The 1964 New York World’s Fair launched Mustang madness, and it’s still a love affair with the pony in 2008. Just like Mustang’s look has been tweaked over the years, so has the power quotient. Today’s 4.6-liter V8 pumps out 300 horsepower – 50 percent more power than the 289-cubic inch V8 featured in the1964 _ Mustang. The current Mustang is still focused on the fast ride. Depress the accelerator and the thrill of here-and-now speed is confirmed by the sports car’s throaty exhaust growl. Moving through hard corners and curves means no side-to-side head lobs – and that’s a grand tribute to the rear suspension’s tubular Panhard rod which stabilizes the rear axle as the wheels whirl. Interior-wise, the Mustang is all about the enjoyment factor. Front seats are firm, yet highly comfortable. Tossing the 5-speed manual gear shifter is a blast. But without Ford’s pedal adjuster (which enables the pedals to come forward), pushing in the clutch is a good workout for the under 5-foot-6 driver’s left leg. Mustang’s rear seat is a tight fit for adults in terms of headroom and legroom, but the seats do provide ample room in terms of width. Each rear seatback (actually the upper half) can drop forward with a quick tug on a pull handle, providing a nifty way to increase the trunk space. Whatever the destination, Mustang 2008 is a wildly fun ride. Mustang GT coupe with 5-speed manual transmission achieves mpg numbers of 15 city and 23 highway and carries a MSRP of $27,020.