Buying 03 Cobra

Hey folks new here so im not sure im posting in the correct area but here goes.

Ive owned several newer mustangs but now looking to buy an 03 terminator with 42k miles. Car looks well taken care of and has had some mods done like a whipple SC, air intake, exhaust, and some gauges. Is getting a loan for 20k ish for this car a great idea considering it will hold its value (only driven on weekends). Or is it a smarter decision to go with a 99-01 cobra or the Mach 1 for a much lower price. Even tho those cars dont seem to hold near the value the termi does? Any help would be appreciated.

Link?

03cobra#694 said:

Link?

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Chesapeake Dark Shadow Gray Clearcoat Metallic 2003 Ford Mustang: Used Car for Sale - 19C13141

I would say to not buy the car for whatever value you think it'll hold. I know it's something to think about because you might end up selling but, if you walk into it with that mindset, you'll never enjoy the car. You'll be too busy worrying about how driving or modding it will devalue the car. I was there. I bought a convertible with 2700 miles and in 2 years I put an additional 2200 miles. I never really drove it becuase I was always worried about a ding, scratch, or just putting miles on it, would devalue the car.
I didn't enjoy the car and sold it. I regretted selling it but, thankfully, I was able to find this car with more miles on it and some mild mods and I drive it and really enjoy the car.
I would test drive the different cars and see which one you enjoy. Which one puts a smile on your face. Which one will make you turn around and look back at it when you walk away. Which one puts a smile on your face when you hit the accelerator. That's the car you get. I would say to get the Terminator. The bang for the buck ratio is great and it's very responsive to mods. Also, the car you're getting has some mods already.

Nitrous button, crap A/F gauge. Pass

03cobra#694 said:

Nitrous button, crap A/F gauge. Pass

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Certainly that can be fixed.....minor issues? Care to explain why? I cant really get alot from that response

That’s a narrow band gauge, junk. Can’t even get the brake dust off the rims? Nitrous button on the shifter. I’d take a real hard look at it. Miles mean jack, if they are a quarter mile at a time. Who tuned it?

03cobra#694 said:

That’s a narrow band gauge, junk. Can’t even get the brake dust off the rims? Nitrous button on the shifter. I’d take a real hard look at it. Miles mean jack, if they are a quarter mile at a time. Who tuned it?

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Yea im going to look at it again....They do have all the paperwork for the mods done and there was a tune done just not sure where. Even if its not that 03 cobra and lets just say generally speaking

Compression test that mofo before buying it. Looks ragged out imo.

Join 757 mustangs on Facebook and see if any those guys know who it belonged to.

Doesnt look familiar but there are quite a few terminators in the Hampton roads area

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Chimairaone said:

Certainly that can be fixed.....minor issues? Care to explain why? I cant really get alot from that response

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@03cobra#694 is saying that the car has been sprayed with nitrous, which means it’s been ran hard. He is also say the A/F gauge doesn’t have a digital numerical display which would lead us to believe that if the car had saw lean conditions, you wouldn't know.

In a nutshell... the car possibly has an abused past.


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SVTdreamin04 said:

@03cobra#694 is saying that the car has been sprayed with nitrous, which means it’s been ran hard. He is also say the A/F gauge doesn’t have a digital numerical display which would lead us to believe that if the car had saw lean conditions, you wouldn't know.

In a nutshell... the car possibly has an abused past.


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I agree with these guys. I would pass on it. There are other Terminators out there. Just be patient and keep an eye out.

These are performance cars. I don't understand when a Whipple is installed or TVS or turbo everyone is like "COOL", but as soon as someone sees a nitrous button it's stay away or pass.

I have a nitrous button on my car. I have sprayed it twice (and yes I have a hand held with a tune for nitrous in it). Once I spun the tires and the second time the clutch went out. Never sprayed it again because I'm not a huge track guy and never need it on the street (hell it's not even working right now because I installed the window switch in my 65). Does that mean my Cobra was driven harder than any other Cobra out there or abused?

I say check this car the SAME way you would any Terminator you are interested in buying. Visual inspection, compression test, test drive, listen for unusual engine noises or rattling during test drive, see how clutch feels, how does transmission shift, check all electrical items to ensure they work, etc.

