I agree with most everything Marc said. The suspension changes are welcome, as is the extra power provided by the supercharger (or Roushcharger as the fake hood scoop proclaims). Shifting is a bit difficult with the short-throw setup on this car, but perhaps this improves once the car is broken in.
I didn't mind the sound of the supercharger in the upper RPM ranges. The same cannot be said for the exhaust, which had my passengers whining and begging for a higher gear. I think the car sounds like a muscle car should, which is to say loud anywhere but idle, including on the highway. If people don't see you coming at first, this Mustang's exhaust note will certainly get their attention.
The 427R package is based on Roush's Stage 3 Mustang, with the main differences being a 5-hp bump (for a total of 435) and different graphics. Our test car was almost fully optioned, with the exception of rear window louvers. It was the optional quarter-window louvers, however, that I found troubling, as they increase the size of the blind spot dramatically. Then again, you don't have to check your blind spot very often on a dragstrip or road course.
David Gluckman, Web Producer