When it comes to driving dynamics – handling, powertrain performance and braking – 2005’s golden child, the Ford Mustang, comes in third behind the Mini Cooper and the Toyota Camry Solara. Only the dated and defiant PT Cruiser trails the new Ford.

That’s right. The Mustang came in third.

Compared head-to-head, the Mini Cooper’s stellar handling, infallible brakes, and athletic powertrain outshined the softer Mustang with its grainy brakes. With 300 horsepower and five-speed manual transmission, our Mustang GT tester was a blast to drive in a straight line, but it couldn’t hang with the Mini when pushed on a twisty road, and its mediocre brakes faded fast after a bout of aggressive driving. The Solara also featured a soft ride, but the brakes responded better and had a superior feel when judged against the Ford. Drivers who spend most of their time commuting or out of the twisties will appreciate the Solara. Torque steer and body roll were the biggest contributors to the PT’s last-place finish.

4th Place: 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible
Most people refer to it as torque steer, and if it was a saleable product, the PT Cruiser GT convertible would be moving off dealers’ lots faster than that “Only 1 available at this price!” car described in Sunday’s newspaper ad.

In GT trim, the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible features a turbocharger and 245 lb.-ft. of torque. Sounds good for a fairly small convertible, eh? Only if you’re the submissive type, because that torque calls the shots and, off the line, proceeds to yank the PT this way and that.

Quell the urge to dip the throttle into turbo territory, and the PT Cruiser convertible is well-mannered, providing acceptable acceleration for stop-and-go traffic and most routine driving. But, come on, who buys a turbo and lets it sit idle? Get the revs up and feel the extra power come on as condensed air is rammed into the engine, but, oh, that torque steer. If you’re planning on planting the throttle from a red light, make sure to line yourself square in the middle of your lane, because the PT will want to pull hard to the left or right. Unfortunately, the same thing happens on the highway; drop the shifter into third or fourth gear for a high-speed pass, jump on the gas pedal, and feel the steering wheel get a little unruly. On the plus side, a nice rumble is emitted from the exhaust when the revs are up, though it is accompanied by rather raucous engine noise.

Feedback though the steering wheel is a bit vague, but communicates well enough for most situations. Take a corner quickly, and a good dose of body roll is administered, though the sticky 17-inch Goodyear Eagle RS-A tires remain intimate with the road surface. When traveling over bumps or around corners, the PT Cruiser convertible exhibits too much body flex, though it feels tighter than the Solara.

Finally, the 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser GT convertible returned a disappointing 17.2 mpg during our tests – that’s 0.2 mpg worse than the 300-horsepower, V8-powered Ford Mustang’s 17.4-mpg rating.

Guess we’re suckers for torque steer.

3rd Place: 2005 Ford Mustang Convertible
Everyone knows about the new Mustang – your dog dreams of chasing one, your 80-year-old grandmother is hot for the college kid down the street driving one, and your balding uncle thinks his elusive trophy wife is one Mustang key away. So, it’s a great car that attracts all types of people. However, the 2005 Ford Mustang convertible falls short of the Solara and Mini Cooper convertibles in a few key areas, namely handling and braking.

Ford engineers did a good job of limiting body flex, a serious problem for not only for the previous Mustang, but for convertibles in general. Even so, potholes give this car a case of the quivers, though bumps are nicely absorbed and sticky 17-inch Pirellis make high-speed cornering a low-risk proposition. The steering is linear, but suffers from a dead spot on center and slow feedback. And for its part, the suspension is softly tuned when compared with the Mustang GT coupe. So soft, in fact, that quick take offs make the Mustang look like a boat that hasn’t yet planed, and sudden stops give the front end that pavement-dragging low-rider look.

Moments of abrupt deceleration also expose grainy brakes that are prone to fade. The four-disc brake setup is effective, yet the grating feel when the pads are applied (we’ve felt this on numerous Mustang test vehicles) makes the driver wonder, “Does this thing need new brakes already?”

2nd Place: 2005 Toyota Camry Solara Convertible
In a drivability test, the 2005 Toyota Camry Solara convertible beats the Ford Mustang convertible? The Mustang GT, no less?? And we call ourselves enthusiasts???

It’s true. Sedate as it may be, the Solara convertible offers a refined 3.3-liter V6, a smooth five-speed automatic transmission, excellent brakes, and a ride that is Lexus quiet (with the top raised, of course).

With 225 horsepower and 240 lb.-ft. of torque, the Solara’s V6 provides enough twist for spritely off-the-line starts, and ample power to perform comfortable passes at highway speeds. Downshifts are subtle, but the transmission does sometimes hunt for gears. Most noticeable is how quiet the powertrain is – even under full throttle, engine noise is very subdued, not rumbling like the Mustang or thrashy like the PT Cruiser.

The 2005 Toyota Camry Solara convertible also beats those two contenders in terms of braking. There is a progressive feel to the pedal, with the four discs providing plenty of gripping power. The ABS, however, does engage too easily during aggressive driving. But then, given the Solara’s mushy handling characteristics, casual cruises are recommended over canyon carving.

For shoppers looking for a pillowy ride, the Solara convertible is a great choice. The soft suspension swallows up road bumps with little mention to occupants, and the light effort steering also keeps the driver isolated from the road. For sporting drivers, however, the pitiful Bridgestone Turanza 215/55R17 tires further accent the Solara’s understeer and scream for mercy in doing so. People for the Ethical Treatment of Tires are already launching a campaign. Body flex is significant – sometimes deciphering what’s in the rearview mirror requires rapidly moving your head from left to right, in sync with the shaking windshield. As one editor commented, “Structural integrity is an oxymoron with this car.”

So, the 2005 Toyota Camry Solara convertible could use some added body stiffness. The same can be said of most convertibles, including all of those in this test. Limit expectations to comfortable highway runs and moderate speeds in the twisties, and you’ll come away a happy camper driving the Solara convertible.

1st Place: 2005 Mini Cooper Convertible
If the Mini Cooper’s look doesn’t make you smile, a few minutes behind the wheel certainly will. Factor in the Cooper convertible’s sharp handling, unmatched brakes, and impressive powertrain, and it becomes clear that the Mini Cooper offers the best overall driving package of this group.

Our tester boasted 168 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque – seemingly insignificant next to numbers like 300 horsepower in the Mustang GT. But the Mini Cooper is a small car, and those figures feel greater in application than they look on paper. Take-off power is only acceptable, but run the tachometer up to 6,000 rpm (where maximum horsepower is available) and this little Mini takes off. There’s just the right amount of resistance to the clutch, and the gearbox is tight and precise. Speed-shifting is a breeze, and dropping the clutch after a quick shift to second emits a nice chirp from the front tires. Stopping power is outstanding, as the Mini provides the most communicative, well-modulated brakes of the bunch.

Matching the Mini’s impressive powertrain performance and braking is its handling. In fact, 110 mph feels much like 40 mph – the steering remains tight, road abnormalities well absorbed, and the engine running smooth at about 4,000 rpm. On back roads and at slower speeds, the Mini Cooper is all about adhesion. The 17-inch Dunlop Sport tires work with a rather stiff suspension in keeping the Cooper planted in the corners, exhibiting almost no body roll.

With the good usually comes some bad, and in the case of the Mini Cooper convertible, the good comes at the expense of ride quality. That stiff suspension brings with it the toughest ride among our testers, and that stiffness always makes for plenty of body flex. But, in the end, we found those to be minor complaints when measured against the Mini Cooper convertible’s stellar handling and braking, and the tach’s eagerness to climb.