Ok so I’ve been away for a while (work & family issues) and as some of you may or may not remember - I'd been talking about getting a new Mustang GT for years (well actually ever since 2004/2005 when the latest generation first debuted). Well last weekend I finally took the plunge and purchased one. But rather than a GT I flipped the extra coinage for a brand spanking new 08’ Highland Green Bullitt!
Don't get me wrong I've still got my MG & my Porsche 928 - I'll do all I can to never get rid of them. But with regards to this modern car? All I can say is – this is the first truely "NEW" car I've bought since the early eighties. But looking back I’ve always liked the looks of the 2001 Bullitt Mustangs over the GT, but it wasn’t until the body makeover in 2005 that I started seriously considering a new vehicle again. In fact in when the new Stang came out in '05 my first thought was "Damn! I wonder if they'll do another Bullitt".
Anyway last saturday I hadn't even spent 15 minutes behind the wheel of the Bullitt during the test drive before I was totally sold. In fact I told the salesperson (a Bullitt owner herself) that we needed to head back to the dealership & get the paperwork started – because I couldn’t see going home without it.
Now we’re all gear heads here so we should all know the significance of Ford's special edition “Bullitt” Mustangs. But for those of you too young to remember or where trapped in a parallel universe for the last three or four decades – the Bullitt Mustang it is a modern recreation or tribute if you will to the original Highland Green 390 Mustang used by Steve McQueen in the Movie by the same name. Often acclaimed as the best car chase scene ever filmed. Pitting our hero’s Mustang against a black 440 Charger driven by the two evil hit men.
Back to the present & my overall impression: I can’t believe how awesome this car it is, compared to most modern cars. I’ve driven many a common V6 Mustang rental car and even a few Mustang GTs that belonged to friends or taken out for a test drive. Likewise I also spent some time behind the wheel of a Shelby Mustang GT-H (“H” for Hertz) convertible. All that and I have to say that the Bullitt is by far the best handling Mustang I’ve ever driven. Certainly better than any of the aforementioned Mustangs and while I’d have to say that the Shelby GT-H seemed quicker (albeit not by much) – the Bullitt felt significantly more poised in the twisties thanks to some potent upgrades to the suspension. Granted the GT-H was a convertible and that might have been the telling factor – as the Shelby GT coupe should be a firmer handling ride than the convertible version. Still while I won’t pretend it was cheap (although pricing did drop a little from when they first came out) after the first 24 hours of ownership I feel defiantly feel I got my money’s worth!
Yet another thing that impresses me was the 5-speed manual. Besides the retro aluminum ball shifter knob that is oh so cool – I totally loved the feel of the clutch and how positive the short shifter felt & feel it is a vast improvement over the look & feel of the regular GT manual. Moreover the shifter position is ergonomically speaking in a much better position compared to the previous generation Mustangs.
Its been a couple of days now and I still feel like it’s Christmas eve and am so excited that I’m having a hard time sleeping because all I can think about is when I can take her out on the road again for a “spirited” driving.
So had GRM ever done a review of the Bullitt?
Oh well got'a go.
Bret
