Who makes the better Roller?

[Snake Pliskin]

Originally Posted by Lowell W

I'd have to agree with most of what's been said here. I looked very carefully at ERA, FFR and SPF before I made my decision in 2002. During the six or so months when I was seriously shopping for a car, I actually changed some of my criteria, and came to realize each manufacturer produces a different "niche" product. So perhaps your definition of "better" may change as you refine your requirements.

FFR builds a very nice product for the money, and markets to the "price point" niche. Their focus is on ease and simplicity of construction for the home mechanic, using most driveline parts salvaged from a 5.0 liter Mustang. You can, of course, use all new parts and build a "sky's the limit" FFR, but most builders don't. While one of the most appealing aspects of FFR cars, to me, is their 4" round tube frame, another is their their individuality. It seems as though each builder builds his own version of the car. To tell you the truth, I'd rather look at 20 FFRs than 20 ERAs or 20 SPFs. If you want a project car and you want to drive a car you've built yourself and on which handled and installed each and every part, and if you'd really prefer to build your own version of a Cobra, take a hard look at FFR.

ERA builds a spectacular car with a totally authentic body in a very small facility, with a small staff of committed enthusiasts. They will sell you a car in any stage of completion from a parts set to a roller and if you're looking at a used car, they can likely provide you the car's history. ERA's major deviation from individuality-aside from their use of fiberglass for the body, of course-is their square tube frame. Other than that, they've taken great pains to source the most authentic parts possible. If you want as authentic-appearing a car as possible with a fiberglass body and plan to use an FE engine, and if you enjoy being treated as "family" by the manufacturer, take a hard look ar ERA. If you do look at a used ERA, however, be sure you know how and by whom it was built; also whoever else may have had his grubby fingers in the pie.

SPF sells a high quality, factory built car, which looks quite a bit like a Cobra, available only as a "roller" AND equipped with a heater/defroster, windshield wipers and a soft top. This is not to say, however, that all SPFs are the same: The factory has made running improvements over the years and many owners have upgraded various components. Like any factory-built product, SPF has had various issues, both with their own parts/assemblies and with items sourced from other vendors. On the other hand, an enormous benefit to SPF ownership is the opportunity to subscribe to the Superformance Cobra Owners' Forum (SCOF), an owners-only, email-based forum with an on-line tech library, as well as discussions regarding any other imaginable (and some unimaginable) aspects of Cobra ownership. Consider an SPF as a more modern interpretation of the Cobra, with a square tube frame and modern drivline parts, using half shafts with CV joints in the rear (ditto for FFR if it's built with IRS.) Although some SPF owners install FE engines, the majority use either Windsor or 385 series-based engines. I'll venture to say that most of the Cobra replicas which get driven lots of miles and far from home are SPFs. Although small, there is a dealership network and there's also, through SCOF, an enormous support network of owners, many of whom are at least mechanically capable, and almost all of whom are extremely enthusiastic. If you fancy taking a cross country trip in your car, of the three, I'd say SPF, hands down.

You did not mention Kirkham, which I'd also have to include in any "best" discussion, but that's a whole 'nother story.

Hope this is helpful.

Lowell W

Thanks for the reply Lowel. I myself would concider Kirkham the best roller, having done homework on that crew. That's why Shelby gets his bodies from them. But at 62 G's a pop for a roller that has to sanded down if you want to paint it, I started looking at the next best thing. Which led me Superformance. Again thanks, Snake

[jhwalker]

Originally Posted by Snake Pliskin

Thanks for the reply Lowel. I myself would concider Kirkham the best roller, having done homework on that crew. That's why Shelby gets his bodies from them. But at 62 G's a pop for a roller that has to sanded down if you want to paint it, I started looking at the next best thing. Which led me Superformance. Again thanks, Snake

It is not important, but, just to clarify, Hi-Tech makes the glass rollers for Shelby and Kirkham makes the aluminum, as of a couple of years ago I think (time flies).

Lowell, nice response... You should post here more.

[LightNFast]

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[jhwalker]

Originally Posted by LightNFast

Jhwalker,

I’m surprised you’re aware of that; but when you actually think about it, it really does make perfect sense. It’s not where it’s made that’s important…. It’s how it’s made - Manufacturing 101.

-Kurt

Kurt,
Are pictures of your car posted? Sounds cool.
James

[LightNFast]

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[gary osborne]

I’m a SPF owner who bought his car in 1999 and I have been all over the USA in mine with well over 60,000 miles on it (closer to 70). That said, the only time I ever question my decision is when lusting over an ERA. They are beautiful cars. But even though I lust over the ERAs, if I was going to buy another cobra, it would have to be another SPF (it’s kind of like me looking at a super model but staying true to my wife…lol). I have simply had too much good luck and too much fun with mine to even think about something else.

I could go on and on about the support infrastructure but most of my comments would be redundant of earlier posts. I am not one to wrench on a car and fortunately, my SPF has been trouble free. I have made a number of upgrades (a few comfort and a few performance) but most of those were completed by one of the hundreds of high quality mechanical experts who have chosen the SPF brand and are lurking in every nook and cranny of the USA. So that support system has be incredibly important to me.

But the best part of it has been all the friends I have made through SCOF. My best friends in the world consist on two old high school buds, one professional friend and the rest are all SPF owners. I know they will be a part of my life for as long as I live and would come to my aid no matter what…no questions asked. That is worth more to me than ten times the price of the car. I won’t say that cannot happen elsewhere or with other brands. I just have not seen or heard of it in my 12 years in the hobby. Had someone told me this in 1999 when I was buying my car, I would have said I had enough friends and never have known the difference. But that was only because I had no point of reference as to what this car would bring to me.

