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

gimmie11s said:

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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I have to disagree. Mod motors have every bit as much potential as a Coyote and sound way better. Once you pull the engine and go turbo, its anyone's game and you can use a Standalone ECU. Hell, you can always shove a Coyote in a New Edge... the wonders of Mustangs.

But I've seen a lot of people go Cobra - Shelby/Coyote and back to Cobra. Not much the other way around.

As for power - how much do you really need in a street car?

SVTCobra60 said:

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.

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maybe it is where you are at. I have only seen two termis where I am at - one on the street and one in the shop. I have only seen 4 or 5 gt500s in the last two years though. I probably see a hellcat a week.

Corbic said:

I have to disagree. Mod motors have every bit as much potential as a Coyote and sound way better. Once you pull the engine and go turbo, its anyone's game and you can use a Standalone ECU. Hell, you can always shove a Coyote in a New Edge... the wonders of Mustangs.

But I've seen a lot of people go Cobra - Shelby/Coyote and back to Cobra. Not much the other way around.

As for power - how much do you really need in a street car?

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If you’re building a 3k hp dedicated drag car I’ll agree on the mod motor.

For a street car, no. No comparison for the reasons I mentioned.

How many 1k hp gt500s or cobras do you know of with a 100% stock long block? Probably 0. Hell, how about 900? Most need cams to get there.

There are plenty of coyotes that have done it stock cams and all.


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Klaus said:

....I have only seen two termis where I am at ....

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Just when I thought there was hope for you...





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Klaus said:

maybe it is where you are at. I have only seen two termis where I am at - one on the street and one in the shop. I have only seen 4 or 5 gt500s in the last two years though. I probably see a hellcat a week.

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I said coyote mustangs. So basically...a new v8 mustang. I see far too many to be excited about it. I haven't seen too many 03/04 Cobras, it's still exciting when I see them for sure. GT500's I see more than cobras for sure, but still relatively exciting. Hellcat I see semi-often, but it has never been exciting LOL. I just don't like them idk why.

gimmie11s said:

If you’re building a 3k hp dedicated drag car I’ll agree on the mod motor.

For a street car, no. No comparison for the reasons I mentioned.

How many 1k hp gt500s or cobras do you know of with a 100% stock long block? Probably 0. Hell, how about 900? Most need cams to get there.

There are plenty of coyotes that have done it stock cams and all.


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Your telling me Coyote mustang GT's....with 100% stock longblock are making 900-1000rwhp and surviving for an extended period of time??

All I know is this thread is really making me miss my 03.

SVTCobra60 said:

I said coyote mustangs. So basically...a new v8 mustang. I see far too many to be excited about it. I haven't seen too many 03/04 Cobras, it's still exciting when I see them for sure. GT500's I see more than cobras for sure, but still relatively exciting. Hellcat I see semi-often, but it has never been exciting LOL. I just don't like them idk why.



Your telling me Coyote mustang GT's....with 100% stock longblock are making 900-1000rwhp and surviving for an extended period of time??

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Yes they’re making that power. No they won’t live forever at that level, obviously.

However, the newer coyotes (15+) are as strong or stronger than the 03/04 cobra.

That said, my comment was more intended to illustrate how much more efficient the coyote long block is vs a mod motor in stock form.


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03/04s can still be competitive but it will take much more work/$$ spent. Gone are the days where a pulley, catback, and tuned terminator would rule the streets. Even a blower swapped 600rwhp terminator will still be seeing tail lights if pitted against a select few cars in bone stock trim.

Would you also be surprised to know that a mild bolt-on NA 2018 coyote mustang will run 10’s at 125+ mph?

Add boost and they go 9s at 140 ....almost so easy it’s a sin.

Welcome to 2018 and the tech that comes with it.




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I would love another terminator. Everytime I think about it I remember it as the legend it once was. I loved owning it and it's a beautiful car.

Then I remember how many supporting mods u need to get it up to par. That car left me stranded more than any car and it was only 460 rwhp. It's a fun car bc you can mod ever single thing on it, which u need to.

