while the Fox-bodied model creaked and groaned over speed bumps and other pavement imperfections, but since the blue-oval team redesigned its iconic pony car for the 2005 model year and subsequently in 2009 for model year 2010, I’ve had more than one restless night pondering what they might do next.
We now know that model year 2015 ushers in an entirely new modern-day Mustang with unprecedented styling that I’m still not quite accustomed to, which makes me all the more appreciative of the current model. Like the 2005 and 2010 redos, the 2014 Mustang pulls inspiration from the late ’60s, early ’70s era, just before muscle cars got neutered by stringent (for the times) emissions regulations and the resultant power robbing catalytic converter. Of course, today’s 662-horsepower Shelby GT500 makes an original ’69 GT500 KR “King Cobra” I once
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
drove seem almost tame (other than the old beast’s reluctance to maintain a straight line at full throttle), but that’s another story for another time, as the subject of this review is a much more attainable 2014 Mustang V6 Convertible.
Just because the Mustang V6 Convertible is powered by the base six doesn’t mean it’s boring however, as the car’s 3.7-litre, DOHC, 24-valve V6 makes a sizable 305-horsepower and equally motivating 280 lb-ft of torque that combines with a relatively lightweight 1,657-kilo (3,652-lb) body mass for a 5.5-second sprint to 96.6 km/h (60 mph) and 14 seconds for the standing quarter mile. A little retrospective glance backwards shows that even this base V6 puts out 15 more horsepower than the legendary 1968-71 Boss 302 V8, so let’s all pay respect where
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
respect is due. Then again, you don’t have to ante up for the all-conquering Shelby in order to add more power to the Mustang mix. The 2014 GT’s DOHC, 32-valve 5.0-litre Coyote V8 makes a soul-stirring 420-horsepower and equally giggle-inducing 390 lb-ft of torque, while both engines come in either six-speed manual or six-speed automatic guise.
My tester included the autobox, a $1,400 option that suits this comfortable cruiser well. Don’t get me wrong, as this drop-top can duke it out in the corners as well as most of its fully independent suspended peers, but I found myself lazily cruising about town more often than lighting up the rear tires. A relaxed driving position on thoroughly pampering seats with merely adequate side support prompted
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
such nonchalant speeds, that and the hot sun beaming down on the car’s black leather upholstered seats, their white stitching looking positively premium while Led Zepp’s D’Yer Mak’er (among other classic and alternative rock tunes) emanated from the upgraded AM/FM/single-CD six-speaker and twin-subwoofer-enhanced Shaker audio system, not to mention packed traffic on Main St., all conspiring to influence the laid back cruiser attitude.
Each and every V6-powered convertible model gets the “Premium” designation by the way, which means that 17-inch machined aluminum wheels with painted pockets and the choice of a wider range of option packages come standard, compared to the V6 Coupe that offers the Premium package as an upgrade. My tester came with the “Equipment Group 203A” package as well, a special Mustang Club of America add-on that’s well worth the $2,900 charge as it includes a gorgeous
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
dark stainless steel billet grille with a tri-bar Pony badge positioned to the driver’s side, unique Mustang Club of America side stripes, a rear deck lid spoiler, and sweet set of sterling gray metallic painted 18-inch alloy rims wrapped in 235/50ZR18 Pirelli P Zero Nero rubber. The package adds a set of carpeted front floor mats embroidered with the Mustang Club of America logo too, although don’t look for them in the photo gallery as yours truly forgot to remove them from their plastic pre-delivery pouches hidden within the dark recesses of the trunk.
Along with the 203A package upgrade my V6 Premium Convertible came with the $300 cloth roof option and the available boot cover for $200, while additional options included the $700 Reverse Sensing System and Security Package with rear sonar that was quite handy when the top was up and rear visibility compromised, plus an active anti-theft system and wheel locking kit. Sync hands-free
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
phone connectivity was also included, as was satellite radio, heated seats and heated mirrors with ultimately cool puddle lamps that project the Mustang pony logo onto the street or sidewalk below after clicking on the remote upon entry or alternatively, when exiting the car. These items, as well as the aforementioned leather upholstery, a $1,500 option, pushed the base V6 Premium Convertible’s $32,499 price tag up by $6,600 to an as-tested $39,099, plus $1,550 for freight and pre-delivery prep of course.
