Is a cobra right for me? - Page 2

WarrenG · #1 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Excaliber

One day my girlfriend asked, "Do you love that car more than me?" I hesitated, thinking about the question, shortly thereafter I helped her pack...

Probably a wise choice. Getting rid of the cobra most likely would have resulted in being without both!

Naumoff · #2 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 04:50 AM

After market A/C units are not the greatest.
A modern car is sealed up and insulated pretty good and have more room for coils and ductwork.

But based on just your question ; "Is a Cobra right for me?" I would say no.

Cobras are an emotional experience not just a means of transportation from point "A" to point "B".

And if you have to ask it is not the car for you.

hey,littlecobra · #3 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 06:47 PM

it's not a good 'date' car.....

it's a lot of fun, and wild and daring, but not what most girls would call a date car. It's hot. yes, you can get a LSC with a hard top and AC I think, but I'd guess the AC is probably pretty ineffective due to the high heat from the engine compartment, etc.
If i go somewhere 'nice' in the Cobra, you can bet i'm going to get there with a sweaty back, wild hair, and have to swap out my driving tennies for pretty shoes. Clothes are wrinkly and mussed. Just not a good date car.

now for a fun night out... sure! Cruise with your girl to a hamburger joint like Keller's, hang out.... or... drive around. She'll need a ponytail or headband or cap or something. Also... watch those pipes! Girls/passengers don't THINK about the hot pipes, even when you're sitting there or standing there TELLING them to watch the pipes. It just doesn't compute all the time.

I live East of Dallas, so i know the heat you're talking about. The DFW group gets together monthly, and typically July, August, September are breakfast meets, because by the time we finish up by 10 or so, it's already 100* and you get really hot and grimy driving home.

I would never count on my car as a daily driver. I have to THINK before i cruise to the mall, i have to THINK before i just zip to Target, etc. Packages are not very secure, Parking lots can be treacherous.... I tend to take the car for fun times when i can keep a pretty good eye on it.
I have taken it to the movies once, but that was dumb as i worried about it in a huge movie complex parking lot the whole time. Out to dinner?? sure... patio seating where you can watch it. They are great for fun and cruising, but just not for a daily driver imho.

Cold in the winter (except your feet!) hot in the summer, dangerous on the wet, slippery roads, loud, rarely with CD/music components. Just not a typical dd.
I'm sure tho' that many people do use them as a daily driver, but no one i know of; the Dallas group keeps them as toys!!!

kristen
but... you oughta get one if you want fun and have a regular dd anyway.

a basic FFR with a 5.0 would give you lots of fun and low maintenance.

240M3SRT · #4 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hey,littlecobra

it's not a good 'date' car.....

it's a lot of fun, and wild and daring, but not what most girls would call a date car. It's hot. yes, you can get a LSC with a hard top and AC I think, but I'd guess the AC is probably pretty ineffective due to the high heat from the engine compartment, etc.
If i go somewhere 'nice' in the Cobra, you can bet i'm going to get there with a sweaty back, wild hair, and have to swap out my driving tennies for pretty shoes. Clothes are wrinkly and mussed. Just not a good date car.

now for a fun night out... sure! Cruise with your girl to a hamburger joint like Keller's, hang out.... or... drive around. She'll need a ponytail or headband or cap or something. Also... watch those pipes! Girls/passengers don't THINK about the hot pipes, even when you're sitting there or standing there TELLING them to watch the pipes. It just doesn't compute all the time.

I live East of Dallas, so i know the heat you're talking about. The DFW group gets together monthly, and typically July, August, September are breakfast meets, because by the time we finish up by 10 or so, it's already 100* and you get really hot and grimy driving home.

I would never count on my car as a daily driver. I have to THINK before i cruise to the mall, i have to THINK before i just zip to Target, etc. Packages are not very secure, Parking lots can be treacherous.... I tend to take the car for fun times when i can keep a pretty good eye on it.
I have taken it to the movies once, but that was dumb as i worried about it in a huge movie complex parking lot the whole time. Out to dinner?? sure... patio seating where you can watch it. They are great for fun and cruising, but just not for a daily driver imho.

Cold in the winter (except your feet!) hot in the summer, dangerous on the wet, slippery roads, loud, rarely with CD/music components. Just not a typical dd.
I'm sure tho' that many people do use them as a daily driver, but no one i know of; the Dallas group keeps them as toys!!!

kristen
but... you oughta get one if you want fun and have a regular dd anyway.

a basic FFR with a 5.0 would give you lots of fun and low maintenance.

Thats pretty sound advice. The image im getting is that it will make a great weekend/evening toy for cruising/playing, but not so much a car you would take on a nice comfortable date or go to the club in. Based on what everyone here says a/c will probably be a waste/ineffecient. My two best friends own a 750 hp Viper and a Ferrari 360, both convertables. Id like something that gets similar stares around town and has the perfomance to back it up. But im starting to come to terms with the fact that the cobra is more raw, less refined.

The car in my price range i was considering before i stumbled across the idea of a cobra is the new twin turbo BMW 135i comming out early next year. I no longer think you can even compare the two cars. Guess i need to decide what exactly it is i want out of my next car. The BWM will obviously be more of a dd/weekend track warrior.....seems like the Cobra will pretty much be all warrior all the time.

I think a ride in one will make my decision.

