The Ford Mustang SVT is pretty much just like the Mustang GT, only instead of aiming at 18-year-old guys, Ford is aiming at 28-year-old guys who wish they were still 18.
SVT signifies a "Skunk Works" product--a special division of Ford that
takes Ford products and makes them faster and better handling. To their
credit, the SVT division did a very nice job with the
Ford Contour.
They upgraded the suspension, brakes, tires, engine and a bunch of inside
stuff without making the outside of the car garish. SVT cars are subtly
different on the outside, and you have to look carefully for the SVT logo.
So, to their credit, they're designed for the people who want to drive
them--not to impress all the other teenagers with a huge spoiler and flame
decals.
Unfortunately, the Mustang is a car that didn't need to go any faster. The Mustang GT with a 5.0-liter V-8 engine is already too fast, thank you very much. In fact, the Mustang with a six-cylinder engine is fast enough for most people. And the handling improvements, while nice, aren't enough to make us recommend the car. In fact, around town, most people will find the stiffer suspension uncomfortable.
Plus, the car still has the same inherent problems as other Mustang convertibles. Namely, with the top up, you can't see out of it. Visibility with the convertible top up is absolutely terrible. The car's high belt line only makes it worse.
Of course, this car is great fun with the top down--but even that is not enough to warrant a recommendation from us. If you want a Mustang convertible, the basic Mustang with the six-cylinder engine is all you need. (Of course, this won't help the visibility problem.) And, if you want an SVT model, drive the Contour.
View cars.com model report on this vehicle.
