2025 Ford Mustang Review Based On Expert Journalist Andrew Frankl Reminiscence

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By Andrew Frankl
Senior Editor and European Bureau Chief
The Auto Channel

If you detect a slight bias in this report I apologize.

I was at University in England when a recruiter came along -YES! They did exist in those days!- and offered me a job at  Ford Motor Company. You get a degree and you have a job said the man by the name of Barry Wilson.

Well, I did get a degree and yes I did join Ford in England. When I got there the Cortina was about to be launched. It turned out to be a massive success. It was followed by the Cortina GT and then the all conquering Lotus Cortina driven by Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart amongst other greats.

I did ultimately move on from Ford and ended up running and owning a number of automotive publications such as CAR which is still running today. Long after my partner and I have sold it.

Love and luck propelled me into California where I have been testing and writing about cars and SUVs ever since.

Luck played a large part on getting a telephone call from a total unknown called Bob Gordon. Hi, he said, you don’t know me but I’ve heard about you. We are about to launch something called The Auto Channel. It will be on line, it won’t be printed.

I am going back 30 years so it took me a while to get used to this but such was the enthusiasm of Bob and his partner Marc Rauch that I entered into the spirit of the venture as European Bureau Chief. The best bit was and still is the total editorial freedom. I must have tested well over 150 cars and trucks , some good some not so good and at no time was I censored. Thank you Bob and Marc.

All this leads me to my most recent test-Ford’s Mustang.

Not the  EV but the original. When I say the original I am going back to 1969 when I turned up at Dearborn driving a Chrysler. PR Director Walter Murphy took one look at it, told me to park it round the corner well out of sight and gave me a Mustang Mach 1 for a few days.

Took it to Michigan International Raceway and scared myself silly. It was magnificent. It was the time when the all-conquering McLaren Can-Am cars were racing there.

Bruce gave the third car to one of my great heroes-Dan Gurney. I pointed out that Dan was quicker than either him or regular team mate Denny Hulme but Bruce just smiled. Ah, he said with a smile, Dan will be third.

Apparently they gave him the spare car as Gurney was box office. Simple deal-you lead until half-way through the last lap when they  sweep by. Dan being a gentleman honored the deal and a good time was had by all.

In the meantime the Mustang became a national icon, but like apple pie. Over 10 million have been produced and the lines are not stopping any time soon!

Just think of all the convertibles you can have in Hawaii or in Florida for something like 350 dollars a week? A goldmine. Especially when they switched from the truly awful 2.3 liter abomination.

So what about the one I have been testing this week?

Well it is still a 4 cylinder engine but very very different. 4.5 second 0-60 is pretty decent as is the 13.2 second dash to a quarter mile. I was very impressed by the Pirelli PZero tires and the super efficient Brembo brakes.

I really enjoyed driving it. The seats are first class as is the steering wheel. 30 miles per gallon is within reach which will take you from San Francisco to Los Angeles with ease.

I did have problems with the handbrake. It was throwback to the days when sports cars had them, this is neither one thing nor the other. A mess. As is the instrument panel.

The 10 speed auto gearbox is a bit of an overkill, 8 would have been plenty. The heating system works well although the buttons are fiddly and tiny..

This Mustang is a 2 plus 2 although the ones  in the back would have to be pretty small not to be uncomfortable.

There are  of course Mustangs with bigger engines and stick shifts but to my mind those are for boy racers only.

Would I buy one like this tester? The answer is yes.

After decades Ford have had a chance to get it absolutely right. Fast, comfortable , economical and the price of a set of tires for a Ferrari. And of course there is a Ford dealer in every town so should you get stuck help will be there a lot sooner than say, for a Lamborghini.

Second hand Mustangs can be  had for about 15 thousand dollars. Think about it-is there any other car you can think of that looks this good cruising down to Monterey with the top down and your girl by your side? I doubt it somehow.

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