2010 Ford Mustang GT Convertible: The Backseat Review

"CB" (jrcb) 11/14/2014 at 10:36 • Filed to: Ford Mustang, GT, Review, Ottawalopnik, Canadalopnik

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5

As it might be known here, I'm a bit of a Mustang fanboy. Ever since I was a wee little laddie, it's been on the top of my list of cars to own when I finally had money. So when my buddy offered to drive me and my roommate home from breakfast in his mum's 2010 Mustang convertible, how could I possibly say no?

(Full disclosure: Ford wanted me write this review so bad that they let my buddy's mum buy a Mustang, who then let him drive it to breakfast this morning. It cost me $5.60 after taxes, and I did have to sit in the back seat due to losing a bet. We also didn't put the roof down, even though it was only -2 Celsius, which is what my roommate calls t-shirt weather.)

Ah, the 2010 Mustang (I'm pretty sure this is a 2010). The platform had just received an update in terms of new style and probably other things that are much less apparent. It was still a year before it got updated to the 5.0, leaving it with the 315 horsepower 4.6 litre V8 mated to a six speed automatic. That's plenty more umph than the V6 found in my mum's 2000 Mustang convertible. So what was it like to ride in?

Exterior – 7/10

Honestly, I think it looks fantastic. The lines are good, and it's a great update over the previous body style, as much as I loved that one. It looks cleaner, more streamlined. I don't know. Even the fog lights look good, and normally I hate the look of those on a Mustang.

It gets docked a point from the eight I was going to give it because it's a convertible, and I rather dislike them. So yeah, personal bias here.

Interior – 5/10

It's kind of meh. There's lots of plastic. The seats are quite nice though, with some kind of leather material. The back is a little cramped, although I am six feet tall, meaning that the roof was right against my head and my legs were pretty cramped. Not much room to stretch out. However, there is a hell of a lot more room in the back than in the 2000, so that's a plus.

I do like the fact that the lever to fold the seat down is larger and has been moved from the base of the seat to the shoulder area. It's a lot easier to get at.

As well, the gauges are pretty neat looking. So it's got that going for it.

Acceleration – 8/10

Oh man is this car fun. Need to leave a light in a hurry? It just goes . It's so much faster than anything I've ever driven or rode in, and that wasn't even with the foot to the floor. I can't imagine how much faster it would be with the 5.0 or in 302 form, much less the GT500. Gods damn. This thing could destroy the tires pretty easily, I imagine.

Braking – 5/10

Nothing special here. My buddy had to brake pretty quick at a few points, and the car stopped. That's all I really have to say about that.

Ride – 5/10

Again, nothing too special. I wasn't bouncing around in the back, but it wasn't magic carpet smooth. I'd probably want to spend a bit more time in this car before deciding if I wanted to cross the country in it.

Just kidding, I'd totally cross the country in it. That's basically the definition of freedom.

Handling – 6/10

It felt a lot more planted than my mum's Maxima. Changing lanes was had with minimal body roll, corners were taken with confidence. Once again, more time would be needed before I would use it as an autocross car, although my buddy says that "it might be able to drift a bit in the snow" with a wink. This is the guy who also escaped a snow plow while driving backwards in a GMC Safari/Chevy Astro, so I assume he knows what he's talking about.

Gearbox – 5/10

Automatic: the bane of every Opponaut's existence (apparently). Especially in a Mustang. Well, it wasn't that bad. It shifted smoothly and didn't search for gears. I hardly knew it was there. Miles better than the four speed in the Maxima.

I'd learn to drive stick if I were to plan on getting a Mustang, but this automatic isn't a huge problem. It's just… there.

Audio – 6/10

The radio was the Shaker unit, and it was a little lacklustre. Smells Like Teen Spirit felt a little weak on it. That's probably the one thing that left me disappointed in this car. My desktop speakers that suffered a horrific orange juice accident sound better than this.

But then again, the V8 is beautiful. It sounds… I don't even know how to describe it. Coming from driving only V6s (and one four cylinder), it's music to my ears. I need to hear that engine again. I need it in my life . Oh gods, is this an addiction? Am I addicted to V8s now? Should I be afraid?

Toys – 3/10

It has Sync, but we didn't use that. Power seats were nice for getting me more leg room in the back. As I mentioned, it has the Shaker audio system. Apparently the roof goes down, but we didn't test that. Come on guys. T-shirt weather­ .

Then again, V8. That makes this car a toy. I imagine in a snowy parking lot that this would be a hell of a lot of fun.

Value – 6/10

According to my local Autotrader, these can be had for as low as $19k for the hardtop, $22k for the convertible. For that price, you could buy several V6 Mustangs, many of which only look like they have been hooned into one or two trees at most.

But who buys a Mustang with a V6? Why buy a Mustang with a V6 when you can have one filled to the brim with V8 glory? Sure, your fuel economy will tank, but if you cared about that, buy a Micra. But if you want an tire-shredding, gas-guzzling, aurally liberating experience, well, could've had a V8.

Now if I could only convince them to put the top down.

56/100

cazzyodo > CB 11/14/2014 at 10:40

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Am I addicted to V8s now? Should I be afraid?

Yes. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

I grew up driving a 5.4L V8 in an F-150 and have a FoST now...and I want a V8. Almost got a GT500 because of the V8 but changed my mind because I felt it was impractical.

Should have got a V8.

CB > cazzyodo 11/14/2014 at 10:43

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I've been looking at Autotrader a lot recently. There's a 2004 S4 with a 4.2 litre V8 within two hours of me. Gods damn do I want it. Or a Mustang. Or an E63 AMG.

This is the end. I will never see good fuel economy in my life.

cazzyodo > CB 11/14/2014 at 10:48

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I'm on Autotrader, Cars.com, cargurus and whatever I can find because of it.

I'm also addicted to trucks.

It's a problem...really. But I figured if I could drive an F-150 in high school when gas hit $4 and the 24 gallon tank took my entire part time paycheck each week thanks to about 10mpg I could survive now.

CB > cazzyodo 11/14/2014 at 10:50

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Hey, maybe a new Raptor would have better fuel economy than that!

cazzyodo > CB 11/14/2014 at 10:57

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Thought of it haha.

IF ONLY THINGS WEREN'T EXPENSIVE!

Though that keeps me from literally BUYING ALL THE THINGS