TODAY IS MY FAVORITE HOLIDAY

About once a year I go up to a car rental counter and they say: "I'm sorry sir, there are no mid-sized sedans left. Would you like a Ford Mustang instead?" I briefly weigh the pros and cons, then shout "Boo yeah!"

Why is it such a cool car? It's not just its looks, its storied history, or the special connection it has with San Francisco. It's the ability of FoMoCo to maintain a consistent identity for the car over the years. Three simple ingredients:

Power - The Mustang always has a great power/weight ratio. No matter how fast you're going, or what the situation is, you simply push down on the pedal on the floor and it goes faster. It's not some Japanese buzz bomb that you have to rev up to 5000 RPM to get onto the freeway. And it's not some super-pig SUV that crawls from 0-60 despite having a V-12 turbo under the hood. And it's especially not some lame-ass hybrid. It is a powerful, sporty automobile.

Handling Excitement - We've had some fatalities recently on the Pacific Coast Highway as BMW and Audi drivers, lulled by the sophisticated handling of their vehicles, dozed off and plunged into the sea. This cannot happen in a Mustang. Any change in road direction, however minor, requires immediate operator input to keep the car on the road. This encourages the driver to be alert and engaged at all times.

Proletarian - With an MSRP of 18-35,000 (a used one might run 10 grand) you can afford it. You don't have to bring your resume to the showroom. You don't have to be friends with a guy named Enzo or Juergen. You don't have to pay an extra 40Gs for ambiance. You can spend 2x or 3x the price of a Mustang and end up with a really embarrassing vehicle that doesn't go very fast or handle very well.

The Mustang is the true "People's Car". The Volkswagen? Nice try Mr. Hitler, but you have to do better than that to beat out good old American knowhow.