Another future former Cobra owner

twobjshelbys · #1 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 08:10 PM

I've gotten a handful of queries about "why" so I thought I'd give a little bit of an explanation.

I love my Cobra. It is "all the fun you can have, legally, in public, with your clothes on". Now that the engine really is running, I have been driving it more, and my wife and I went for a few drives. Well, she doesn't like it. Not at all. Her feet get too hot, she got a snake bite, the shoulder harness issue on the passenger side has got her twitterpated, and basically, if she's not happy, I'm not happy. I can drive it all day long (figure of speech) but she can only stand it for short drives. I wanted to take it to Glenwood Springs and the answer was no.

I had never intended the Cobra to be anything other than a local "touring" car - not for cross country trips - but even locally it's only working for me, and I guess that's not as much fun as it could be.

So it looks like I'm reverting to original Plan B which is a Ford GT. A FGT was in the running before I got the Cobra, but I'd always wanted the Cobra, so I got a Mustang and a Cobra. The FGT has Air Conditioning (no whining about hot feet), a radio (no whining about noise) and no side pipes (no whining about snake bites). I haven't told her that she'll bump her head on the door but that's kind of like snake bites, it'll only happen a few times before she figures it out.

And she gets her garage space back. I think this should help restore Peace in the Valley. Plus we can drive it to Vegas.

The "fun factor" of the Cobra is still bigger than the FGT, but it'll do as the consolation prize.

By the way, I seriously considered a SPF/CSX9000 Daytona Coupe (remember, it has Air Conditioning, and electric windows

) but it was a lot out of my price range and I don't want the wait.

So that's the nutshell version right now. I hate to let it go, especially now that it's got all the kinks out. Removing the spinners with the lead mallet was so much fun!

Car Nut and Chip can pipe in now.

I'll continue to hang out here. I can't preclude the possibility of a nice 289 FIA car at some point in time.

patrickt · #2 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Her feet get too hot, she got a snake bite, the shoulder harness issue on the passenger side has got her twitterpated, and basically, if she's not happy, I'm not happy.

Insulate the foot box, put a welding blanket over the pipe before she gets in or out, and I don't know what the shoulder harness issue is, but I'm sure you can fix it. You've only had your car a short while.

w-lewis · #3 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 09:14 PM

Since the market may not allow you to sell it any time soon, you might as well enjoy it and make the mods listed above and who knows: she might change her mind before the market comes back.

DANGER · #4 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 10:03 PM

Lots of women.. Only a few Cobras..

I've only had mine for 3 months, I wouldn't sell it for anything.. Luckly my wife likes the car, we just got back from a late drive and dinner.

Give your wife sometime have her go barefoot. adjust the harness, lift/help her out of the car...

For gods sake don't sell the cobra.. Unless of course it really something YOU want to do..

Miles of Smiles

elmariachi · #5 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Insulate the foot box, put a welding blanket over the pipe before she gets in or out, and I don't know what the shoulder harness issue is, but I'm sure you can fix it. You've only had your car a short while.

Or...........just find another woman. No disrespect intended for the OP or anyone who chooses to sell their car for personal reasons, but if my wife didn't like my Cobra, she could stay home. If I spent my life trying to please her, we'd be ass-deep in new furniture, purses and more shoes than Elmelda Marcos could wear, and I'd be driving a 1996 Taurus and she'd be gone in her Benz.

But if you're simply looking for an excuse to move to a GT40, I'd say you're wise in making it all her fault.

RodKnock · #6 (**permalink**) 08-12-2010, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Insulate the foot box, put a welding blanket over the pipe before she gets in or out, and I don't know what the shoulder harness issue is, but I'm sure you can fix it. You've only had your car a short while.

Yep, I'm not sure I get IT either. You must have other vehicles to keep your wife happy? Why can't one car not be for her to drive in?

I love the FGT. Excellent call, but they're $150,000-$200,000. The fiberglass CSX9000 is a $90K+ roller, so once complete that's just about the same money as a FGT. I'd take the FGT everyday of the day and twice on Tuesdays.