I suppose the latter is the #1 reason I would buy SPF again but I don’t want that to diminish the total 100% confidence I have in the brand. My car still looks incredible and is probably worth more than I paid for it making it the least expensive car I have ever owned…..yet the most fun and rewarding. Tough to beat that experience.

Uncle Fester

[Snake Pliskin]

Originally Posted by gary osborne

I’m a SPF owner who bought his car in 1999 and I have been all over the USA in mine with well over 60,000 miles on it (closer to 70). That said, the only time I ever question my decision is when lusting over an ERA. They are beautiful cars. But even though I lust over the ERAs, if I was going to buy another cobra, it would have to be another SPF (it’s kind of like me looking at a super model but staying true to my wife…lol). I have simply had too much good luck and too much fun with mine to even think about something else.

I could go on and on about the support infrastructure but most of my comments would be redundant of earlier posts. I am not one to wrench on a car and fortunately, my SPF has been trouble free. I have made a number of upgrades (a few comfort and a few performance) but most of those were completed by one of the hundreds of high quality mechanical experts who have chosen the SPF brand and are lurking in every nook and cranny of the USA. So that support system has be incredibly important to me.

But the best part of it has been all the friends I have made through SCOF. My best friends in the world consist on two old high school buds, one professional friend and the rest are all SPF owners. I know they will be a part of my life for as long as I live and would come to my aid no matter what…no questions asked. That is worth more to me than ten times the price of the car. I won’t say that cannot happen elsewhere or with other brands. I just have not seen or heard of it in my 12 years in the hobby. Had someone told me this in 1999 when I was buying my car, I would have said I had enough friends and never have known the difference. But that was only because I had no point of reference as to what this car would bring to me.

I suppose the latter is the #1 reason I would buy SPF again but I don’t want that to diminish the total 100% confidence I have in the brand. My car still looks incredible and is probably worth more than I paid for it making it the least expensive car I have ever owned…..yet the most fun and rewarding. Tough to beat that experience.

Uncle Fester

Uncle Fester......Thanks for stayin true to your school, your car and your wife and not necessarilly in that particular order. Your input is greatly appreciated...keep the rubber side down as your puttin on the next 70K........Snake

[GOstberg]

I have owned 13 Shelby Mustangs and 3 93 Mustang Cobras, including #57 Cobra R. My neighbor in TX (73 yrs old) owned a Superformance, but let it sit and rot for years. I tried to buy it...did some research on Cobras, and saw the great reputation of Superformance...we eventually made a deal. The owners group (SCOF) has been INVALUABLE with great support, immediate advice, and an awesome tech library. The closest dealer/racer is Dennis Olthoff, truly a shop that understands it all! Then there is RT, a living breathing phone call away consumed by the Cobra passion guy who will do anything to help one of the SCOF community...what else could you ask for? Oh, and it is a fabulous
driving car. Just had it on VIR for three days of hard track driving...what a hoot...best car we have ever had. My wife and I cruise in it a ton, and it rides better than any Mustang we ever had. There are probably other good Cobras out there, but we lucked out and got a keeper...with all the support network you could ask for!

[DonC]

The primary difference between ERA and Superformance lies in how much individuality you want reflected in your Cobra. Both are undeniably great cars but ERA requires a lot more individual thought when you order it.
I spent the better part of a year researching both cars and in the end went with ERA simply because I could get the car exactly the way I wanted it right out of the gate. The amount of individuality available from a company that builds one car at a time can't be matched by a mass production supplier. The only trade off between the two manufacturing concepts is the amount of time needed to produce the car. Getting exactly what you want takes a little longer and a lot more thought than just picking "one from column A and two from column B".
Both cars have options lists but the ERA list is staggering in it's coverage.
Build quality for both is top notch but being able to talk directly to the individual who put your car together makes any questions you have a lot easier to resolve. There's no substitute for that aspect of the ERA build.
To my mind the whole thing boils down to how "special" you want your car to be. ERA can supply you with a car at any point in the build from a pile of boxes on your front porch to a complete car ready to drive away from the curb.
It's up to you to decide how involved you want to get in your finished product. While Superformance isn't a cookie cutter car there are still aspects of the build that are "standard".
The final decision for you is how much knowledge you want to acquire about what's going into your car. You can take the time to build an in depth understanding of what you've got or go with what is provided by someone else.
You can't get hurt quality wise with either car but, for my money, the ERA is the much more individual of the two.
I could go on for a long time about the what's available from the elves at ERA but, for me, deciding for myself is what it was all about. You can take what's there or get into it up to your elbows.
DonC

[lamaluv]

I was hoping that someone would respond to this thread that actually had owned both an ERA & Superformance as that was the original request. So far the responses have been as expected- If you own an ERA it is the best. If you own a Superformance it is the best. There has to be someone out there that has owned both. Let us hear from you as this has started to become one of the "lets get the popcorn" threads.

[Snake Pliskin]

Originally Posted by lamaluv

I was hoping that someone would respond to this thread that actually had owned both an ERA & Superformance as that was the original request. So far the responses have been as expected- If you own an ERA it is the best. If you own a Superformance it is the best. There has to be someone out there that has owned both. Let us hear from you as this has started to become one of the "lets get the popcorn" threads.

"Nothin wrong with popcorn, as long as you dont get your shifter greasy" Snake Pliskin

[Snake Pliskin]

Thanks DonC..... sounds like you made a great choice At what stage of production did you purchase you kit? Some of the build left in your hands or was it a complete deal? And how did you find the support effort from ERA from the other side of the country?