Observations - Cobra vs. Ford GT MKIV
 

Well, it had been about a month since I last drove the Cobra....Been driving the MKIV a lot...tuning, adjusting, tinkering....So here's my observations.

Summary: The Cobra, after not driving it for a month or so, felt like a Cadillac. Suspension, at least on mine is much more supple, the seats cosy, and ahhhh....that open air! The GT, a lot stiffer all the way around, the seats, while not uncomfortable, you are crammed in there. :) The GT feels much more firmly planted around corners, though I recognize this may just be my setup. The Cobra is louder with wind noise and the exhaust out the side, but the GT isn't exactly quiet. Visibility wise, there's no comparison. The GT is fine out the front, and directly to the side, but the blind spots make up 3/4ths of the car it seems. The rearview camera helps, but it's not perfect. Makes for some stressful lane changing!

Both cars get the gawkers and thumbs up...hard to say which actually gets more attention. Both are fun to drive, but the Cobra is like a grocery getter by comparison when considering comfort and practicality (never thought I would say that! :D ). To get out of my driveway, I have to haul ramps out to the street for the GT as I have those damned storm type curbs (HATE THEM), but with the Cobra, I just drive on out without a problem (nose is shorter and a little more clearance). When taking a passenger in the GT, it's pretty much the passenger only...no real room for extras. The trunk on the Cobra is actually pretty damned big for a sports car.

Anyways, both are great, but I'm still a Cobra guy!

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...um/small45.JPG

http://www.clubcobra.com/photopost/d...um/small27.JPG

yin and yang, eh?

They both make the driveway look good.

Brent -

BOTH of your cars are stunning! Very nice work!

Jeff

Beautiful, simply beautiful, you can't go wrong either way you go when you open your garage in the morning.


Bill S.

Two different personalities for sure. It also goes to show how relative and perspective-based everything really is. The Cobra is a low, cramped, rough little brute with next to no stowage space - until you drive a FGT Mk IV. Before that, Cobra and grocery getter in the same sentence is unthinkable! :LOL: Thanks for sharing the insights.

Brent - in comparing my Cobra and the GT40 - I can be really lazy when driving the Cobra. With the GT it steers so much faster and if your attention wanders just a bit you can be off the road - the Cobra had so much instantaneous torque available that I hardly ever had to downshift to get to where I wanted to be - on the GT, although it isn't slow, if I want be in a different place I might have to downshift.

I think the GT gets more questions then even the polished Cobra got. Getting gas is a PITA as you have the two tanks which increases your exposure to gawkers....I usually fill the car by taking some fuel jugs out and bringing gas back home to fill the car.

Otherwise I totally agree.

Regarding your driveway, perhaps it would be worth it to raise the ride height a little?

Now that's what I can an embarrassment of riches. Enjoy!

Where's the Daytona? :JEKYLHYDE

Putting ramps out to drive the GT? Whoa, thats way to much hassle. I'm annoyed I have to open my gate before taking the car out and close it before I leave. :)

....maybe I need one of those fancy gate openers.

Jamo - Uh huh! Big time.

Rawillia4 - Not exactly ugly. :)

Jeff - Thanks man.

Bill - You'd be surprised in Washington....Drizzle this morning. Sort of neutralizes having a cool car.

Buzz - It's crazy how "civilized" the Cobra feels now. That said, you hit that throttle, and hang on!

Pat - I have a set of 1" lifts that set up on the suspension that I still need to install (winter project). Neat units fran supplied.

SF_Sn88k - I would love to have a Daytona....My wife, a car lover herself, has indicated that my "collection" is big enough. :)

Excaliber - It is a pain in the ass to be sure...I have to put the ramps out and then pull them in when I get home, which just sucks.

Maybe you could put a rope on the ramps & a drop hook like the aircraft carrier planes & just snag & drag the ramps back in when you return home:LOL::LOL::LOL:

Craig

But, Brent, we're talking about the "holy trinity" of kit cars here, a Cobra, a Daytona, and a 40.....no collection is complete without one of each. Surely she understands :LOL: ?

Cheers from Dugly !! :cool:

Brent, nice rides. I would be torn on which one to drive!

My primary consideration when contemplating a GT over the Cobra? Storage - pure and simple. The Cobra swallows soft bags, folding chairs, even small coolers. The GT? A sandwich ... with no lettuce.
But I must admit - the GT "wow factor" nudges my meter a smidge further in the red. Of course, after 13 years with the Cobra, I could just be lusting in my heart at a different set of curves. Two of my favorite rides on this forum, Brent. It helps that you take a DAMNED good picture.

How do you put up it? Seriously,our roads around here make taking the Cobra out like running the Gauntlet.Beautiful cars,how do you decide which one you want to drive?

Sorry to ask such a personal question, but I have to know.

What it's it like to have two penises?

Went for a nice ride today, it was a real struggle trying to figure out what to take. One of the two bikes or the Cobra. Life is hard sometimes...

Took the Honda 650 Enduro, went looking for a mean mud hole, came up dry though. :)

To many toys? Never happen.

".... I have to haul ramps out to the street for the GT as I have those damned storm type curbs (HATE THEM)..."
Brent:
Could you put some 1" PVC down in the "crook" of the curb (for rain water drainage) and then concrete a ramp (over the PVC) over the curb?
Just a thought.

you would find a Daytona (at least a SPF Daytona) to be the easiest to live with by far of the 3 cars. It has the handling of the GT40 with adequete vision and it still gets attention where ever you go, not to mention AC, heat, and weather proof. They are cars you can really drive daily in most any weather, where the GT is scary in traffic and the weather needs to be perfect to enjoy the Cobra.