The 2003 Ford Mustang runs nearly uncontested as the only classic muscle car from its model year, excepting the Corvette at twice the price. If you’re looking for a weekend warrior and you’re ready to put in the elbow grease on a project car, the Mustang is a lot of fun. If you’re looking for a reliable daily-driver with a sporty vibe, consider a Honda.
Is the 2003 Ford Mustang a Good Used SUV?
- Overall Rating 8/10 – A good muscle car from a model year with no Chargers or Challengers to choose from.
- Interior, Comfort & Cargo 7/10 – The ride is smooth and the driver seat can fit tall drivers. But passenger space is cramped and cargo space is almost non-existent.
- Reliability 7/10 – If you put the work in, the Mustang may well reach 250,000… but probably not on the original transmission. It’s a project car.
- Safety 6/10 – The Mustang wasn’t the safest car on the road back in 2003, and the safety features it does have are 20 years out of date by now.
- Gas Mileage 6/10 – The V6 model gets 20/29 miles to the gallon, city/highway, but obviously you want the V8, and that one averages 16/22. Good for a muscle car, which is to say, not very good.
- Value 7/10 – Along with the 2002 Corvette, this is one of the most affordable muscle cars on the market today. But an old muscle car is kind of a money pit no matter how great a deal you get on the sticker price.
Positive Owner Reviews
Negative Owner Reviews
What Do Critics Say About the 2003 Ford Mustang?
Consumer Reports calls the 2003 Ford Mustang “primitive,” saying that the base 3.8L V6 is more noisy than powerful, and that the transmission feels clumsy and heavy.
Kelley Blue Book users were, unsurprisingly, far more forgiving of the car than the market watchdogs at Consumer Reports, praising the muscular feel of the Cobra SVT trim, but admitting that the ride is a bit stiff.
Edmunds liked the V8 engine and expressed admiration for the car’s “healthy dose of American attitude,” but called the structure and design “archaic.”
What Common Problems Does the 2003 Ford Mustang Have?
Engine cooling issues take the lead on the Mustang’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration complaints page with 62 reports on file. A number of drivers have reported engine stall and overheat owing to a clutch issue that has resulted in a service bulletin, but no recall as yet.
A recall was issued in 2006 for potential engine fires owing to a fuel leak stemming from a faulty Purolator fuel filter. The recall affected over 58,000 units, all of them 2003 Ford Mustangs.
There are 40 powertrain complaints on file, which is a bit high. At a typical failure mileage of around 150,000, drivers are reporting trouble shifting and cars getting stuck in park or reverse. This doesn’t necessarily reflect on the transmission, but on how people drive it. A Mustang is a muscle car, after all.
In total, the 2003 Mustang has 6 recalls and 263 complaints on file with the NHTSA. Both of these numbers are well below average for a 20 year old vehicle.
How Long Will the 2003 Ford Mustang Last?
On average, expect a 2003 Ford Mustang to last around 200,000 miles on the original engine and powertrain. With excellent maintenance you can almost certainly get a new Mustang to 300,000 miles, but remember that the previous owner has probably been doing burnouts and donuts in this thing. Expect it to be a bit of a project car.
RepairPal report that an older Mustang should cost around $476 in annual repairs. Expect that number to get higher with each passing year. The most expensive common repair is a new camshaft starting at around $1,077.
It's reliable but it eats up the gas. As long as I do the regular tune up it runs just fine. Recently changed the two front tires. They normally get worn out first compare to the back one's.
How Is the Technology?
Entertainment technology is adequate for a 2003 car. CD players come standard in the lower trim levels, while the higher trims add six-disc changers and premium speakers.
Safety technology is decent, but dated. 4-wheel anti-lock brakes and traction control are about as high-tech as it gets here.
Is the 2003 Ford Mustang a Good Value?
The 2003 Ford Mustang is a pretty good value. An entry level Mustang with around 120,000 miles on the odometer typically lists at around $5,069. A high-end GT Deluxe at the same mileage lists at around $7,817.
Buying a muscle car, you have to go in with the understanding that it’s not a great daily driver, it uses a little more fuel than you’ll probably care to expend getting groceries, it’s more high-maintenance than a mid-size Honda or Toyota. But with all that being said, the 2003 Mustang is one of the best ways to get into the muscle car scene without breaking the bank.
What are the Different Models of the 2003 Ford Mustang?
The 2003 Mustang is offered in four basic models, from the entry-level Base to the top-tier Cobra.
