Kelley Blue Book ® - 2002 Ford Mustang Overview

Nothing screams "youth" like a convertible and no convertible screams it louder than the Mustang. Cherished by Americans since the day it debuted in 1964, The Mustang convertible is the last of the rear-wheel drive, V8-powered muscle cars. With the demise of the Mustang's only real competitor, the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford's wild pony now has full run of the ranch.

Over the course of time, Ford engineers have continued to refine and tighten the Mustang's chassis and improve its driving dynamics and horsepower ratings. As a result, the Mustang performs well, especially in GT trim, where its beefy tires, anti-slip regulation and 260-horsepower V8 make even short trips to the supermarket a thrill. The steering feel is taut and nicely weighted, responding immediately to driver input without delay and the brakes have good stopping power with little sign of fade after repeated use. Standard on both the V6 and GT is a 5-speed manual transmission. Though fun to drive, you'll find the 5-speed feels clunky when changing gears and requires more effort than you'd expect when moving from gear to gear. The rear-wheel-drive setup does allow some fish-tailing in hard cornering and must be respected, especially when slippery road conditions exist.

Inside, the Mustang's dash mimics the original's twin cockpit theme. It's a clever design that adds to the car's nostalgic appeal. For 2002, the Mustang now offers a new sport seat, with improved side bolstering and four-way adjustable headrests. The standard bucket seat, though comfortable, lacks side support and could use a bit more rearward travel to accommodate tall drivers; the optional power driver's seat does allow for height and angle adjustments, making it well worth the extra cost. The padded power top works well, but does require a bit of muscle to lock into place. The optional Mach 460 sound system has no problem overpowering the wind and sounds absolutely fantastic. We highly recommend this option if you love to listen to music with the top down.