New to the Cobra world? Have you always dreamed of having a Cobra? Read carefully.

[spindle]

What kind of person actually puts a child seat in a Cobra? It sounds like you should have held on to the minivan that you sold. Where do people like this come from?

[hi-tech cobra]

Originally Posted by computerworks

No...because I'm going to close it if there is one more


Read my earlier post....if this doesn't stay in shape, it's history.

Sorry computerworks, I may have responded to a troll. My point is our buddy rsimoes has done nothing in the forum but complain about his plight of cobra ownership. He has soiled the reputations of the best companies in the biz (who pay to advertise on this site). His comments have zero credit in my book.

He knew this post would stir up a hornets nest of emotion so why would he post it? I don't think it is to help someone make a cobra purchase. Maybe he likes to tick people off. Maybe he likes the attention of pooping on our parade.

I think this thread should do a Larry Craig and disappear into a bathroom stall.

[bnewell]

Hey wait a minute........I leave my golf clubs at my country club on my private cart

[Randy H]

Bottom line is, A Cobra is not for everyone.

I wanted a Cobra for 10 years before I bought one. I did research for 10 years! I enjoyed the learning process including the Cobra history and researching the pluses and minuses of each replica manufacture. I enjoyed the hunt for the right car for me. I was honest with myself regarding my mechanical ability, my time willing to put towards another toy, my financial situation and my expectations of the finished product. A Cobra is not a Corvette or any other performance car, this is one of the things that makes it so special. Along with the great history of American Racing.

My expectations of a Cobra were: to loud, to hard riding, requires the occasional maintenance (more than a factory car), does not have air conditioning (or in most cases heat or a top), is great handling, Very fast, a little scary, has an absolutely gorgeous design, the great smell of high octane fuel while your driving it (and on your spare shirt in the trunk), no radio, no power steering, and is very unique. My car has met every one of my expectations and I love it. My 10 yr. old daughter loves it so much she asks if we can take it everywhere. She loves the car, spending time with Dad in it and the attention it gets.

I think if your research BEFORE you decided to buy that first car and your expectations would have been the same or close to mine, your experience would have been different. You may have decided a Cobra is not for you and saved yourself allot of grief. You should not buy a Cobra based on the romantic visions in your head, but on honest research and honest expectations. you can spend 20K or 120K if the car is not right for you, you will be disappointed.

Enjoy your Corvette, they are very nice, have all the creature comforts and are very popular.

[Madmiles442]

The real lesson to be learned here is: RESEARCH AND PLAN
Rob's essay is littered with each and every time he "jumped" into this or that.
There's guys every week asking "How long did your car really take to be delivered, does everyone have an engine leak, does everyone's steering wheel shake, etc. " I love those questions because these are folks truly trying to find out if this car is for them.

Rob also explains one of the reasons he wanted the Cobra was to cruise around town with his young children. Wrong car for that for sure.

I'm sure you'll enjoy the Vette. It's fast, good looking and comes with a warranty.
But if you're high school dream was to have the baddest car around, you could park a Vette next to a Cobra and set the Vette on fire and nobody would still notice it.

[joey_hv]

no offense and i'll probably sound like a jerk, but I bet rsimoes (the OP) hasn't worked one full day outside in the heat his entire life. did he really think to use it as a daily grocery getter commute to work kind of car? this cat was able to buy three cobras..or did i lose count? if he wasn't happy with a Kirkham there definetely is no hope of converting this fella. have fun getting blown away in your Z06. at leas you'l have a/c

[PatBuckley]

I never took advice from my 3 year old because he didn't have as much experience as I did.

I did ask my 5 year old if I should invest in IBM back in the 70's and he said that I should.

There were times when I was racing that I hated it but I knew that is was what I wanted to do so I took the bad with the good. I remember lying in bed one night crying. Literally. I was 25 year old guy who wanted to win so bad that I was doing whatever it took to win - that meant working on the car every night (after working a 10 hour day) until 1 or 2 AM. After a while you get exhausted - but I knew that if I didn't prepare the car I coiuldn't expect to win. So I did it.

When I was a little kid I dreamed of being a racing driver. Somehow that dream (all I had to do was show up, get in a perfectly prepared car and win every race with no DNF's, no late night slaving on the car, no cuts, no grease, no heartache, no marital issues, free time to enjoy the adulation) didn't pan out the way I thought it would. Of course having a wife, two kids, and a job that didn't pay a whole lot didn't make it any easier.

Racing is a pain in the ass. Sometimes it seemed that everything that could go wrong, did.

