FII Roadster - Thoughts

[REAL 1]

The bar on performance always moves forward. If this is your sole criteria the goal line is always moving on you and you will forever be chasing the latest thing.

There is no one I know of personally that can drive a FGT to it's full potential on the street moreless a road course. Do those guys exist? Yes, but by and large they are professional or very seasoned talented track guys. This applies to the Z06, GT3, Porsche GTS, Viper, GT-R, 430, 360 Scud, ZR1, GT500, ZL1 or any other true performance car.

My point is unless you are really racing (and if you were the car wouldn't remain stock anyway) the incremental jumps in performance are wasted on mere mortals and come down to "bragging" rights.

Buy what you love or as a friend once said to me "moves your soul" and you won't constantly be chasing the moving goal line of performance around every year or every other year.

As far as the FII is concerned, if you love the chasis that much (it is a very nice peice) I would recommend just buying a Series I. It's a real Shelby, it's a very rare and limited Shelby, its the only Shelby that Carroll/SAI built and designed from a clean sheet of paper himself, you can buy in at around $100K and my bet is that it will become a collector item in years to come. That would be my play if I loved the Series one chasis that much.

[kkosche]

Originally Posted by REAL 1

The bar on performance always moves forward. If this is your sole criteria the goal line is always moving on you and you will forever be chasing the latest thing.

There is no one I know of personally that can drive a FGT to it's full potential on the street moreless a road course. Do those guys exist? Yes, but by and large they are professional or very seasoned talented track guys. This applies to the Z06, GT3, Porsche GTS, Viper, GT-R, 430, 360 Scud, ZR1, GT500, ZL1 or any other true performance car.

My point is unless you are really racing (and if you were the car wouldn't remain stock anyway) the incremental jumps in performance are wasted on mere mortals and come down to "bragging" rights.

Buy what you love or as a friend once said to me "moves your soul" and you won't constantly be chasing the moving goal line of performance around every year or every other year.

As far as the FII is concerned, if you love the chasis that much (it is a very nice peice) I would recommend just buying a Series I. It's a real Shelby, it's a very rare and limited Shelby, its the only Shelby that Carroll/SAI built and designed from a clean sheet of paper himself, you can buy in at around $100K and my bet is that it will become a collector item in years to come. That would be my play if I loved the Series one chasis that much.

IMHO, your quote about "moves your soul" is the most insightful thus far in this thread. Thank you.

As to the Series I . . . 4.0 liter Olds motor at 330 HP? Just could bring myself to drop a $100K on that. Don't really care for the lines of the car either.

The thing I struggle most about the FII is that it really is unique. Part Shelby (chassis) . . not a Cobra . . Cobra Like body . . In the end, I think it is a car to chase ultimate performance . . which I think the FII does a credible job doing . . but in the end "ultimate performance" is a fools errand. . .

All this dialog has me thinking that keeping the C5 is the answer . . and keeping an eye out for the right Cobra tribute / replica. . . and going back to driving school to sharpen some skills.

[Bartruff1]

Originally Posted by kkosche

IMHO, your quote about "moves your soul" is the most insightful thus far in this thread. Thank you.

As to the Series I . . . 4.0 liter Olds motor at 330 HP? Just could bring myself to drop a $100K on that. Don't really care for the lines of the car either.

The thing I struggle most about the FII is that it really is unique. Part Shelby (chassis) . . not a Cobra . . Cobra Like body . . In the end, I think it is a car to chase ultimate performance . . which I think the FII does a credible job doing . . but in the end "ultimate performance" is a fools errand. . .

All this dialog has me thinking that keeping the C5 is the answer . . and keeping an eye out for the right Cobra tribute / replica. . . and going back to driving school to sharpen some skills.

I have several gt cars including a C5 that are great fun to drive in the kind of weather we have in the PNW (to hot, to cold, to wet) and the Superformance when things are just right for a trip over the Cascades on one of our beautiful mountain passes or a twisty drive along the waters edge.

IMHO, you cannot beat a " Cobra " for fun or a Corvette for bang for the buck.

Like they say in Alaska, " I hope to see you down the road "....bart