No matter what Ford did to the Mustang in 2003, the year would be known for the re-release of the monster SVT Cobra. The 2003 Ford Mustang engines started with a base 3.8-liter OHV, rated at 193 horsepower. The GT had a 4.6-liter, 16-valve SOHC V8 rated at 260 horsepower, the Mach 1 had a 4.6-liter, 32-valve DOHC rated at 305 horsepower (can you see I'm building to something here?), and the Cobra had a 4.6-liter, 32-valve DOHC rated at 390 horsepower. Dude, 390!
Not to be outdone, Saleen had its 20th Anniversary model with a base of 375 horsepower that could be tuned to numbers nearing and exceeding the Cobra.
While we highlight specific author bylines where possible, sometimes our content results from the combined efforts of several members of the CarGurus editorial team. As with all our editorial content, you can expect high levels of automotive insight and expertise delivered in a style that is approachable and free from jargon.
I have a 2003 V6 3.8 it has 285,245 miles on it I have put everything replaced master cylinder , altenater and all . Well its been a strong fast unbelievable V6, I get on it hard and race on road alot alot miles but I maintain it and all I can say is great car would recommend it to anyone.Jan 16, 2022
by Bruno H
Nov 21, 2020
It’s just an American muscle car that is fun to drive easy to take care of and makes a lot of great memoriesNov 21, 2020
by Anonymous
May 01, 2015
Great car that is easy to work on and loved by all. The five spewed gives great fuel economy even with the v8. I would have liked a stiffer chassis but it is a convertible after all. With the correct tires it was also fun to drive in the snow.May 01, 2015
User rating:
by Anonymous
Jan 16, 2022
I have a 2003 V6 3.8 it has 285,245 miles on it I have put everything replaced master cylinder , altenater and all . Well its been a strong fast unbelievable V6, I get on it hard and race on road alot alot miles but I maintain it and all I can say is great car would recommend it to anyone.Jan 16, 2022
by Bruno H
Nov 21, 2020
It’s just an American muscle car that is fun to drive easy to take care of and makes a lot of great memoriesNov 21, 2020
by Anonymous
May 01, 2015
Great car that is easy to work on and loved by all. The five spewed gives great fuel economy even with the v8. I would have liked a stiffer chassis but it is a convertible after all. With the correct tires it was also fun to drive in the snow.May 01, 2015
by Tamara S
Apr 08, 2015
I think everyone should own a Mustang and/or convertible at least once in their life. I have loved this car as it has provided some great travel memories. It has even hauled its fair share of things with the top down.
The motor is solid, steers well, and is even great on snow and ice with a few bags of sand in the trunk.
Overall a Wonderful Car!Apr 08, 2015
by Jim C
Mar 09, 2015
Fun, quick, little car that is a pleasure to drive with the top down. Very reliable. Smooth powerful engine. Flawless transmission. Great lines. A perfect car for a ride through the country side on a summer afternoon. Great Power. Great Style.Mar 09, 2015
by Anonymous
Dec 27, 2014
I love this car, I love the color, the sound, the feeling you get being in it and I love the premium package. This car will not let anyone down, in being reliable and won't let anyone down on expectations.Dec 27, 2014
by Anonymous
Aug 15, 2014
This car is certainly a blast to have and for being weak to today's standards, can still throw you back in your seat! Mostly just in 1st and 2nd gear though. This car sounds great and is fun to drive, though don't expect good gas mileage. I got 16 in the city. Many of these cars (including mine) from the New Edge line are infected with "hanging idle" and there seems to be no fix. The RPMs don't drop like they're supposed to until you're at a stop for about 3 seconds, otherwise they'll hang in the 1200-1800 RPM range, depending on your speed and such and it can be really annoying. Great car and a pleasure to have! Very comfy car to ride in. My legs don't go numb/hurt like they do in my mom's 05 Altima from longer driving sessionsAug 15, 2014
by Annette L
Dec 05, 2013
I love this car with stylish good looks and tons of power. Saddle up with this pony and enjoy a fun ride. I have driven this car on long road trips and it was a great experience! This is a muscle car lovers car!!!Dec 05, 2013
by Anonymous
Jul 29, 2013
Every time that I drive it, it is impossible to not smile when I step on the gas. Every single drive is fun and I cherish every moment that I have to drive the car. The supercharger whine never gets old!Jul 29, 2013
by Anonymous
Jul 18, 2013
I love the power and handling of this beast. I will upgrade to the same year cobra (terminator.) Because of the love I have for this body style. I owned a 2010 gt but sold it after 3 months I had no desire for the new body style. I have had my 03 gt for over a year now, and still love it as the day I bought it. I plan on keeping my gt and acquiring a cobra at the same time.Jul 18, 2013
by Alfonso C
Feb 05, 2013
Performance - Good straight line acceleration
Build Quality - Plain interior but low maintenance overall.