Less than $40k for a powerful four-seat convertible with premium-level features speaks volumes about why the Mustang drop-top remains so popular year after year, that and its full list of standard features. All Mustang Convertibles come with automatic HID headlights, LED taillights, a tilt leather-wrapped steering wheel, air conditioning, convenient auto up/down power windows plus power door locks with remote
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
entry, Ford MyKey, message centre, handy 50/50 split-fold rear seatbacks, Ford’s ultra-convenient Easy Fuel capless fuel filler system, a 2.73:1 limited slip rear differential, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS, traction and stability control, front and side airbags, tire pressure monitoring, an SOS post crash alert system, and more.
All of these V6 Convertible features are set into a nice looking cabin, albeit the electronics are nowhere near as advanced as with other Ford models. It’s the blue-oval brand’s leadership in offering beautiful full-colour multi-information displays as standard equipment and even more impressive MyFord Touch infotainment systems across its varied lineup that makes the current Mustang feel a tad outdated, something the next-gen 2015 Mustang will remedy, along with better quality soft-touch plastics on more surfaces throughout the interior. As it currently
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
stands, upper and lower dash plastics are now soft to the touch, so all Ford should have done is add soft-touch upper door panels to pad the place where elbows often reside in order to give its interior more of a premium feel. The door armrests are soft-touch, mind you, as are the door inserts, but my bony elbows don’t hang so low and therefore they got the sore treatment brought about by those hard door uppers. This, and air vent handles that were a little fidgety are my only complaints in an interior that’s miles more appealing than any previous Mustang, at least from a comfort and convenience perspective.
As expected in a fairly large four-seat convertible there’s a little shake and shimmy over rough patches of pavement, but no rattle and hum. Generally the Mustang V6 Convertible’s body structure is tight, with zero twist even under the engine’s very generous full throttle. With the well-insulated roof raised the V6 sounds
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
good at idle and just fine at lower revs, but its note doesn’t exactly get the blood boiling in the upper rev range, at least nowhere near as easily as the GT’s V8 or last year’s totally intoxicating Boss 302 (sadly off the menu for 2014). Then again, lower the top, a process that still requires two corner latches to unfasten and then a slight push up at the centre before dropping electrically, and the 3.7-litre mill actually sounds pretty mean, the V6 almost taking on a V8 burble at lower revs.
The six-speed automatic shifts smoothly and quickly enough for sporting behaviour, its performance helped along via a thumb-actuated rocker switch on the shift knob for manual mode when the lever itself is set to the “S” position for sport mode. Braking is good with a nice linear feel when
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
scrubbing off speed, my tester’s larger 18-inch wheel and tire package no doubt helping in this respect.
From a practical standpoint the Mustang Convertible delivers excellent front seat spaciousness and adequate rear seat room, for a 2+2 at least. The trunk is merely ok considering this mid-size two-door’s length and width, measuring just 287 litres compared to the coupe’s much more accommodating 379-litre cargo capacity, but as mentioned previously there are 50/50 split-fold rear seatbacks to increase space if needed.
Continuing the pragmatic theme, the drop-top automatic’s fuel economy is very good when compared to other cars in this class, with Ford claiming an EnerGuide rating of 11.0 L/100km in the city and 6.9 on the highway, plus a less expensive requirement
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| Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
for regular unleaded fuel. Use these numbers for 2014 model comparison purposes only mind you, as the government’s new five-cycle test will push next year’s overall fuel economy ratings upwards into more realistic territory.
As the 2014 model year winds to an end and the completely new 2015 Mustang starts looming its totally redefined head, I’m wondering if the iconic car’s 50th anniversary is best celebrated by admiring this elegantly sporting 2014 Mustang V6 Convertible or preparing to be impressed by the all-new car. My tester is arguably one of the most attractive Mustangs ever produced, whereas the 2015 Mustang will take some getting used to for sure. It’s boldly aggressive in an almost import sort of way, and while this might be a boon for export sales it could be a bane for the model’s outrageously loyal domestic buyers. Yes, the Mustang as we know it might soon be dead, but nevertheless long live the Mustang.
©(Copyright Canadian Auto Press)
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The Top 10 Reasons Why You May want to Buy a 2014 Ford Mustang:
The Ford Mustang is one of America’s great classic cars. The Mustang burst onto the automotive scene in 1965, and now that it’s almost 50, it has retained its status as one of the most popular pony cars ever produced. After all these years it still has a reputation for having an attractive, unique look as well as being fun to drive. The following information provides a brief overview of the 2014 Ford Mustang, 10 reasons to buy the car, and a few reasons not to. [ For the 2015 model see — Ford Mustang Pros and Cons ]
Since the 2015 model is going to be completely redesigned, the 2014 Ford Mustang is virtually unchanged from the previous model. A few minor changes include the addition of new colors such as Red Metallic and Oxford White and the discontinuation of a few other colors. For the Mustang V6 Premium there are updated 17 inch wheels. The Shelby GT500 comes with heated front seats that are standard. Finally, the BOSS 302 has been discontinued.
