2009 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Premium

The Mustang has ALWAYS been an old shoe with a big motor. It has never in its history been as refined or as fabulous as a Camaro. But it has always had this carefree, joyful, big-ass personality that lets it muscle in on the party. You feel like the hooligan you secretly are, every time you drive one. You can spin its rear tires from a stop. You downshift when you don't have to just to hear the engine roar. And when you're tooling along at 80 mph in fifth gear at around 2300 rpm, it feels bored silly. Downshift time! I totally enjoyed my time behind the wheel, but I couldn't spend every day with my right foot hovering painfully above the accelerator, just to keep from getting the inevitable ticket. Also, the interior is too black and silver and tacky, although I like the dash graining and the perforated leather seat and door inserts. Of all the dozens (feels like dozens) of different Mustang models out there, this simple GT is quite simply lovely. When the curtain rises on the next generation, let's hope it still looks this sweet. Jean Jennings, President & Editor-in-Chief