Documenting my Cobra search

[mdross1]

The search is a big part of the experience you will get to meet a lot of interesting people. Some will become life long friends. No matter what you end up with for a car make it what you want enjoy it to the fullest. There will always be critics ignore most but some have things to say you might find useful.

[GT11]

A lot of people PM instead of replying to the thread and one of the questions I get is "have you spent time riding in/driving everything on your list?" When I say I haven't, the follow up is directed at the fact that the Cobra will be a much different car to drive from a comfort standpoint. Since I don't feel like searching much this morning, I thought I would give a little background that got me to this point.

First, my undergrad degree is engineering and I got there like a lot of the other engineers. We grew up tinkering, taking apart the lawn mower then cars when old enough. I restored a few cars and have always loved cars in general. Probably like the rest of you, something always pushes you to a specific genre related to your interest. Being the technical type, I was always intrigued by the technical complexity of the European cars and the engineering that went into them.

I probably started like everyone else with US steel. My first vehicle was a 1970 Ford truck that I rebuilt, then restored a 1953 Ford truck, followed by a 1970 Camaro. Everything had solid axles, leaf springs and ran well in a straight line. A neighbor introduced me to his Fiat X1/9 and his Porsche 911 and I have to say, I was hooked. They didn't have a lot of power but they handled like a dream and would stop on a dime. They were a blast to drive on winding, hilly roads.

My first European car was a 1975 Alfa Romeo Spider. It had a 2.0L engine, four wheel disc brakes, mechanical fuel injection and four wheel independent suspension. I was in college at the time and the car was a blast. You didn't really have a need to go fast but taking a date for a long drive on river road at night with the top down was beyond description. The little double overhead cam two liter engine would purr through the night and the car would sway through the sharp turns as the road followed the river. I developed a deep appreciation for the driving experience during that time.

After the Alfa, I had a 240 Volvo Sedan and was impressed with the performance of what was really a family car. After the Volvo, I went into my dark years....specifically power from the dark side with Lucas electrics. I had several Triumphs, two TR7's, a Spitfire, a GT6 and two Bonneville motorcycles, follow up with a Maserati then finally a couple of Porsche's. I made my way back to an Alfa Spider, then a Volvo XC90, Audi A6, a BMW 328, X3.5 and finally my ML350. I probably missed a few in there but you get the picture.

There was another side of my car experience that may seem out of place with the above mentioned cars. I love certain 4x4's. I always have an SUV as my primary vehicle but I also have them as toys. I had a couple of full size Ford Bronco's. They are such brutes and a blast to drive. My real 4x4 passion is Jeep Wranglers. I am on my 7th Wrangler and currently have one as my fun weekend car. I don't know why I have such a fondness for the Jeep. It is rough and tippy with so so performance, etc. but when I climb in a Jeep and head for the hills, the world just seems to be at peace.

That brings us to today. The last sports car I had was a Porsche Boxster. The Boxster is a great handling car but leaves a lot to be desired in the power department. That would have been OK if I didn't buy the BMW X3.5 a few vehicles back. The X3.5 had a twin turbo 3.0L engine with a 0-60 time of 5.5 sec which is not bad for an SUV. Let's just say the power corrupted me!

I knew I wanted a lot of power but wanted the handling of the European suspension. I also wanted something that was somewhat reliable and was pleasing to look at. In my first or second post, I listed a few that made the short list and the Cobra is at the top. BDR is at the top of the cobra list because it will give me the power of the 427 and the suspension of the BMW. I guess I have become very partial to German engineering after spending a lot of time running a company there.

So for now, the search continues. I may pull the Jeep out of the garage today and head for the hills if the weather allows. I may also swing by and see James Yale on the way back. The search has been fun but I know the catch will be even more fun.

[DWRAT]

Originally Posted by GT11

The X3.5 had a twin turbo 3.0L engine with a 0-60 time of 5.5 sec which is not bad for an SUV. Let's just say the power corrupted me!

The wife had the same motor in half the car, a 135i with a DCT and launch control which really couldn't control the motor all that well.
I agree that power is fun and the suspension is great.
When I got my last Cobra I was looking for a BRD or SPF only.
I figured if I got the BDR I would still want to upgrade to a SPF so I really narrowed the search down to SPF and couldn't be happier.

[Three Peaks]

I know you're probably getting a lot of advice behind the scenes, but try to understand that these cars aren't for everyone. You may very well find it is the perfect car for you, but, until you drive one you really won't know for sure- as many of the previous owners have found out the hard way after spending lots of money and countless hours building or searching for one.
They have lots of power and handle wonderfully, once set up properly. But Cobras are, by nature, small and cramped inside, have few amenities, and the sidepipes are loud enough in your ear you probably won't be able to carry a conversation with your wife while driving. (for some of us that would be blessing) These aren't like any "European" car you've ever driven, I'm quite sure.
Some Cobras are more cramped than others, which is why some guys suggest driving a few before you decide. Hopefully, you are not only looking for cars with your short list of requirements, but also take the time to sit in a few (drive if at all possible) and see how they fit you and feel when driving hard. You don't actually get into a Cobra as much as you put it on like a suit. Then, there is the inevitable 2-4 minutes of buckling up the harnesses and making sure you (and your passenger) are strapped in tight. Then, you have to watch for the sidepipes so you don't get a "snake bite" on your leg as you get out of the car with hot pipes. You'll have to park it somewhere you can watch it so the hordes of admiring people don't lean against it, scratch it, or let their kids stand on the sidepipes or sit in your car. (everyone here who owns one has had all these things and more happen).

Good luck in your search. Hope you find the exactly what you are looking for. I'm looking forward to see what you finally come up with.

Bob