New Guy Questions...

[galaxy]

Hello everyone, I'm new and in the market for my first Cobra, and still learning so be gentle...I'm very mechanically inclined (have a '91 mustang race car now) and was looking to go the kit route and build myself. So far I am completely sold on FFR (cost and mustang donor parts familiarity) but wanted to see if there was another route before I committed and get some answers.

SPF stands for Superformance, right? Are Superformance and ERA kit's or are they turn key cars?

Is there a drastic price difference between these and FFR? (these seem to be the top three to me)

Please make any suggestions you may have. Thanks for the help.

Oh, is this the right forum for this question or should I put it somewhere else?

[Tongue Pirate]

ERA can be a kit in if you purchase the base car & build it yourself.

SPF is considered a turnkey minus be cause you basically add a Motor & trans.

FFR can be the most budget minded if you go the full donor route.

There are many other manufaturers out there & each are very different when you get into the details. As far as money is concerned it really depends on how you build the car. A FFR can cost more than twice as much as a basic ERA if you add a bunch of the goodies. The best thing to do is take your time & do some thurough research. You will be happy knowing you bought the right car for you!

[FFR428]

Welcome! I also have an FFR. Some here don't like the kit because of the mustang donor concept and some "originality" issues. I feel its a great kit for the money. The ERA is also a super kit and is closer in design to the originals. It depends on how much you want to spend or how much you have to spend. My FFR is a "non-donor" build with a 428 CJ powerplant. I like the FFR because of the frame, aluminum panels, and ease of the build. If you have your mind made up stick with it and visit www.ffcobra.com. This is THE website for FFR's and can see for yourself what a great kit it truly is. Some others should chime in to express their views. Good luck and happy shopping, Glenn.

[RallySnake]

Jon,

That F150 would be a great doner for the engine!

In Cobra's, just like everything else, "you get what you pay for". Personally, after spending more than 20 years building and upgrading my car, I would recommend buying a second hand car. There's some pretty good deals out there. Most Cobra's don't have many miles on them. Takes a certain type of individual to actually drive these cars and live to tell about it.

Are you man enough?

Paul

[galaxy]

Are there differences in the bodies between the various manufacturers like wheel base, body width, subtle differences in the curves, etc etc? Looking at pictures, it sometimes seems like this is true and it's driving me crazy. Guess just need to find the one I like.

I think the mustang donor mentality is what appeals to me about the FFR and the fact you can do just about what ever you want to make it your car. It's still a great set-up isn't it?

Here's an FFR question...it seems like every picture I see of an FFR, you don't see any oil cooler lines in the front. Is it me or is it coincidence?

What are some things I can look for to help me decide on one, other than money? I wanted to build myself also.

[Jim Werth]

Most oil cooler are for show. You really don't need one. If your running a car on the track then maybe. I've seen some cars with an oil cooler and not even hooked up. I does make the front look nicer. Jim

[Jim Werth]

As with all real cobras the bodies varied from car to car. Same with kit cars. FFR cars have a perky butt.

[rdorman]

There was a post some time ago of a number of the major manufacturers cars profiles. There is a difference.

Are you parting out your '91 to build the Cobra? Is that one of the reasons you are leaning to FFR?

I to started looking at FFR. By the time I got it optioned out to what was important for me, I decided on a Unique deluxe pallet kit. By the time I added all the goodies to that, I just bought one finished! There are some nice buys to be had.

Buy a plane ticket. Come to Columbus Ohio next week for DVSFIII. If you don't leave there knowing exactly what you want and from whom, it is a lost cause

It will be money well spent and I would guess that the trip to Ohio will save you more money than the trip costs over time. Hundred of Cobras and experienced owners.

Heck you may even be driving one home!

Rick

[Don]

Some general suggestiuons:

* Continue to reference all the forums on Club Cobra to gain exposure to all vendors , sources and experiences.
* Visit the sources and shows such as the Kit Car show at Carlisle PA, which has already been held this year, and the DV Spring Fling, get to talk with those that have had to make the same decision.
* Look at Cobra Country , Cobras for Sale, to reference the difference in price of completed cars vs assembling a kit from step 1, i.e., the make or buy decision

http://www.cobracountry.com/

* Obtain brochures from the manufacturers
* Check your states DMV regulations for registering/safety inspections of Kit Cars. As an example, Connecticut refers to kit cars as Composites with a specfic procedure required to obtain the registration.

[galaxy]

No I'm not parting out my current mustang but I had given it alot of thought that my experience with late model mustangs would make the FFR ideal for me.

I also figured buliding myself would work out better than buying (financially and personally) since I'm so fanatical (probably just like all of you) that if I bought a running car I would still spend a small fortune changing everything to the way I wanted it anyways.

I have already checked on registration too. Thanks for all the great tips, I'll take more.

