How ironic: What was originally lampooned as faux muscle is, today, a classic example of what real muscle means. Long known as a pony car, the Ford Mustang has had to earn its place in muscle car annals. Of course, it’s hard to tell the 2005 Ford Mustang GT to go back to the pony rides, what with 300C horsepower under it’s hood. Power aside, however, it’s the most affordable of the muscle cars available, and has the strongest and purest retro design vibe.

And there’s the price, which unlike the other two fast Charlies in our story starts at a more humane $25,140 for the GT Deluxe model, or $26,320 for the GT Premium trim. That’s a strong value, no matter how you slice it. The Ford Mustang GT is a muscle car with terrific exterior appeal, an interior designed to take you back in time, and a powertrain that takes you into the future quickly, to the tune of a 4.6-liter V8 making 300C-horsepower at 5,750 rpm. Torque comes in at 320 lb.-ft. at 4,500 rpm, more than enough to get your attention. On the road, the numbers translate into plenty of power to brag about, and the Mustang GT emits a sweet exhaust note that tells your neighbors that you really haven’t grown up all the way – at least not quite yet.

Besides, this thing makes it fun to do burnouts – as long as you get the five-speed manual transmission, which is nice, though a little clunky under duress and a bit noisy. The clutch is easy to use, but the fact that it’s attached to a V8 and is moving a relatively heavy car means that you’ll likely abuse it more than you would otherwise. There’s also a five-speed automatic, but it’s a shame to buy the GT with an automatic and lose all that driving fun. If you want ease of use, slide down to the V6 Mustang and be content that you’ve got a not-quite-muscle car in your driveway.

The GT, on the other hand, is all muscle. The fact that it goes better in a straight line is right from the muscle code, as is its ability to smoke the tires. Also in the credo is a practical interior – and for a 2005, it sure does a good job of taking you back in time. It does it with simplicity of form and function. Forget the multi-colored dashboard lights for a second, and the other modern conveniences. From behind the wheel, the Ford Mustang GT recaptures the feel of classic Mustangs, thanks to touches such like aluminum trim (with an upgrade package) and recessed gauges. It does suffer from seats made more for commutes than corners, however, and the noise pollution from creaks and cranks can be a bit obtrusive, though not bothersome. Of the things the Mustang does poorly, in fact, none are really bothersome at a price tag of around $25,000. It’s simply the case that with so much good power, and so much good styling, other blips on the radar screen are easily dismissed. Built on a reconfigured Lincoln LS platform, the Mustang is light years better in the corners than the previous model. That’s like a fat man saying that he’s losing weight after skipping seconds, true, but the Mustang is better, and justified, though many wonder why Ford engineers didn’t go with an independent rear suspension instead of a live axle. It does make for a more hoppy ride, but overall the Mustang is enjoyable, whether in traffic or taking a fast corner. Either way, you’ll look good doing it, as the exterior design is among the most praised on the road. By mixing cues from the classic Mustang era of the mid-to-late 1960s, with modern touches such as a wider stance and attractive 17-inch wheels, the Ford Mustang looks like the kind of car you can spend the day washing and waxing.

If you think about it, that’s the essence of muscle: a car that goes fast, is priced for the middle class, looks great and feels like a classic. For the Mustang GT, that’s what it’s all about, and that’s what makes it the muscle car for the common man.