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2008 Ford Mustang Quality Review

June 14, 2008

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10

Expert Quotes:

A few less hard-edge plastic surfaces would go a long way
Kelley Blue Book

Most switchgear feels cut-rate
ConsumerGuide

Rear-seat room is marginal
Cars.com

Despite recent improvements, the 2008 Ford Mustang is still a muscle car that suffers from some typical muscle car flaws.

For the Mustang, 2008 models offer interior space that is decent and comfort, with ConsumerGuide finding "good headroom and legroom, but the cabin feels cozy due to low seats, a high dashtop, and tall windowsills." Cars.com adds that the Ford Mustang 2008 "has two front seats and two rear buckets that might qualify as seats but are not for most adult passengers." Autoblog appreciates the front seats' "power fore-aft and bottom cushion angle adjustment along with inflatable lumbar support" that help improve driver comfort and also "keeps you planted in the appropriate position relative to the steering wheel."

Cargo room isn't overflowing on the 2008 Ford Mustang, and the Mustang 2008 also features one or two noticeable usability issues. Several reviews read by TheCarConnection.com lamented the placement of the two cup holders, with Autoblog saying that tall items "can interfere with your forearm when shifting." In terms of storage space, ConsumerGuide writes that "the size and shape of the opening" for the trunk "makes loading even moderately sized cargo a challenge," and inside the cabin, "storage is sparse, with the door map pockets being almost useless."

Other aspects of the interior of the 2008 Ford Mustang leave a lot to be desired, if not in styling, then certainly in quality. Kelley Blue Book finds that "some of the plastics around the console, door panels and speaker grilles feel flimsy and hard to the touch," and Consumer Guide thinks that "most switchgear feels cut-rate, and padded surfaces are almost non-existent." Edmunds feels that the base Ford Mustang 2008's "hard, monotone plastics" are "disappointing at any price point," but upgrading the interior "helps somewhat." Kelley Blue Book summarizes reviewer sentiment by saying that "a few less hard-edge plastic surfaces would go a long way to turning a good interior into one that's great."

On the convertible version of the 2008 Ford Mustang, reviewers find that road noise is surprisingly minimal with the top down, and when the top comes up, extra shakes are not intrusive. ConsumerGuide is quick to criticize the Ford Mustang 2008's sound characteristics, finding "marked engine noise and coarse-surface tire thrum," and the "V6 growls and booms unpleasantly as revs rise."

Conclusion

The 2008 Ford Mustang shows its muscle car roots in less flattering ways when it comes to room, comfort, and materials.

COMFORT AND QUALITY | 7 out of 10Expert Quotes:A few less hard-edge plastic surfaces would go a long wayKelley Blue BookMost switchgear feels cut-rateConsumerGuideRear-seat room is marginalCars.com Despite recent improvements, the 2008 Ford Mustang is still a muscle car that suffers from some typical muscle car flaws. For the Mustang, 2008 models offer interior space that is decent and comfort, with ConsumerGuide finding "good headroom and legroom, but the cabin feels cozy due to low seats, a high dashtop, and tall windowsills." Cars.com adds that the Ford Mustang 2008 "has two front seats and two rear buckets that might qualify as seats but are not for most adult passengers." Autoblog appreciates the front seats' "power fore-aft and bottom cushion angle adjustment along with inflatable lumbar support" that help improve driver comfort and also "keeps you planted in the appropriate position relative to the steering wheel." Cargo room isn't overflowing on the 2008 Ford Mustang, and the Mustang 2008 also features one or two noticeable usability issues. Several reviews read by TheCarConnection.com lamented the placement of the two cup holders, with Autoblog saying that tall items "can interfere with your forearm when shifting." In terms of storage space, ConsumerGuide writes that "the size and shape of the opening" for the trunk "makes loading even moderately sized cargo a challenge," and inside the cabin, "storage is sparse, with the door map pockets being almost useless." Other aspects of the interior of the 2008 Ford Mustang leave a lot to be desired, if not in styling, then certainly in quality. Kelley Blue Book finds that "some of the plastics around the console, door panels and speaker grilles feel flimsy and hard to the touch," and Consumer Guide thinks that "most switchgear feels cut-rate, and padded surfaces are almost non-existent." Edmunds feels that the base Ford Mustang 2008's "hard, monotone plastics" are "disappointing at any price point," but upgrading the interior "helps somewhat." Kelley Blue Book summarizes reviewer sentiment by saying that "a few less hard-edge plastic surfaces would go a long way to turning a good interior into one that's great." On the convertible version of the 2008 Ford Mustang, reviewers find that road noise is surprisingly minimal with the top down, and when the top comes up, extra shakes are not intrusive. ConsumerGuide is quick to criticize the Ford Mustang 2008's sound characteristics, finding "marked engine noise and coarse-surface tire thrum," and the "V6 growls and booms unpleasantly as revs rise." ConclusionThe 2008 Ford Mustang shows its muscle car roots in less flattering ways when it comes to room, comfort, and materials.  2008 FORD MUSTANG STYLING | [8 out of 10] Kelley Blue Book: "Blessed with iconic good looks" Edmunds: "Eye-catching retro styling" Autoblog: "Carries the classic proportions and cues of the late sixties 'Stangs" The decision to recall the styling of an icon is a tricky one in any ...

Read More of this Review:

  1. styling
  2. performance
  3. quality
  4. safety
  5. features

Other Choices:

Honestly, since 2002 when the last Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird rolled off the assembly line, the Ford Mustang hasn't had a direct competitor. While some might compare it to front-wheel-drive coupes like the Scion tC or Pontiac G6, those are apples to oranges. With the introduction of the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, finally, the Mustang has a rear-wheel-drive pony car competitor, even if the Dodge only competes with the expensive Shelby GT500 and GT500KR models--for now. Next year (2009), Mustang will face off against a full line of Dodge Challenger models (V-6 and V-8 models), as well as the 2010 Camaro. Get ready to rumble!

Next Steps:

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See the Ford Mustang in Other Years:

2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997

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