If you had to recommend one, what would it be??? Seems to me from my research this far that FFR, Superformance, and ERA are the top three. (as far as popularity) Is this true?

[Tongue Pirate]

Sounds about right but all are very different cars. Some people are really concerned with accuracy & that "real cobra" look. If this is your concern ERA make about as accurate a body as you will find. The down side of ERA is the wait!!! They are usually pretty backlogged.
SPF makes a real solid car & have a very strong customer base. Superformance owners seem to be very happy & proud of their cars. I would say that the downfall of the Superformance car is that it doesn't come in a kit form. I would guess that most of these cars are bought turnkey through a dealer. They are marketed for the enthusiast who would probably never finish a kit if they bought one but have the type of money it takes to own a $50,000 sportscar.
FFR's gig seems to be to appeal to the guy who has the time & the willingness to assemble a car from kit form with the possibly to do it on a budget. FFR can be a real nice looking car if assembled well. I have seen a few real nice FFR cars & a few not so nice.

One thing to remember is that some cars will not fit taller drivers well. I believe that all of the above manufacturers car's will fit taller guys but some won't. I am a hair over 6' & I have sat in cars that I would not be able to drive due to the lack of room. Some manufacturers stretch the wheel base, some lenghten the footboxes or lower the floorboards.

[Excaliber]

If I was going to build one myself I'd go with FFR, with SOME reservations.

I'm not crazy about that particular body shape in the rear. But I would be building for track use primarily. With the POTENTIAL lower cost of the build and the reliability of the Mustang type running gear AND the low weight feature it makes the FFR an ideal choice for a "track" car.

I say POTENTIAL lower cost becuase as many have found it's REAL easy to get in over your head with a build and wind up spending so dam much money you could have bought a much nice car all ready built!

It's hard to beat the basic idea of buying anything that someone else has started and never quite finished. Cars, houses, land, whatever it might be.

GENREALLY speaking but not always true:
SPF and ERA are miles ahead of the typical FFR in build, period correct look, etc.

If I had the money to go racing in "style" it would be a JBL hands down, no question it's the BEST! Plus, I prefer a little extra room, which the JBL offers (bigger car).

So combining my destire to race, street, more room and cost considerations: Classic Roadster (Excalibur bascially same thing) for me.

If "period correct" is your cup of tea: ERA, Kirkham, SPF.
The old ones? Hi-Tech is VERY accurate. Racing? Arntz-butler would deserve a look.

SO many choices to make!

Ernie

[rdorman]

All three are good cars. The quality of the finished product is dependant on the builder.

It depends on what you want. For most faithful replication of the original I would have to say ERA. Most bang for the buck and in my opinion, the one most likely to be customized to personal liking, FFR (you can spend a fortune on them, or not!), Great all around car, SPF. But you have not mentioned the twenty or so others out there! However, these are a good three.

Budget. Decide on your budget. Decide on intended use. Learn ALL the features and options and prioritize. Then look at the manufacturers.

If you truly are a perfectionest, then you will proably spend a great deal more than you think. Plus all the more reason to spend time looking at completed cars and talking to the owners. Never beleive the 'it can be built in X hours claims'! While it can, most people spend more time.

Have fun!!

Rick

[galaxy]

WOW, that was some awesome info. Thanks guys. Budget is one of the big ones. I like the FFR due to the "initial cost" of actually having a kit sitting in the garage. And I say this without having shopped around for cost at the other's yet. Typical! Anyways. Great info and pointers. Keep 'em comin.

[rdorman]

Have you been there to? TONS of FFR information. Obviously here you will get more manufacturers but it you want strickly FFR info, the other site has the goods.

Rick

[Tinker51]

When I was looking I too was interested in the FFR. I liked the concept and what I thought would be a lower cost. I sat down one night at the FFR web site and added up all the options I wanted and the kit was going to be around 24K. Then I started asking guys who had built cars what they had spent. Most of the guys who had done top notch non donor builds (what I had in mind) were in them for high 30's to low 40's. Well that put me very close to used SPF prices which was a body shape I liked better anyway (not a big fan of the perky butt). I looked around for about 5 months and found a two year old SPF that was as close to perfect for me as I could have asked for and the one thing that was not "Perfect" has now actually grown on me and I won't change it. So I guess the point here is yes, FFR is a great car, but if you want a very nice one they are not as cheap as you might think.

[galaxy]

When you guys talk about the "perky butt" on the FFR, are you talking about the shape of the trunk right at the trunk handle, or is it something else I just haven't noticed? Have and good pictures that show what you're talking about?

[Chaplin]

Galaxy-
Take a look at the below link. It compares the body shape of some of the manufacturers. Courtesy of ERA . .

www.erareplicas.com/427/profiles/index.htm

[Whaler]

Here's the working link

http://www.erareplicas.com/427/profiles/

[Chaplin]

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