I’ve just been driving Ford’s Mustang Convertible, the 5.0-litre V8 GT that only comes in 10-speed automatic but benefits from manual shift paddles. One can quickly see why the Mustang remains our top-selling sports car under $80,000 – Ford have transformed their iconic pony car since it first arrived here, now offering even more presence, power, performance, technology and equipment, the quality from Ford’s Michigan plant also better than I remember when it first arrived. Power and torque is up, it revs harder to 7500 revs yet the 10-speeds means it’s more relaxed cruising, running at 1600 revs at 100k’s. The driving of this big lusty V8 is very rewarding, a great drivers car, very enjoyable especially over long distances.

And it now benefits from a far classier 12.4-inch customisable digital instrument display and top quality Recaro seats – the interior far more European apart from an awkward manual handbrake. The 5.0-litre V8 GT automatic Mustang Convertible has grown in price, now $75,390. It perhaps doesn’t have the overall polish of a European sourced sports model but then again the price is still relatively sharp given its level of sports performance. As they say ‘offering the best bang for your bucks on the market.’ Well supported by Ford too with a five-year unlimited kilometre warranty and a four-year/60,000 kilometre service regime at $299 per service .

I’m David Berthon

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