Experienced by Kimatni & Misa Rawlins
It’s no secret that my wife Misa and I totally enjoy parenthood and raising two beautiful and athletic young ladies. In fact, we continue to find excuses to spend more time with them either at home or on a road trip with the Fit Fathers crew. However, there are moments when the universe takes over and dictates your next move. So when a Ruby Red Metallic tinted Ford Mustang GT Convertible ($41,800 MSRP, $48,690 as tested) began posturing in the Automotive Rhythms driveway, the misses called her parents and scheduled the kids for a long weekend sleepover.
We can’t think back to the last time we ventured on a multi-day date outside of leaving town. But while the kids are away mommy and daddy will pull out the toys and certainly begin to play. Contextualize this, a Mustang 5.0, a soft-top that lowers in 9.36 seconds, picturesque city landscapes, beautiful convertible weather, and the lady of your dreams riding shotgun as if it’s a high school Friday! As beastly as the 5-liter TI-VCT V8 is, the Mustang is civil during city driving and only becomes a maniac on the track when you engage its senses. My ideal weekend itinerary constituted the replication of Misa feeling young and inspirational. The romantic equation consisted of Friday dinner at our favorite healthy restaurant aka Great Sage, a day date Saturday afternoon in Washington, DC, a little shopping, and sightseeing without leaving the Mustang. She made a good point that you become more aware of your surroundings when cruising in a drop-top.
The new Mustang is one that has either grown on many or has not as our discussions continue with current and past owners. Some feel it’s too European while others love the direction the American icon is heading into. Look at what Chevy did with the mesmerizing décor of the Corvette. I’m sure Steve McQueen would have approved and traded up his 1968 Ford Mustang GT for our model year ‘15, albeit in the coupe formation which has more distinctive lines than the ragtop. I feel a remix of Bullitt spurning. The offensive leader clamors for dominance and hones the traits needed for high-energy muscle cars whose semblance for authority is well-recognized by automotive outliers. Ford bequeathed our ride with flaring hood nostrils for optimized engine breathing, a progressive chin spoiler, dual exhaust tips, HID projector lamps, vertical LED taillamps, and 18” machined aluminum rims tucked in 235/50 ZR 18 Pirelli rubber.
As stated, the top stows in less than 10 seconds and doesn’t impede any trunk space, which was important since shopping bags had to be stored. We’re both into fitness so a visit to City Sports, Nike, and Lululemon Athletica was a must. DC is a burgeoning metropolis ripe with new, refreshing restaurants, elite shopping, energetic nightlife, and a melting pot of culture for diverse minds and thinkers. The city tour routed us from historic Georgetown to pick up a few top hats at Goorin Brothers and Lucky Jeans to the eclectic Adams Morgan area for lunch on the terrace of Rumba Café while watching life pass us by like fish in a pond. As difficult as it is to park in the District of Columbia, profoundly, Misa and I found spots directly in front of the businesses we were visiting. Luck? I don’t think so. Call it Mustang Magic!
The only issue that hampered our day was the Ebony Leather interior that invited the sun as if we were bathing on the beach. We turned up the A/C at full blast which ate up some of our fuel. The optional $1,795 12-speaker Shaker Pro Audio System was perfect for my new reggae playlist while the $1,195 Adaptive Cruise Control let me coast in peace. A confluence of ergonomic, safety and, technological improvements including an updated SYN w/ MyFord Touch, a rearview camera, Reverse Park Assist, AdvanceTrac with ESC, Driver Knee Airbag, and a push button starter accelerates the Mustang into the 20th century.
As day turned into night a quick stop at Native Foods Café on 18th and M was a must for dinner takeout. The cabin’s blue florescent lighting package and the dual Mustang reflections that double as your doormats were the topics of discussion heading home. Yet, this time I engaged the 6-speed Select Shift Automatic transmission into Sport mode and paddled shifted my way to Silver Spring, MD to unleash the beast. With each gear held to redline, power was in my full control. Suffice to say we made it to the compound in no time!
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