2008 ROUSH 428R Mustang revealed

Let's run a quick analysis:

* 200 vehicles - strange to have such a small run for a cheap & easily available chassis

* supercharged 435 horsepower / 400 lb-ft V8 is fine, though no longer exclusive

* chrome powdercoat on engine - ballast?

* billet radiator and intercooler radiator caps, oil cap, and strut tower caps - more useless mass addition?

* ROUSH front fascia, chin spoiler, hood scoop and rear wing "adding to the muscular look" - does anyone not recognize this as a pony car???

* locking hood pins - wow, we're talking innovation here!

* ROUSH suspension package: front and rear shocks, front and rear springs, front and rear sway bars, jounce bumpers and an anti-wheel hop kit -- in other words, they did their best to tame a live-rear-axle car, without actually replacing the antiquated chunk of steel

* 18-inch cast wheels and high-performance tires - sounds common. for the price, why not forged wheels???

* offroad exhaust system -- so this makes it undriveable on the street in areas where police actually cite excessive noise violations

* ROUSH sport leather seating, white face electro luminescent gauge cluster, ROUSH short throw shifter with retro ball, ROUSH sill plates and floor mats -- in case you forgot who took all your money, here are some token reminders.

* unique fender and decklid badges, engine bay plaques, and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Jack Roush -- well, i should hope so. otherwise we wouldn't know it from the other Mustang knock-offs.

* five-speed manual or automatic transmission -- you have got to be kidding. 5 speeds? pathetic. automatic? exactly who is your intended buyer, Jack???

Clearly this is a case of wearing out the Mustang name with another re-hash of nostalgia clip-on crap. If Roush had any sensibility, it would offer world-class cars based on the now rare Ford GT (i.e., GT40) chassis, which actually offered some promise.

While no one can argue that 435 HP isn't a pleasant upgrade, it doesn't save this car from being an also-ran. The rest of this package reeks of being an overpriced nostalgiamobile for NASCAR fans who never turn right. Can't one get enough chrome and "special badging" for their old pony car at any NAPA store?

— moto (View Profile)

Posted on 9/26/2007 12:41:25 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1