Question

[400TT]

One of the biggest advantages in buying 2nd hand is that the vehicle is already complied and registered. And you can buy vehicles with engines that you can no longer comply.

There seems to be two big disadvantages in buying 2nd hand:

1. Buying a vehicle that is not what it seems. Build quality is not quite there, inferior/wrong parts used, design issues, worn out 2nd hand parts, dodgey wiring, dodgey body work, dodgey kit brand. A lot of this stuff is not obvious to buyers not familiar with Cobras. Personally I would liquid bribe a (knowledgeable) Club member to help inspect 2nd hand vehicles.

2. Spending too much money after purchase. Seems like a lot of people fall into this trap. The original budget say, $50k for a Cobra. Buy a $50k vehicle 2nd hand and start changing/improving things, making things better, making things the way they really wanted it. A few years later they have invested $80k into the vehicle. It's an easy trap to fall into and lots of people do. Mind you they have a nice Cobra now.


You can definitely get turn-key vehicles for under $100k. In my experience the manufacturers that do turn-keys know where to source parts, where to source parts for the right price and don't make any mistakes. They know the most time/cost efficient way to build a Cobra. In my experience manufacturer turn-key cars are built to a good standard, but many owner-builder vehicles are better quality. The manufacturer just cannot spend the time that a lot of owner builders put into their cars. I've built 2 x Cobras and bought an old manufacturer turn-key GT40, so have seen the difference first hand.


It would be interesting to get a rough price from a manufacturer and find out how much labour is included. It's not as much as you would think.

Also with turn-key cars that are custom built for you, you pay as the car progresses. So you make progress payments over a period of say 6 - 12 months, depending on how long the build takes.

Building yourself, buying 2nd hand or buying new, really depends on your situation.

I love tinkering with these cars, so doubt I will never buy new.