RSS
Home
2010 Ford Mustang GT Coupe Review
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
The 2010 Ford Mustang GT Coupe
The Ford Mustang has enjoyed several years of uncontested control of the pony car market, but with the Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro rejoining the battle, Ford Motor Company began hinting around about a refresh for the Mustang in 2008. The 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show introduced the world to the 2010 Mustang, showing off many styling changes – but not the horsepower increase Mustang fans had been hoping for and expecting. What the enthusiasts did get is a Mustang with an interior fit and finish that is superior to any of the previous models, wrapped in a sleek new skin. I’ve gotten plenty of chances to look at the new Mustang, but to get my first good overview of the 2010 I stopped in to Mike Dorian Ford in Clinton Township. They provided me with a Performance White 2010 Mustang GT Premium Coupe equipped with the Rapid Spec 401A package and the Glass Roof option.
The Drive
The first thing that I noticed about the 2010 Mustang GT is also one of my key complaints. I understand why they made the clutch so soft, as the car is VERY easy to drive, but as one of the top performance cars in the market I think that the GT models should have a much stiffer clutch. Someone suggested to me that there may be a break-in period, but the user-friendly clutch leaves a great deal of wasted effort in getting through the gears. The nice thing about this transmission setup is that while it’s a bit too friendly from a performance standpoint, it is very easy to learn how the car likes to be launched and shifted. The shift pattern is short and fairly tight, making for quick, confident upshifts and downshifts. I can imagine that some people might complain about the shifter feeling a little “notchy”, but during stints of spirited driving the Mustang does a nice job of getting you from gear to gear.
Many enthusiasts were upset when they heard that the 2010 Mustang GT would have only 315 horsepower, as the cross town rivals are offering well over the 400 horsepower range in the Camaro and Challenger, but the new GT makes good use of that power. Judging by how easily it overpowers the stock Pirelli P-Zero Nero 18” tires, both from a launch and on shifts, I bet that a good set of drag radials would really bring the car to life. Although my car was equipped with the base 3.31 gears, the Mustang gets off the line quickly and even though wheel spin is an issue with the stock rubber, the car feels very ‘light on its feet’. Around town, the car easily got up to cruising speed and the suspension offered a smooth ride but you could still feel the road. Once I got out onto the open highway, the car was as smooth as could be at 70mph and in quick lane changes the Mustang was nice and stable.
I can’t wait to drive a convertible, as the Mustang really made for a great cruise down I-94 on a nice sunny day. While cruising along, I downshifted and climbed into it a few times and at the higher RPMs the 4.6L 3V engine makes its presence known with a nice throaty rumble but with almost no highway “drone”. A cloverleaf off-ramp was a good testing point as I leaned into the throttle a little but the suspension was once again nice and firm with little body roll or oversteer. When I did decide to slow the car down, the brakes were responsive and effortlessly got the car stopped. I didn’t do any hard braking, but from throughout my test drive, the brakes were about what I’d expect.
Overall, I really enjoyed how the 2010 Mustang GT drives. Its quick off the line, handles the turns well, and offers a smooth ride over rough roads, although some of those ridiculous potholes on Gratiot reminded you that it’s a sports car with sports car suspension. The 315hp might not be enough to hang with the high end Challenger or Camaro (in stock form) but it gets off the line well and pulls hard through the mid and high RPM range. A drive in the new 2010 GT really displays why the Mustang sells so well, as the car is great fun to drive, and perhaps it’s because of the present rarity of them, but it turns a ton of heads.
Interior
The seats are comfortable and very supportive while driving, with the 6-way power driver’s seat allowing for a great deal of adjustment. I should also mention that I think that the black leather trim package, including the seats and doors, finished with white stitching and stripes looks great and the chrome running pony logos are a nice touch. I was surprised when I first got into the 2010 Mustang at how much leg room there is, even with the seat only about halfway back in its travel. The range of the front seat seems like it would accommodate a very tall driver, although even with the seat at a depth comfortable for me (at 5’11”) the backseat wouldn’t be useful for anything shy of maybe a child seat or a small dog…but who buys a Mustang for its rear seating room, right?
The interior layout changes of the 2010 Mustang are not a huge change from the previous year, but the new model seems to be quite a bit tighter. Where the 2005-2009 Mustangs took an approach to the muscle car interior with sharp lines and large features, the 2010 has gone to a more fluid style from the shifter to the dash face.
.jpg)
The seams from one component to the next are more subtle, with the shift console flowing up into the center stack. The edges around the stereo controls and the outer edges of the dash have been rounded and the dash appears to be one large, molded piece. The separations along the lower dash area of the previous Mustang are gone and the glove box is almost tucked under. Along the dash face the gauge area hasn’t changed much, but the area above the stereo controls tapers in with narrow rectangular vents, adding to the flow of the interior layout. The Shaker 500 audio system lives up to its name as the 8-speaker system shakes the car nicely and when the windows are closed, the 2010 Mustang interior is very quiet even at highway speeds.
The glass roof is an interesting feature and I become more interested in them as they have become more popular, but having driven the 2010 Mustang with one, I’m not sure that it is an option that I would order (especially for $1,995). I like having a sunroof, but I also like the option of closing it completely and the glass roof Mustang “shade” still allows light through and I think that on very hot days, it might turn the car into a greenhouse. Maybe I’m wrong, but if I was buying a 2010 Mustang I would rather have a traditional sunroof or I would go all out with the ragtop.
Exterior
The exterior of the car has been a point of controversy around the internet, but I think that it was a great refresh. Keep in mind, this 2010 Mustang rides on the same chassis platform as the 2009 model, but the exterior changes make it distinct from previous models. The narrowed grille area, combined with the smoother wheel openings and the power bulge hood give the car a more aggressive look and stance than the previous GT. The front fascia is far more aggressive than the previous year, with a larger cooling area and flat black “splitters” at the corners giving it a little race ready feel. The rear panel of the car is angled way in compared to the 2009 model, and while some people don’t care for it, I think that it adds to the aerodynamic flow of the car. The lower area of the rear fascia gets a similar treatment as the front, with molded black trim housing the bright silver exhaust tips. While I like what Ford has done with the contrast of the dark lower trim, I would like to see the option of color coded trim, but for now, I think that Ford has done an awesome job on designing the skin of the 2010 Mustang GT.
The Last Word
If you’ve never driven a Mustang and you’re not sure exactly why they are one of the best selling cars in the history of the industry, a drive in the 2010 Mustang will show you. Sure, I have my complaints; more power, bigger gears, louder stock exhaust, and a stiffer clutch would make this car exponentially better, but even with these downsides the 2010 Mustang is a great car. It may not have the big power of the Challenger and Camaro, but it is lighter than the other two muscle cars and the 315hp is enough to make it one of the faster stock cars that you will see on a regular basis. The Mustang is a living legend with over 4 decades of performance heritage, and although the changes are subtle in some areas, the 2010 Mustang GT Premium improves on every aspect of the model.
A special thanks to Lisa Zerilli (of Dorian Ford) for her assistance and of course a big thanks to Mike Dorian Ford for the use of their 2010 Mustang GT. Aside from the 2010 Mustangs, they have a wide variety of 2009 models, as well as a spread of Shelby GT500s and a Ford GT Supercar. For more information, call Dorian Ford at 586-792-4100 or stop by the dealership.
Hot New Drives 2009
Looking for the summer's hottest wheels? Check out Examiner.com's nationwide network of Transportation Examiners for a guide to the year's high-tech cars, adventure-packed trucks and best deals.
Related Articles:
Comments