Appearance - Plastic interior. Aggressive exterior.
Cost of Ownership - Very affordable besides gas.
Fun Factor - Good in a straight line, heavy around corners and average on braking. Mostly for drag racing.Feb 05, 2013
by David H
Dec 01, 2012
Car has lots of power and is fun to drive both with the top up or down. I get many comments like " cool car" all the time. I also get a lot of people who want to see how fast she is by wanting to race. She is quick off the line and the handling is awesome through the turns. The car feels like its on rails!Dec 01, 2012
by Vernon F
Feb 28, 2012
one great pony car not a lot of power but 5 speed manual. the best ting of this car is about cornering and the feeling of the long hood in front of you and the low seat inside.one word mustang equal to wow.Feb 28, 2012
by Alex K
Jan 13, 2012
Makes awesome power. 0-60 in less than 5. 60-0 in 110 ft. .9G skidpad. 13.6
stock quarter mile time. (ill be faster haha)
Build quality is WAY up on my older 96 GT mustang. Everything is put together
better and the whole car feels more solid.
Appearance is everything with mustangs and while the base and GT cars look
good. I've got a Mach 1. The front lip spoiler, unique spoiler, and the shaker
hood scoop are just awesome. I also like the unique interior touches to the
gauges, seats, headrests, dash trim and pedals.
Gas mileage is actually pretty good for a 4.6l 4v engine. I get about 28
highway and ive never bothered to calculate mileage in the city. Way too
much fun to get on it. Matinence wise its been awesome. Bought it knowing it
needed brakes and a rear axle seal. Did that and all its needed was an oil
change and gas. Perfect reliability.
Fun factor. HUGE. Throws you back in your seat. Roasts tires into third if
your daft with it. You can watch the shaker vibrate all day long. And the
nostalgia factor of driving a Mach 1 is worth the price of entry. Jan 13, 2012
by Daniel K
Nov 03, 2011
mach 1, cobra engine, real working shaker hood, rides good, built better than most cars, can handle the hp it has, could use a little more, comfortable, cheap to take care of, ok on mileage, real fun car to drive, pretty fast, Nov 03, 2011
by Anonymous
Sep 29, 2011
I love the looks people give when you accelerate from a red-light and they just have that look of, really? Isn't that a little too loud? Its a true peice of American muscle history, and am positive it'll not only be a rare find but a hot collectible. My favorite car I own, or have ever owned.Sep 29, 2011
by Anonymous
Aug 03, 2011
I don't dislike anything about my vehicle. Is in Perfect, Outstanding Condition, inside and Out. Runs like a race car, Looks Bad!!! Everytime I drive my Mach 1 I turned heads all the time. The best toy I have ever owned!Aug 03, 2011
by Ronald P
Jul 03, 2011
my car is very quick and handles very well,one of the best looking mustangs around,it is really fun to drive and gets a lot of attention.I have done a lot of work on this car and will continue to do so.My gt has won numerous awards at car shows and will always be a part of my life.Just recently installed a set of 3.73 ford gears, 1st,2nd,and 3rd will set you back into the seat! Overall the car is a dream come true and will continue to be so.Jul 03, 2011
by Linda S
Jun 14, 2011
Change of lifestyle forces sale. Car is very fun to drive, 0-100 in 1 on-ramp to highway,car handles awesome, near perfect in condition. Never any mechanical issues (only 18K miles), will say has been fun to own. A lot of other Mustang fans out there giving you the "thumbs-up" when driving this vehicle. Will get 24 highway MPG on average, and not exactly being light-footed. I will truly miss this car!Jun 14, 2011
by Brian M
Oct 18, 2010
It accelerates well, stops fine, and handles alright
I have not had to have anything repaired yet
I love the exterior styling, I wish some of the parts were actually functional though
The interior is nice, not BMW/Mercedes quality, but it's nice.
