Why Sell?

[digginfool]

My search for a Cobra brought me to this forum. So far, looks like a great place; tons of information. The question on my mind is why do so many people end up selling their Cobras after only a few thousand (sometimes not even a thousand) miles? One of my concerns is dumping 40-50k into a car only to have the novelty wear off after a few months. I've also noticed that when these people sell, it tends to take quite a while to accomplish the feat (unless they're selling at a deep discount). One thing for certain, if I buy, I've settled on a Backdraft. Now just have to find the right car. Thanks for any thoughts you may have on this.

[Hydramada]

Originally Posted by digginfool

My search for a Cobra brought me to this forum. So far, looks like a great place; tons of information. The question on my mind is why do so many people end up selling their Cobras after only a few thousand (sometimes not even a thousand) miles? One of my concerns is dumping 40-50k into a car only to have the novelty wear off after a few months. I've also noticed that when these people sell, it tends to take quite a while to accomplish the feat (unless they're selling at a deep discount). One thing for certain, if I buy, I've settled on a Backdraft. Now just have to find the right car. Thanks for any thoughts you may have on this.

Owning a Cobra is not for the faint of heart. The best explanation I have heard comes from a friend of mine:

" A Porsche is like a cruise missile......high precision, very technical and accurate to within millimeters. A Cobra is like a club with a rock tied on the end of it...... brutal, visceral, and in your face."

The idea of owning the ICONIC American sports car is a dream of most motor-heads but when you have one you find that they are quite hardcore. It takes a dedication (and care) to own a car that only has a 90" wheelbase and 400-700HP.

Personally, the Cobra works for me but I am a bit insane. Whenever I take it out, I always take a moment to remind myself this is not my daily driver and that I am driving a car that will kill me in an instant if I disrespect it.

[601HP]

a. It's not comfortable.
b. It can become very hot in the cockpit.
c. Driving it in the rain is not fun.
d. Most of us don't use/have a top or side curtains. It can be a cold ride at a higher temperature than you may imagine.
e. Most are louder than loud. I began using ear plugs last year.
f. The rear end can exchange position with the front end surprisingly fast.
g. If I had to use it as a daily driver, I may opt for a bicycle.
h. You never know what itty bitty thingy will quit working. I never leave home without the cell phone.
i. The Sheriff's HQ is one mile from my house.
j. The State Police barrack is 3 miles from my house.
k. The town police office is one mile from my house.
l. Often I want to bottom out the accelerator pedal, but i., j. and k. can be a pain in the a**.
m. I've learned a lot about this car in these past years, but I probably still have a long way to go. This website is a good resource. patrickt can pretty much fill in any blank spaces that come up!
n. It can be real expensive when it breaks. After running it quite hard at Mid-Ohio road race course a few years back, the intake valve dropped against the piston in #2 cylinder because the valve springs fatigued. That was a bigger than big dent in the checkbook.


The positives
I've owned this car since 1994. I still get cold chills on my neck when I first start it.

My wife has always liked the car. She enjoys WOT, as long as I let her know its about to happen.

Sometimes I notice I'm not breathing correctly because it still intimidates me.

There are very few positive things to say about growing older. One of them is that this car seems to develop more hosepower every year. (actually my reflexes are slowing down!)

It's a blast to drive.

It's one heck of a "hey look at me" car.

I still enjoy tinkering with this car in the garage. It can be a therapy session and a period of solitude wrapped up in a day.

And it's a freakin' fast machine to drive! My daily driver is a Toyota Yaris with 106 horsepower.

David

[jmimac351]

Don't be fooled by cars that are several years old with only a few thousand miles. Cobras are like 4-wheeled Harleys. You need the right time to drive it, good weather, etc. Sometimes you won't drive it for several weeks. When you do, maybe you only put 30 miles on it, if that. Especially if you have other toys to play with.

Several sell to build / buy another. MANY of my cobra friends have owned / built more than 1 cobra. If you do get one you'll find there is nothing else quite like it in the car hobby.

[roadrod2000]

Mine has, no heater, no radio, no top, you feel every bump in the road when you drive it and if there are speed bumps along the way you need to plan another route. But when I start it up it always makes me smile, the second trip around the block with it I set off the neighbors car alarm just idling by (a big smile on that one )

[mdross1]

Selling these cars like anything else in life sometimes forced into it.This economy has put a lot of people in finacial dispair.Others may not have wanted their cars bad enough to begin with who knows.Finally some may have just wanted the experience of owning a Cobra and that was enough.Either way good luck in your search,hope you find the car your looking for.

[jwd]

For some, building them is the fun part. Personally, once I've built/restored a car, I tend to lose interest and start looking for my next project. To answer the low miles question, I have too many nice weather toys and not enough nice weather.

[jbcobra67]

As for me I miss the build. It was challenging and makes for a great feeling of accomplishment. I have a friend who put it best, you actually built your own car. It took 2 1/2 years for me. I was on a budget. I worked a second job and Antique and Collectable lets you pay in stages. The good thing is its paid for. The only reason I would sell is build another one, and do something better. If you go cruise with another cobra you fall in love all over again. Mine makes 450hp at the flywheel and has scared the mess out of my a couple of times. I get more comfortable each time I ride. If you can, build yours, I think that makes it more personal.

