I still don't understand how ERA gets thrown into this comparison?

If we were comparing Ford and Chevrolet, how much sense would it make for someone to suggest that price of a Mercedes does not include a casette or the cup holders.

Yeah but, one is still a Chevrolet and the other a Ford.

TURK

One day left to save $2505.00!! send your Ten thousand in now!! AAAAAGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can't they extend the offer one more week!!??

well, i suspect that most Replica purchasers have some top cost they can spend, i sure did. There was no way i was going to get my wife to agree to a $50K car, but i was able to gain her approval for a $49K car. If my SPF had cost more than that i could never have gotten it. Others of course have different wives and different limits.

At some point, even a few thousand bucks more can make or break the sale. It was not my intention to see my aged but much loved Turbo AWD Eclipse to help pay for my SPF, i never intened to use the SPF as an only car. But the last moment, my wife made it clear i could not hav two cars. So my SPF did become my only car, and has been so up until this summer, when an old minivan drifted down to me. I could never have my car so modifed that it was not drivable by dawn. Now i can tweak and modify to my hearts content. I was out and about today in my car.

I don't think it is necessary to review all the standard features of the SPFs, i imagine it is on their web site. While i note the differences between many of the replicas, i sincerely believe there is none "nicer" than an SPF. Round tubes, Girling brakes, what have you, are not "nicer" in my book. Just different.

I will say that at well over 60,000 hard hard miles, my SPF still runs perfectly, and has been by far the most reliable car i have ever owned. I was parked next to a 550 Maranello today when i dropped by the Charlotte Porsche dealer to talk about my son's Boxster, and this guy with his girl came up around the Ferrari and told me i had an incredibly handsome car. Truth, the 550 was stunning to me, i had to look it over carefully, but the guy and his girl wanted to look over my SPF. Perhaps someday i will have a Ferrari.

Very Nice Hal!
 

Hal, you made some great points. As I said I had to sell my 67 Shelby to get a Cobra. And I guess one of these days I will start saving for my daughters college fund. Great sorry at the end of you note. I agree withall the points you made.

Ernie,

The big spike in price for a "classic " Ferrari happened well before Enzo's death.
The irony is , that almost immediatly upon his demise the market completely collapsed , leaving "investors" to take a serious bath for betting "the come"

Not to say you cant make $ owning cars.......but beware of "hype"when investing in any thing ....it dosnt take a real big group to artificially run up the price of anything....

anyone remember CSX cars selling for a Million?.....:)

KK investment driver

I'll stick with my ERA,thanks,BUY AMERICAN!!!!!!!!!!!!

ERA427TP,you rock dude!One post says it all.Welcome to the club,and hope to hear lots from ya.

RedCSX: No stripes!? C'Mon!!! ;-)
Actually, I originally wanted a solid colored car as well (BLACK / no stripes!) but after seeing the paint job on the SPF's with stripes (you can't even feel them, it's so smooth) I changed my mind. I will tell you, however, that SPF doesn't give you a credit for not getting stripes.
Why do I need a top? I live in Chicago (not sunny California). No, I wouldn't drive the car in the winter, but spring & fall days can change in a heart beat (especially as the sun starts to go down - COLD!!). They also don't do a very good job of predicting the weather around here (do they anywhere?). No, I wouldn't take the car out in the rain, but I could get caught in a shower while already being out. Here in the Windy City, we like to say: If you don't like the weather, wait a minute........It'll change!
Oil Cooler system is now standard? When did this change?? I just got my price sheet from Shelby in the mail a couple days ago!? Well, that's a plus if it's standard! (plus 975.00 that is!).
Heater: I already explained why I need that.
Defroster: Ditto
Mirror: .....C'Mon, Shelby has to charge you 75.00 bucks for a mirror!? Maybe they would throw that in for me.......
You wouldn't want a 5-speed for the track? I doubt you would have a problem with the TKOII with a 427 or 428. Just ask the guys with 500+ci BB SPF's w/ 600lbs tq and a TKOII.

Hal already mentioned quite a few of the things SPF's come "standard" with earlier (pg. 13 I think). I mentioned a couple of the upgrades they added this year.

Bottom line is, I think they are BOTH good "deals". I think it will depend on the buyer and what he wants to do with the car, that will be the deciding factor. People that want to show the car, or just want to build a car that will look more like a original will probably choose the CSX (or ERA). Especially if they want to go with an FE. People that prefer a SB stroker, or go with a massive BB stroker with gobs of HP and TQ, and want to race - or drive their cars "hard" will probably go with the SPF. Not saying you couldn't do "racing" or "shows" with either car.........but each one has it's advantages in each category (IMHO).

Evan, You said that many people are "REFERRING TO THE ORIGINAL SERIES WHEN THEY ASK "IS IT REAL?" ...(caps mine); these people want to know, by asking, if it is , SPECIFICALLY, a car worth $300,000 AND UP! Your Cobra is not worth that much money. No doubt that your Cobra is a very fine looking automobile, worthy of all the attention that it undoubtably garners. But think of how much MORE fascinated, amazed, and impressed people would be, and what their reactions and words would be, if your car WAS one of the $300,000-plus original Cobras. YES, your Cobra is a brand new Cobra; YES, your Cobra is recognized by SAAC as a genuine Cobra. NO ONE is arguing those facts. IMHO, as soon as you use the sentence "Yes, it is a real Cobra. Its a new Continuation series Cobra from SAI", people hear that first word, "YES", and do not even listen to the rest of the sentence. Heck you could tell them it was made on the moon, or speak total gibberish, but once people hear that word "YES", you have mislead them! You are assuming that "their reactions and words leave no doubt that they consider it a real Cobra also." Remember, YOU said in your post "...referring to the original series...is it real?..."...from THEIR point of reference, you are lying to them. The ONLY HONEST answer for you to give, without misleading anyone in any way, would be: "NO, it is not a real Cobra manufactured in the 1960s by Shelby, but it IS a genuine Cobra manufactured by Shelby, recognized by SAAC, exact '65 specs, etc etc etc."