I get around 15 MPG in the city, not driving it like a Grandma
I love driving this carOct 18, 2010
by Joseph M
Sep 07, 2010
This is a 2003 Stage 2 Roush mustang. It does 0-60 in 4.9 sec and holds over a 1.02 G's on the skidpad. With 340 galloping horsepower and a well tuned suspension, this car is packed full of excitement. Aside from gas mileage topping out around 27 Highway, this beauty will take you anywhere you want to go. Not only in a quick manner, but with loads of style as well. If mustangs are like butt cracks, Consider this butt crack to that of Jessica Alba.Sep 07, 2010
by Anonymous
Jan 19, 2010
Most people on here have reviewed the v8 flavor of Ford's 2003 beast. That's great - I wish I could have afforded one ;) Instead, I had to settle for a 3.8 v6 with a reconstructed title thanks to some 16 yr old who crashed practically right after driving it off the lot. Nonetheless, this vehicle has become the love of my life.
If you come across this little blurb of mine in a state of bewilderment as to the number of cylinders you want churning, let me just say that the v6 can hold its own. I bought this car primarily for the looks, but have been pleasantly surprised by its pick up during hard acceleration. Of course, it's not a GT, but if you really punch the gas this baby will roar it's way past Grandpa Slowsky in no time.
But let me just say that's the only time your going to get much sound out of your sixer. This doesn't really bother me because in all honesty, I prefer a quieter ride.
Another reason this car is fantastic is it's handling. Even at speeds of 70+ on Midwest interstates, I feel comfortable resting one arm on the window in the passing lane. My mom's 4 banger FWD can't go much higher than 65 without the driver having to make a genuine effort to hold the wheel steady and stay in lane without being blown off the highway by the corresponding rush of air. The Mustang, however, seems to have a nice "driving on flypaper" effect and remains tight even at top speeds.
Unfortunately, the car fails in it's ability to handle winter weather. If it snows more than two inches, I wouldn't even think of taking the 'stang out. Traction control is a joke. By the time it kicks in, you're already sliding off the road and it doesn't seem to do much of anything anyway. I found this all out the hard way by driving to work in our first snowstorm. Thankfully, AAA saved my rear on the way home :)
I give it a 4/5 for build quality not because of failed engine components but because of the some of the exterior and interior cosmetics. "Cheapo" plastic details are a bit too common for my liking, but other than that the car looks great. Leather seating is terrific and the mustang logo graces the windshield, steering wheel, glove box, and front seats. The outside contains enough lines and curves to maintain the Mustang's classic mix of sport and muscle yet it isn't overkill.
I have also found that Ford's clear coat is not as "hard" as some other makes. I use all the safe washing practices and am sure to use drying towels that are only as clean as a pastor's bed sheets, yet have found my 'stang to be covered in new swirl marks all the time. Nothing a good coat of show car glaze and wax can't fix, however.
Gas mileage in the city isn't horrendous, but it isn't anything to brag about either. I average about 18. Highway driving is much better. I've driven from Philly to Chicago on just about 3 tanks.
61,000 miles and I've never had a major mechanical problem. Just a word of advice, however. Don't install those aftermarket remote starters - nothing but trouble ;D
All in all, if you're looking for a solid performer that looks great, this Mustang can't be beat. Even if it's "just a v6" I think you'll be happy with it's acceleration capabilities unless you're a real speed demon. Then, by all means, go with a GT or even a Mach 1.Jan 19, 2010
by Hayley D
Nov 24, 2009
I love how it handles so smoothly, and when it gets really up to speed, it feels as if you're gliding on clouds. No repairs needed. It is Mint condition and really fun to drive on the highway and floor it!Nov 24, 2009
by Seth B
Nov 08, 2009
I has a fully built N/A 13:1 engine; Ported heads, big cams, forged bottom end with custom flat top pistons. Exterior has a 03 Cobra style hood and a OEM 03 Cobra bumper cover. Nothing super crazy or special, just something to have some fun with for now.Nov 08, 2009
by Tim M
Nov 02, 2009
Best car I've had so far. Gets decent gas mileage for a V8 and great performance for the money. Insurance is a bit expensive. The car is a blast to drive and looks great. The stock shifter is a bit sluggish so I would suggest a short-throw. Nov 02, 2009
by Matthew M
Nov 01, 2009
Performance- good acceleration, braking, and handling
Build quality- so far, so good. No problems yet
Appearance- I love the styling of the "new edge" Mustangs, perfect blend of modern and retro
Cost of ownership- it gets good gas mileage when I don't plant the go pedal. I haven't had any maintenance issues yet.
