struggle every time you get behind the wheel, and I wish there was a bit more of that in the GT. While I realize the GT500 is quite a bit more expensive, I just don't feel enough of the 500's spirit has trickled down into the GT.
I love driving the Mustang V6, so I wanted to love driving the V8 even more -- and I didn't. I just kind of enjoyed it. I think the first few weeks, even months, you own a 2013 Mustang GT you'll get a kick out of driving it, but then the novelty will wear off, whereas I feel other similarly priced and powered cars out there retain their fun-to-drive-ness.
Inside and Out of the 2013 Ford Mustang GT
In Grabber Blue, the Mustang GT stands out more than usual. With colours like Gotta Have it Green and Racing Red, Ford clearly wants their Mustangs to stick out from the crowd. New-for-2013 headlights were added to the front fascia, making the Mustang GT more expressive; so much so that a little boy at my son's day care exclaimed, “It looks like it wants to play!” when he saw it.
Indeed the 2013 Mustang GT looks to have much more of a personality, and that continues straight to the traditional fastback rear of the pony car. Signature three-bar taillights finish off the package with a massive, oversize GT symbol smack in the middle.
Inside the 2013 Mustang GT is snug, but in a good way. The backseats are actually very, very comfortable and cushy, but not made for those who have any sort of vertical height. The Recaro seats are cumbersome to move when putting my son in the back, and the bolstering proved too large for my arm placement in relation to the shifter -- the seat almost hindered even-gear shifts.
Comparing the 2013 Mustang GT
Of course, the Mustang's main competitors are the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger. All that American muscle means the decision may come down to which brand you're more loyal to, since they all essentially offer the same nostalgic experience behind the wheel.
It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the drive, far from it -- I had a blast. I just felt like the vehicle could have given me more somehow. I'm afraid someone shelling out their hard-earned dollars will eventually feel the same way, especially if they take their friend's BOSS for a spin, and that's just not cool.
 |
What is a Ford Mustang GT?
The Ford Mustang is the original “pony car,” and Ford's most legendary nameplate. First introduced in the ‘60s, there have been five generations of Mustangs over the years. While various trim levels have been offered over the decades, on the most popular and well-known trims was and is the GT.
The Ford Mustang GT is the sportiest affordable edition of a traditional Mustang. The price is the key here, as there are more powerful and better-performing models such as the Shelby GT500, but it costs quite a bit of coin.
2013 Ford Mustang GT Price and Specs
The Mustang GT is the most powerful “regular” ‘Stang in the lineup. Equipped with a 5.0L V8, the Mustang GT is good for 420 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque pushed out the rear wheels. And while there is a 6-speed automatic transmission available, I recommend the 6-speed manual (especially as it is in the GT with a short shifter for quick, tight throws).
A base 2013 Mustang GT will set you back $40,099 (at the time of writing there were, however, close to $7k in allowances and employee pricing discounts). However, I'd say very few people take the bare-bones Mustang GT, and so the price can go up very quickly. My tester had over $5k in options that included a $1,000 Shaker audio system (which isn't worth the money, in my opinion).
 |
| Equipped with a 5.0L V8, the Mustang GT is good for 420 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque pushed out the rear wheels. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone) |
Driving the 2013 Ford Mustang GT
While I may have been a bit underwhelmed by the whole affair, I still enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the 2013 Ford Mustang GT. It's got plenty of grunt and just the right amount of attitude when asked to show a bit on the open road. Getting the back end to squiggle around a little is quite easy, as is usually the case with rear-wheel drive American “muscle” cars.
So, why underwhelmed? Well, I feel like the V8 could be louder, the exhaust note a bit more obnoxious, and the overall feel of the car a bit more hard core. I guess that's where my comparison with the Shelby GT500 comes in -- that car is a struggle every time you get behind the wheel, and I wish there was a bit more of that in the GT. While I realize the GT500 is quite a bit more expensive, I just don't feel enough of the 500's spirit has trickled down into the GT.
I love driving the Mustang V6, so I wanted to love driving the V8 even more -- and I didn't. I just kind of enjoyed it. I think the first few weeks, even months, you own a 2013 Mustang GT you'll get a kick out of driving it, but then the novelty will wear off, whereas I feel other similarly priced and powered cars out there retain their fun-to-drive-ness.
 |
| While I may have been a bit underwhelmed by the whole affair, I still enjoyed my time behind the wheel of the 2013 Ford Mustang GT. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone) |
Inside and Out of the 2013 Ford Mustang GT
In Grabber Blue, the Mustang GT stands out more than usual. With colours like Gotta Have it Green and Racing Red, Ford clearly wants their Mustangs to stick out from the crowd. New-for-2013 headlights were added to the front fascia, making the Mustang GT more expressive; so much so that a little boy at my son's day care exclaimed, “It looks like it wants to play!” when he saw it.
Indeed the 2013 Mustang GT looks to have much more of a personality, and that continues straight to the traditional fastback rear of the pony car. Signature three-bar taillights finish off the package with a massive, oversize GT symbol smack in the middle.
Inside the 2013 Mustang GT is snug, but in a good way. The backseats are actually very, very comfortable and cushy, but not made for those who have any sort of vertical height. The Recaro seats are cumbersome to move when putting my son in the back, and the bolstering proved too large for my arm placement in relation to the shifter -- the seat almost hindered even-gear shifts.
 |
| Inside the 2013 Mustang GT is snug, but in a good way. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone) |
Comparing the 2013 Mustang GT
Of course, the Mustang's main competitors are the Chevrolet Camaro and Dodge Challenger. All that American muscle means the decision may come down to which brand you're more loyal to, since they all essentially offer the same nostalgic experience behind the wheel.