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You can finally lease a right-hand Ford Mustang in the UK, this is a good thing

Image of Alisdair Suttie
Author: | Updated: 21 Jan 2015 15:58

The Ford Mustang is about as yee-ha all-American as it gets. It’s part of the reason this original muscle car has remained a success, even throughout the dire emissions-strangled 1970s and pudding basin styling of the 1980s and 1990s. Thankfully, Ford regenerated and rejuvenated the Mustang in the mid-2000s.

This generation of Mustang caught on the coat-tails of the whole retro styling revolution brought on by Volkswagen and Mini. Like these European staples, the Mustang went back to its root to discover a style and appeal that opened up a new market, and a whole swathe of younger buyers who suddenly thought the Mustang was cool.

It helped that brands such as Shelby and Roush also latched on to the then-new Mustang to add further to its desirability and credibility.

The Ford Mustang is about as yee-ha all-American as it gets.

Browse Mustang leasing deals: business / personal

Ford was back on to a winner 40 years after the first Mustang that proved such a huge hit. At launch, Ford sold 14,000 Mustangs the day the order book opened and the American public’s demand did not abate until several years later when the Mustang had become a much less punchy, more paunchy machine.

The mid-2000s Mustang avoided this decline into corpulence, but it did have its flaw. For starters, and for those of us on the right side of the pond, the Mustang was not available in right-hand drive. Heck, it wasn’t even officially sold by Ford dealers, leaving the market to grey importers or keen individuals.

This made it impossible to lease a Mustang or own one with any warranty worth the paper it was written on unless you bought from a scrupulously honest company prepared to deliver original spec back-up.

Two Mustangs or one M3?

Another downside of this recent Mustang was, and how can we put this delicately, the retro ride and handling. While the V6 and V8 petrol engines made all the right noises and motions, the cart sprung rear-end simply was not up to the standards of modern rivals from the likes of BMW, Mercedes and Nissan. Sure, the Ford was cheaper but, boy, did it show in the dynamics.

 the Mustang is available with factory right-hand drive and it will be sold through official Ford dealership channelsNow, 50 years on from the original Mustang’s debut, we have perhaps the most significant new model development of the car that got America’s heart pumping with excitement. It is exciting for us in the UK because, finally, the Mustang is available with factory right-hand drive and it will be sold through official Ford dealership channels.

This is great news and also means leasing companies will be able to offer the Mustang to those looking to indulge on a monthly payment or have the luxury of choosing what they like as a company car.

Even better, the new Mustang continues its forebear’s tradition of providing superb value for money and plenty of power to boot. With list prices from £28,995 for the 2.3-litre turbo petrol model and £32,995 for the full fat, full noise 412bhp 5.0-litre V8, leasing rates are going to be more akin to a mid-spec BMW 320d than an M3’s.

Don’t for a moment think the Mustang is all mouth and no trousers. The 2.3-litre EcoBoost model comes with 310bhp to deliver 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds and is still able to return 31.4mpg. With 179g/km carbon dioxide emissions, it’s very much on a par with cars of similar power and pace, such as the Nissan 370Z.

Okay, most Audi TT buyers are unlikely to be tempted by the brasher charms of the Mustang, but who cares? The good thing is there is a choice and the Mustang is back better than ever.

Head for the 5.0-litre V8 and you’ll enjoy 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds and all the noise and drama only a proper V8 can deliver. A BMW M3 with minimal optional equipment will cost you twice as much, and let me repeat that – twice as much - as the Mustang, you have to ask some serious questions about which car you’d rather be driving.

Read our full first drive review of the new Mustang

Head for the 5.0-litre V8 and you’ll enjoy 0-62mph in 4.5 seconds

Sleeker

Some will point the finger and say the Mustang remains an unsophisticated beast under its sleeker, smoother skin, a bit like an ageing, fading rocker still trying to strut its stuff. This is simply not true for this new Mustang. It has thoroughly modern suspension, steering, brakes and all of the electronic gubbins expected of a car of this class and power. Unsophisticated it ain’t.

We’ll have to wait till we try the Mustang on British shores, but all the indications are the new model is very good to drive. It has handling balance and poise, composure on rough roads and it retains the sort of core strength safety and longevity required of a muscle car that many will drive hard and fast.

There is also the added bonus the Mustang comes with four proper seats, so adults need not be cooped up in a coupe. Ford offers the Mustang as a Convertible from launch alongside the Fastback coupe, so you can get your kicks on the A66 should the sun shine for a few minutes.

Catches

Are there any drawbacks to the Mustang finally coming to the UK with right-hand drive and full Ford backing? Well, some might find the styling a little in your face compared to European offerings, but that is part of the appeal of a Mustang. No one ever bought a ’stang to hide out from the madding crowd.

It’s not the most compact car, so some British roads might feel a tad small for the car, but it’s no worse than many of the larger European coupes. As for the V8 engine and economy, have you tried to drive an AMG Merc or M Power BMW in any enjoyable way and get fuel economy above 20mpg? No, didn’t think so, which means there’s no point worrying about it with the Mustang.

A lack of heritage and history in the UK might mean some overlook the Mustang in favour of more tried and tested brands, but the Ford is such a globally renowned brand its reach goes beyond the USA. Show anyone a silhouette of the Ford and they will know it’s a Mustang and that sort of recognition is worth many millions of marketing and advertising spend.

The new Ford Mustang may be more American than Hulk Hogan head-butting the Soviet flag, but we suspect a great many UK buyers will get it too.

Ford Mustang 4

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