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Ford MUSTANG GT S550 20 GT 55 Edition

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NEWS

NEWS

What is it?

Yes, I know it isn’t a 4x4, but as regular readers will know, I have a penchant for V8s, and every year I ask the Ford PR team for a yearly treat, a V8 Mustang and a free tank of fuel!

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Normally the Ford Mustang V8 needs no introduction, but this particular version was the S550 20 GT 55 Edition. What this means is that it has a few extra goodies like the factory spec. large rear spoiler - and the paint job.

On the road

First of all, this car can do no wrong in my eyes, sure, it may have a few minor irritations, but I enjoy it so much that I’m going to brush them under the carpet, so to speak.

Despite it’s power, the V8 Mustang is just as much fun to drive dawdling around than it is constantly hoofing it, a gentle of press the accelerator and it burbles away bringing a constant smile to my face. When driven sedately, it also does this strange thing and becomes ‘normal’ car. There aren’t any intrusive growls or spits, it simply rumbles along taking care of business.

Of course, it may not cosset you in limousine-like comfort, that’s because it’s a Mustang, but neither is it Aston Martin or F-Type harsh, it’s simply really, really nice.

In the past I’ve driven the 6-speed manual gearbox, it has a delightfully short throw and is a pleasure to use, but these days I prefer the laziness of the 10-speed auto ‘box. There are flappy paddles, of course, if you want to take control, but with 10 ratios to choose from I found myself getting a bit confuddled and put it back into auto!

When you do feel like unleashing the V8’s might, it responds with an appropriate roar and instant acceleration, it would be fun one day to take it on a track to fully stretch its legs.

Around corners, and twisty roads the steering is not quite as quick as I would have liked and body-lean around the fastest corners is evident, but it never feels cumbersome for such a big car, and I never had a problem with grip!

The Mustang comes with selectable driving modes - Normal, MyMode, Snow/Wet, Sport+, Track and Drag mode. I never saw a reason to choose ‘normal’.

As for fuel consumption, 23mpg was the average throughout the week. I could’ve achieved a bit more, I could’ve also achieved a lot less!

Off road

It can handle dirty carparks with ease, but don’t take it anywhere near soft sand, it’s awful! Yes, there’s a story there. No, I’m not going to share it!

Interior

Believe it or not, the Mustang is practical car. Granted, unless the driver and front seat passenger have very short legs, then the rear seats are only good for coats and the odd bag of shopping, even Oompa Loompas would struggle, but apart from that, it’s a practical car.

Up front is a comfortable place to be, the buckets seats suit my 6ft 2”, 19 stone frame with ease, much comfier than some other performance cars I’ve driven.

Because of the Mustang’s sloping roofline and big rear pillars, visibility over the shoulder isn’t the best, which is why ford gives you a reversing camera and acoustic parking sensors as standard.

The boot is cavernous, a previous Mustang I borrowed swallowed 2 camp chairs, a camping table, couple of BBQs, bottles of gas, a large box containing associated cooking gear, my Peli camera case and other bits and bobs with room to spare.

Told you it was practical.

Engine ’n’ transmission

There’s this, 450ps V8 that’ll rocket you to 62mph in 4.9 seconds, then there’s the other 2.3 litre version that can achieve over 35mpg, no one wants to know about that.

Conclusion

You can’t be shy in a Mustang, especially when it’s resplendent in ‘Grabber Lime’ - not the colour I’d choose, but an amazing amount of people I spoke to loved it!

I adore this car, it’s as simple as that, and being perfectly honest, I find being critical about the Mustang quite difficult because I enjoy it so much. If I had the money I would buy one today, and I’m not the only person, there’s a reason why the Mustang has been the world's best selling coupé for many years in a row.

At some point in my life I must own a V8 Mustang, it’s as simple as that. I crave for the authenticity of a simple rear wheel drive car with a stonking great V8 up front.

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