Test Drive: 2016 Ford Mustang GT California Special

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Many classic car enthusiasts believe that the golden era of the muscle car happened in the late 1960s and into the early 1970s, before emissions controls choked the strength out of American V8 engines. But if you look at the sports cars coming out of the Big Three U.S. automakers today, the state of the art in muscle cars has never been higher. Even better, if you look at inflation-adjusted dollars, performance cars have never been more affordable.

As a case in point, consider the 2016 Ford Mustang GT. This car comes with Ford’s new 5.0-liter “Coyote” V8 engine. This block delivers 435 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque, and Ford mates that engine to a crisp, short-throw 6-speed manual transmission. By the time you add in the modern suite of features like traction and stability control and anti-lock brakes, you’ve got a completely capable high-performance car that is also easy to drive and control — something that no one can say about older generations of muscle cars.

Inside, the modern car experience continues. You can order your Mustang with navigation, a 12-speaker infotainment system, hands-free phone support, and even creature comforts like heated and ventilated seats. As we’re seeing this summer, Portland weather is likely to make both those features very attractive. From the comfortable seats to powerful air conditioning, the Mustang GT is no brute but rather a sophisticated sports car.

Of course, there’s a price to pay for all that power and luxury — the Mustang GT will only give you 15 MPG in the city, and 25 on the highway. Ford says that combined real-world driving should yield about 19 MPG, but in practice, I was able to achieve about 22 MPG averaged over a tank of gas. That’s not bad considering how tempting that V8 power can be.

Ford gives you a long list of standard features on the Mustang, and especially on the GT, but one option bears mentioning. The “California Special” designation goes back to the late 1960s, and has always indicated a special visual package. This generation is no different, and springing for the $1,995 California Special package gets you a fancy spoiler, a racing stripe, and special 18-inch wheels. All things considered, I’d probably leave that option unchecked, but I would definitely pay the $795 for the voice-activated navigation system.

If the Mustang GT is a little more than you really wanted to spend, here’s the final proof that we’re living in the golden age of muscle. You can get the basic V6 Mustang for $25,045, and that car gets the same excellent 6-speed manual transmission (or a 6-speed automatic) and the V6 gives you an honest 300 horsepower. That’s still excellent performance at a bargain price.

2016 Ford Mustang GT

Base price: $37, 295

Price as tested: $42,275

Type: Compact Coupe

Engine: 5.0-liter V8 (435 hp, 400 lbs-ft)

Transmission: 6-speed manual

EPA estimated mileage: 15/25

Road noise: Below average

Curb weight: 3,705 pounds