I live! My first (800 mile) day in a Cobra

[tritoncobra]

Well, I'm back at home, and in one piece after a 800 mile trip from Cincinnati to Western Iowa. I left Cinci at 10:00 AM and arrived here at 12:30PM Wednesday night - I believe I stopped for gas 6 times in total, though I only used about 75% of the tank's capacity most of the time.

My unorganized impressions of the Cobra vs. my expectations:

The SPF drives very well. I love how the suspension/coilovers handle road bumps - very comfortably while retaining a good measure of confidence. Overall the car feels every bit as solid as the best cars I've ever driven, and IMHO the suspension compares favorably with my 2003 M3.

Power wise 485 HP is good enough for me.. I managed to briefly lose the tires in mid-2nd with pretty heavy throttle but it was pretty easy to let off the throttle slightly to get the traction back. On on-ramps I hit 3rd pretty hard from about 40 mph - and dear God that is exciting.. On my best run I looked into the mirror and saw a bunch of smoke or dust behind me, followed by a semi flashing his brights in appreciation.

My trip started in 45 degree weather and ended up at night in 0 degree weather. In the former temperature, the car was pretty cold with no top (which I tried for about a half hour) and too hot with the soft top on and the heater on full blast. At the end of my trip, even with the heat at maximum, I was freezing.. lol. Even dressed like a skiier there was enough air coming through the soft top to turn my car into a veritable icebox. No worries though; I expected as much and this is a one of a kind trip that WILL NOT be repeated. In fact it's about 20 right now and I though I so strongly want to go fire her up my still persistent memories of numb fingers prevent me from doing so.

The wooden steering wheel SUCKS - whoever invented these didn't imagine people like me with sweaty hands.. I actually ordered the leather steering wheel, but they forgot to put that on. Needless to say I'm making the switch ASAP. (Some leather gloves would solve the problem.. but it seems to me even they would be slippery on the wood compared to a hand on a leather wheel.

This car is LOUD. Let me say first that there is no greater feeling that turning that key and hearing the sheer power blasting from those sidepipes. Every time I stopped for gas, it's almost as if I forgot that feeling temporarily.. but without exception, upon starting her back up I could feel a renewed sense of panic coming over me.. "Oh ****, what am I getting myself into... I'm going to die!" That sense of panic permeated into everyone else at the gas station, especially the oft disapproving old ladies. The scene of the Cobra with its aggresive looking body shaking vigorously and struggling to contain the 485 HP working to justify that styling is amazing.. and only after driving it can I say I now relate to Wiley Cayote riding on a Acme rocket.

Those are the short term drive benefits. For long term drives, I think the dB level is a bit too much for me. Sadly, the soft top doesn't curb that noise one bit. I stopped to pick up earplugs at a Target after about one hour of driving. Though they all but alleviated the issue, even with the earplugs in for the rest of my trip I had some pretty major ear ringing going on. Call me a ***** if you will but I'm definitely going to look into getting some extra baffling for those sidepipes, or some alternate measure of quieting the exhaust. I cringed driving the car through residential neighborhoods last night, knowing that even coasting in 2nd at 2200 RPM I was waking up every house I drove by.. but most of the time I will able to take the car out during the daytime, which solves that problem.

Everywhere I stopped, and I mean everywhere, people were coming over to me and asking about the car. Most people's jaws dropped at the mention of 485 HP.. I'd say about half knew it was a Cobra of some time, and asked whether it was a replica or not. It was a great feeling.. a lot of the older guys I talked to made it clear that seeing the car had made their day.

Mechanically the car worked almost perfectly for the entire trip. When first starting out the car died after a minute.. and I was pretty worried until I switched the fuel pump on.. My only problems were pretty small: One of the windshield wipers flaps a bit in the wind, and my blinker stalk kept getting stuck.

Okay, well you get the idea - I had a great trip despite the hardship of the temperatures.. now to put the emblems on and wait for Spring when the true enjoyment can begin! This will be the longest winter EVER.

[750hp]

Great story ! It sounded like a fantastic journey !!! 0 degrees in a Cobra surely puts you into the category of "hardcore" drivers. Loud sidepipes are fine for me, but I'd die if I tried to drive my car in temps anywhere under 40 degrees !!!

[Jamo]

To borrow a phrase (and an appropriate one at that)...Good on ya!

[Sal Gerace]

How cool is that! And funny as h*** I must ad! Great story that had made me even more anxious now for my first drive in my car. About a year away from that. Thanks good stuff, Sal.

[Rick Parker]

Ok, you're in!


Rick

[bnewell]

Glad to hear that you made it home without incident!!!! One of my wipers did the same thing when I first took delivery of the car. I called Mark Dove and he sent me another one.

Brian

[REDSC400]

TritonCobra!

