What's the most basic and affordable way to improve performance in my 2003 Mustang GT?
Asked by Kipp Jan 27, 2013 at 06:38 PM about the 2003 Ford Mustang Deluxe Convertible RWD
Question type: Car Customization
Someone told me that before wasting money to add air induction improvements, etc..that there is a chip that can be purchased/changed so the car's computer recognizes the additional air intake. I am unfamiliar with this. Can anyone tell me if this is on or not or other recommendations. 2003 4.6L
6 Answers
your car is plenty fast as is, i used to have one traded it in for an 05 GT for my wife. the 05 has air induction, full magnaflow exhoust system with cats and x pipe, and tuned with diablo tuner, get more mpg (if you keep your foot out it) and is scary quick, while passing all state emissions problem with all that is the tuner is $400,the exhaust is close to a $1000 and a good air induction will go $300, have fun diablo has a tuner for the 03 4.6
The three things every Mustang owner usually does: -Better exhaust -Cold air intake -set of 3:55 gears with those mosds your car will be plenty quick for you
The previous owner of my Mark VII (5.0 High Output) added some sort of chip to the car's computer that did a similar function... He said it made no difference. Those are generally useless schemes for your money. I would stay away from any "chip" that will supposedly increase performance.
3:55's are standard in 05 - 06 i believe, you having an 03' i agree'd with CheckM8 on this before with gearing, but if you're gonna do gears, you might as well do 3.73's. As for CAI - they do help a little and they're cheap way to go for the little performance they offer... same with exhaust (a little pricier depending what you do)... suggestion is like your friend said - a tuner. saves the factory settings of your vehicle and they're pretty cheap these days. would recommend buying them NEW rather than used because the tuners typically lock to 1 car until they unset it... wouldn't want you to get ripped off
@ Robert...thanks for the addition. I actually meant 3:73 gears...Don't know why I typed 3:55....LOL!
chips were highly designed for cars before 96' by like hypertech and what not, building performance chips that replace the stock one... now everything is done through an OBD II tune. @CHeckM8 - a lot of ppl debate between the 3:55's and 3:73's with these cars, i figure if they come stock with like 3:27's a worthy priced upgrade would at least be 3:73's