Funny
 

Its real funny reading these posts over various threads on this site, where somehow or someway someone says that their car is better( or more to the original) then yours. People, everyone here who posts, has and owns a replica period! Unless you drive the "REAL DEAL ORIGINAL 60's COBRA period!! Whether the cars are aluminum, fiberglass or somesort of composite, or whatever the manufacturer may be, they are all replicas period. Continuation series is just good old marketing that CS and the boys came up with. Although it is his name Shelby, but not Cobra or Ford!
You guys toot and honk this is better more options etc., or closer to the original, thats all great..but they are still all REPLICAs.
I know quite a few original 60's vintage Cobra owners that just laugh, about the so called Real Continuation Cobras, that people try to pass off or impress others, as if they are the originals. They may look, feel and smell like them but they ARE NOT THE ORIGINAL CAR, and trully shouldn't be looked at that way!
Bottomline all these cars are awesome, and there is a manufacture to suit everyones needs and pockets. Just buy one or build one and enjoy that car! Cause at least you have one, while others just dream about them.
Now its time for me to start dreaming again, and get back into the groove to make my decision on which REPLICA to get, but alas my chices are easy for me, only three for me to choose:CSX,SPF or ERA.
Oh yeah, drive your cars, get them wet, enjoy them, thats why they were made. These cars were born to be driven.:)

KobraKarl,,,,,concerning possible "price spikes" with the old or new Shelbys. Right on! Plenty people took a bath on the Ferraris, could happen the same way on the Shelby Cobras, new AND old! Choose wisely, or better yet, just DRIVE it and have fun no matter what you got!

Someone suggested the CSX cars can't be licensed in Calif. Of course they can, ALL of them can, ANY replica can! Didn't say it was easy, gonna be a nightmare, but it CAN be done! You think Calif. is hard? Try Hawaii, now THATS a "real" nightmare! Don't make any difference if it's alloy or glass, same same at the DMV.

LONGEST THREAD? I've seen one or two go 30 pages. I think the LONGEST one was OVER 50 pages. The "subject"? An SAI "Ad" in a magazine referred to "other" Cobras as "embarassing". And were off............50 pages of IN YOUR FACE!

Ernie

I think any new Shelby Cobra is a "real" Shelby Cobra, period.
I think any 1960's Shelby Cobra is a "original" Shelby Cobra, period.

I think the new Ford GT is a "real" GT 40 and not a replica, continuation or any other B.S., period.

Please, let's move on...

I saw a deer the other day....:MECOOL: :) ;) :mad:

Casa-
I saw one tonight. White tail and all:cool:

Casa,
That damn deer must have a "thing" for you. Keeps on coming back.

Tom S.

"There once was a lady from Nantucket......." (bet Freddie Douglass knows of whom I speak!)

I am wondering how many people on this thread have actually ordered so far? I am really on the edge. while I appreciate all the other manufacturer's in the Hobby and what they have done for it, I am Charmed by the Snake. What I mean by that is they actually made SAI get cost effective and competitive. I am sure there are many other positives they have done for the industry as well but I am not interested in debating that right now. This is the SHELBY AMERICAN topic I believe. the thread started out talking about the new Roller, and that is what has my eyes and ears focused and paying attention right now. The Dealer told me "Deposit today, Car by JUNE!" They are moving a good number of these already.

david
it sounds like you've made up your mind already? just go ahead and do it. as a previous owner of (2) GT 500's though i must admit if your looking for something that is an exact duplicate to the original '60s cobras your in for a let down. are you still selling the '68 GT 500?

I cannot sell the GT 500 for one of these cars. I am driving it today. it is a crisp Halloween afternoon and the sun is shining and the whole world is loving my car. Espescially me! I can see having one parked next to it would be just fine with me. I did speak to a Dealer yesterday for the first time about the cars. I am walking in that direction without a doubt, but I have not pulled out the checkbook just yet...........Research is a must. Big Block versus small block is still a mental debate. I am also interested in the outcome of your situation. (SAI take note here!!!) As I am sure many others are as well. Please keep us updated.

In answer to Ernie's post above, of course the CSX cars can be registered in Calif., at least for the present time IF you are fortunate enough to get one of the 500 special vehicle numbers that will become available January 1, 2004. And even those are under attack and the state will be trying to do away with them again soon. The other way to register any Cobra or vehicle in this republick is to make it meet the emission requirements. Try to do that with any replica and their high performance engines. Also the crash standards and don't forget your air bags and all the other crap to make it safe for illegal aliens to drive. I really believe that within another 5 years it will be impossible to register any vehicle in this republic that isn't made by one of the big auto companies. GM, Ford, etc. Typical Calif. political logic. Instead of letting people register their special construction vehicles and collecting all the money they would get from a lot of vehicles that are only driven a few months a year, the state spends more than that to stop any from being registered. Then they try to explain it away as they are fighting pollution by stopping vehicles that emit maybe .0001/10th of 1% of the pollution in this state. Anyway you can register them for now in this state with a lot of patience, a lot of time, and a truck load of money. Preferably $100 dollar bills which will be weighed instead of counted.

Ron **) :LOL: :D