Here’s our guide to navigating the variants and options on offer with the 2022 Drive Car of the Year Best Large Sports Coupe
Sometimes, the simple old recipes are the best, as the Ford Mustang V8 demonstrates.
Take one low-slung sports coupe body and put a big old V8 engine under its bonnet. Then give it the suspension, brakes and tyres to make the most of its lusty powertrain, and make sure the cabin has everything the driver needs to wage war.
It’s not rocket science, but the result is a road-going rocketship.
The Ford Mustang proved it’s a recipe that may appear simple but, when done right, can satisfy even the most insatiable sports car appetites.
The Ford Mustang is our inaugural winner of the Best Sports Coupe category in the Drive Car of the Year awards, beating the beautifully honed Toyota Supra and thundering Jaguar F-Type.
That’s not to say the Mustang did it easily. In fact, the Sports Coupe category was the hardest fought of all 20 categories this year, and the decision went right down to the wire between the Mustang and the Supra. But it was the Mustang that won, and in hindsight it’s easy to see why.
Driving a Ford Mustang V8 feels special, it feels like an occasion, even if you’re just tootling down to the shops. Everything from the way it looks in your driveway to the way the 5.0-litre V8 barks hungrily when you fire it up makes the hairs on your arm tingle.
The sensations continue as you move the cue ball gear lever through its gate. Then if you’re lucky enough to have a racetrack like we did at Drive Car of the Year, you’ll get to see what the Mustang V8 can really do.
The Mustang’s biggest trick is disguising its weight; this car does not accelerate or brake or dive into corners like an 1800kg heavyweight. It is a tactile and thunderous sports car that immerses the driver in the action right up to the eyeballs.
That’s the foundation of a great sports coupe, but it takes more than that to win Drive Car of the Year.
Running costs and value are important considerations. The Mustang V8 starts from $64,390 (before on-road costs at the time of testing), which undercuts the Toyota Supra considerably, making the Mustang great value when you take into account that it is bigger and more practical yet has better power-to-weight, and is considerably cheaper to service over the life of its warranty.
OUR PICK: Ford Mustang GT Fastback
Ford offers four different flavours of Mustang: Fastback and GT Convertible, each with 2.3L turbo four-cylinder or 5.0-litre V8. For us, the 2.3L Mustangs are okay if you’re on a budget, but if you’re going to buy a Pony Car that looks like this make sure you give it the heart of a thoroughbred.
Anything less and you’re missing half the experience. It’s like going to the world’s best restaurant with a blocked nose.
The Mustang GT Fastback is at the top of our list, with either the six-speed manual or optional 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
We won’t argue that the 10-speeder probably provides quicker acceleration but the six-speed manual adds a level of immersion and theatre to the driving experience.
You could say the same for the Convertible. Yes it allows you to hear that wonderful V8 rumble, but the loss of the roof as a structural member and those extra 70kg of bracing means the dynamics aren’t quite as sharp.
Let’s face it, nobody needs a Sports Coupe. But then again nobody needs to dine at a fancy restaurant. Lucky for us, life is not just about getting what you need, it’s also about satisfying wants and desires.
Read more about 2022 Drive Car of the Year Best Sports Coupe Award
Read about all other 2022 Drive Car of the Year categories and winners
Buying now? View new Ford Mustang models in stock
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