Hey, thanks ever so much for that nice description of your first long ride! Although my trek back home was only 70 miles, the excellent description you gave brings back such great memories.

Especially the terror factor.... ohhh yess. You are a good man to admit it. Just remember, One of the best and most experienced Cobra race drivers wrapped his 427C experimental into the one and ONLY tree on the race course during a race.

There will be a few bugs.... part of the fun. Hey I just ironed one out that has been with ERA357 now for 10+ years... Ha Ha Trumpet Blast... Drumm Rolll.

As for the wooden steering wheel... try a nice (read expensive) pair of leather driving gloves. That may help a bit.

Regarding the exhaust note, hearing and such.... I have found that those earplugs work better than nothing.. and for cold ears in the late fall and winter... try these... they are small... add ear protection for hearing and also are WARM and do not look too assinine. They are from Duluth Trading. Real nice.

http://www.duluthtrading.com/a/shop/...1186+BLK&c=&s=

[Ken Oikawa]

Tritoncobra
I can relate. Back in '62 I once drove a TR3 with very little heat from Ottawa to Toronto (distance of 280 mi) in -10F temp. It was damn cold.
Had a soft top and side curtain but it didn't help much.

[Lowell W]

AAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWRRRRRIIGGGGGGGHHHHHTTTTTTTTT

YA DID IT!!!

In your first day of Cobra ownership you've had experiences that some owners NEVER have, even after years of owning a Cobra. I consider myself pretty hardcore when it comes to distance and bad weather (not as hard core as Hal Copple, for example, but more than most) and I haven't driven my car in zero degree weather. Twenties and 30's, but not zero. I've put on maybe 400-500 miles in a day. A great day! Some guys don't put on in a year what you did in a day.

You're right about the steering wheel: looks great if you don't use the car much, but the leather wheel is better for driving.

The noise... well... it's not as bad with the top down, if that's any consolation. You'll get used to it. Every so often, after not driving the car for a week or so, I seem to forget what it's really like. Then I go out, strap in and fire up the motor and kinda go, "Oh Yeah!" all over again. The old ladies were kidding ya: They're supposed to look disapproving but they really like it. I had one old lady smile and stick out her thumb when I idled by on the way to visit my in-laws at their retirement community. Everybody loves it: big girls, little girls, kids, old folks, you name it. Ear plugs probably are a good idea, but I hate 'em. I'm half deaf anyway, though, from all the guns, fireworks, loud music, etc. As the saying goes: "My favorite toys turn money into noise."

Yep, too bad you have to park it now and wait for winter to be over. My guess, though, is that you'll still take it out until it snows and the roads are salted for the first time. "Well... I'll just go to the store..." or "Oh, I can turn around and come home as soon as I get cold...".

Good luck and thanks for the great story!

Lowell

oops: edited for some caps which snuck in by mistake

[Tongue Pirate]

A great rejuvenator!!! I'm headed out right now to do more bodywork! Maybe I'll make my first coat of primer this weekend. Someday soon I hope to enjoy the same experience..Thanks!

[era427tp]

I was mainly deaf from racing when I got my car.It does however set off my neighbor's car alarm,serves her right for having a Saab.My coldest drive was in the 20's,hail the new King of Cold.

[DonC]

Triton:
I can appreciate your trip in the near winter weather.
When I came home from my first trip to the southeast asia war games in 1966 my wife and I drove from Virginia to Ohio to Los Angeles in a Mk1 Bug Eyed Sprite in late January. I dont think it made much difference in the inside vs outside temperature even with the soft top and side curtains. The biggest trick was getting into it wearing all of the cold weather clothes we had on.
I don't think we warmed up until we'd been in socal for a week.
I do have to admit though it was a once in a lifetime trip but I doubt I'll do it again in this lifetime either.
DonC

[Doug Axelrod]

TC,
Congrats on this nervy achievement, one that you will always remember fondly.

I've had several 10 hour drives between Cincy and Virginia, a couple with persistant thunderstorms, so I understand the sense of adventure. Many other members have had similar or greater experiences as well. But I do admire the nerve of setting off without much "burn-in" time--testament to both the car fabricator and engine builder.

I keep my car (SPF1274) ready to go all winter, as there are enough days to get out without snow on the ground. The SPF hardtop is great in winter, particularly with the taller stalked mirror (ask the guys at Dynamic) for rear vision. The leather steering wheel is the way to go. The collapsable foam earplugs are good both for trips greater than an hour, and protecting the eardrums from cold wind. Outer ear protection has multiple fixes, as you'll see from the website, from Snoopy hats to more sophisticated Harley hats. Hal (daily driver) Copple has also opined on proper dress for winter driving, but frankly he doesn't live where they have REAL winter..
It's a priviledge to drive these wonderful conveyances, which take us further than miles can say...
Congrats!