For our younger members

This is directed to our younger members in parts of the country that receive the joys of winter whom may daily a cobra (not directed to anyone in particular on here).

So every year around this time and until spring I read on social networks that some of our community die in Mustang related accidents due to weather and has been increasing since Street Outlaws became a show. It usually turns out that half of the incidents are young drivers in cobra's. Every year I tell myself to have this talk and I don't. Well this year I am

Be mindful... Nobody is "more skilled" than another, in driving a Mustang during winter. If you are unable to store it in winter or daily your cobra, keep this in mind. The tire you you run is important, it means nothing in a Mustang (particularly a cobra) during winter. There's no tire out there that will prevent you from getting sideways in snow, ice, black ice, wet leafs, salt with 400+ hp and stone age T/C. If you are constantly engaging in spirited driving, you are putting yourself in a position. Your drag radials will do you no favors... Snow tires will do you minimal at best. A supercharger acts differently from n/a, if you decide to pin it in 4th changing lanes on the highway... Well you get the idea.

It's all pretty common sense yet every year it happens. If you are forced to drive your Mustang/cobra in winter, lose the radials and drive it like you would with a Model A.


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I'd also like to add.... While some may crucify you for your decision in a vehicle which realistically can't be used year-round, we (all us here) understand and have been young once. If you can't afford to buy another vehicle, drop your city, state, zip and we'll put the word out, there's no shortage of people who have Crown Vics laying around. I believe the running price is like 200-1k for a decent one now but most are just giving them away if someone who needed one came along

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I daily a Mustang convertible. If I had the cash, I would own a truck to daily. I'm an adult and can't get a second vehicle at the moment. How can anyone expect someone just starting out to have a second car while they store the fun car for a season? Most young people are living week to week.


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I think it was more of a friendly hey be safe and responsible reminder and use the proper gear (tires) rather than a hey go buy a 2nd car...

Good post op, people do get complacent and forget how inclement weather can ruin a day in an instant. Here in sunny SoCal proper tire choices are important too. One good rain after 9mo of no rain makes for a slippery road.


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Revvv said:

I daily a Mustang convertible. If I had the cash, I would own a truck to daily. I'm an adult and can't get a second vehicle at the moment. How can anyone expect someone just starting out to have a second car while they store the fun car for a season? Most young people are living week to week.


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It can be done. I was a teenager in the late 90's. I had a 91 mustang GT paying 225 a month, and another 120 per month for insurance.

I had a winter beater ( 85 Ford Tempo) that cost me 300 dollars. My parents co-signed for the loan, but they said 1 late payment and I lose the car.

You may say things costed less back then, but the hourly wage was also much lower. For awhile I was making 5 bucks an hour. Eventually I got a better paying job that was 8-9 dollars an hour. But I was paying on that loan for probably nearly two years making 5-6 dollars an hour.

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Very nice post OP. I’ll also as if you run water in your intercooler change it so it doesn’t crack.


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BlksvtCobra01 said:

Very nice post OP. I’ll also as if you run water in your intercooler change it so it doesn’t crack.


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Yea I usually mention that yearly, I was gonna mention that again but I think many have moved away from 50/50 and just go right for all color.

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Bdubbs said:

It can be done. I was a teenager in the late 90's. I had a 91 mustang GT paying 225 a month, and another 120 per month for insurance.

I had a winter beater ( 85 Ford Tempo) that cost me 300 dollars. My parents co-signed for the loan, but they said 1 late payment and I lose the car.

You may say things costed less back then, but the hourly wage was also much lower. For awhile I was making 5 bucks an hour. Eventually I got a better paying job that was 8-9 dollars an hour. But I was paying on that loan for probably nearly two years making 5-6 dollars an hour.

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That's how I did it. Similar numbers too. A lot of people forget or don't know that certain insurance companies allow you to lower the coverage on a lien vehicle in winter provided you meet their requirements. Every little bit helps, especially when it's $100 saved

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Another thing to consider is that back in the day I insured my beater as my primary car with just liability and my mustang as secondary with full coverage and insurance was cheaper than just having it on the mustang.

