so how much do you really drive your cobra

[FST FOX]

I guess I drive more than normal, but with all the rain it is a rare chance for me to just get in and drive, I normally log onto the weather channel before thinking about a drive. I guess also being self employeed helps with drive time. But I only take it where I can watch it, ie if I go out to eat the car will be parked where I can see it. But again I have 2 other cars to enjoy both slower than the Cobra so it makes me appreciate the car more at the same time wanting me to get in it more as well. But I think a Replica is a good choice for you because you still get to work on it and make it unique to you with out the whole build time thing causing you time and frustration.

[fsstnotch]

Well, there is no doubt in my mind that I will build it. i don't mind if it takes a year. I'm too much of a perfectionist to let someone else assemble the car. The whole family thing s the only thing that makes me cautious.

Anybody have any pics of Grabber Blue cobras? Mine will be Grabber Blue with satin black racing stripes and satin black team stripes. It will have 17" cabra replica wheels that will also have the same satin black centers with a polished lip and black interior and black ceramic pipes. It should look nice.

[RedBarchetta]

After 3.5 years of ownership, I have not driven my car nearly as much as I orginally planned to. I could probably grab some quotes from other posts here to assemble the reasons why. Despite the miles shortfall, the car for me has become more so "therapy" than anything else. When I just need to get away for 30 minutes to one hour, I pull the cover off and go for a drive.

The car itself? It's obnoxiously loud, totally impractical, brutally quick, a handful to drive and draws attention at every stoplight. Yeah, I like this therapy and if that means infrequent usage, then so be it. Keeps me sane in an otherwise chaotic world.

-Dean

[CHANMADD]

I've had my car since 1986 and back in the day I used to drop off three kids at school in the Cobra. (seatbelt laws have changed) I still have the car and all the kids are adults now ,I guess I still have not grown up as I enjoy my car as much now as I did then.A quick "Blatt" always clears my head and reinforces why I built and own this car anyway!!!

[Power Surge]

I drive my car any chance I get, that's weather permitting. I have put more miles on it in one year, than both past owners did combined in 5 years.

I feel there are two main factors for how much you drive. The first would be, how reliable is the car? There are plenty of bulletproof cars and there are plenty that break down a lot. My car is just about the most reliable Cobra I've seen so far, and I have no fear of breakage. That's not to say it won't happen, but some people get gun shy about driving their car after having a few bad break downs. The second factor is, how much do you REALLY like the car? Many people dream of owning a Cobra, some since their childhood (like me), but yet have never experianced one. After spending a ton of money and chasing a life long dream, some people realize that driving a Cobra is not as fun and comfortable as they thought. This IS a crude race car, after all. So you see lots of cars either sit with low miles in garages, or go up for sale soon after with no miles on them.

[wtm442]

Lots of short joy rides.

Last year:
Daily Driver: 2500 miles
Cobra: 3000 miles

[fsstnotch]

I love crude! It has definately been my dream to own a cobra. My notch had solid motor and trany mounts, suspension that was damn near nonexistent, low profile tires, no AC, no heat, and exhaust that would make your eyes burn a little if you got stuck at the light long enough. Coming out of work when it was 100+ in Oklahoma city was dreadful.. yet when I got in the car, cranked the manual windows down, and did a nice donut in the empty parking lot.. it was all worth it! Running basically open long tubes made it loud as hell. You could crank the stereo all the way up and you are not going to hear it! But the look on peoples faces when you reved the engine was just priceless! I love Crude! I plan to build my car with an aggressive Small block that will be plenty reliable to daily drive when weather permits.

Damn Warren, how do you manage to drive the cobra more than the daily?! You are my hero. you are exactly where I'd like to be as far as cobra to daily ratio!

Josh

[dlang14]

I put just about 4K miles on my SPF in the first year I had it. Far less this year, but the motor has been out for months being rebuilt (sigh). For reference we put about 20K/year on the daily driver Honda.

I have a 2 year old, well almost 3 but anyway. It would be nice to have all three of us go places, but its not an option. I have to admit I've been thinking about getting a Mustang so we can all go. The wife is worried that the cobra is too loud and will hurt the boys ears so I only take him on short trips now and then. The car seat works just fine once you get it in there.

But if you have any family locally once your back in the states my wife and I have really enjoyed some weekends alone. Grandma watches our son, and we take off for an overnighter at a Bed and Breakfast or something in the Cobra. Good luck,


Daryl

[double ugly]

"Anybody have any pics of Grabber Blue cobras? Mine will be Grabber Blue with satin black racing stripes and satin black team stripes. It will have 17" cabra replica wheels that will also have the same satin black centers with a polished lip and black interior and black ceramic pipes. It should look nice."

