Faults:

For the most part, this has been a terrific, reliable daily-driver that's only given me serious trouble a couple of times, and even then those couple of times were the fault of aftermarket modifications -- (I had heated seats installed when I bought the car, and the shop that did the wiring didn't do a very good job.)

My primary complaint is about the manual transmission in these V6 Mustangs. Ford assembled these cars with dual-mass flywheels that cause absolutely horrendous vibrations throughout the drivetrain, specifically between 2200 and 2600 RPM. These vibrations, for me, have only gotten worse with time - I'm at the point now where it's making me a bit insane and I'm not really enjoying my drives anymore just because the vibration has gotten so bad. The dealer wants over $3000 to replace the flywheel and clutch with OEM components, but the correct solution is to use aftermarket pieces that replace the stock dual-mass flywheel with a traditional single-piece one -- at some point I'm sure I'll climb underneath the car and do the work myself, but I'm definitely not looking forward to it.

Also, Ford's paint SUCKS. This is an issue that plagues many Mustang owners as well as Ford owners in general -- peeling, bubbling, cracking paint specifically on the hood and on the trunk. I had a minor front-end collision in my car, so my hood, bumper, and fenders were all replaced and repainted, and I was able to replace the trunk lid on my own, so that bubbling peeling paint is gone for now, but this is an extremely common problem, and the only way to fix it is to replace the affected body panel.

I also had an issue in the first year with the brake rotors all warping - I replaced them with aftermarket drilled/slotted rotors and haven't had problems with them since.

Dealership support has been spotty. There are 4 Ford dealerships in my local metro area, and only one of the four hasn't tried to screw me over in some capacity. I once brought the car to the dealership nearest my office to get an alternator whine examined (I had a pretty good hunch it was a bearing that had gone and the unit was going to need to be replaced) and the service advisor there confirmed my suspicion, estimated $850 for the job, and when I told him I was probably going to do the work myself he insisted that it would be impossible and that I would be calling him for a tow because the "computer chips" in the alternator would need to be "re-synced" or something hokey like that. He was lying, obviously. I did the job myself with an OEM alternator out of a wrecked Mustang I found on eBay for about $160 and called it a day and then chewed out his manager for a while. I've learned to keep my wits about me when working with Ford dealerships.

General Comments:

All irritations aside though, I still love this car.

I've had it for almost 6 years now since it was almost brand new. I specifically sought out the Kona-blue color, and I think it looks very, very sharp, especially on the optional black/aluminum 19" wheels. No stripes. Nothing gimmicky. Just big wheels, a clean front-end and a little OEM lip spoiler on the back.

I changed the front-clip with the GT front fascia, aftermarket HID headlights and the Roush grille, and that really changed the personality of this car's looks.

The only changes I made under the hood were adding an air-intake and shorty headers. Immediately I picked up more low-end "grunt" and when really wound out it makes just enough sound to make me happy without pissing off the neighbors or making me seem like a total poser. The engine note is really interesting because it kind of burbles and rumbles at idle and low RPM, but when revved up it really starts to sound like a hot import. I've even heard some people compare the exhaust note to the 370z or GTR.

There are certainly days I feel a little pang of regret for not getting the GT, but for the most part I'm plenty happy with the 30 MPG / 300 horsepower combo this V6 offers, especially with the manual transmission since I definitely felt like the automatic version of this car really fights you on where you want it to shift. I did a 3 hour roadtrip at about 80 miles an hour on the interstate, loaded down with luggage and another passenger, and averaged 28 MPG the whole way there. I don't think you can really argue with that!

I've also got the Premium and Performance packages, which adds leather seats, satellite radio, the Shaker sound system, ambient lights, 19" wheels, and a little more aggressive rear-end. All fantastic.

As a comedic aside, I know there are lots of "car-guys" who will insist that a V6 Mustang is a "girl's car," and whether or not you agree with that macho nonsense, I will pose that I'm not particularly interested in impressing other guys. I once picked up a girlfriend and she immediately said "Damn dude! This is a NICE car." I think that was proof in the pudding for me.

Faults:

The car is performing exceptionally well. Fun to drive.

Purchased the car as a lease return with 19700 miles. Was in flawless condition from a Ford dealership, who had several examples of the color (black) that I wanted to purchase.

Test drove several 2012 models, with mileage ranging from 12,000 to 22,000. The dealer was very patient as I made the purchase decision.

They always try to sell you the additional warranty protection. I purchased this specific model that had the certified designation, with a warranty good until 2017. Buy the certified car for this benefit. Paid a 1000 premium for this on the price of the car, but felt it was worth it.

I wanted to go back to an American car, and traded in a BMW 3 series convertible. I went for the Bimmer, because at the time it was the only rear wheel drive stick shift car I could get that was fun to drive. Happy with my choice for 20 thousand dollars less. The car is a great deal, even when compared to the new Camaro and Dodge Challenger with no stock convertible available.

General Comments:

Color was listed as black, but actually is a beautiful color called Lava. The car looks sharp standing still. Great profile, especially the convertible. Lava Red Metallic; stunning color. Paint and body quality are fantastic.

Standard cloth seats have bolsters to hold you in when taking those curves. Steering wheel has a nice leather covering with radio controls. Dash pad and door panels of nice design, with a more expensive looking "padded" look, rather than the cheap looking plastic you see on the Japanese cars.

The car handles very well with standard setup (struts front and solid axle back). You can feel the solid axle with some stiffness evident at times, but this is not too disconcerting. There is a suspension upgrade available for the 6 cyl. (V-6 Performance Package - 2 grand from the factory).

The engine idles very smooth with the dual exhaust. Step on the gas, and a great sound comes out of the tail pipes. Power comes on quick and responsive, with 305 horsepower with the new dual overhead cam design. Feels like a small block from the old days, with horsepower and torque coming on at higher RPM. Has great passing capacity for highway situations. This is a great improvement over former Ford sixes. Innovative variable valve timing and 4 valves per cylinder. Great engine power with 30 MPG. I've been getting 27 MPG without really trying.

The six speed automatic transmission shifts and responds smoothly, though it shifts very early into 6th gear (early shift = better gas mileage). I drove a stick shift car prior to this purchase, and it made driving a little more fun (automatic is a concession to family life).

I liked the stainless steel exhaust system; should be long lasting.

This engine and suspension system has many upgrades available aftermarket to enhance performance and handling.

Suggestions: Purchase the factory SVT sway bars front and rear, and install. Upgrade the standard tires to a wider profile (the 2013 models are using Pirelli's).

Add the strut brace in the engine compartment, especially for convertibles (improves handling), and consider adding a cold air intake (increase torque and horsepower slightly). This would make a great car even better.

Ford has continued to evolve the Mustang, and it keeps getting better with annual upgrades. The addition of an independent rear suspension will be introduced in a future model. I hope they evolve the car rather then revolutionize it. It is an American icon that is fun to drive, fast, affordable as a convertible, and with great gas mileage. I recommend the car to anyone requiring these attributes.