The Mustang cabin offers a fine blend of style and comfort. In the basic version, the seats are comfortable and provide reasonable side support - and the highline GT seats are even better. There's plenty of room for the driver and front-seat passenger, and those who are able to perform the contortions necessary to get into the backseat will find enough space available for comfortable short-run travel.
All materials used in the interior are of good quality. Visual appeal centers on the car's rounded, twin-pod dashboard and center console. The driver-side pod houses full instrumentation - done in ford's plain, readable graphic style - and the console carries the shift lever and the climate-control system and radio.
Kudos to Ford for providing easy-to-use rotary knobs for climate control and a large pull-knob for the headlights - and demerits for installing unlit window and door-lock switches that left us fumbling around at night.
The Mustang convertible's top is easy to raise and lower, and is concealed by a flexible plastic boot when stowed. Coupes offer slightly more trunk space because the convertible top eats up more than 2 cu. ft. of room that could otherwise be used for luggage or groceries.
Ford expects nearly two-thirds of its'95 Mustang customers to opt for the more powerful GT version - and after the first few minutes of our GT test drive, we knew why.
Around town, the base model's standard 3.8-liter V6 engine is fine, and it offers decent fuel economy for the cost-conscious driver. However, this smaller powerplant comes up a little short on acceleration and exhibits some high-speed roughness.
The V8 proved to be another story altogether. The Mustang GT scoots along in traditional pony-car style, with plenty of juice for both low- and high-speed acceleration. True, the Camaro Z28 and Firebird Trans Am are a little quicker, but not as much as you might think. And the sound of the Mustang GT engine - the low rumble of the good old American V8 - was music to our ears.
To sweeten the pot, Ford makes anti-lock brakes standard on the GT (optional on the base model), complementing the already competent 4-wheel disc brake system.
Two transmissions are available for use with either engine. A 5-speed manual is standard; it has a slightly stiff linkage, but shifts are positive. A 4-speed automatic is optional and, although it lacks the manual's sheer macho flavor, it's equally well-suited to Mustang duty.
The mustang's best feature may be its chassis. Don't let the smooth, low-speed ride fool you: The Mustang can romp with the best of 'em. There is some body roll during cornering, but this is well-controlled and doesn't upset the car's balance. Steering precision and cornering traction are strong pluses, too. An expert driver will be able to extract plenty of performance from a Mustang; less-skilled pilots can have a lot of good, safe fun.