I am about to add to our "collection" a 2003 Mustang GT 5 speed hardtop, leather interior w/75k miles. I already know I am going to replace the headlights and rear rotors (scored). Anything from you Mustang guys I should look for before I totally commit???

Thanks In Advance! I always trust you guys to help out if ya can.


They accepted my offer of $9300 and the bank has already approved.

David

 

Congrats! Nice Stang!

 

THANKS I figure since I will be 99 (or never) before I could get my final 1968 Charger.... and I've always wanted a '77-81 'Vette (still not much of an option) I would be realistic and stick with with a Ford Mustang. I had about 20 of them bookmarked (from '89 GT convertibles to '05's) and emailed the ones I liked best (and was within price/mileage). I know the 4.6 is a WOW factor or at least it was in the '96 T-Bird I bought for my wife when we met... Just don't know a heck of alot of these newer ones.

 

Looks good man! Ive been looking for a mustang to daily drive so I can play with my truck more. And those are pretty good motors, they are just Dual over head cams but are otherwise very similar.

 

02Ford.... have this one shipped to ya.... way under book price and would be my second choice... auction has ended, but NO SALE... it's still available...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...TQ:MOTORS:1123

 

Its a good looking car but im thinking a hard top Ive always been a bit iffy of convertibles in an accident. plus its goiong to be a strip/street car.

 

Yeah... I thought I was stuck on a convertible "as a summer season car" then my brother reminded me of the WHAT IF's when I talked to him earlier. Even the convertibles with the " factory roll bar" would be pretty much useless in the case of definate NEED. I'm stickin' with the hardtop. So far All I hear is good things. No plug blow-out issues, look for this, avoid that stuff???????

 

BTW.... I have connections for Crown Vic Police 4.6's and computers...

 

Well that could be very fun hahA. The crown vics have the same motor as the mustang

 

HAHA...yeah.... I'm gonna have to "inquire" if the software (computer) change would make a difference. I ain't gonna pull a 75K mile engine just to find out!! duh?! This car already has PEP. Too bad the "salesman" was riding along!!

 

02FORD4X4, two minor corrections. All 1999-2004 Mustang GT engines are SOHC, the DOHC's were in the Cobra's. The crown Vic's have the same basic motor but it has a different intake manifold that is shorter to enable it to fit under the lower, longer hood, that makes it down slightly on power, though the police interceptor versions may be calibrated different to make up for it.

Red02FX4, nice car, too bad you are in Delaware, I have a 2001 GT in True Blue that I am getting ready to sell. I've had mine since new and the things I would look for are:

Check the intake manifold to see if the front and rear coolant passages are aluminum, Ford was sued because many of the original all plastic ones tend to crack at the mold line in the front or rear of the manifold and blow coolant everywhere. Mine was originally fine and I didn't get around to taking it back to Ford to get it replaced under the Recall that Ford was court ordered to conduct, it blew 4 months past the expiration date of the Recall and Ford of course refused to replace it. I temporarily fixed mine with MarineTex epoxy but I have a Dorman replacement manifold that needs to be installed.

Another item is the A/C clutch, the rivets break loose and let the plate rattle around when the A/C disengages. I had to replace mine myself because Ford said that there was nothing wrong with it the three times I took it in for the noise.

Check the Heater hoses from the engine to the heater core, mine blew with only 35,000 miles on them.

One other thing I really had a problem with is the COP's but that is probably more due to the fact that the top of the engine got soaked when the heater hoses blew and again when the manifold cracked, that also took out the alternator.

Lastly, the headlights and the third brake light fade and get dull, Ford replaced the first set of headlights with only 12,500 miles on the car. I have replaced them twice since then. I never did get around to replacing the third brake light, no amount of polish or PlastX was ever able to bring it back.

Good luck!

 

Haha that sales man was no fun. I test drove a 5.0 on labor day with a salesman and he was real cool. he told me to drive it like I want to and I was doin burnouts and driving it like a sports car.. I was doin 90 down a service road and having a conversation about how nice it handled lol

 

Ferret, THANKS for the input The headlights are BAD. He said for $100 that they would polish them up. I stated ('cause personally) I would want new ones just because I thought they were beyond polishable.

I looked over the engine compartment carefully looking for valve (cam) cover leaks (either head) and coolant leaks (near the right rear head, as I have seen happen on our trucks) but I don't recall seeing anything aluminum under the hood. I will have to re-look when I go back next week. If it was a recall, wouldn't ya think they would service that before putting it on the lot? IDK.

 

anytime i see mustang headlights i think of RP's old thread
https://www.f150online.com/forums/ca...6k-beware.html

 

Thanks Patman! Didn't know that thread was on here. The headlights on my new ride aren't quite that bad.... but close. They may have hope after all