Is the 03-04 Cobra the Beast it was 7-10+ Years Ago?

[big reg]

Bottom line is, people who haven’t moved on from Terminators or who cannot acquire one (lack of cash on hand as most cannot be financed any longer) love them. 20-25k entry point and very moddable. Others realize there are plenty of other options that do everything better. We all agree to disagree.

In 2009 I almost traded my 10th anniv Cobra with 22k miles at the time and a Whipple for a 1995 Turbo Supra in CT from a guy who posted a thread on MKIV.com. He wanted cash on top and his car was nowhere near as clean as mine so I didn’t. Lack of replacement parts, cost to mod and lack of reliable shops near me to work on it also played into that.

Either way drive what you like and can afford.

 

[03cobra#694]

Cobros vs everything, lol.

 

[RedVenom48]

No, I did not.

People want a Turbo Supra. They buy NA cars to build them. NA cars are rare. This is the same reason a VIntage fastback Mustang is worth double the price of a coupe, even if it’s not a Boss or Shelby.

NA MKIV has all the performance of a SC300, and you don’t see SCs going for $20k-30k.

Whenever I see an SC300 roll through the shop I run the other way. 95% of them are rolling piles that need a trip to the recycle yard. I can only imaging how rough the unrestored MKIV Supras (NA or TT) look.

 

[big reg]

Whenever I see an SC300 roll through the shop I run the other way. 95% of them are rolling piles that need a trip to the recycle yard. I can only imaging how rough the unrestored MKIV Supras (NA or TT) look.

Exactly. Built, restored, Original Turbo Supras we’re selling for upwards of 60k when I was looking a few years ago because they are so rare. Yeah, no thanks. Not raiding my 401k for a toy.

 

[Revvv]

What about the turbo part do you not agree with?

Turbos on a Cobra. I prefer a supercharger.

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[SVTCobra60]

Bottom line is, people who haven’t moved on from Terminators or who cannot acquire one (lack of cash on hand as most cannot be financed any longer) love them. 20-25k entry point and very moddable. Others realize there are plenty of other options that do everything better. We all agree to disagree.

In 2009 I almost traded my 10th anniv Cobra with 22k miles at the time and a Whipple for a 1995 Turbo Supra in CT from a guy who posted a thread on MKIV.com. He wanted cash on top and his car was nowhere near as clean as mine so I didn’t. Lack of replacement parts, cost to mod and lack of reliable shops near me to work on it also played into that.

Either way drive what you like and can afford.

Out of curiosity, what are the other options that do everything better? In your opinion.

 

[SVTCobra60]

Turbos on a Cobra. I prefer a supercharger.

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Oh ok. So just preference. But when it comes to pushing top level power for the Cobra, turbos are a necessity.

 

[big reg]

Out of curiosity, what are the other options that do everything better? In your opinion.

Coyote
Hellcat
ZL1 (Gen 5 or 6)
C5Z
C6Z
GT500
Gen 2 CTS-V
Miata

I’m not discussing price as all new cars are expensive nowadays but several of those cars can be had for the same as or slightly more than a clean low mileage Terminator and are just as moddable.

I’m 41 now and want all the creature comforts while still tearing ass. My Hellcat has every creature comfort possible, amazing stereo, rides like a Caddy with all settings on Street and for $2700 will have 800rwhp in a few weeks. If you can swallow the payment, that is tough to beat.

I’m also not a brand loyal person so I don’t have an affinity for Mustangs even though I’ve owned 2 Terminators in the past. I’ll drive anything if I like it and have owned several turbo imports as well as turbo and supercharged V8’s.

 

[BlksvtCobra01]

Coyote
Hellcat
ZL1 (Gen 5 or 6)
C5Z
C6Z
GT500
Gen 2 CTS-V
Miata

I’m not discussing price as all new cars are expensive nowadays but several of those cars can be had for the same as or slightly more than a clean low mileage Terminator and are just as moddable.

I’m 41 now and want all the creature comforts while still tearing ass. My Hellcat has every creature comfort possible, amazing stereo, rides like a Caddy with all settings on Street and for $2700 will have 800rwhp in a few weeks. If you can swallow the payment, that is tough to beat.

I’m also not a brand loyal person so I don’t have an affinity for Mustangs even though I’ve owned 2 Terminators in the past. I’ll drive anything if I like it and have owned several turbo imports as well as turbo and supercharged V8’s.

That’s a good list except the Miata part.


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[big reg]

That’s a good list except the Miata part.


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Haha, that was a joke bud!

 

[BlksvtCobra01]

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[SID297]

+65,000

I now drive a 2016 slightly modded Coyote, and it is super fun and super fast. But...the feeling of driving my '04 SY Cobra was just different. It was very raw. The Coyote is refined and is a modern day muscle machine, but the Terminator was raw and you felt like a part of the car.

I just had this exact conversation with a former SVT guy last night, but we were talking GT350 Vs. Trinity.

 

[thomas91169]

Are they still beasts? Yes.

But they've had their time, and that's that. It was great bang for buck, but there are better platforms for the price point nowadays since the value has not moved but everything else has gotten better since. No idea who's plunking down $20-25k cash for a 15yo Mustang at this point; I think if I had that sort of cash it'd be the deposit/down on a GT350 or the next GT500, C7Z or even a Hellcat.

 

[Need 04 Wine]

That’s a good list except the Miata part.


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Haha, that was a joke bud!

You take that back before someone else rage quits!

Lmao


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[gimmie11s]

Like all discussions on the topic it depends on what you want out of the car.