Rich'sTRsvt said:

Another thing to consider is that back in the day I insured my beater as my primary car with just liability and my mustang as secondary with full coverage and insurance was cheaper than just having it on the mustang.

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Back in the day? I still do that...


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I like the thoughtfulness of your post OP. Here is my story and some thoughts.

In high school I worked at my Dad’s beer distributor. Once I had my license and some experience, from age 17-21 when not in school / on break I drove Dad’s truck into town every week to pick up inventory. Truck held 8 pallets - loaded weight around 10 tons. That gave me a lot of experience that has helped me be a more attentive and safer driver than most people.

In 1991 I bought my first car - a 32k mile 1988 T-5 GT hatch. Best bang for the buck back then - 36 months for $252 a month! It was Horrible in the snow as you all know. I ran steelies in back with non-studded “winter” tires ( this is before Blizzaks were available - not that I could afford them anyway ). I Took 3 buddies ( they went to PSU and I was at ND ) on a drunken weekend road trip to PSU in October. On the day we dragged our hungover asses home, a late fall snow storm blew in. 5 inches fell in the mountains in less than an hour. Traction was non existent, even with the winter tires and 150 lbs of sandbags in the hatch.

We came to a huge hill on a 2-lane road...down for a long way then back up the other side. A car was in front of us so I sat back (nobody behind us) and waited for a big gap so I could go fast enough down the hill so we had momentum to get back up the other side.

So I start down the hill. We are moving pretty good...maybe 50-55 in a 40. Then as we start up the other side I see the car in front of us slow down...a LOT. SHIT!!! So I am forced to slow down....40...30...20...10...5 mph and I am almost pushing this slow bastard up the hill. We are a LONG way from the top. I try to give it gas in 2nd gear...tire spin...try 3rd...spin...try 4th...more spin. The car ahead keeps crawling up the hill at 5 mph and then...I...AM...STOPPED...AND SIDEWAYS...STRADDLING THE DOUBLE YELLOW LINE.

Well this sucks...

I look ahead at the car that was in front of me...he crests the hill and is gone. Bastard...

Oh look...here comes an 18-wheeler down the hill in the opposite lane...the lane that half my car is sitting in.

Well this sucks...

I try to ease up the hill in 3rd gear from almost an idle. Tires spin and I’m more sideways. My buddies are silent and I cm tell they’re thinking of bailing out of the car. The semi won’t be able to stop coming down the snowy hill. This is pretty bad...

As the truck is maybe 500 feet from us, I yell...ALL YOU GUYS GET THE HATCH! NOW!!! They quickly crammed their hungover asses - all 3 of them - into the hatch, and I dropped it in 2nd and slipped the clutch...a lot. We inched forward slowly and somehow...I got my car into my lane just as the truck, who had slowed some, whizzed by at 30 mph or so, with his horn blaring. Had he hit us we would have been pushed for 500-1000 feet or just run over.

So here are my observations and some advice....

Although I LOVED that car, looking back it really wasn’t a wise purchase. With my experience behind the wheel I was a much better than average driver, but to DD a GT year-round in western PA just is not a good idea.

I was STUPID for putting myself and my buddies in that car at that time of year when bad weather can catch you off guard.

Having only a fun car like a GT or Cobra as a Year-round DD really beats the crap out of it in winter climates. Another reason to save for a winter beater.

Young drivers...choose a car you can drive year-round safely, or save up to have a toy and a DD. If you can’t afford both now, you have a lot of years ahead of you so save some $$ now and buy the toy later in life when it makes sense. Most of you young guys think you are Mario Andretti, but you are not.

Once you buy a toy, if you want to actually improve your performance driving skills, do a little autocrossing or a few road course track days / HPDE’s. Often instructors or seasoned drivers will be able to give you a world of advice.

Sorry for the longest post I’ve ever made. Young drivers - be smart and be safe out there this winter.

I've been daily driving my 04 for almost 10yrs now, even when it's -50* outside and snow up to your knees. Never been stuck or spun out .... don't drive like a tard and it's no different than driving any other rwd in the winter.

