Ford engineers went to a lot of trouble to give the Mustang a decent interior, and
they've largely succeeded. Fairly tall drivers will find room for head and legs, and
fairly short drivers can adjust the seat for adequate reach to all the controls. The
seating position is also generally more upright than the Camaro and Firebird, which is generally more comfortable for extended periods of driving.
On the other hand, the Mustang interior feels a little dated with its relatively tall,
narrow dimensions, and some of the control locations could be better. Sound system controls, for example, are directly ahead of the shift lever, the fog lamp and headlight switches are on opposite sides of the steering wheel and the small center console has only one cupholder, which is awkwardly placed.
Like almost every other sporty coupe, the rear seat is suitable for briefcases and/or a load of Chinese takeout food--not for people. If rear seat space is important to you, you're in the wrong class of cars.
Trunk capacity, on the other hand, is not bad. A big plus is that the shape of the
trunk provides some vertical space, so you can load the tall variety of paper grocery bags without crushing the potato chips. The trunk will also take a couple of golf bags, and should handle luggage for two.
The Cobra is much faster than you're likely to go on public roads. The big tires, firm suspension and superb brakes give the car an impressive range of performance in all areas. Your ability to get someplace in a real hurry will be limited only by your own skills and, more to the point, the fragility of your driver's license.
The handling feel is light to the touch, and the tires generate plenty of grip, which
translates as very high cornering speed capability. The ride is on the stiff side
compared to mainstream sedans, but more comfortable than we expected and more supple than the Camaro Z28.
While the engine is terrific, the shifter is a little less endearing. The shift throws
seem long, detracting from the ability to make quick, precise gear changes. And the relationship between the seat, steering wheel, shifter and foot pedals seems less conducive to enthusiastic driving than the Camaro or Firebird.
But somewhere in the middle of a long freeway ramp or a series of twisting mountain passes, you're going to step on the gas and feel a surge of power that's both visceral and velvety. This engine just screams for redline; it might be the sweetest engine ever installed in an American muscle car.
This is one car in which the engine alone could be worth the entire price of
admission.