So today I decided it was time for another test drive, but I didn't feel like driving all the way to the city, so I just scoped out the local offerings...and they were good.
First I dropped in on the Ford dealer, as they had a nice looking red hardtop 05 Mustang GT parked out front. I took a look, and unfortunately it was an automatic :roll:, but I saw one other Mustang GT in the lot, a 2002. That also turned out to be an automatic, but I sat in it anyways so I could compare it to the 2005. I asked to see the 2005, and the salesman got the keys.
2005 Mustang GT (automatic)
The first thing you notice is how much nicer the interior is on this generation versus the last generation. Its just miles ahead, and the seats are more solid feeling and comfortable. The instruments are cool looking, but I found them to be fussy and hard to read while driving. The back seats are a joke of course, but whatever.
Once driving, you really notice the size of this car, it feels much bigger than the last generation, and not very sports-car like. On the flip side the car feels very solid, and not as 'jiggly' as the last generation. The car seems to have good grip, although I did not push it in any corners, and the ride is very good, a
huge improvement over the last car. One thing about this car that really annoyed me was the steering wheel. It has a nice retro design, but I don't like where my hands fall on it.
The car sounds great from inside and outside, at idle, while cruising, and
especially at full throttle.
Unfortunately the car was an automatic, but even so the car gets up and goes once floored, and the sound is great, if a little quiet. This car could really benefit from a louder intake. While the car is certainly quick, I was a little bit disappointed with the speed, but I will chalk that up to the automatic, and reserve judgment on the speed until I can drive a manual version. Overall a nice car, but not really sporty enough for my taste, and the car felt quite large, with a smallish interior in relation.
2003 50th Anniversary Corvette (automatic)
This car is more my speed, being more focused, and designed as a sports-car. This particular example was yellow, had the removable roof (possibly a standard feature, I'm not sure), a 4 speed automatic, and heads-up display.
I was really hoping this car would be an manual, but I guess you can't have everything... This test-drive was also remarkably simple, all I had to do was ask to see the car, and then go from there. 8)
When they say Corvettes have terrible interiors, believe
every word of it! The interior was appalling for a car that originally listed for close to $50,000, with ugly design, and trash-can level plastics on the doors and dash board. The seats were leather, but some kind of low-cost leather, and it felt like you were sitting on them more than in them. Those issues aside, I was impressed with the car overall.
This car had a heads-up display which is a bit frivolous, and I would never pay money to have one, but it was pretty cool. The seating position on this car is quite good, and I like the view over the hood. The cabin, while having terrible quality, is pretty roomy, and I like the steering wheel. The car sounds great at start-up and idle. I generally prefer the Ford V8 sound, but this Chevy V8 sounds really nice. I started out in the passenger seat, and we drove for a bit on the highway, where it pushes less than 2000rpm, and is pretty quiet, with a controlled ride. After a bit of that, it was my turn to drive. 8)
Such a shame that this car was an auto, because it gave the throttle a weird feel in easy, city-style driving. The brakes seemed very touchy, but might just need getting used-to, and the steering was...weird.
Not terrible or over-boosted or anything like that, just weird. The salesman told me the car had 'variable assist' or something like that, and I think it was the culprit. Its a good idea, but I didn't really work on this car.
After about 5 minutes of driving I finally got a chance to give it some gas...a nice on-ramp.
I gave it a good shove on the throttle (not full), the car downshifted and I was a bit disappointed by the acceleration, it sounded good, and it was definitely moving, but not as much as I'd hoped...after about a second of this the car suddenly downshifted
again and we launched forward with the V8 screaming for about half a second before I let off. Holy shit! My heart was suddenly beating like crazy, and I knew this was a serious car. 8)
I quickly took the next exit, so I could sample another on-ramp. I went slowly, about 30mph, to let the traffic in front move out of the way, and then I smoothly floored it.
Holy SHIT! In no time I was already up to 65mph, and the sound was good and loud, a proper V8 sound, it definitely got my heart rate up! That was the only time I got to give it full gas, as the we were already back to the dealer after that, but damn, that was
fun!
Overall I was impressed by the power of the car, and its just the plain C5. The interior of the car was a let-down for sure, but the car drove very nicely, which is what matters right?
Sorry guys, no pics, but I don't have a camera currently, and I'm not sure what they'd think of me taking pictures before a test-drive.
Next target: Vette C6 manual