Rob,
Thank you for clarifying your reasons to me... I do believe you to be sincere regarding your feeling for SPF... Furthermore, I TOO have not had the best of "luck" in my own personal interaction with the SPF dealer in question (so I CAN relate to your plight somewhat, MORE than you will ever know!)...
I see that they, and SPF-USA has stepped up to the plate for you and I am happy that they did. I hope your distaste for the whole occurence goes away quickly...
I do have to disagree with your statement about SPF (or any Cobra replica) owners selling their "new" cars within the first year... While this statement may be true if the individual only bought the car to market it after it was completed. I actually think that "quick sale" ocurrence is few and far between with cars like the SPF (or other Cobra "rollers") which are more expensive right from the start compared to a "kit" and they only need a powertrain install to be called "done" anyway...
For the rest of you that have comments about SPF owners feeling higher and mightier, or part of some "secret society" amonst other Cobra makers- GET OVER IT! I was actually intending to build an Everett Morrison just like Dan did, when I came into my SPF by accident... Do I regret owning an SPF: HECK NO! Do I think SPF is a pretty darn fine Cobra replica: YOU BET, but there are also other companies that do a pretty fine job too...
One of the GREATEST things that I can say about my own SPF experience is all of the other FABULOUS SPF owners that I have met since I have owned my car, many of which have become lifelong friends to me. I do know that the main reason I met them is because of our common affection for the same brand of Cobra replica... Could this have happened with another brand of replica: Possibly?!? But knowing who and what I do now, I surely wouldn't want to take that chance! Maybe that's why we SPF people get so defensive or "hang together" as we seem to do.... We all just don't want to give up all the FUN we have "together", whether we are driving our Cobras or not!!! If that's so wrong, then I guess we are happy being "wrong"...
Rob, I wish you the best in your Cobra endeavors, I really do!
If you make it down to the London Cobra show this coming summer, I would love to see what you are driving... I will be the guy in the Guardsman Blue w/White striped "early" SPF that will be hitting 110MPH on the main street drags... LOL....
Owning your dream car is NICE! Having a GREAT group of friends there to share it with, makes it all the NICER!