Ten Reasons to Buy a 2014 Ford Mustang — The Pros
1 It’s a Gorgeous Sports Car
When it comes to purchasing a sports car, looks matter. The 2014 Ford Mustang still retains its classic look while adding a few new modern features. The overall shape, design, and exterior styling make the 2014 Ford Mustang one of the most recognizable and beautiful cars on the road.
2 It’s Amazingly Fun to Drive
Having a good time behind the wheel is one of the primary reasons people purchase a sports car. Nimble handling and great overall performance make the Mustang a must-have for those who enjoy the journey as much as being there. The car is light and agile, making it irresistible on winding roads.
3 There’s More Than Adequate Trunk Space
For a car this size, there’s a fair amount of trunk room. The coupe provides 13.4 cubic feet of space in the trunk. This beats the Camaro, the Mustang’s primary competition.
4 It’s Got Power
The V-8, with 420 horsepower, has got the power and take-off speed that equals many higher priced sports cars. Traveling in a straight line, the V8 Mustang can reach 60 mph in 4.8 seconds. Edmonds clocked it at 4.7 seconds. This beats or equals some Camaro models. The V6 with the automatic made it to 60 in 6.8 seconds. Drivers looking for power can’t go wrong with the 2014 Mustang.
5 There’s a Price to Fit Every Budget
The MSRP ranges from $22,510 to $40,310. Just a few of the different models include the V6 Coupe, the V6 Premium, and the Shelby GT500. With such a wide variety of prices and styles, there’s something to fit almost everyone’s personality and budget.
6 Good Gas Mileage
The Mustang offers good gas mileage, especially for a V6. The manual transmission gets approximately 19 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway. The automatic gets the same in the city and an estimated 31 on the highway.
7 Recaro Leather Seats
These manual leather seats are optional, but can make a big difference in the interior of the car. For those who decide to go ahead and make the splurge, a driver will experience comfort even after driving for hours.
8 Good Safety Record
The 2014 Mustang received above average marks for safety from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Safety features in the car include airbags to the side of the front seats, stability control, traction control and antilock disc brakes.
9 Lots of Options
Although the Mustang comes with a lot of great standard features, there’s still room for improvement. The V8 Mustang GT can be upgraded with Brembo brakes. A few other options include a powercode remote start system, over-the-top racing stripe, rear video camera, and a Shaker pro audio system.
10 The Last of the Ninth Generation
This is the final year of the ninth generation of the Ford Mustang. Since 2005, the current model has been both successful and influential. While some may view this as a reason not to purchase the car, others who love the current design should make sure to purchase the 2014 Ford Mustang.
Reasons you may not want to buy a 2014 Ford Mustang — the Cons
1 Weak Interior
The overall interior of the Fort Mustang is lacking and might even be considered bland. Some reviews have called the interior cheap looking. With the seats as the primary exception, most everything else in the interior could use some improvement. It’s an overwhelming array of black plastic.
2 Confusing Technology
Some of the tech features in the car can be confusing, even difficult to use. The SYNC systems don’t always respond well to voice commands. Some drivers consider the SYNC system difficult to use with the stereo buttons.
3 2015 Overhaul
While there are a lot of good reasons to purchase the 2014 Ford Mustang, one of the best arguments against it is the anticipation of the newly designed 2015 model. Which one will ultimately be better is a matter of interpretation, but the excitement alone may be enough reason for some buyers to hold off and wait a year.
4 Tight Backseat
Drivers who are planning on transporting more than one other passenger at a time on a regular basis might think twice before purchasing the 2014 Mustang. It’s simply not known for its roomy backseat.
5 Transmission Shifter Blocks Climate Controls
This may seem like a minor transgression, but after awhile it can become annoying. The climate controls are mounted low enough to make it a problem.
While there are definitely some drawbacks, the 2014 Ford Mustang offers a lot more to like than dislike. The Mustang is a vehicle that still lives up to its early reputation as a great all around sports car.
2018 Ford Mustang Buying Guide:
New Car Buying Guides:
• Ford Mustang Pricing — MSRP, Dealer Invoice and True Dealer Cost