With the entry-level Base you’re getting:
- Manual air conditioning
- AM/FM with CD player
- SecuriLock anti-theft
- Power windows and door locks
- Two power points
The mid-range GT adds:
- Sport bucket seats
- Leather wrapped steering wheel
- 150 mph speedometer
- Single wing rear spoiler
The Base and GT are available in Premium variants, which add six-disc CD changers, premium speakers, leather seat trim, and a 6-way power-adjust for the driver seat.
The next level up is the Mach 1, adding:
- Comfort weave leather seating
- 6-way power driver seat
- Premium speaker system and six-disc CD player
With a top-of-the-line Cobra you add:
- Leather and perforated suede seating
- Driver lumbar support
- Molded Cobra branding on rear bumper
- Cobra badging on fender
The Cobra is available in a 10th Anniversary edition, which adds 10th Anniversary branding and argent aluminum wheels, but is valued more for its collectability than any tangible upgrades.
What Engines Come In the 2003 Ford Mustang?
- In the Base model you’ll find a 3.8L SMPI V6 delivering 193 horsepower and 225 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission and configured in, rear wheel drive. You can watch it go zero to sixty in about nine seconds courtesy this video from Youtuber Michael Arnold.
- A 4.6L V8 is standard in the GT, Mach 1, and Cobra models. This engine produces 302 lb.-ft. of torque and 260 horsepower. Paired to a 4-speed automatic and configured in rear wheel drive, the V8 has been clocked hitting 60 mph at 5.8 seconds, with a quarter mile time of 16.0.
- Optional in the Cobra is a supercharged version of the 4.6L V8. This is paired to a 6-speed manual transmission, rear wheel drive, and it can deliver to 390 horsepower and 390 lb.-ft. of torque. If you know your way around a stick shift you can hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds with this thing.
What Colors Does the 2003 Ford Mustang Come In?
How Comfortable Is the 2003 Ford Mustang?
The nice word for the Mustang’s interior is “cozy.” Some might call it cramped, “some” meaning your passengers. But the sliding seat rack goes back far enough that tall drivers should have no problem fitting in the front seat. The interior is more of a cockpit than a cabin.
But, the ride is nice and smooth thanks to the MacPherson strut suspension and gas shocks, and it seems to have stood the test of time, with very few suspension complaints on file with the NHTSA.
How Much Storage Space Does the 2003 Ford Mustang Have?
You’re maxing out at 10.9 cubic feet of storage space in a 2003 Ford Mustang. In the interest of getting that zero-to-sixty time down, you can generally count on muscle car designers to cut the fat anywhere they can, and that includes trunk space.
You’ve got enough room to carry the supplies for short road trips, maybe a one-night visit to the campgrounds, or airplane luggage for two. If you need to do any real moving and hauling, expect to owe your closest truck-owning friend a favor.
What Are the Differences Between Years?
The 2003 Ford Mustang was the second to last edition of the ten-year 4th Generation run, starting with the 1994 model and retiring with the 2004 edition.
1994: Ford invested nearly a billion dollars to improve the Fox platform for the new Mustang, adding MacPherson strut suspension and a four-bar link solid axle.
1995: 1995 saw the introduction of a stripped down performance-oriented GTS model.
1996: Ford swapped the small block 302 CID V8 for a Modular 4.6L V8.
1997: Some minor cosmetic changes were made to the 1997 edition, like new seat colors, an they added Passive Anti-theft as a standard feature.
1998: The exhaust system got an overhaul, producing an extra ten horsepower in V8 models.
1999: Under-the-hood tweaks brought the horsepower up an extra 40 points in the V6 models, and 35 in the V8.
2000: A few new color options and updated child safety features were added.
2001: A bigger, repositioned center console was added for 2001.
2002: No major changes in 2002.
2003: Ford offered an interior upgrade package for 2003 with bigger headrests and some flashier cosmetics, including silver trim for various shifters, handles, and instruments throughout the cabin.
2004: No big changes for the 2004 edition. Ford was set to launch the fifth-gen by this point, so fourth-gen improvements were low priority.
How Does the 2003 Ford Mustang Compare to the Competition?
With no Charger, Challenger, or Camaro on the market for 2003, the Mustang almost runs uncontested for this model year. But if you’re willing to go back to 2002, that year’s Chevrolet Camaro is worth mention. It runs about a thousand dollars cheaper, on average, and delivers 310 horsepower thanks to a potent 5.7L V8.
Chevrolet also released a Corvette in 2003, which outclasses all but the supercharged Mustang in just about every way, but typically lists at around $17,875.
2003 was slim picking for muscle car enthusiasts. If you’re looking for something from that model year for under ten grand, the Mustang is pretty much your only choice.
Do Owners Recommend the 2003 Ford Mustang?
Yes. It's great. It still runs and does the job. I drive about 20 miles back and forth on a daily basis.
