2010 Ford Mustang GT Convertible 'Car of the Month' for September

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible (2010)

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible (2010)

Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Convertible (2010)

NADAguides.com, the leading
provider of vehicle pricing and information, today announced the 2010 FordMustang GT Convertible has received the NADAguides.com "Car of the Month"award for September. The fading summer heat means the time is right forcruising with the top down, and there is no better way to do it than behind
the wheel of the new Mustang. The latest iteration of America's favorite pony
car takes performance and refinement to a new level with an aggressive new
exterior, stylishly designed cabin and even more power from the V8 engine.

"Since its debut in 1964, the Mustang has become perhaps the biggestautomotive icon in the United States. Ford deserves a lot of credit for beingable to continually improve the driving experience without losing any of theclassic feel or heritage," said Michael Caudill, NADAguides.com Auto Expert.
"The 2010 model is a perfect example, combining just the right look, sound andperformance. Pound for pound, the 2010 Ford Mustang GT is the best modern
muscle car that money can buy."

The star of the GT Mustang is the magnificent drivetrain. GT models areequipped with the 315 hp 4.6L V8 from last year's Bullitt Mustang which ismated to a 5-speed manual or optional 5-speed automatic transmission.
Respectable fuel economy figures of 16 city/24 hwy mpg hint at the Mustang'srelatively small displacement V8, but the sound coming from the stainless steel dual exhaust is pure '60s big block.

The 2010 Ford Mustang impresses on the inside as well. In premium trim, theMustang GT comes equipped with leather seats, Ford's SYNC voice-activatedcommunications and entertainment system, a Shaker 500-watt audio system with SIRIUS satellite radio and a leather wrapped steering wheel with integrated
controls. To offer even more refinement, available options include dual-zone
climate control, heated front seats and a voice-activated navigation system.

With a choice of body styles and powertrains, there is a Mustang to fit nearly anyone's budget and lifestyle. The base V6 Coupe has an MSRP of $20,995 whilethe GT Premium Convertible we tested starts at $35,995. All models are backed
by a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

For the complete video review, blog post and image gallery, please visit NADAguides.com and click on the "Car of the Month" banner.

The NADAguides.com "Car of the Month" program is unique from any other review program in the automobile industry and provides consumers with expert commentary and practical information on the cars, trucks and SUVs they are
shopping for. Selecting one vehicle per month, NADAguides.com announces the "Car of the Month" through a multi-media platform including an online video review, press release and a comprehensive blog post where consumers can provide additional commentary.

Volvo C30 and C70 Convertible Get Refreshed

pair of Volvo’s more dapper offerings, the compact C30 and the C70 convertible coupe, have been cosmetically reworked for the 2010 model year. Both were introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

The C30 gets a squared-off look. “We wanted the 30 to have more attitude,” said Clas Olhag, marketing manager for Volvo. “Sharp edges in front, the larger, more universal size of the grille. Very subtle changes, because we wanted to keep the references to the P1800.” The P1800, introduced in the early 1960s, was one of Volvo’s few outright sporty designs.

Volvo continues to offer a slightly racier version of the C30, dubbed the R-Design, fixed with side skirts, bulkier spoilers front and rear. Mechanical modifications include a lower steering ratio for a 10 percent faster steering response and 30 percent stiffer suspension all around.

Volvo C70 convertible.

As for the retractable-hardtop C70, it gets a softer refresh. The redo tweaks the front and rear ends, with a wedged-shaped nose, new headlamps and, like the C30, a larger, more forceful Volvo badge on the grille.

Mr. Olhag says that both models have “plenty of opportunities” for options, a marketing tool that the company employed when the first C30 was released. “We call it ‘a product of free will,’” he said.

2009 BMW M3 Convertible

In the case of the M3, the ultimate 3-series, the praise is typically amplified. Well, not so much for the convertible M3. You see, the automotive press has a penchant for very odd vehicles the general buying public simply doesn't understand, so we tend to eschew the cars "normal" people want. As a member of the press, I'm required to beg BMW for an M3 wagon instead of this goofy M3 convertible. The truth is, neither model makes much sense.

Chopping the top off a car doesn't do anything to increase performance, and it almost always reduces performance. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to maintain torsional rigidity without resorting to a bunch of heavy braces. Even then, most convertibles suffer from some degree of cowl shake, and folding hardtop convertibles, like the BMW M3, are prone to squeaks and rattles when the top is in place. Granted, Michigan's roads are particularly harsh on convertibles and most convertible buyers hail from warmer climes where the roads are in much better shape.

Ignoring my personal feelings that convertibles, like sunroofs, are a complete waste of money, the M3 convertible makes sense in a one-up-your-neighbor-at-any-expense sort of way. When driven on a public road, the M3 convertible will do anything the M3 coupe will do, plus the top can come off. There's no real value to this trick other than doing something your neighbor's M3 coupe can't. To some people, that's worth the $67,325 cost of admission. For these people, money is probably not a concern and it wouldn't be impossible to have an M3 convertible for cruising down the coast and a serious track toy in the garage.