Looking to buy

[madmaxx]

The best one is the one sitting in my garage, then again my opinion might be biased. In the end it wont matter how much you spend, if you are not happy with the car, the amount you "saved" will be meaningless or the amount you spent will be just that much more you wasted.

You need to drive a SPF,BDR, factory five, ERA, they all drive different and feel different.

[FUNFER2]

That's a huge question, as all makes have their pro's & con's. You're doing what's needed, asking questions and searching. A best list of the top 5 will yield many,..... different cars. Just take you're time.

Did you get my PM ?

[Dwight]

this one is for sale $38,500
Coach Lane's Hurricane

Dwight

[Dwight]

I researched for 18 months, visited Lone Star and Unique. This was before I found web site like CC and FFC.

I am 5'10" and 175 lbs. I have drove 10 to 15 different brands of Cobras. I easily fit in all of them.

I bought the Lone Star because of the extra 4" in the cockpit area and I like the way the interior tub and trunk tub are molded to the body. I wanted a Cobra I could take long trips in and the stuff in the trunk would not get wet. I want to have room to put stuff behind the seats, like beach towel, rain coats, sun screen, a bottle of water, etc. I don't like the Cobras that leak hot air into the footbox area.

I have buddies that I ride / drive with every week that have Cobras with all the "things" that I don't like, BUT we still have a blast, EVERY TIME we go for a ride. They are all a lot of fun.

Remember a Cobra was first build as a race car!

All the things I don't like, air leaks, small cockpit, water leaks, hot footbox, are in all of the original Cobras. But if I had the money I would buy one.

You need to decide how you want to drive "your" Cobra and then look for that one. If it sits in the garage a lot and you take short trips, they all will work.
If you want original, shorter list.
If you want a track car, that a different list.
A show car.
A daily driver.
What we like in a Cobra may not be the same things you like.
I let a big guy sit in my Cobra last night. Tight fit but he still wants to build one.
Sit in as many as you can, drive a few if someone will let you.
What I wanted in a Cobra 12 years ago has changed a lot, now that I know.
Keep searching.

Just remember something that happen last year.
Corvette Joe joined our group for a few Friday night eat outs. He wanted to buy a Cobra. I invited him to go with us to the London Cobra Show. About the third time we ate out he took me up on my offer. I told him we left at 10 PM and drove the 535 mile mostly at night. Slow trip lots of stops. We had three trucks and trailers going and he could ride with one of those guys and or ride in my Cobra part of the way. Well we started a pool on how far Joe would ride in a Cobra. Everyone agree he would not make the Kentucky state line. Corvette Joe rode all the way to Columbus and when we return Sunday we drove all day long in the hot sun. Joe was right beside me.

A week latter he told me he would not buy a Cobra.

About three months ago he bought a SFP with a big block and loves it.

You never know!

See ya on the road. Wife said I got to go to the store.

Keep looking.

Dwight

[JST4FUN]

Let me jump in here.......Dwight's absolutely right, keep looking and if you really want one, it'll happen. I actually spent 4 years in my search. I first thought build, then thought buy new, but ultimately decided based on today's world that a slightly used quality unit was the best way to go. I had actually not rode in one until I took the little ride to London from north Alabama last year with Dwight. I really liked the car and seeing all the different ones at London really was an eye-opener. However, I temporarily convinced myself that a 60+ year old retired guy that already had a Vette which had been our other "dream car" could find something else to play with besides a hot, loud, always-watch-out-for-rain Cobra. Well, I was wrong, I kept following this site and Cobra Country and finally realized if you really want something and can afford it, get it. I absolutely love my SPF and my only regret is having waited. However, by waiting and searching, I did find exactly the one I wanted! Keep looking but don't wait too long to jump! There's a lot of them out there for sale!!

Good luck!

[needtobuy]

Kevin,

Good talking to you the other night.Good info. Joe & Dwight: thanks for taking the time to educate. Here is what I know:

> I am not a mechanic, just want to drive & enjoy (I am also a firearms instructor, but I would much rather shoot than tinker). So the car needs to have a fairly low tinker factor. I am big on regular maintenance, however. I will just have a trusted shiop do it

> I am a couple of trips a week guy, may 1,000- 2,500 miles/ year
> I would like to keep the cost under $45k but preferably in the mid/ high 30's
> I want some decent horsepower (450- 500)- what the use in having something you don't "need" otherwise
> I want "factory built", unless I had a trusted, well known/ recommended seller

Here is what I THINK I know (please comment):
> The 428 FE is a good, low maint engine, but not big on power- you can get up to 450 without going to wild?
> above 500 HP Rousch, etc. & you get issues with idling, cooling, touchiness, etc.?
> To get a used name brand "factory built" car with 5k miles on it (+,-) will save me maybe $6-$8k over new. Is that worth it?

I appreciate the feedback-

One more thing, if you happened to find a little time please point out a few cars in the for sale forum that you think have a starting price that seems "reasonable". Maybe that is a no-no on this site?
(factory built, 450 + HP, 5,000 miles +,-)


Thanks again.

[JST4FUN]

In today's economy, you should be able to buy a "factory" car (i.e. factory roller with installed eng/trans) for more of a savings than you think possibly with fewer miles than what you mentioned. I know my search and purchase a few months ago resulted in a much greater savings and mine had only 1150 miles. Of course, it depends greatly on what's out there at the time and how anxious a seller is to sell. I spent many hours on CobraCountry.com as well as this site both learning what to look for and to see what comes on the market. Good deals don't last but that too depends on the state of the market at any given time. Based on my technical findings mostly from this site (by the way, I was looking for a unit similar to your idea, just willing to pay a little more), I locked in on an SPF > S/N 2000 or a BDR > S/N 500 in that order. There certainly are some other great mfrs, but those 2 most closely met my parameters including price. If you spend any time around here, you'll see there's valid passion for these cars, regardless of what their origin......they're a Cobra, that's what matters. Note, I didn't even address the BB vs SB!