No matter. Best of luck with your new endeavor(s).

rodneym · #7 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 12:54 AM

It's a shame you're giving up the Cobra. Don't we drive them to get AWAY from our wives? My ex wife calls my Cobra a mid life crisis car. My 29 year old girlfriend, her fake boobs and I disagree.

I test drove your car back in 08 when it was in North SD county (must be the same car, right?). It's a shame it took a while to get the FI right. Voss Performance in Orange County is one of a couple top Roush FI gurus and could have helped you time wise.
Good luck and keep us posted on the FGT.
rodneym

flipscobra · #8 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 05:30 AM

I love my Cobra had it for 4 years the only time I have been snake bitten is opening the hood latches with shorts on, if you teach your wife how to get in properly she will not get snake bit. If you stepin the car an then slide down in the seat, an do same way getting out she will not get bit, buy her some ear plugs for the noise. My wife loves riding in the Cobra does not ***** about anything

Joy · #9 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 05:53 AM

Should get a 289 street version. It's not as hot, pipes are under the car, it's not as loud, and let's face it-I can have as much fun on the street as you can! And my husband likes it

392cobra · #10 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I love my Cobra. It is "all the fun you can have, legally, in public, with your clothes on". Now that the engine really is running, I have been driving it more, and my wife and I went for a few drives. Well, she doesn't like it. Not at all. Her feet get too hot, she got a snake bite, the shoulder harness issue on the passenger side has got her twitterpated, and basically, if she's not happy, I'm not happy. I can drive it all day long (figure of speech) but she can only stand it for short drives. I wanted to take it to Glenwood Springs and the answer was no.

I had never intended the Cobra to be anything other than a local "touring" car - not for cross country trips - but even locally it's only working for me, and I guess that's not as much fun as it could be.

So it looks like I'm reverting to original Plan B which is a Ford GT. A FGT was in the running before I got the Cobra, but I'd always wanted the Cobra, so I got a Mustang and a Cobra. The FGT has Air Conditioning (no whining about hot feet), a radio (no whining about noise) and no side pipes (no whining about snake bites). I haven't told her that she'll bump her head on the door but that's kind of like snake bites, it'll only happen a few times before she figures it out.

And she gets her garage space back. I think this should help restore Peace in the Valley. Plus we can drive it to Vegas.

The "fun factor" of the Cobra is still bigger than the FGT, but it'll do as the consolation prize.

By the way, I seriously considered a SPF/CSX9000 Daytona Coupe (remember, it has Air Conditioning, and electric windows

) but it was a lot out of my price range and I don't want the wait.

So that's the nutshell version right now. I hate to let it go, especially now that it's got all the kinks out. Removing the spinners with the lead mallet was so much fun!

Car Nut and Chip can pipe in now.

I'll continue to hang out here. I can't preclude the possibility of a nice 289 FIA car at some point in time.

You have a real Princess there and she certainly has you by the short hairs.

Good luck,you're going to need it.

madmaxx · #11 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 07:09 AM

I think my wife has been in mine once. She never lost her garage space though. I would go nuts without something, then again a Ford GT could fill that void, I am looking at the new factory five with the erod engine but there are some smoking deals on some used spf gt so who knows.

James Stern · #12 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 07:21 AM

Because of my wife's ever expanding shoe collection Emelda (some years ago) did a pilgrimage up our driveway on her knees

. My wife doesn't care to ride in the Cobra all that much either. I'm wondering if there is a connection here. Everyone who has been in my Cobra has had a snake bite in spite or our mantra; "hotpipes" which is said when we leave the car. We also carry aloe in the glove box. Good luck to you in whatever direction you take.

dcdoug · #13 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Insulate the foot box, put a welding blanket over the pipe before she gets in or out, and I don't know what the shoulder harness issue is, but I'm sure you can fix it. You've only had your car a short while.

X2 on the welding blanket and get her a comfortable set of ear plugs.

