Does your heart still race?
 

Guys, I have had my BDR over 8 years and every time I decide to drive it, I have to think about it in advance and prepare myself mentally, and my heart begins to race. I have had many cars however this car has gain my full respect.
I don't abuse it, because I know that in a second with all that power I can loose control and be taken out....
Also, being challenged by other motorist, with their fast cars, and not so fast cars.. Everyone ones to race me.
I did that the first month when I had it, and I found out quick how easy it is to loose control with that much power.
What a waste it was being challenged by a mustang.. Never again...

Am I the only one with such respect for these cars?

One items comes into the equation, if I know that I will parked somewhere for a while, I realize there will be lots of looks and lots of questions, so that issue also gets my heart going.
Is it real?
is it Bugatti?
What kind of car is it?
How much did you pay?
Does it have a 427 motor?
Etc, etc, etc,.....

Let me have your opinions.
Dex.....

I am always excited when I get to take the car out. There is just something about the sound, vibration and speed that gets my blood moving.

Dex

I bet not having the rear wheel seated on the pins, made your heart race faster and probably skip a few beats.....how you doing my friend?

Hey Dex, I've owned my Cobra for 4 years and have had 2 issues which makes me feel a bit uneasy when it's time to ride.

When I bought the car it was great… always starts, gets me from A to B, etc but then I didn't realize that the fuel gauge sender was broken so the tank read 1/4 tank and had it stop on the road which I thought it was the fuel pump or something more serious… turns out the sender was broken and I had it repaired… but then a week later it stopped working again. Since I own a fuel cell I now measure the gas with a clean stick before I go out (at least until I get that fixed again)… so this is a big concern for me each time I feel like going out for a drive.

The 2nd problem I had was a bit more serious… It started fine, let her warm up for 10 minutes and took off to a secluded beach (nice roads, etc) about 15 minutes into the drive it started to putter and thought it was the gas again but this time it wasn't the gas it was the freaking Fuel PUMP that went kaput! and I was stranded like the first time for about an hour until I started to walk near the beach and a couple of kids were hanging out so I borrowed their phone and got it towed.

So while these situations are straight forward I'm left thinking what's next? I understand it's not a modern auto but the 2nd situation left me feeling helpless because we don't usually have extra fuel pumps hanging out in the trunk but I do have a 5 GAL can of gas in the trunk due to the 1st issue.

I think situations like this can really take a toll on how you feel about your car… I get the car inspected locally each year there is always the possibility of something else going on:

- Brakes
- Gas pedal getting stuck on a drive (can't stop)
- etc.

So now I don't leave home without a cell phone. What else can I do?? :)

… It only really takes one issue to feel this way and while I still love my cobra it does affect how I prepare myself mentally for each drive. Those two situations cost me at least $300 each time (tow, expenses, fixes, etc) I don't work on this car myself as I'm a computer guy I leave that to expert mechanics (whom which haven't had success with this fuel cell and a proper freaking sender switch)!! it seems it works for a little while then fails again or getting stuck in the foam mesh, etc..

To top it off I'm wondering if the new pump they put into the car to replace the broken one if it's the same or better.. and how much time I have before it goes again.

It is what it is… :)

BTW I have never put myself in the situation of stopping away from home, getting out of the car and having the car out of my sight. That's something that will take time I'm sure but like others have said on this forum it would take less then 60 seconds to steal these cars unless a proper (hidden) security system is in place (battery cut-off, etc). I even thought of putting a GPS system / sender/receiver in the car so I could track it if it got stolen… but that's overkill and I just need to get over that and have fun with it.

Cheers

I've been driving Cobras this time for about 9 years and I still get excited everytime I put the key in the ignition (which I do everytime I have a reason or the time). Respect is what it takes to survive these vehicles because the moment you really believe you are the boss, it gets away from you just a little and you need clean skivvies..or worse. I hope I never loose that thrill.

After 9 years, It's still a rush. It has broken down a few times, and left me stranded. But that's just a good way to find and fix a weak spot. That's also why I carry a AAA card and a phone.

I am going on 23 years of owning my Cobra and it still gets my blood pumping! I built a driver with the bare essentials (no radio, heat or cup holders) and it has been 100% reliable. I give it the top to bottom check up and service every spring and it is ready to go any where, any time.

Respect these cars and make sure you run the best tires you can afford to keep it going in a straight line. There is always a wanta be racer willing to challenge you, I just smile and let em dream...

We have had our car for over 21 yrs this is the first year I have started thinking about things like the fuel pump might need to be changed with the weasel crap fuel we are forced to use. The tires certainly will need changing once the bug to compete hits again.

Except for the couple of growing pains when the car was first built (burping the cooling system, getting the suspension scaled) this car has been bullet proof up till now. Retired a year ago now it's time to go completely over the car all fluids renewed for a start.

It still makes me feel like a kid everytime I think about getting it out. As far as the inevitable questions I take them as they come the pride of ownership will shine through always. After all it is a Cobra!!! Whatever else people perceive it to be does not matter when and if the day comes to let someone else enjoy it I will have nothing to hide. We have three ring binders and file jackets full of info about this car from Day One.

The possibilities of being left on the side of the road is always on my mind. It has append to me several times, especially at the beginning when I just got the car. Last year in Rehoboth DE, I had an half shaft that broke. It took me for ever to get a replacement. The manufacture could not duplicate what was broken, so we opted to rebuild the unit.
I have purchased an open trailer and have decided to cancel AAA. I want to believe that is a grave mistake. When leaving home with this car, I'm tuned to the idea that I can be stranded anywhere. My new women in my life, I have her tuned to the idea also that anything can happen....
To date:
Half shaft rebuild
Rebuilt motor under warrantee
Replaced gas tank
Busted coolant hoses
Minor accident, had my rear end body work done

I have to say, that I'm lucky so far.....
Dex..

Yes - and to prove it my handwriting is a lot shakier after a drive. :LOL:

Re the reliabilty issue - my wife and I built my car (she assembled the motor:MECOOL: ) and it has never let us down in 20 odd years of driving it. And it was built on a very tight budget.

That is awesome to have built that with your wife...

Yup - she's a special lady - the night before going into hospital for her hysterectomy she came to me and said - "Hey - it will be a while before I can help so lets get the diff in this evening as it's too heavy for you to do on your own"

There are few women like that around an I'm one of the lucky ones to get one - and no shes not butch in any way.

Come home in the evening after fighting off the barbarians at the gate all day...roll it out, warm it up...sometimes the wifey or the 7 year old grandson is strapped in next to me; most times not. Drive a half a block to the big broad two-lane, turn left and slowly bring it to a boil for several miles through stone fruit, vineyards, citrus groves and horse ranches to the entrance of Kings Canyon along the river.

Then I make noise...lots of it. the road follows the river, so many nice fairly tight curves. Get up to where the road splits off for the dam, and turn around and do it all again in reverse.

Sit there in the driveway and listen to it tick as it cools and as the sun goes down.

I do this several times a week...my heart may beat a little faster, but by the time I'm done, I'm completely relaxed. Good for the soul.

I built my car 22 years ago, and taking it out for a drive is still one of my favorite pastimes. I enjoy the thumbs-up from passersby, largely because I built it myself. It goes because I made it to go. It stops because I made it to stop. When people say they like it, their compliments feel good to me. It was the first thing I ever built. I was just a goof with a hand drill, a bench grinder, and a subscription to Hot Rod magazine. But I got it done and I still get a kick out of driving my car.

You are blessed!!!

My heart gets pumping just coming home and walking by it when I enter the garage....it is like nothing I have ever had before....bikes, cars, boats, you name it. I've been bitten!