03-04 Cobra Demand

SlowLNF

Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2010
Messages
581
Location
Michigan
Spot on Shawn! After looking for around the last month and a half, I just booked plane tickets to go look at and hopefully purchase one again. It's just under 60k miles but the condition of underneath the car and the engine bay are pristine from the pictures I've seen. Assuming it looks that way when I see her in person, I don't even think I'll bother haggling a price because she's worth every penny in that kind of condition. And it will be from a member of the forums here, while I had some good experiences with my search on facebook, I also got a lot of messages from guys with cars that didn't meet my desired criteria at all. Quite a few that were vague on details too, or would dance around questions about specifics.
Part of me feels bad having to drive her all the way home, but with some luck I'll dodge any chance of rain.
 

e85svt

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2015
Messages
129
Location
detroit
Thanks for the advice, I'll have to check out autotrader and see if anything pops up. The terminator market has been funny lately.
I just finally found one close by me (Midwest) for a reasonable asking price. It needs a little TLC, but only has 50k miles on it. I spent about 4 months actively looking for one. I found a few things:

  1. Facebook groups and sellers are remarkably unreliable. They either don't respond to inquiries or dance around questions. Granted, they are likely fielding dozens or hundreds of tire kickers, but that's an immediate red flag considering the amount of money you're about to spend. The prices are also all over the place and sellers will just increase or decrease by thousands of dollars by the hour.
  2. SVTP forums are the best bet for serious sellers. I've found the asking prices here are almost always fairly reasonable with a few exceptions. You'll get a better history of the car and often be able to see what the seller has posted in the past to get an idea for the kind of person they are. Unfortunately, the marketplace forum here has slowed way down for Terminators and it's about 10:1 wanted:sale ads.
  3. Autotrader still works good for finding dealer-listed cars. That's how I found mine. Granted, you're buying a little more of an unknown since the dealers will have no idea what the car has been through. Dealer prices are even more variable than Facebook private sellers, but if you're patient, you should be able to find something with reasonably low mileage for under $25k right now. It's also easier to get a dealer to knock off a few thousand as well.
Good luck with your search!

Sent from my SM-G960U using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 

Venom351R

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
May 3, 2007
Messages
1,253
Location
Maine
I to am looking to get into a terminator this year, however the inflated prices and limited availablitilty are driving me away. I know I may have to travel to buy one but finding one with 60-80k miles at around 23 to 25k thats in reasonable shape and is a reasonable driving distance is apparently alot to ask. I've been browsing for 4 years now. Pricing is all over the place.

Sent from my SM-G960U using the svtperformance.com mobile app

If you had scrapped the driving distance and just paid shipping for one the cost of that would be below what the increased prices are now as far as the difference. I paid $1,000 to ship mine 1,800 miles. Chances of any car in the 60-80K mileage range in good condition have increased more than $1,000 in the preceding 4 years.
 

e85svt

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2015
Messages
129
Location
detroit
I did think about shipping, however unless I know the car was well taken car of or was inspected by someone I trust its a little hard to justify buying something I haven't looked at in person.

Sent from my SM-G960U using the svtperformance.com mobile app
 

NateDogg

Terminator
Established Member
Joined
Mar 3, 2013
Messages
2,577
Location
Wesley Chapel, FL
I'd be very careful doing the site unseen having it shipped to you thing..

I did that with the DSG cobra I owned.. it looks fantastic in the pictures, had good mods, low miles, 2 owner car.......and it was in poor shape with a hurt motor.
 

Albatross

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2019
Messages
302
Location
Georgia
I bought mine sight unseen and had it shipped across the country. Longest week of my life. I looked for one for over a year. I was so fed up with looking and worried the prices were going to go up so I took a big risk. Ended up with a great car though. I wouldn't suggest this route unless you trust the seller 100%.
 

Venom351R

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
May 3, 2007
Messages
1,253
Location
Maine
I'd be very careful doing the site unseen having it shipped to you thing..

I did that with the DSG cobra I owned.. it looks fantastic in the pictures, had good mods, low miles, 2 owner car.......and it was in poor shape with a hurt motor.

I've done it twice, no issues either time but not saying it does not come without risk.
 

HPLouis

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2002
Messages
1,708
Location
New York City
I'd be very careful doing the site unseen having it shipped to you thing..

I did that with the DSG cobra I owned.. it looks fantastic in the pictures, had good mods, low miles, 2 owner car.......and it was in poor shape with a hurt motor.