Cobra #3170 · #14 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 08:11 AM

Sorry to hear that you are making the exchange, you may not be as happy with the choice after living with it awhile. My wife isn't a big fan of either car and won't even ride in the Cobra anymore because it is so violent when pushed. Our GT has other issues, if you go anyplace, you either take your clothes in a grocery bag (no room) or throw everything away daily and buy new ones at the local Walmart at your destination as needed. The GT is pretty dumbed down vs a Cobra because of the type of people that generally buy them (rich with minimal driving skills). It has roll understeer in both the front and rear suspension geometry which makes for a fairly lazy response to inputs. The suspension is also way too soft to exploit the cars true potential and vision to the rear and sides is quite limited.
Another factor to consider is that people swarm it more than they do a Cobra because they are few and far between. Some folks may like the attention but that gets old after awhile. If you haven't already pulled the trigger you might consider a ZR1 or possibly an ACR Viper which would both be a lot more fun on a long trip. The GT can be fixed with very little effort (I am doing that to mine now) and made into a great handling driver but then you have a Cobra with a roof and AC that you can't see out of and still no room for suit cases.

Quote:

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I've gotten a handful of queries about "why" so I thought I'd give a little bit of an explanation.

I love my Cobra. It is "all the fun you can have, legally, in public, with your clothes on". Now that the engine really is running, I have been driving it more, and my wife and I went for a few drives. Well, she doesn't like it. Not at all. Her feet get too hot, she got a snake bite, the shoulder harness issue on the passenger side has got her twitterpated, and basically, if she's not happy, I'm not happy. I can drive it all day long (figure of speech) but she can only stand it for short drives. I wanted to take it to Glenwood Springs and the answer was no.

I had never intended the Cobra to be anything other than a local "touring" car - not for cross country trips - but even locally it's only working for me, and I guess that's not as much fun as it could be.

So it looks like I'm reverting to original Plan B which is a Ford GT. A FGT was in the running before I got the Cobra, but I'd always wanted the Cobra, so I got a Mustang and a Cobra. The FGT has Air Conditioning (no whining about hot feet), a radio (no whining about noise) and no side pipes (no whining about snake bites). I haven't told her that she'll bump her head on the door but that's kind of like snake bites, it'll only happen a few times before she figures it out.

And she gets her garage space back. I think this should help restore Peace in the Valley. Plus we can drive it to Vegas.

The "fun factor" of the Cobra is still bigger than the FGT, but it'll do as the consolation prize.

By the way, I seriously considered a SPF/CSX9000 Daytona Coupe (remember, it has Air Conditioning, and electric windows

) but it was a lot out of my price range and I don't want the wait.

So that's the nutshell version right now. I hate to let it go, especially now that it's got all the kinks out. Removing the spinners with the lead mallet was so much fun!

Car Nut and Chip can pipe in now.

I'll continue to hang out here. I can't preclude the possibility of a nice 289 FIA car at some point in time.

86Sebring · #15 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joy

Should get a 289 street version. It's not as hot, pipes are under the car, it's not as loud, and let's face it-I can have as much fun on the street as you can! And my husband likes it

Are you currently looking for a boyfriend on the side perhaps?

Snakebit · #16 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 09:13 AM

My wife was not too crazy about riding in the Cobra. It was a white knuckle experience for her when I would crack open the throttle. I took her with me to a car show and she saw how much attention the car got. Now she wants to go with me to all the car shows and enjoys riding in the car!

dcdoug · #17 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snakebit

My wife was not too crazy about riding in the Cobra. It was a white knuckle experience for her when I would crack open the throttle.

I drive my cobra quite differently with my wife in the car than when she is not in the car. Otherwise she'd never ride in it.

patrickt · #18 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dcdoug

I drive my cobra quite differently with my wife in the car than when she is not in the car. Otherwise she'd never ride in it.

That is exactly what I was going to post.

rokndad · #19 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 10:25 AM

My wife loves the car and doesn't care about garage space. She'll go for a ride anytime I care to take it out. She doesn't enjoy going to car shows where she sits in her folding USC chair after a casual stroll to look at the other cars.

The heat, sidepipes and other obnoxious things about the car don't bother her. In fact, on the freeway she goes to sleep without ear plugs. People adjacent to us on the freeway smile and laugh at the danging head drooping down. It's a hoot. Don't give up on the car. Maybe after a few trips she will fall asleep too.

Blittleton · #20 (**permalink**) 08-13-2010, 10:39 AM

turn in your man card and buy a Prius. She'll love you more for helping the environment.

Bill