It would be a lot cheaper just purchasing a cheap set of wheels and wrap them in a decent set of snow tires. Then just change out every late fall / early spring.

You would be amazed how much a dedicated snow tire will improve driving conditions for a RWD vehicle in the winter.

It definitely sucks. I drove a 93 GT on nitto 555rs and skinnies all year round. Made me laugh when I'd be pulling into the parking lot at OSU and it would be empty due to snow. It's one way to learn how to respect a rwd car. Plenty of sketchy times being out on the road too.
Probably should have been in a ditch a time or two. I definitely dont recommend doing it, but dont hold it against anyone to do it.

Good tips. Also stop saying "Termi" sounds very gay. It's a Terminator

efnfast said:

I've been daily driving my 04 for almost 10yrs now, even when it's -50* outside and snow up to your knees. Never been stuck or spun out .... don't drive like a tard and it's no different than driving any other rwd in the winter.

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Yeah. Even a stock 400 hp blown Cobra is definitely just like any other rwd car in the winter. Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

Great post, very well intended and I’m sure will be well recieved.

I’ve ran square 245’ blizzak’s one year and it was honestly the best snow experience I’ve had hands down.

Right now my daily is fwd and I run continental dws 06’s (iirc the name, so many alphanumeric codes these days) and it’s a great year round combo of fun and sporty but practical. 50,000 mile prorating tire, good grip for 500tw, etc. Great rain characteristics.

That all said, my then 620whp nitrous Eaton full bolt on 03 cobra with 4.10’s and a spec stage 3+ clutch, aluminum flywheel (tricky combo to friction point) was much more confident and drivable in the winter simply because of the Blizzacks.



If you have to daily a car like these in the winter as I had to in 2005 just after I bought it, loan or finance at zero interest a set of blizzacks. It could save your or someone else’s life. If you cause a bad freeway wreck that you walk away from, the person who comes to a stop behind you may get hit by a semi going 50+... do you want that on your conscious?

Driving cobra in winter is doable. Just once you start getting sideways, don't press the brakes or gas pedal. Did this for years.

I totally get the "be safe" idea.

I don't get how you can say accidents have increased since street outlaws and how half are young cobra drivers. Where does that info even come from?

And crown Vic give a ways? That just made me laugh.

Wish I had seen A post like this a few years back.

One thing I want to add for people in cold climates who might not know is BRIDGES FREEZE OVER WITH BLACK ICE IMMEDIATELY IN THE SNOW OR RAIN. I learned this the hard way.

I was 19 and had just gotten to my new base in Missouri where it really doesn't snow a whole lot but enough that I should have had a daily. I had a beautiful 2004 Mustang GT in sonic blue with about 30k miles. This was 2014 so it was really nice for its age and I got it for 7k. I loved the mustang, even if it wasn't fast, it was fun as hell.


I was trying to get home (Iowa) to be with the family on thanksgiving the next day. So I got out of work at 6pm and immediately hit the road for the 5 hour trip. A snow storm blew in out of nowhere and caught me right in the middle of my trip. It was still relatively warm out so the snow wasn't piling up or anything. I don't know why but younger me was dead set on making it home that night, I didn't even consider a hotel. Even though I was only moving at 45ish mph.

At the time I was never taught the physics of how bridges freeze over almost immediately in snow. So I hit the bridge linking Missouri to Illinois and a van with a trailer tried switching lanes about half a mile ahead of me and started a 10 car pile up. So I lightly stepped on the brakes and nothing... okay I'm pretty cool headed and kept it together and tried to use the brakes even lighter.. still moving at 40 and nothing is happening, it was like my brakes were completely disabled and I was coasting. So I tried pumping them and nothing. At this point I'm about 100 feet away from the pile up and still moving at 40 mph. So I give it one HAIL MARY and freakin' smashed that pedal. It kicked my ass end out to the left and last I saw I slowed to 35mph before slamming into a pickup truck with my front end and spinning around into an impala..



Long story short, I wish I had just bought some piece of crap beater for the winter or even thought of getting a hotel when things were looking bad cause I would still have that car today if I could.