Here! Here! Ernie! A fun sports car you can drive every day.
One of the advantages of buiding a Cobra is that the builder can build it to his/her own end use requirements from street legal race car to daily driver. You decide on the components and end use.
What I don't like? Hah, here it comes. No way to install roll up windows or outside door handles. I could re-engineer outside door handles, but roll up windows instead of side curtains would be nice.
The car is a pain getting into, and out of. Worse with the top on. Although once seated, it's very comfortable.
As mentioned above, the exhaust note from the sidepipes can get to you. If I did this again, would have put an undercar exhaust on this rather than sidepipes. That being said, the sidepipes can be mellowed out substantially with judicious choice of exhaust components.
Cobras aren't as watertight in the passenger compartment as I would have liked, so a towel is kept handy. However, the MGA's, MGB's, Healy's, Triumph TR3's & 4's, and even Jags of yore were no better. If you want a mid-60's souped up British sports car, this is what hey were like.
The hardest thing to take in a Cobra is the attention it gets. When you just want to get about your daily business, you have to be humble to the ooglers and car people (men & women & kids) who ask "What is it?", and complement you to death on it. Say thank you, pop the hood (bonnet) show them the engine, tell them a little about the car, and get used to it. It's part of being a Cobra owner.
The question always comes up, "Is it an original?". You'll have to think of your own answer to this. Mine is, "No, it's a replica, and yes, I built it from a kit."
" Does it have a 427 in it?" "No, it has a 351." "Oh, a Cleveland?" "Well, 30 years ago, the Cleveland was the engine to use. Today, Windsors make better choices for street motors. This one is a Windsor, actually, a Windsor block, crank, connecting rods, and front timing cover. Everything else is aftermarket. It's been dyno'd at 400 HP." Other than other Ford folks, you're over their heads at this point.
From a maintenance standpoint, the things we hated in mid '60's British sportscars is (or oughta be) decidedly absent in a Cobra. Underneath, the car is basically a Ford Mustang with a lightweight fiberglass body and two seats. Change the
oil and filter every 6 months, change the plugs and wiper blades once a year. Brake pads, belts, hoses, and battery every three years and that's about it maintenance wise.