Fun Factor- Even though it's stock, the still V8 roars and it's quickNov 01, 2009
by Murilo V
Aug 09, 2009
it handles great but it's only a V6. As soon as you step on the gas the car will just pick it up right away, without any hesitation. The car will just make anyone turn their heads to look at it as it drives by them because the car is that beautiful.Aug 09, 2009
by Eric U
Aug 03, 2009
Good power plant, performance parts pretty much are easy as heck to find. More oversteer than many cars but if you know how to drive its not a problem. Traction can be and issue so a wider tire out back is recommended. 4.10 gears, 100 shot Nitrous, and a Delta Force Tune will put it in the 11s. Aug 03, 2009
by Kyle G
Jul 29, 2009
Being the V6 variety it's gas mileage isn't that bad. It's a beautiful car and very fun to drive. One thing I do not like about the car is the amount of plastic in the interior. Other than that, the car is AWESOME!Jul 29, 2009
by Van M
Feb 27, 2009
Only dislike is the fact that I dislike that I don't have the money to drop a KB Supercharger, Lambo doors, HID lights, Dual stripes, Cobra R front bumper, Cobra R wing, Mach 2 hood and Cobra front and rear slotted disc brakes 13F/11R
Performance- acceleration is very good, braking a little scary coming down from 90 mph for a 90 degree left turn, handling is solid
Build Quality-its a Ford, a little squeaks, window motor replaced, biggest thing is keeping the engine healthy.
Appearance-Just look at her
Cost of Ownership-Its a sport car, maintenance can get expensive and gas is high, but really fun to drive
Fun Factor-raced and won over a S2000, G35, Turbo Civic and Eclipse. Mazda 8 won't even try. Have done 110mph on the 134!Feb 27, 2009
by Sean M
Feb 26, 2009
I love the 'Stang, but you'd think that over 40 years, Ford would be able to incorporate some of the finer syntheitic materials rather than the hard, gaudy plastic that we see in many of today's vehicles produced by the Big 3.
I'd like to see some Zonda-like interior design. The thing weighs 3,600 lbs and pushes 400 HP at the wheels...that makes 9lbs/hp. Not bad, but it could be better...that's why I've stripped out the interior, kept what I needed to make it liveable and dropped the overall weight to 3200 lbs. equating to 8lbs/hp. It's not in the Ariel Atom arena, but it does well for a naturally-aspirated weekend racer.
For the handling, it does well. "What do you need handling on a drag-car for?" As a member of the SCCA, one needs handling for the Rallies. In addition, it IS my daily driver, and it helps to have good handling when I travel cross-country between San Angelo, Tx and San Diego, Ca. Fastest Trip Time: 14hrs 11min. Distance: 1,211 miles.
As far as comfort: could I travel that fast across the Southern US without the best form-fitting luxuries? It's great. As for build quality, not the best I've seen, but I've never had a mechanical problem that involved opening the hood.
Appearance: Wish I had waited until 2005 as the 2003 still hangs on styling from the lingering SN95's.
I do love this car, though.Feb 26, 2009
by Randy P
Jan 28, 2009
I really enjoy this car. I have had it since it only had 74 miles on it. It has great performance. Its quick, and the flowmasters sound great. I cant exactly run with the SS Camaros or WS6 Trans Ams at the moment, but Im happy with it. Jan 28, 2009
by Ian B
Sep 01, 2008
Performance: Lackluster when stock, but with a few
modifications, it is now a blast to drive
Build Quality: Typical Ford craftsmanship, so it has
its rattles and shakes, but so far nothing serious
has broken. It is cheap to keep up with
maintenance.
Appearance: Black is best and when its clean this
car outshines vehicles of much higher price. Love it.
I get lots of looks and comments.
Cost: Very cheap to maintain. Insurance is a bit
over the top, but I am under 25 years old. Gas
mileage averages around 28-29 on highway, 20-22
in town. I do all maintenance myself, so its been
cheap for me not having to pay a mechanic, but all
parts for maintenance have been inexpensive and
easy to work on.