But is was worth it. Now I look back and realize that generally speaking, most dreams that are hard to achieve are worth it - if it was easy everyone would do it.

Perhaps owning a Cobra is similar?

Maybe I should go to the SCCA Forum and tell all those racers that what they are doing isn't worth it.

[601HP]

This thread has been awesomely entertaining!

rsimoes, I have experienced too much of what you did, but fortunately my obsessive/compulsive personality would not let me give up. 13 years later I still have the same car and do enjoy it. Admittedly, sometimes I've wanted to heave a tool or two at it.

At this time I'm only able to lift the cover, admire it and think of next spring, because it has a broken head and a split in #2 cylinder wall. I consider this current predicament to be chapter 49 of a big ole book I'll be able to write someday about this car!!

What a ride it's been. Oh yeah, my wife has been and still is a fan of the car since we started talking about owning one in 1992!!

David

[BDR561]

Seems to me by looking at his past posts and his infactuation with the a Cobra that maybe he should have purchased a mid level (Superformance, BDR, ERA, etc...) kept it as his play toy and complemented it with a Vette for daily duties, etc..

I sold BDR #198 for a Viper GTS for the A/C, roof, convenience (kept the wifey happy). I missed the Cobra and just had to have another. Guess which one is more fun....

[jhv48]

These cars are not for everyone. That's part of the fun, exclusivity and the fraternity. Not to mention the noise, HP, smell, rough ride, etc. Driving a Cobra is like trying to break a wild horse. Sometimes you are in control. Most times you're not. One mistake and either one could kill you. Good thing for him and his family he got out before his car bit him. Like I said, not for everyone.

[Excaliber]

Actually, Computerworks is Ron, not Brent.

If you want the very best and do your research the path could logically lead to Kirkham and KC (or a number of other competent engine builders). The path could lead to Shelby and one of his alloy engines as well. In any case if you find your not happy with a Kirkham and a KC engine combination, arguably at the highest level of the Cobra experience, there is nothing left to do but sell the car.

For many of us 'less is more'. You could spend substantially less on a 'donor' FFR with a small block and be just as happy, or miserable, as the case may be. Some of us recognize we DON'T want a 'car show' paint job, to much money, worry and wax required.

My old Excalibur in many ways was more enjoyable than my current ERA. It cost far less (which made me happy) had a terrific paint job (STILL looks great) was reliable enough to be a daily driver, easy maintanence, good gas mileage, plenty room a nice all around replica Cobra. I wanted something a little more accurate, bought the ERA, blew up the engine in short order. It's WAY more cramped, hot, finicky and requires considerably more maintanence. I LOVE that car, wouldn't have it any other way.

Blackjack (one of our members) has an Excal with a hardtop and A/C, that can be done with just about any of the replicas if you so desire. I can dig it, not a bad call all things considered.

[jhv48]

Cobra's are like mistresses. Need lots of care, attention and $$$$. But well worth the ride!

[rdorman]

The guy had a dream, chased it... made some mistakes and had some problems on the way and finally realized the dream was just that, a dream. I see no reason to kick him in the nuts. I don't recall his whole story and am not going to look it up. If my dream turned into my nightmare, I would be must less pleasent to deal with. We ALL know that these cars are not for everyone. A fact for which I am grateful.

[Jay Little]

Originally Posted by rdorman

The guy had a dream, chased it... made some mistakes and had some problems on the way and finally realized the dream was just that, a dream. I see no reason to kick him in the nuts. I don't recall his whole story and am not going to look it up. If my dream turned into my nightmare, I would be must less pleasent to deal with. We ALL know that these cars are not for everyone. A fact for which I am grateful.

AMEN!

[Tugboat]

This has been my favorite thread since joining C.C..

As the saying goes opinions are like "Noses" we all have them but every one is different. (or something like that)

I do think a few have been to harsh but I love the thoughts of the majority!

Larry

PROUDLY A "CAR GUY" and a guy with other just cars!!!

[fsstnotch]

"Scars heal... glory fades
And all were left with are the memories made, oh yeah
Pain hurts, but only for a minute
Yeah life is short so go on and live it
Cause the chicks dig it"

[bnewell]

Ron ~ SHUT THIS THREAD DOWN........I'M TRYING TO SELL A CAR

[rdorman]

Originally Posted by bnewell

Ron ~ SHUT THIS THREAD DOWN........I'M TRYING TO SELL A CAR

And a nice one at that.......

[bnewell]

Thanks buddy!!

[CHANMADD]

If anything this thread has a solid ring of solidarity from the "real" Cobra lovers on this forum!