Considering a Cobra have some questions

[Detroit Bill]

Wow Patrick, that's an ominous statement.

I can't easily find specs on the Avons. Can you point me there.

I'm back to thinking about 17 and Pilot sports or P zeros type tire.

[lovehamr]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

Wow Patrick, that's an ominous statement.

Bill, Patrick is right for most of these cars. If you'll indulge me for a sec: The first time I took my car (BDR big block 500/500) out to actually drive it I had my youngest son (18 at the time) with me and we were cruising along a fairly quiet country road. We have lots of those around here, long, straight and flat roads. At any rate, whilst cruising we came upon a slow moving semi. I, not thinking, did what I'd normally do in my Saleen; bang a down shift and stomp it! WRONG move oh diseased yak breath! We were doing about 45 when I stomped it and immediately went sideways while crabbing past the semi. I pedaled it, gathered it back up and got around the truck all in about a half a second. My son (not knowing how close to death we both were) was over in the passenger seat laughing his anal orifice off. I had my seat firmly clinched in my anal orifice (we can't use those other words here on CC) and it was some time before I could get out of the car. Needless to say I learned my lesson. The second that you don't respect one of these cars they'll turn around and slap you.

Oh, what tire was I running at the time? Goodyear Eagle F1s in 315/35 17. They never had a chance with my ham-fisted driving that day.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by lovehamr

I, not thinking, did what I'd normally do in my Saleen; bang a down shift and stomp it! WRONG move oh diseased yak breath! We were doing about 45 when I stomped it and immediately went sideways while crabbing past the semi.

This is exactly what I was referring to above. It happened to me on a colder day when I had turned onto a state highway and was doing normal, non-spirited, acceleration from roughly 20 to 60 (the speed limit) and the shift from 3 to 4 the tires chirped a little, with a little skittle, and fortunately for me and my passenger, regained grip. The temp was in the high 50's on a grooved new concrete roadbed.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

Wow Patrick, that's an ominous statement.

I can't easily find specs on the Avons. Can you point me there.

I'm back to thinking about 17 and Pilot sports or P zeros type tire.

Here's a decent thread on the Avon tires: Info on Avon tires

[Buzz]

My first car was a '74 Trans Am with a built 455 that would break the N50-15 Mickey Thompsons loose at 45mph just as easily. It plowed and understeered like a barge in hard corners but with too much throttle it would snap the rear around in the blink of an eye. I drove it for two winters on the icy roads of northern Alberta. THAT was a scary ride.

Anyone owning a Cobra should do what is often advised - take it and flog it in an empty lot somewhere so you can see how easily it breaks loose and what happens when it does. If your car is well set up, you should find that it is capable of smoking the tires and spinning on a dime all day long, but it will only do that if YOU make it.

It goes without saying that 500+ HP and torque in a small 2500lb car is going to be an E-ticket ride, but it isn't going to go off and create carnage all on it's own. It will if you forget you're not driving a Honda Civic and snap a downshift and stomp on it when you pull out to pass, or even if you decide to goose it hard in any of the first three gears.

If you're used to driving fast in a modern car with traction and stability controls, you definitely need to take a your new Cobra on a crash (no pun ) course in parking lot drifting before you go hunting Vettes on the open road.