I agree, even though 2 of my Mystichromes and my Raptor was bought, sight unseen. I know I lucked out with the Mystichromes but my luck ran out with the Raptor. It was rear ended and showed up on Carfax 2 months after I bought it. If I had test driven it, I would have seen the CAPA sticker on the bumper and would have negotiated at least $1,000 off the price, since there was no damage, just an accident on Carfax. Thankfully, it was only the bumper that was damaged, but after that, even if I have to fly across the country, I'll do it so I could inspect it myself.
 

CashMoneyKC

Active Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2012
Messages
100
Location
Delaware
Really so yo
That is correct Bob, 4 Sonics haha. I like to buy multiples of things. It’s a flaw of mine. I never buy these cars with the intention to sell, it just happens. Members reach out and make me an offer and the rest is history. I usually break even if not lose a little on them but I enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

I currently own 3 GT350Rs. I will always love the Cobras for nostalgic reasons but it’s very difficult to drive them once you have experienced the new technology.

I just found myself reaching for the cobra keys less and less once I got my first R. I’m sure I’ll own another if the opportunity presented itself.
really so you’re liking the R more and more. Interesting. I guess the R has that raw feel similar to the cobra but in a newer form? I considered a gt350/r but just bought my first terminator last weekend. Finally after years of searching lol. I’m happy just feel like there’s always gonna be other cobras and other cars we want but these will at least hold or appreciate so that’s why I chose these for now. You’ve had some nice cobras too.
 

Poolman

Member
Established Member
Joined
Nov 11, 2009
Messages
208
Location
Pendleton, SC
Good stuff here. I am looking at current values and thinking maybe I should let one go. I am the proud original owner of a black 03, bought from Young Ford in Charlotte, July 2002. Test drove the car with the original Mr. Young. We stopped and had an ice cream cone during the test drive.
About 26k miles on the car now. Fired him up last night with his "protpotype" Bassanni exhaust system. I got that sometime before 1k miles, early on, no aftermarket to speak of then. Cat back pieces actually stamped "prototype". He has long since blown all the guts out of the cats and mufflers, so he is a little boisterous. Pulled over twice in Myrtle Beach when we lived there for noise level testing by the city cops. I think they just wanted to look at it, had to open the hood both times.
So, I stirred up Pendleton and Clemson SC last night. He was on his game until low on fuel...damn Russian hackers.
Well so he is back under a cover and hiding for a while. :)

Notice its a he with me, 'cause he sure as hell ain't no girl. No offense to the ladies intended.

I think I'll just keep him for a while. True story about Mr. Young, the car was one of two of the first shipment of Cobras to Young Ford. It was still on the transporter when I first saw it.
 

Grady

Member
Established Member
Joined
Jan 31, 2017
Messages
82
Today, Mecum Indianapolis. 2004 Cobra Red Conv. About 500 miles $51,700. Go to Mecum auction Indianapolis. Today May 20th results. You will see it. Jack
 

Badaz01

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Sep 21, 2020
Messages
595
Location
Pennsylvania
The terminators are badass cars. Kinda wish I would’ve bought one from the get go instead I bought an 01 cobra and built it up from bumper to bumper. With the money I spent on it I could’ve easily had sub 20k mile termi. But overall I’ve enjoyed piecing together my 01 and when all said and done I plan to have a 700 whp badass beast of an 01.
 

Black Chip

Well-Known Member
Established Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2003
Messages
1,040
Location
Formally DelCo
I'm the original owner of my Black 15,000 mile '03. Selling has crossed my mind. Especially when work was bad in 2020. But then I go for a ride and that thought is gone!
 

rusty6

New Member
Established Member
Joined
Jun 3, 2007
Messages
10
Location
New Jersey
I bought one in 2016 from a SVT member advertised on this site, site unseen and it was everything promised and more. 04 Redfire. Sadly lost her in a house fire last year and now anything remotely close to my old beast in condition is almost 2X what I paid! Awesome car and experience though and I would do it again if I found the right car
 

TK1299

Meh
Established Member
Premium Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2017
Messages
6,429
Location
Houston, TX
I bought one in 2016 from a SVT member advertised on this site, site unseen and it was everything promised and more. 04 Redfire. Sadly lost her in a house fire last year and now anything remotely close to my old beast in condition is almost 2X what I paid! Awesome car and experience though and I would do it again if I found the right car
I’m sorry that happened.
 

Users who are viewing this thread



Top