For basic background and info, you might want to check in on the running thread "Warning, New Guy Content". It's quite long.
As far as comparing the Porsche to a Cobra, they may as well be from two different planets!
I have 2 friends with very nice and fast Porsche's, one a new turbo and the other an RS. Both drove my Cobra and both said "forget it".
They are not for everyone...