If you want a discussion piece that will always hold its value and provide plenty of enjoyment, go cobra. After all, they are the reason the Hellcat exists and the truck space cannot be beat!

However a cobra or s197 gt500 will never make the same power as a coyote once the coyote goes FI. Just too much tech in the coyote—ECU is superior allowing more control, heads flow better, rod ratio is better allowing for higher rpm (vs gt500—cobra is similar to coyote), the list goes on.

I had a coyote, went to a gt500, back to a coyote and won’t be looking back.


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[SVTCobra60]

Coyote
Hellcat
ZL1 (Gen 5 or 6)
C5Z
C6Z
GT500
Gen 2 CTS-V
Miata

I’m not discussing price as all new cars are expensive nowadays but several of those cars can be had for the same as or slightly more than a clean low mileage Terminator and are just as moddable.

I’m 41 now and want all the creature comforts while still tearing ass. My Hellcat has every creature comfort possible, amazing stereo, rides like a Caddy with all settings on Street and for $2700 will have 800rwhp in a few weeks. If you can swallow the payment, that is tough to beat.

I’m also not a brand loyal person so I don’t have an affinity for Mustangs even though I’ve owned 2 Terminators in the past. I’ll drive anything if I like it and have owned several turbo imports as well as turbo and supercharged V8’s.

c5Z/C6Z are the top contenders IMO, considering they are either in line with price or a bit more.
The coyote is just such a boring/unexciting thing to run into on the street. Way too many of them.
Hellcat I'm honestly not a fan, but the simplicity of having lots of power from the factory is nice. Won't the mods that get you to 800rwhp destroy your warranty?
GT500 definitely a contender, but a good amount more money assuming we are talking about anything past 2009.
CTS-V pretty badass mod potential for sure!
Miata...? lol What a weird way to end a pretty damn good list.

 

[Revvv]

c5Z/C6Z are the top contenders IMO, considering they are either in line with price or a bit more.
The coyote is just such a boring/unexciting thing to run into on the street. Way too many of them.
Hellcat I'm honestly not a fan, but the simplicity of having lots of power from the factory is nice. Won't the mods that get you to 800rwhp destroy your warranty?
GT500 definitely a contender, but a good amount more money assuming we are talking about anything past 2009.
CTS-V pretty badass mod potential for sure!
Miata...? lol What a weird way to end a pretty damn good list.

The only Corvettes that interest me are the classics. I have a slight interest in the C4 and C5 Vettes, but those cars are still within New Edge GT territory powerwise.

I wouldn't mind a good C4 Vette.

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[SVTCobra60]

Are they still beasts? Yes.

But they've had their time, and that's that. It was great bang for buck, but there are better platforms for the price point nowadays since the value has not moved but everything else has gotten better since. No idea who's plunking down $20-25k cash for a 15yo Mustang at this point; I think if I had that sort of cash it'd be the deposit/down on a GT350 or the next GT500, C7Z or even a Hellcat.

The issue with that last part is that you will probably end up losing $25K minimum in each of those situations. Buying the cobra allows you to get out even most of the time, if not slight ahead or behind.

Like all discussions on the topic it depends on what you want out of the car.

If you want a discussion piece that will always hold its value and provide plenty of enjoyment, go cobra. After all, they are the reason the Hellcat exists and the truck space cannot be beat!

However a cobra or s197 gt500 will never make the same power as a coyote once the coyote goes FI. Just too much tech in the coyote—ECU is superior allowing more control, heads flow better, rod ratio is better allowing for higher rpm (vs gt500—cobra is similar to coyote), the list goes on.

I had a coyote, went to a gt500, back to a coyote and won’t be looking back.


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Holding value is probably the main point of attraction for the car. Very true though. My main issue with going for a coyote mustang is that they are just so common/normal to see. I like standing out from the norm, and the coyote just doesn't do that. The GT500/cobra both do in their own way.

 

[SVTCobra60]

The only Corvettes that interest me are the classics. I have a slight interest in the C4 and C5 Vettes, but those cars are still within New Edge GT territory powerwise.

I wouldn't mind a good C4 Vette.

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Modding a C5 creates quite the car!

 

[9397SVTs]

Does it still have the same reputation/appreciation? Is it still the performance beast it once was?

I feel like when I first started getting interested in cobras, 7-10 years ago, it was looked at as a phenomenal deal when it comes to price to performance. You could make great power, the stock engine/trans was very strong compared to most other cars, and it had looks/sound!

Does this hold true anyone? The new 5.0 mustangs seem to respond phenomenally to mods, C6 corvettes including C6z's are now not far away from 03-04 cobra pricing. CTSv's are also quite impressive now. European cars seem to be competing in this price range as well. Turbo BMW's and Audis have great potential and aren't terribly expensive. Or event the GT500's, not much more money but a larger supercharged engine in a more advanced car.

What is everyone's opinion? Has it become more of a cult car that will always be loved for what it once was, or can it still compete with the competition?

I think it will always be appreciated for what it is and was at the time. There was a lot of hype about the car prior to its' release, which created an MVA of $20,000.00, on average. Much has changed since then and for the better. It is no longer a performance beast, but does it really matter? I own a 1993 Cobra, which was and is a special vehicle. The average car today drives better, handles better, brakes better, and has equal or better performance. But, I don't care. It's still a fun car to drive. I enjoy it for what it is.

I think the '03-'04 Cobra convertibles are one of the best looking convertibles Ford ever made.

Can the car compete with the competition? I don't think so. Stock to stock, or modified to modified, today's engines are so much better.