I agree there are signs that could cause a person to decide to look at another Cobra, but if you're interested in a car look it over. Don't walk away because you see something and then make an assumption on it. If people do that with my Cobra, if I ever decide to sell it, they will be missing out on a very good Cobra that "IS" taken care of despite what a person sees installed.

Definitely appears to need TLC. Like mentioned, can’t believe they didn’t clean it up AT ALL first.

Saw the switch that could very well be nitrous but who knows.

If that car were cleaned up it would be a 23-24k car. You could prob walk outta there for 18500 which if there are no major issues and it isn’t clapped out, would be a steal.


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03cobra#694 said:

Nitrous button, crap A/F gauge. Pass

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It could be a line lock button too. Or for show

Shadow Grey 03 said:

It could be a line lock button too. Or for show

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LOL, got one of those on my coupe too . My nitrous system is exactly that now (for show).

Good points Shadow...….

Here's some sound advice.
Keep your eyes peeled to the market section of this forum. The car for you will pop up.
The advantage is, you can talk to the owner, get pics & vids. Also you can get a feel for the owner and find out how the car was taken care of.
I've bought 3 Terminators sight-unseen on this forum. All three were as advertised from known members here.
20k+ is too much money to gamble with on a carlot car, or a shady seller. The Terminator has been around for a while. The odds of a beaten on car are fairly high.
Slow down and find the right car. It'll save you some headaches going forward.
Even if you find one from another state, the added expense of having it shipped will pay for itself in the long run.

Bonestock.....lightly modded.....heavily modded.....doesn't matter, get the compression test and a thorough inspection with drive. Cars that appear bonestock could have had a nitrous kit 24 hours earlier. The beauty of these cars is also the trap....they handle big power and can be returned to stock in an afternoon. They can also drive, idle and tool around town with practically only 7 cylinders and you would never know.

Speaking of this car in particular, the biggest red flag to me is this car is at a chevy dealer for christs sake....that poor thing has in all likelihood been train gang molested by every tech in the shop. If by some miracle the motor passed compression....and you can negotiate price....might be a decent car if that's the color you really desire.

COOL COBRA said:

Here's some sound advice.
Keep your eyes peeled to the market section of this forum. The car for you will pop up.
The advantage is, you can talk to the owner, get pics & vids. Also you can get a feel for the owner and find out how the car was taken care of.
I've bought 3 Terminators sight-unseen on this forum. All three were as advertised from known members here.
20k+ is too much money to gamble with on a carlot car, or a shady seller. The Terminator has been around for a while. The odds of a beaten on car are fairly high.
Slow down and find the right car. It'll save you some headaches going forward.
Even if you find one from another state, the added expense of having it shipped will pay for itself in the long run.

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I agree for the most part with this statement. I've only purchased two vehicles on here, one was in amazing condition and the seller was honest with his description and the other I was sold a car with a bad motor by a low life piece of shit and ended up blowing the motor within a month of ownership.

The vast majority of the time you'll be fine buying on here but do your due diligence regardless of where you purchase your vehicle from.

COOL COBRA said:

Here's some sound advice.
Keep your eyes peeled to the market section of this forum. The car for you will pop up.
The advantage is, you can talk to the owner, get pics & vids. Also you can get a feel for the owner and find out how the car was taken care of.
I've bought 3 Terminators sight-unseen on this forum. All three were as advertised from known members here.
20k+ is too much money to gamble with on a carlot car, or a shady seller. The Terminator has been around for a while. The odds of a beaten on car are fairly high.
Slow down and find the right car. It'll save you some headaches going forward.
Even if you find one from another state, the added expense of having it shipped will pay for itself in the long run.

Click to expand...

I agree with this.....but damn, I also remember that crap with "saddles" blue car. Even had the infamous ten minute youtube "walk-around" vid with him going on and on how perfect the car was and its the "cleanest terminator on svterformance BAR NONE.....PERFECTION". Funny thing was.....he never started the car.

Someone bought it sight unseen.....they get it shipped.....blower sounds like marbles and had a whole lot of other issues too. Not quite perfection