Superformance VS. ERA

[JBCOBRA]

I like ERA's, but did not want to wait months/years. I had a deadline to meet in order to make the 2005 Vintage GP in Watkins Glen.
I ordered a custom color car to my specs and am thrilled with it. SPF's are great. Especially for what I use it for. Driving.
Hey, these are just toys with no investment potential anyway.
On the other side of the coin I almost bought an original. At the time it was the top of the market, and would have lost even more money on that........so I am Driving For Free!

[patrickt]

That's reasonable too. If for some reason you can't wait a few months, or longer for a turnkey, then SPF gets the nod (not counting used ERAs, of course).

[WardL]

When I started looking at which used Cobra I wanted to buy I pretty quickly settled on the SPF because: there were a lot to choose from, ALL of them were "factory" made rollers and I was in a hurry. I resisted the temptation to get the "Perfect Cobra", but it had to be pretty close. The "factory" roller was important because I wanted no part of trying to decide if the builder was good at everything (paint, mechanical, electrical) that I could see and stuff I couldn't see or didn't understand. IMO you have to be VERY good to put together a Cobra kit and it be as good as a SPF for the money. When you get yours home, not likely there will be another Cobra around for 100 miles to get side-by-side and compare point for point and I don't think there are many owners sitting around thinking "Wish I bought a ERA instead of this old SPF" or visa versa. I also decided I did not want a BB. I don't get the nostalga factor for a BB and believe it is mostly about ego. That's ok, we all have egos and where else to display your alter ego than in your Cobra!

[REAL 1]

Both are quality cars. There is only a "night and day" difference in aesthetics if you know what to look for..to the average Joe they both look the same.

I really like SPF and their Grand Sport is on my short list for my next toy.

[ACademic]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

...to the average Joe they both look the same.

Nail hit.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by ACademic

Nail hit.

I thought you owned an SPF? Did you sell it or am I just mistaken?

[Hydramada]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I thought you owned an SPF? Did you sell it or am I just mistaken?

[jacobsed]

I have a SPF and love it. I also think the ERA's look great and the body is closer to an original. I really like the SPF compromise between a wide hip and narrow hip. To my eye it is an in-between which is perfect for my tastes. I do wish I could get the ass of the SPF slightly lower to the ground without messing up the suspension geometry but that's just nit picking.

Originally Posted by REAL 1

Both are quality cars. There is only a "night and

day" difference in aesthetics if you know what to look for..to the average Joe they both look the same.

I really like SPF and their Grand Sport is on my short list for my next toy.

[D-CEL]

This is easier than you think

Superformance:


ERA:

[JWheaton]

Krkucin

When I was researching which Cobra to get I went to many shows and talked to the various owners. I got a lot of really good advice from everyone. I had narrowed my choices down to SPF and ERA as well.

1) I would suggest getting a ride in each one. Usually there will be people local who are more than willing to have another reason to take a ride in their Cobra.

2) If buying a used Cobra make sure to check over each inch. If you can test drive obviously do that. If not at least try to check the clutch action... is it heavy, light, engagement points.

3) Check how you would fit and how your feet would work with the pedals and how you feel in the seat.

Both cars will give you a "Cobra" that will make you smile and throw your back against the seat when you push on the go pedal. I would focus on making sure that your driving experience is the best possible.

[RodKnock]

This looks to be a very nice ERA on the top of CobraCountry list:

http://www.cobracountry.com/cobra4sa...b-1332x713.jpg

[Hydramada]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

This looks to be a very nice ERA on the top of CobraCountry list:

http://www.cobracountry.com/cobra4sa...b-1332x713.jpg

Very nice ERA and looks like a quality build too! I love those shorty pipes...........talk about being a rebel!

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Hydramada

Very nice ERA and looks like a quality build too! I love those shorty pipes...........talk about being a rebel!

That's probably one of the best ERA's ever built.

And it has magnesium wheels.

[ACademic]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

That's probably one of the best ERA's ever built.

And it has magnesium wheels.

It is nice. And at $58K, someone will buy that car just for the wheels, replace them with standard Trigo's, and still resell the car for about the same price. What are you waiting for?

[rodneym]

Originally Posted by ACademic

at $58K, someone will buy that car just for the wheels, replace them with standard Trigo's, and still resell the car for about the same price.

Now THAT'S some logic.
Or when someone buys, they might sell those high maintenance things and recoup a little. But then there's that backspacing issue...

[CJ428CJ]

OK, I've seen several comments about the difference in ERA's between ERA built and owner built. Considering that ERA mounts and bonds the body (important to be done just so, in my opinion, to avoid stess cracks in the future) the rest of their kit seems pretty straight forward. They put in the lights, radiator, pedals, most of the steering mechanism, gas tank, rear wiring, etc., etc. The rest of the build is just assembling stuff. How hard can that be?

And I'm not asking the question sarcastically - I'm under the impression that someone with patience and basic ability, even with no prior experience with cars, can put the car together in a top quality manner. Am I kidding myself? Anyone out there that actually built their ERA care to weigh in?

I bought the basic kit from ERA. I had them bond the body to the chassis but other than that I did the build myself including the engine and assembling the rearend. The kit is really really easy to assemble. It goes together exactly like the instruction manuel says it will with no need to "fabricate this" or "figure out that." You won't find an ERA where someone did a crappy job "figuring out" the steering or jury rigging the brakes. Honestly, I don't know how anyone could screw it up unless they are completely mechanically inept.

[krkucin]

Very nice car. Appears I may have acted too slowly. :-( Wait for the next one to come along.

[ERA Chas]

Thanks guys. There are many better including both of yours but this has been my shot and the best I can do.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by ERA Chas

Thanks guys. There are many better including both of yours but this has been my shot and the best I can do.

Yours is a great car, and I meant no offense to you, but you have to admit, buying a hand built custom car like the Cobra is not as cut and dry as it would be walking into a showroom and picking up a new Corvette. You just never know what you are going to get without extensive and up to date documentation.


Congrats on your sale, now what are you going to replace it with?


Bill S.

[ERA Chas]

Originally Posted by mrmustang

Yours is a great car, and I meant no offense to you, but you have to admit, buying a hand built custom car like the Cobra is not as cut and dry as it would be walking into a showroom and picking up a new Corvette. You just never know what you are going to get without extensive and up to date documentation.


Congrats on your sale, now what are you going to replace it with?


Bill S.

Thank you. I've seen many posts advising to only buy an 'ERA-built' car vs. an owner build.
I take great exception to that idea. Surely some examples of any manufacturer's car are poorly owner-built. It takes a thorough study and understanding of the car's content and care of assembly to not get hurt buying one. You've gotta do the homework.
But there are cars that meet or exceed ERA's assembly quality and are updated with the newest improved parts developed by the New Britain guys. As well as other aftermarket suppliers like Mike Bontoft (now sadly gone from business) Brian Higgins, my 'no-name' machinist Jim Schutz and by buddy J. Hechinger, long-time painter of aircraft. They each helped make mine a labor of love. The beauty of an ERA is precisely that--easily adding the latest improvements to an older build.
A credit to Bob, Peter and Phil, the engineering is first rate and constantly improving the product.
Replace it?--possibly a cane with red tip...