I have heads/Headers and a cam on my 04 (with th eplain jane hood) and 99% of the cars I encounter cannot even keep up to the next red light - let alon any further. And this is all before my stall converter. After that I will 0-60 with the elite of the group.

As for the brushed aluminum feel -- and your quote "I felt I was getting more for my money with the Mustang with the brushed aluminum interior."

Notice the key workds in that sentence "feel,felt" Ford does it again...you feel like you are getting more - although you are getting less. It is a shame.