Getting your player ready...
It was a great run for Jan and me to La Veta and back last week in the 2013 Ford Mustang GT.
I was around when the original pony car rushed the scene almost 50 years ago; today, still, it embodies youthful appeal beyond other models. It’s an iconic competitor for the Chevy Camaro and Dodge Challenger. The Mustang is No. 5 in a string of amazing performance cars I’ve driven back-to-back. Preceding it were the ’13 Porsche Panamera GTS, ’12 Porsche 911 Carrera S, ’12 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and ’12 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1. Combined, those five sprinters generate 2,300 horsepower. The streak ended, though, Monday with delivery to my driveway of a Chrysler 200 sedan. For 2013, horsepower in the Mustang’s 5.0-liter V-8, linked to a 6-speed manual transmission in the review model, has been increased to 420 (from 412). Slight revisions have been done to the grille and headlights, new functional vents have been added to the hood and the taillights are divided into three LED segments, which illuminate on braking. The Mustang was babied along the Interstate drive south to Walsenburg, then west to La Veta. Dinner was wonderful in the courtyard of the La Veta Inn, with entertainment by singer Tom Munch. While at the inn, we enjoyed a couple of times visiting with Johnny and Virginia Salas, Michelle and Marla, from Lakewood, who were enroute to Taos. For the drive back, Colo. 69, a winding road from Walsenburg to Westcliffe, was suited to the Mustang, bringing out the best of its handling and speed recovery. Suspension is compliant, offering decent ride against rough surfaces, from its MacPherson struts and stabilizer bar in front and three-link solid axle with coils, panhard brace and stabilizer bar at the rear. The short shifter is a delight to handle. It is not as precise as the manual in the Camaro ZL1 last week; without guidance, it will as soon go downshift in an upshift sequence. New this year is a hill-hold feature for the 6-speed manual.compact crossovers Sticking with its 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine and 5-speed automatic transmission has given the 2012 Honda CR-V all-wheel-drive model a fairly impressive 22/30 fuel-mileage rating. In a variety of in-town and highway driving tasks, I averaged 26.9 mpg with a review model. The CR-V is near the top among compact crossovers, competing with the Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, Chevrolet Equinox, Mazda CX-5, Subaru Forester and Kia Sportage. Several competitors are equipped with 6-speed automatics. The CR-V is faulted for somewhat slow acceleration. Ride and handling are decent. A rather neatly styled interior boasts a nice leather finish, roomy rear seat with ample legroom. The look of the cabin is tarnished a bit by an unattractive gray plastic trim piece across the front of the dash. A relatively large storage bin is handy in the center console. Cargo space is a generous 37 cubic feet, accessed with a liftgate. The all-wheel-drive option pushes price of the CR-V EX-L with navigation to $30,605. Heading standard items are power moonroof, rearview camera, Bluetooth audio/phone connectivity/USB port, dual-zone climate control, heated front seats, cruise control and automatic headlamps. The rear camera offers three settings, including one that is mounted behind the bumper for tight parking situations. The 2012 model is the fourth generation for the CR-V. A sharply raked rear is noticeable, along with revised grille up front. It is best seller among compact crossovers, with 146,682 sales through the end of June, compared with 110,915 a year ago in a period of low stock and slow sales due to the flooding tragedy. 2013 Ford Mustang GT Coupe $40,770 (price as tested) MPG City 15 Highway 26 Vehicle type: Sport coupe Wheelbase: 107.1 inches Length/Width/Height: 188.5/73.9/55.8 Weight: 3,618 pounds Engine: 5.0-liter V-8 Transmission: 6-speed manual Fuel mileage: 22.1 mpg Fuel tank: 16 gallons Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles basic; 5/60,000 powertrain Competitors: Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger, Hyundai Genesis Coupe Built at: Flat Rock, Mich. THE STICKER $34,300 base $1,695 Brembo brakes, 19-inch painted aluminum wheels $1,595 Recaro leather seats $1,295 Shaker Pro audio system $895 Security system, reverse park assist $795 Destination PLUSES Strong engine Impressive handling Safe braking MINUSES Interior look Rear legroom