Fun Factor: Definitely fun. Wish it had removable
top or sunroof, but I'm just as happy cruising with
the windows down.Sep 01, 2008
by Jared B
Aug 11, 2008
I dont dislike anything about this car. I love it and will never sale it!! it is a 2003 GT with a 4.6L V8 of course, full out custom exhast with a 3" BBK X-pipe into straight through dyno-max flow mufflers. K&N cold air intake, ported intake manifold, SCT computer chip programmer little odds and ends so far under the hood! inside cab. black leather seats, alpine speakers all around with a pioneer 10" sub with a custom box flush in the trunk with a memphis 300 watt amp! all controlled by a pioneer CD/DVD head fold out screen! outer features.., tinted windows, converted front and rear bumper into 03-04 svt cobra bumpers with black cobra insert and black rear spoiler! front and side snake emblems, back SVT emblem, 2 inch drop iboch lowering springs, all sitting on 18" Y2K cobra wheels!! Aug 11, 2008
by Justin S
Aug 01, 2008
i love the car, it built great, looks great, runs great. Not the fastest i have had but it's a v6 so you can't expect much. Loads of appearance and performance mods. very fun to drive! gets tons of looks when it goes by, and its also a well priced car.Aug 01, 2008
by Brittany S
Jun 12, 2008
This was the first car to my name. I learned to drive on this car, and even though it was a little beaten up, it was perfect for me. This is where I got my true love of v8s from.Jun 12, 2008
by Anonymous
May 08, 2008
The exterior and interior styling are both amazing. Ford did great with this vehicle. Sounds like a true v8 beast and drives like one too. Say goodbye to little Hondas and Acuras, they won't see anything but your taillights.May 08, 2008
by Mical C
Apr 18, 2008
305 hp stock, good factory exhaust, nice interior, what's not to like?Apr 18, 2008
by Andrew F
Apr 09, 2008
Very good looking car to start out with, plenty of power to go with good mpg's. Very nice interior and comfort.Apr 09, 2008
by Jill C
Feb 22, 2008
Best car ever owned. Except for the price tag. Tons of power and absolutely loved to drive it. Feb 22, 2008
by Sean B
Jan 09, 2008
I absolutely loved this car. Mine had about 5 to 6 grand invested, which really made the car what it was. Very impressive acceleration, handling, everything. It was a Steeda Stage 2 without the body. Tons of fun.Jan 09, 2008
by Josh S
Dec 30, 2007
Good sporty car, lacking performance with the V6.Dec 30, 2007
by Pete T
Dec 29, 2007
Purchased July 2003 (new) currently 80k miles
5spd manual transmission, Azure blue
Appearance customizations include:
Tints and blackouts, lots of vinyl and stripes, custom logos and wheels
Performance modifications include:
Built 4.30 rear end, Full exhaust (bassani-bassani-borla), Eaton superchargerDec 29, 2007
by Anonymous
Aug 24, 2007
I purchased this Dark Shadow Gray Mach 1, based on the limited availability of the model, coupled with the fact that it had the same DOHC 4.6 litre engine as the Cobra, without the supercharger, but had ram air with the functional shaker hood scoop. Of course, the ram air is only partly true, as most of the intake still comes from the fender well as in all other Mustangs, and the shaker hood scoop, while functional, just brings in part of the air.
In any case, the engine is a high winder, as found in overhead cam, versus overhead valve engines. It winds freely but the torque doesn't seem to kick in until you hit about 5,000 rpm, which left me feeling rather cold about the power. I was used to the pushrod Mustangs and the low RPM power curves, so maybe I was just disappointed in the lack of low end power, that would have been better satisfied by the Cobra with the supercharger, since that does produce gobs more low end power. I also noted many of the Mach 1 enthusiasts were retrofitting superchargers to their cars and thus were ending up with the proverbial "poor man's Cobra".
Fit and finish were good, the paint job was about as fine as I have ever seen on a Ford product. Glass like and flawless. The black leather interior was nicely done and the bucket seats were comfortable. As always, the back seats are fine for a short trip for kids and small adults but not for any long hauls for anyone else. The five speed manual gearbox was relatively smooth, although a six speed would have been a lot better.
All in all, a nice vehicle, but it should have had more power, more low end torque and maybe a longer production run. The two year run of the car proved it perhaps wasn't as popular as it should be, as many sat on dealer lots, and sold for many thousands off the MSRP as dealers deep discounted them to move them out. Aug 24, 2007
by Anonymous
May 22, 2007
Great acceleration, handling, good breaks, aggressive body style with an engine tone that can make anyone have to double take.May 22, 2007
Everything quit, no lights/ horn/ or anything electrical. Would not turn over. Battery fully charged. next day started, but shut off ignition switch shut, tried to start again, and again not turning over and no electrical. Is this problem in the power distribution box? All fuses in it look good. How do I check it or bypass it ??
I have this project car I have been fixing, but after replacing and programming the ABS Module, my Brake Light stays on. my brakes function normally, but my transmission does not want to go in gear. it eventually does go into gear while idling in D for a few minutes, but slips out of gear when car comes to complete stop. Recently replaced dead battery and all codes are reset, but cant test drive in current condition. Is there a particular component in the Brake System that communicates with the transmission? or are these 2 separate issues that are just coincidence. Also, I cant find anything on web about resetting the TCM for the 2003. everything online seems to be 2009 or newer.
The car was sold with a/c but when I got it home it is missing the a/c. I need the old posting if possible. It was bought from vault motors in Mississauga in February 2003.