Good luck. I don't think you'll regret it.

[jesseasi]

Well I just got my Backdraft delivered last week. Got it from Jay at Vintage Motorsports. Like you I tried to do as much research as possible before deciding on a car. To me it seem like there is a Cobra at nearly every price point you can imagine.

I can't imagine ever selling this car ever. I have a 3 year old boy and already he thinks it is his....and some day it will be.

I am interested to hear what others say that have sold or need to sell.

[fordracing65]

To upgrade to a KIRKHAM

[marco454v8]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

To upgrade to a KIRKHAM

Ditto!
Mark

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by digginfool

The question on my mind is why do so many people end up selling their Cobras after only a few thousand (sometimes not even a thousand) miles?

digginfool -- my personal opinion is that if someone is wondering whether they should buy a Cobra or not then they shouldn't. This car is not right for way, way more people than it's right for. Unless you're absolutely, 100% positive that you want a Cobra, then you should stay away from it. Most of the morons on this board that truly love their Cobras have done so for decades. They've saved their Car & Driver magazines that reviewed them (from the day they were delivered in the mailbox), kept old pictures of them, models, POS parts they got at swap meets, you name it. Frankly, it's almost like a mental illness. Unfortunately, a lot of guys are not sicko like that, and when they plunk down the money to get one, they end up unhappy pretty quickly -- sometimes right after their wife gets a third degree burn on her ankle. Even if you do think you might fit in the nutso category that this car requires, you should still take a few months and read as many posts on this forum as you can. There's a ton of things to know about these cars, and, if you're really lucky, the desire to own one will pass.

[Double Venom]

"You" guys are great & Truthful!

Going on 40 years building these "toys" and I can't wait for 60 years!

"Young Lady" tighten those straps up until your bra hurts....and hang on!

DV

[tin-man]

Originally Posted by Double Venom

"You" guys are great & Truthful!

Going on 40 years building these "toys" and I can't wait for 60 years!

"Young Lady" tighten those straps up until your bra hurts....and hang on!

DV

but just outa curiosity who were you talking to, your car or one o' them there ladies that likes it hard and rough? tin-man

[jwoodard]

Sometimes, conditions change. Health issues develop as we age, interests move to other areas, financial needs change, etc., etc. Meaning, nothing is static.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by jwoodard

Sometimes, conditions change. Health issues develop as we age, interests move to other areas, financial needs change, etc., etc. Meaning, nothing is static.

True enough. Point taken.

[mdross1]

Tried once to sell our car but after uncovering it and taking it out for a spin and new fuel,no way could we ever let this car go.Finally learned to stop feeling guilty having it sit for long periods because of so many other interests.Also leave it uncovered so we can enjoy just looking at it.No other car on this planet stirs the soul like a big block Cobra,remember when the first magazine article back in the 60's came out.It was then that I discovered that there was a car that could make me forget about women for a minute.Just for a minute I might add!!!! Our car is parked so we see it everyday in the shop,the way life should be.

[Ron61]

When I had to sell mine it was the only car I ever sold that I almost cried when it left. And I still miss it. But it was set up for road racing and not really a great street car. Plus my failing health and the 118° days here in the Summer made it impossible to drive very far. I didn't want to just have it set and rot so I decided to sell it to a cousin who wanted it. There are just to many reasons why people sell them to really pin it down to a few common ones I believe.

Ron

[crASH]

digginfool-

I don't own a Cobra yet, but I have been looking at them for sale on Cobra Country since early 2008, as well as this site for the past several months. I have also been following these forum discussions since last fall. SO... like you, I have been wondering the same thing regarding Cobras for sale that are barely broken in.

Since Harley's have been mentioned, I'll state that I owned a brand new one back in 1985, Low Rider with drag pipes (straight and loud). I put 17,000 miles on it in three years. No cross country trips to Sturgis, no trips to Bike Week at Daytona, just weekends in the SC/NC mountains, maybe 50-150 miles at a time, and the rest of the time it was parked in my living room.

I think many very plausible reasons have been mentioned here as to why there are so many for sale with extremely low miles. Beyond that, follow these discussions on this forum for several months as was mentioned earlier, and also look (and LISTEN) at/to youtube videos of Cobra owners driving their cars, and look at lots of them. I love 'em, but I don't know if I will ever own one.

[FIA-ERA]

I personally love my car in every way! Ditto on what others have said! I hear others say "I'm going to build one of those cars one day, I've always wanted one". Well, it isn't the car most people realize and once they're in it they say "what was I thinking"!! The car is brutal in all respects. You have to drive it like a crotch rocket, always looking for the "other" idiot and where to let it stretch it's legs. I wish my every day car drove like this. The steering is great , the acceleration, the smells (well not so much), the satisfaction of hard work, and all the attention you could ever want!

I've though of selling mine lately because I like building cars. I like fabricating things, I like searching for parts, etc. So it's a tough call. I will not just let it go but if the right guy comes along I might let her go to a good home. Others that sell, they just simply bought the car of there dreams to realize what did I do. I had one guy say to me "I want a fun car to drive around, like a Miata". Well brother, these cars are no Miata's!! I would go a drive one or check a few out before investing in one for sure. Like others have said, they're not for everyone. Good Luck, Matt