It seems like just yesterday that the 1993 Mustang GT was my dream car. How I would drool at the thought of just being able to drive one of these hot little cars powered by an all Ford built American 5.0 V8 engine. Unlike many new cars that I test drive, finding a 1993 Mustang GT was not at all hard to find, in-fact there was one ready to be driven right down the street.


For 1993 the Mustang GT was only offered with 1 engine choice, and was available in either a 2 door hatchback or a 2 door convertible. The famous engine in the GT is a 4.9 OHV V8 ( known as the 5.0 H.O) that produces a 'Ford rated' 205 horsepower at a relatively low 4,600 RPM, and an adequate 270 Lb-ft of torque which is produced also at a low 3,000 RPM. The 1993 Mustang GT is available with either two transmissions; a 4-speed automatic overdrive tranny, or the standard 5-speed manual. The transmission of choice? The 5-speed.

NOTE: Before 1991 Ford rated the Mustang GT at 225 horse power and 300 lb-ft of torque. From what I hear there were no changes made after 1991 to the engine so I don't understand this decrease in the power rating. I have driven almost every model year of the Mustang, and I do not see a difference in performance from when it was rated at 225 hp to when it was rated at 205 hp.


Driving Impressions:

Off-the-Line acceleration in my 1993 GT hatchback 'tester' was what you'd expect from a muscle car; fast jumps from the light matched with an exhaust note from the gods of muscle car heaven. The 5-speed manual transmission is very easy to use, and offers good acceleration in every gear. Thanks to the 270 lb-ft of torque being reached at such a low RPM, the 5.0 GT Mustang has the ability to burn some serious rubber.

Handling in the Mustang GT is not this car's best offering, but the GT does provide a firm suspension and anti roll bars which help keep this car on-line. The big tires on the GT's 16" rims give this car a reassuring feel feel in both dry and wet conditions. The Mustang GT does give a hint of understeer, that is until the the throttle is mashed to the floor.

Cruising in the 1993 Mustang GT hatchback is a little rough; wind, road, and most of all engine noise can be heard. This of course is music to the owners of these car's ears, but for people who are used to driving 300ZX's and other performance cars that retain a quiet ride at high speeds might find the 93 GT to be a bit annoying. Even with 129,000 miles my tester had no problems tackling hills, even in high gear this car made light work of even the steepest terrain.

Braking in the 1993 Mustang GT is probably this car's worst attribute. With just front disc brakes and rear drums this set-up really proved to be a handicap in the braking category.

Fuel Economy on the other hand was excellent. I have driven this particular car many times, and although I have never used a full tank of gas, the owner claims around 25 MPG while doing freeway driving. This is very good for a performance car that boasts a 4.9 liter V8 engine.


Interior Accommodation:


The interior of the 1993 Mustang GT is a little dated for this late in the model year. The cabin gives the driver more of a 1980s feel than the '93 model that it is. The dash is made of cheap plastic and the instrument cluster has an appearance that was better left to be enjoyed in 1985. Ergonomics are good, and so is the drivers position which is very 'upright.' Amenities are decent, AC, a 4 speaker Ford cassette player sound system which sounded like it belonged in a Ford Escort; I have no idea why the owner has not upgraded the sound system. This GT also cames with optional power windows, optional power locks, a drivers air bag, and optional power seating. The seating in the 1993 Mustang GT has the option of leather, however my test car's seats were wrapped in a soft cloth material. These seats provided relatively good comfort and support. Creature space is adequate up front, but is very cramped in the rear. Storage space is also adequate, but you'd be hard pressed to fit a weeks worth of groceries for a small family in the rear.


Exterior Innovation:


The exterior, like the interior of this car is very '1980's.' Please don't get me wrong, I love this style, but for a '93 model I felt Ford waited about 3 years too long to update the design. Despite being a bit dated, the 93 Mustang GT is a very sporty looking car. Fully visible fog lights are added to give that extra sporty touch. A modest decklid spoiler and bumper cover distinguish the GT from lesser models, and other equal models such as the 5.0 LX. The 1993 Mustang GT comes with rocker panel extensions which adds a very sporty touch. My only major gripe about the 1993 Mustang GT are the stock rims, the are very cheap looking and I feel make this car look less sporty than sporty.

NOTE: The picture Epinions.com offers you on this car is not a 1993 Mustang GT.


Price & Reliability:

New, these cars went for around $20,000 dollars. Today, thanks to relatively poor resale value a 1993 Mustang GT can be had for about $5,000 dollars; not bad huh? These cars have been extremely reliable, the owner has claimed very little repairs in the 9 years he has owned this car, others I have talked to also claim the same thing.

Interested in reading about another fast car? Check out my review on the 1990 300ZX


-Happy Car Shopping!

Amount Paid (US$): Tester