2009 Ford Mustang GT Coupe

At first glance, I thought that our red test car priced out at $29,520, and I said to myself, "Yeah, that's about right for this V-8 pony car." But then I looked farther down the spec sheet and realized that the as-tested price is actually $36,210! And I immediately thought of the all-new, 2009 Nissan 370Z, a much more modern car that is similarly priced (starts at $30K, easily rises to mid- or high 30s with options). I realize that, to Mustang fans, comparing these two cars is an apples-to-oranges affair. But let's face it: they're both rear-wheel-drive, two-door sports cars that are accessible to the common man, so they're worth considering side by side. And for my $30,000 - or $36,000 - I'd take the tight and taut Nissan over the live-axle, old-tech Mustang any day. However, the new Mustang just debuted at the 2008 Los Angeles Auto Show. Once I drive it, perhaps I'll change my mind.

Joe DeMatio, Executive Editor