I found hotrods27 grabber blue in the photos section.

[cobrarkc]

The car itself? It's obnoxiously loud, totally impractical, brutally quick, a handful to drive and draws attention at every stoplight. Yeah, I like this therapy and if that means infrequent usage, then so be it. Keeps me sane in an otherwise chaotic world.

-Dean

[/quote]
I could have said it any better!

[Igofastr]

Had mine on the road less than a year, so far, 3500 miles.

[wtm442]

... and its cheaper than a psychiatrist in the long run

[Gun Doc]

Well, I have had mine for just over three weeks and most of the time it has been raining (Central Texas), but I still managed to put just over 1000 miles on it. I know that it is new and most would think that is why I have put on so many miles so quickly, but I bought this car to drive!

I own a GMC Sierra and two motorcycles, as well and drive the truck back and forth to work and the bikes from time to time. I really enjoy getting out on the back roads and driving, much the same way I ride my bikes.

I would guess I'll put somewhere between 5000 and 10,000 miles a year on the Cobra.

Gun Doc

[xlr8or]

I did just under 5000 miles in 8 months before I blew it up. Oops.

5 mile commute to work let me use it as a daily driver on most days.

[Fred Z]

Guess my 1st post died somewhere!
Ok..like I said....I grew up in El Segundo, Ca...and would watch the cobras come out of Shelby's warehouse and realized....THIS was the car of dreams!! years later, the 'bug' resurfaced after a long time in remission....and i got over anxious and bought a car on Ccountry! Wasn't the right car, but while owning it, met a great builder/racer of cobras.......and had my present car built professionally, completed last Dec. Now, 8 months later....just 35 miles shy of 6k....yep, 6,000 miles in 8 months......and still driving the heck out of it.....which is why i got it!! I live in calif. so driving up and down the coast is a pleasure, like last Sat.....i left hermosa beach, drove to Ventura for lunch (75 miles) and explored a couple of little beach towns along the way.(i am a Realtor). It has never, ever, not even once, been boring and left me with a taste less than sweet!
It is not a mundane car, to be sure! It is nasty yet beautiful.......loud but sweet music to the trained ear........and definitely not subtle........might be as subtle as a planecrash! But trust me on this.......take her, them for a ride up the roads, sun out, wind blowing thru the hair....and the pure excitement of raw power and a whiplash just waiting at every stopsign......and YOU WILL HAVE THEM!!
I wish you good luck........build it and they will come!
later..................fredz

[Madmiles442]

The first owner put 4900 miles on in 5 years, I've put 2000 on in one.
I drive it almost every weekend, if nothing else to pick up eggs and milk - whatever!
"Honey, we're out of dog food"
"I'LL GO!!" Vrrrooooommm.
It is a crude race car, though. Half of those that ride in it can't believe I can put up with it, the others want one NOW.

[preguess]

Keep in mind when you take a youngster that is below a certain height they have to be strapped into a booster seat! Totally impractical cars but your only on this planit once, right? 390mi this past weekend of hot windy noise
and then I let the wife drive the last 30 miles home, made it somewhat quitter!!!! teehee

[Sharroll Celby]

44,000 miles in 5 1/2 years. I drive it EVERY weekend: First thing Saturday morning to our "early Rodders" hangout 7-9 AM, then breakfast somewhere usually local. Then BAM! it's off to Malibu for lunch or ice cream, or take it to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and let all the tourists take their picture with the Cobra. (I even let the pretty women sit IN the Cobra driver's seat and I take their picture. The women love that!). OR Head up to Ventura for the iccasional Tri-County Cobra get-together for lunch and a cruise. OR up the 101 to Santa Barbara then over the mountain for lunch or a drink at Cold Springs Tavern, then the back road into Solvang for cruising or lunch or a drink. OR Palm Springs for lunch (110 miles each way!)

[olddog]

I was going to say that the kid will be big enough to ride in no time, and old enough to stay home for short periods soon after. Then this popped into my head. I have to admit I wanted a Cobra sense I was 13 and just got one at 49. If I had gotten one when I was young, odds are I would have been dead for a long time now.

So ask yourself a harder question. Do you have the mind over ego capability to drive such a car safely? It would be bad to leave a widow to finish raising a young child. Worse to leave a child with no parents at all. Near impossible to live with killing a child.

As fun as these cars are, many have died over the years. Do you have the wisedom to swallow your pride and realize your not capable of consistently pushing the car to its limits?

[Dwight]

Five years 20,000 miles. Five trips to London, Ohio. I would have more miles on the Cobra but I have worked 6000 hours in the last two years. Laid off now, so I get to drive more.

Dwight