Badsnake427 · #5 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 04:57 AM

This pretty much says it all, "There is nothing nice about a Cobra. It's stripped down to the essentials - a big engine, a small car, and four wide tires to keep the whole business on the pavement. It's loud, smells like gasoline, and shakes, shudders, and bucks. It makes your arms tired and your feet hot. You nearly crash about once every 10 minutes! It's so damn wonderful that you can't believe it!"

WildBill3 · #6 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 06:37 AM

My wife says this car is my mistress wow i love when the three of us get together for some fun.Wooohoo

OZCOBRA · #7 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 06:45 AM

If your Married NO.... Single Yes....If you are married and want a Divorce ..Yeah Perfect !!!

WildBill3 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 06:55 AM

see ya gotta let her in the drivers seat grab that stick shift feeeel the power pulsating through her fingers,she will get the yurning to just like you.OO yea

Murphy · #9 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 09:28 AM

No email address on profile. He is in withdraw.

240M3SRT · #10 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy

No email address on profile. He is in withdraw.

LOL i promise im not trying to pull anyones leg. Im just trying to learn.

strictlypersonl · #11 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 09:31 AM

You might want to read this Sports Car Graphic test from 1965. And remember that roadster "standards" were a lot different from today...

SCG - November 1965

Naumoff · #12 (**permalink**) 09-23-2007, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strictlypersonl

You might want to read this Sports Car Graphic test from 1965. And remember that roadster "standards" were a lot different from today...

SCG - November 1965

Thanks. That is a great article.

fsstnotch · #13 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 10:31 AM

Sounds to me like you would be fine with a fuel injected 5.0? Throw some heads, intake, and cam on it and you've got 350hp and fuel injection! Not to mention they're a dime a dozen! IRS is optional on most kits, the soft top requires snaps yes. Most hardtops are nice, just bulky and you can't just pop it on if you are at a movie and it starts to rain.

I'm going 408 stroker, edelbrock dual quads, victor jr heads, and a track heat 3 cam.

Madmiles442 · #14 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 10:56 AM

240m3srt,
Check out the Texas Cobra Club (top right, Local Clubs, Texas) and you'll see some upcoming events that several of us are going to attend. The car show in Garland weekend after next will have a lot of us there. We'll be happy to give you a ride, if you promise to wear Depends, so you don't pee on my seats!
You'll learn a lot about the cars, see different manufacturers, meet the gang and see what these things are all about.

240M3SRT · #15 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madmiles442

240m3srt,
Check out the Texas Cobra Club (top right, Local Clubs, Texas) and you'll see some upcoming events that several of us are going to attend. The car show in Garland weekend after next will have a lot of us there. We'll be happy to give you a ride, if you promise to wear Depends, so you don't pee on my seats!
You'll learn a lot about the cars, see different manufacturers, meet the gang and see what these things are all about.

Hey that definitely sounds good. Ill have to mosey my way into the TX forums...

Kzof · #16 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 07:50 PM

With A/C? I'm sorry but it sounds like you would not be happy with a Cobra.

fsstnotch · #17 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 09:12 AM

Ya.. comparing a BMW to a cobra is like comparing a strawberry to a sardine! haha They aren't even close to the same level!

Stentor · #18 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 10:13 AM

I own both--a BMW and a Cobra. As fsstnotch stated, the cars couldn't be further apart. The Cobra is not refined at all. It's "old school," loud, hot, nasty, and in your face.

I love both cars, but they are dramatically different.

Take a long ride in a Cobra (and drive one, ideally), and you will quickly know if it's a car for you. You must approach the purchase decision with "eyes wide open."

Good luck.

hey,littlecobra · #19 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 12:49 PM

Before I bought the Cobra, i considered a bmw z3, and a Boxster. Both fun, small, two seater... cool looking- a 'non- mommymobile-- (I have 4 kids).

Then i saw my first Cobra and said 'that's it!'
So.. I got the Cobra. thought i might go 'zipping around in it' and i did take my hubby out cruising in it a bit, but we realized right off it wasn't the fun, easy car i had first looked at. So.. instead of selling it and getting that z3 or Boxster, i became a 'cobra girl' and headed to the track.

I STILL wanted a fun 'date' car, but with 3 kids not driving (my oldest turned 16 last year) I realized a cool two seater just wasn't going to cut it. So i got my mustang gt500 in March. i can actually drive it around, to the mall, on a date, wherever, and it has satellite, AC, airbags, safety everything, AND i can get the three kiddo's in it! yea!!! (my girls are still small enough to be ok in the back seat).
For 'fun appeal' with your friends, maybe think about the 500 in a convertible. Looks nice, all for under $55k or so.

a lot less than that Ferrari.
kristen

Lowell W · #20 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 03:47 PM

When you think "Cobra", think "motorcycle" and "Cobra" is to "automobile" as "Buell" is to "motorcycle". It's NOT a Ferrari and it's NOT a Viper, although it's probably more like the Viper than the Ferrari.

If that kind of raw lack of modern comfort and sophistication appeals to you, you'll probably enjoy a Cobra. If you'd prefer a Ducati or a Beemer or a Honda, a Cobra may be too rough and crude. If you don't want to be bothered working on your own car...Fuggedaboudit. Remember, there are lots of Cobras for sale with only a few thousand miles on them.

Lowell