Got cold feet yesterday

[Lowell W]

Since money is not the issue, what would it cost to buy the same car new? Maybe take a look at a new one and see whether any of the many upgrades since 1999 is enough to make you like the new one better.

If "owning THIS car" IS the issue, then you can buy this car or spend the rest of your life kicking yourself in the a$$. If you don't buy it, it will take on attributes in your memory that it never had in real life.

I've pi$$ed away a lot of money on things with wheels over the years, but, as Glyn said, I have more regrets about what I DIDN'T do.

I completely understand your trepidation regarding the real thing not living up to expectations. Sort of like spending an evening with (the lust object of your choice) and finding out she just lies there.

I had wanted a "427 Cobra" ever since I was 15 years old and they were brand new. Then, when I had the means to actually buy one (well, a reasonable replica of one, anyway), I also had the same reservations as you: What if I spend all this money and buy the car of my dreams and it just doesn't live up to my expectations? That seems to happen to a lot of guys, as there are so many Cobras for sale with only a few thousand miles on them. Finally, at 52 years old, I took my brand new Cobra on a 3,000 mile week long trip along Rt.66, figuring by the time I got home, either I'd love it or I'd hate it. At the end of the week I was even more enthralled with the car than I was when it was delivered. Almost 5 years and 20,000+ miles after I first got the car, I still go out to the garage and just sit in it.

It's a noisy, cramped, rough, dangerous, overpowered, high-maintenance little throwback to the 1960's and I love it. I read "Hemmings" every month, thinking maybe I'd like to get another car of some kind: not to replace the Cobra but just for something different to drive now and then. There are a lot of interesting cars, but since I got the Cobra, there's just nothing else that gets me excited.

Your results may vary...

Good luck,

Lowell