Naah. You're just more aware of Cobras now that you used to be. Sort of like you don't notice silver Honda Civics until you buy one. Then it's like everyone has one.

Your pal,
Meat.

Meat

Your lengthy post proves that you don't have the slightest idea of what you're talking about. I won't waste internet space proving everything you said as about as far from the truth as you can get. Continue to living in your fantasy world.
I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person.
Jim

I agree with Danr55, in some ways it's hard to find just the 'right' Cobra. Like a lot of us, I always have wanted a Cobra since I was a kid, and now am just about in a financial position where I can make it happen.

So ... from a Buyer's perspective, do you go for a car that's close to what you want and just buy it ... or do you pay a premium to order a roller, add a motor & trans and get it closer to the way you really want it.

Either way you wind up with an awesome car, the question is how close do you get to 'your' vision of the 'right' Cobra and how much is that worth.

My guess is that when the Buyer finds the car that's closest to his 'dream car', you've got a quick sale. I have been looking here and at Cobra Country for months and seen lots of great cars ... but so far, not THE car for me.

One other consideration for a Buyer in California, is SB-100. Unless the car already has SB-100, it may be a cleaner deal to buy a roller from vendor A, motor/trans from vendor B and put it together yourself. Once you then successfully go through the SB-100 paper mill, you should be set.

Tim B.

The "economics experts" don't seem to understand the difference between value and price.

Prices will obviously go up as value of the dollar decreases. Doesn't matter if it's a loaf of bread, a gallon of gas or a Cobra. A 1990 dollar obviously had more "value" than today.

Pretending Cobras like any other mass produced luxury item are immune to economic conditions is either foolishness or ego. But there's little chance of making some see beyond thier opinion.

Meat, feel free to pick my post apart as well... (you seem to enjoy doing it on a regular basis)

lets see SPF is on car 2900, while there were 800,000 F150's produced last year, probably 100,000 corvettes. Yes there are definetly more cobra's but they are still a fraction of a percent as compared to most cars. I know a new lexus ls 430 cost 57K 4 years ago, today you can buy it for $30K, A new SPF cost $55K? today you buy it for $49K, in another 4 years the ls 430 will be 10K the SPF will be $48K. May not be an investment but there are worse cars to spend your money on.

Your post only proves that you're trying to start a fight.

Good luck with that.

Your pal,
Meat.

The ONLY person who will ever lose money on a Cobra is the builder.

And even that's relative.

The issue isn't necessarily whether it's the 'right' Cobra, but whether the buyer is looking at it correctly. These cars are - unlike a current production car that has to meet certain regulations - highly modifiable. It'll be that way when you get it, it'll be that way when you sell it.

Generally the most expensive things to do to a Cobra are to switch out drivetrains or change paint. Want to change the dash? It's around $100 for a blank. Want to change wheels? Lots of places do that. What you've got to look for is right bodystyle, right suspension for the type of driving you're going to do with the car. Everything else can be changed. And - if you're smart about it and don't get bit by the 'Chrome-it" bug, you'll have a car that won't ruin your marriage, cost you lots of money in clothes, jewelry, remodeled kitchens or women's shoes.

When buying a built Cobra ... remember that you can always upgrade later. Cobras cost a certain amount to build. When looking at resale, it's way easier to sell a Cobra that only cost you $10K in labor than one that cost you $50K in labor. And I mean easier on your wallet; if the car can be built for $10K, that's what the labor is worth. Period.

Meh. Not necessarily. Unless the car has been run through Titles Unlimited or is coming from a state like Florida or Alabama, it's not all that difficult to get a car registered in California; you show up with your paperwork, you get your SB100 number, you get your car on the road. Badda bing, badda boom.

Having an SB100 number is a good selling point - if you're selling to a California buyer - but not having one probably isn't going to make the Cobra any more difficult to register, it's just time consuming.

Your pal,
Meat.

Exactly.

Your pal,
Meat.

West Coast guys should consider the Pomona swap meet. Many international buyers with cash money :D
I'm going to give it a shot this weekend ;)

And 500,000 GMC Sierras have been sold!

So friggin what!

Apples to oranges.

Who gives a rats ass what a Lexus goes for or how many Ford F150's have been made.

Cobras are a specialty car for a very limited market. They have no practical purpose (can't haul fertilizer, take the kids to school, go for groceries, take the family on trips, etc.) other than to get from point A to point B in the least amount of time.
They are an emotional experience period. And as long as there are individuals with the EXTRA DISPOSABLE INCOME to purchase these toys, their value will remain somewhat constant.

They (replicas) are not now, nor will they ever be a good investment, money wise. But they are an extremely good emotional investment.

I'm sure my Cobra has done better over the last two quarters than my stocks have.:CRY:

People who believe that there's such a thing as "basic laws of supply and demand" and that that model applies to Cobras.

Cobras are a niche vehicle for enthusiasts. They can haul fertilizer, they can take kids to school, they can be taken to the store for groceries, and I know of at least a few that have been taken on trips cross country as well.

All cars are an emotional experience. Some moreso than others. There is no such thing as 'extra disposable income;' there's either extra income or there's disposable income.

Cobra replicas are an excellent choice for an automobile. In fact, they're an excellent investment. They don't devalue like other production sports cars, they are easy to maintain, and - in the end - they're generally worth exactly what you paid for them when you go to resell them ... even after you put miles on the car.

You, my friend, need to stick with your apples and oranges; you're not really good when it comes to cars.

Your pal,
Meat.

1 and 4 are contradictory. If supply is high or demand low ,then they will not be a good investment, in fact if you sell it for what you paid for it , it is not a good investment either. You have tied up funds that may have been used to actually increase value.

geez, has THIS thread gotten off-topic a bit????

that is the nature of conversation. The original question was answered in two responses

If I sell my Superformance for what I paid for it, like you say - not a good investment. I know how to do better. But that's pretty good for a car.

I bought used because I didn't want to "invest" in new. Didn't want that much $ tied up in it. Also, the used car gives me a better chance to not lose anything if I sell.

For me the interesting question is - Would I have bought my used Superformance if I knew it would depreciate like most cars. ie - be worth nothing in a few years. I don't know. Maybe not.

they are an investment in living, nothing more

Perfect answer. I took the family to see "Hairspray" at Neil Simon's theater on Broadway a few weeks ago and spent more on that damn play then I spend on the Cobra in a year. Believe me, I get a zillion times more pleasure from my Cobra than I do sitting watching a Broadway play. But both are indeed "investments in living."

Exactly.

The fact that the values are stable is a big plus.

I disagree wholeheartedly for the simple reason that if the person with the money is looking to purchase a car, they're not looking to use that cash to invest in something that will "actually increase in value."

Furthermore, with Shelby getting closer and closer to kicking off, there is the real possibility that cars touched by Shelby may actually go up in value. It happened with Ferrari, and - while past performance is no indication of future results - there's no reason to believe that it won't happen again.

On a more positive note, you're incorrect in the belief that using the money to purchase a Cobra rather than any other car is a 'bad investment.' Cars - Porsches, Corvettes, Vipers, etc.; the fleet vehicles of the midlife crisis - are generally only worth 60% of what you pay for them in three years. In five years, they usually reach the low point - 30% of the purchase price - and stay there. A Cobra replica, on the other hand, remains at a constant value for three years, five years and - generally beyond.

Therefore, it doesn't cost you anything to own a Cobra. THAT'S a good investment.

Your pal,
Meat.