I can't get rid of my c6GS for another cobra. I don't think I can deal with it's shortcomings.

My fbo cam 100 shot ls3 has been bullet proof, along with the drivetrain. I can't say that about the cobra, not even close. Love and it is a legend, but a pain in the ass.

My wife and I joke that it's like a hot stripper. Sexy as hell and will give you the ride of your life. Then you have to deal with her problems.

With Whipple 4.0's YUP!

gimmie11s said:

Would you also be surprised to know that a mild bolt-on NA 2018 coyote mustang will run 10’s at 125+ mph?

Add boost and they go 9s at 140 ....almost so easy it’s a sin.

Welcome to 2018 and the tech that comes with it.




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Yup, I'm surprised haha. What do mild-bolt on's consist of??

SVTCobra60 said:

Yup, I'm surprised haha. What do mild-bolt on's consist of??

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E85 Tune, cold air intake, cat deletes or headers.

Depending on your track prep... might need good DR too.


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11-12 GT500 5.4s are a set of Oliver or Manely rods away from 1k power reliably. A call to Mahle confirmed that.

SVTCobra60 said:

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.

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Warranty is a mute question at this point. No. I don’t care about it as Hellcats are rock solid and if it breaks it breaks. Only takes 4-5 mods to get there anyway.

Cobras don’t have a warranty nor do most of the cars being compared so I don’t see how that plays into the equation.

On a site dedicated to SVT it will always be special. To most others, it had its time and we moved on. I definitely like the car, it just has too many shortcomings for me to want or buy another. I had my last one 6yrs ago. 672rwhp on E85. Have never missed it other than the power which can easily made on multiple platforms.

As for value, I’m not dumb enough to buy any car new nowadays. I bought my Hellcat used for several K below book. Depreciation already hit it so I’ll always be ahead. And there are probably 10 Challenger Hellcats for every Charger. Only 255 made in Plum Crazy so I doubt I’ll ever run into another.

I never thought a thread on the 03/04 Cobra would make me want a new 5.0 even more.......


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Thanks for all these comments, I have an 03 termi vert and it's still an eye catcher and a lot of vehicles move out the way, she can still do her thing, I only have a stieg stage 5 and factory everything else, I get 500 hp, 490 rwtq. So she can still hold her own.

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gimmie11s said:

Would you also be surprised to know that a mild bolt-on NA 2018 coyote mustang will run 10’s at 125+ mph?

Add boost and they go 9s at 140 ....almost so easy it’s a sin.

Welcome to 2018 and the tech that comes with it.




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That is no different than a cobra.. the boost part. Many many cobras have been 9s at 140+ on stock engine. I did it with 750wheel on a single 78mm.

To me, The best thing about the newer mustangs is the transmission offerings. I’ve always been an advocate for standard cars for street duty but after finishing a vmp blower on a 6r80 car for a local guy, I might be persuaded to change my mind.

Lstruck03 said:

That is no different than a cobra.. the boost part. Many many cobras have been 9s at 140+ on stock engine. I did it with 750wheel on a single 78mm.

To me, The best thing about the newer mustangs is the transmission offerings. I’ve always been an advocate for standard cars for street duty but after finishing a vmp blower on a 6r80 car for a local guy, I might be persuaded to change my mind.

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You should try the new 8spd and 10spd transmissions. I drove nothing but manual in all my sports cars for 20yrs. This is my first auto and I’ll never go back. At 41 I’m done rowing gears. These new autos shift so fast it’s ridiculous.

gimmie11s said:

Just when I thought there was hope for you...




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I can't help that I live in bumble**** nowhere. The terminator community just is not that great on the tundra.

I have never even seen a gt350 in the flesh, only a handful of gt500s, two zl1s, etc. Strangely Hellcats are not super uncommon though.

Maybe to this point the termi is kind of exotic and has a mystique to it for me. I would rock one for sure. Not sure I would take over a 09-11 gt500 at close to same price though.