2003 Ford Mustang Review (continued)
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Walkaround

The Mustang design picks up styling cues from the 1964-66 original, but executes them in today's rounder, more organic idiom. The rear fender air intake, for example, has sharp corners and pronounced lines; but the rocker panels curve out, and the fenders have pronounced front and rear wheel well arches. The front end features wraparound complex reflector headlamps with integrated side marker lamps, combined with a square-edged honeycomb grille and a chrome pony. Tricolor front fender badges recall the good old days, as does the prominent but non-functional hood scoop. In back, it's 1965 with vertical, three-element taillamps.

GT models get unique hood and side-scoop treatments, along with fog lights and a rear spoiler.

Mach 1 is easy to spot with special trim that starts with its shaker hood scoop. Attached directly to the top of the engine, the black scoop rears its head through a squarish hole in the Mach 1 hood. (Hood scoops on GT models sit on top of the hood.) A bold low-gloss black stripe runs up the center of the powerdome hood to accentuate the scoop. Stomp on the throttle and you can see it move, or shake, slightly as the engine twists against the motor mounts. In theory, the scoop is designed to channel fresh air into the intake for increased breathing and, therefore, increased power.

Cobra is distinguished from the other models by a unique front and rear appearance package. Its raised hood is required to make room for the supercharger setup. Two rear-facing vents near the leading edge of the hood are designed to let hot air out of the engine bay. Cobra is further distinguished by its unique grille opening, front bumper, driving lamps, rocker panels and side scoops, rear-end treatment, and 17-inch five-spoke alloy wheels in either brushed or chromed finish.

Interior Features

The Mustang has good, reclining bucket seats with plenty of travel. The seats are fairly full yet supportive, a good compromise, and you don't slide around. Seatbelts are attached to the seat frames so they move with the seats.

The interior is cozy, with enough seat-track length to accommodate tall drivers and just enough elbowroom to keep from feeling cramped. The footwell is comfortable, but wide enough that it's difficult to brace your knees in corners. Your right leg has to stretch too far to reach the console, although your left foot can be jammed on a good dead pedal. Convertibles and coupes offer about the same space in the front seats.

The back seat is small, with only enough room for small objects or kids. Convertibles offer less hip and shoulder room than coupes, but about the same headroom and legroom.

The trunk is small with an even smaller opening. Coupes hold just under 11 cubic feet worth of cargo, while convertibles hold just 7.7 cubic feet. A split fold-down rear seat is standard on all models and handy for hauling cargo. A glow-in-the-dark safety latch has been added inside the trunks of all Mustang models designed to prevent kids getting locked in the trunks.

The federal government gives the Mustang a five-star rating for front passenger safety, its highest. Only the two frontal air bags are available, however, there are no side air bags.

Leather upholstery is standard in the Premium GT, optional in some other models. Running horses embossed on the upper portions of the seat backrests recall the deluxe pony interior of the mid-1960s.

The Mach 1 tachometer and speedometer use a tall condensed typeface and more hash marks that make it harder to read than the gauges in the GT models. The instrument panel, center console and headliner are color-keyed. To turn on the headlights, pull out an old-fashioned knob on the left. The center console includes cup holders.

SVT Cobra models offer front bucket seats with Nudo leather trim and suede inserts. The driver's seat features six-way power with power-adjustable thigh and side bolsters, and power lumbar support. Clearly, these seats are made for serious, fast driving. Switches are on the right-front corner of the seat. The SVT instrument cluster has been redesigned to include a boost gauge. The gauges feature titanium-colored faces and electroluminescent lighting. The Cobra's gearshift knob is leather-wrapped, with a brushed-aluminum insert on the top, inscribed with the six-speed pattern. Metal-trimmed pedals and dead pedal are standard.