To summarize with a smily (or is the singular smilie?): 
I love this car!
[Sorry this ended up getting long, BTW. I guess I'm excited!]
Ok, so first I can't believe I'm a Ford guy now. If you had told me a year ago I would buy a Ford (other than a Lightning), I would've told you you're FOS. Now look!
Second, kudos to Don Kott Ford in Carson. They sold for MSRP with no hassle whatsover (i.e., no BS up front about 5 or 10K over -- I came in, said will you sell at MSRP, they said yes right away, and wrote an agreement saying they would sell at MSRP). And they honored the deal fully without trying to add prep charges or any other charges at the end. I believe they are totally no BS, but we shall see as time progresses.
I had two little problems with the condition of the car: small gouge on rim of left rear wheel, and slightly cut right rear tire. (Oddly enough, the car showed no signs of abuse -- the tires were otherwise pristine-- so it looked like it happened when the car was unloaded from the truck.) The dealer wrote a work order to replace the wheel and tire for free as soon as they could get them in. If they follow through, I will say they were very honorable and accommodating.
Now as far as performance....this car is awesome, especially when you consider the price. I used to own a 2001 Z06, and I believe the '03 Cobra pulls as hard as it did. The low end torque is amazing! Consider this: the dyno on my '01 Z06 (which I left bone stock) was 335 rwhp and 338 rwtq, with 290 rwtq at 2000 rpm (all SAE). Compare that with '03 dyno numbers I've been seeing: 360 rwhp and 345 rwtq, with 300 rwtq at 2000 rpm. No wonder this car feels like it hauls A S S off the line: it has more low-end torque than a Z06! And as far as peak power-to-weight ratios: figure 10.1 lbs/rwhp for the Z06 (3130 lbs + 250 lbs driver and gas) vs. 10.8 lbs/rwhp for the Cobra (3640 lbs + 250). Looks like they're within 7% of each other. And from what we're seeing, the modification potential for the Cobra is enormous -- certainly way more horsepower per dollar than you can get with mods for the Z06. This is very exciting.
I am scheduling my own dyno run for this week. Gotta do it soon to get a bone stock baseline, 'cuz I know the catback will be going on as soon as I can buy the parts!!! :-D
I really am dying for a decent exhaust system. I can hear the motor in there wishing it could roar! I don't know that I want to wait for the Bassani system for the '03. Do we know whether the Bassani '01 Cobra X-pipe will work with the long-tube headers they're building for the '03? Probably not....
Photos, dyno numbers, and time slips will soon be forthcoming!
I love this car![Sorry this ended up getting long, BTW. I guess I'm excited!]
Ok, so first I can't believe I'm a Ford guy now. If you had told me a year ago I would buy a Ford (other than a Lightning), I would've told you you're FOS. Now look!
Second, kudos to Don Kott Ford in Carson. They sold for MSRP with no hassle whatsover (i.e., no BS up front about 5 or 10K over -- I came in, said will you sell at MSRP, they said yes right away, and wrote an agreement saying they would sell at MSRP). And they honored the deal fully without trying to add prep charges or any other charges at the end. I believe they are totally no BS, but we shall see as time progresses.
I had two little problems with the condition of the car: small gouge on rim of left rear wheel, and slightly cut right rear tire. (Oddly enough, the car showed no signs of abuse -- the tires were otherwise pristine-- so it looked like it happened when the car was unloaded from the truck.) The dealer wrote a work order to replace the wheel and tire for free as soon as they could get them in. If they follow through, I will say they were very honorable and accommodating.
Now as far as performance....this car is awesome, especially when you consider the price. I used to own a 2001 Z06, and I believe the '03 Cobra pulls as hard as it did. The low end torque is amazing! Consider this: the dyno on my '01 Z06 (which I left bone stock) was 335 rwhp and 338 rwtq, with 290 rwtq at 2000 rpm (all SAE). Compare that with '03 dyno numbers I've been seeing: 360 rwhp and 345 rwtq, with 300 rwtq at 2000 rpm. No wonder this car feels like it hauls A S S off the line: it has more low-end torque than a Z06! And as far as peak power-to-weight ratios: figure 10.1 lbs/rwhp for the Z06 (3130 lbs + 250 lbs driver and gas) vs. 10.8 lbs/rwhp for the Cobra (3640 lbs + 250). Looks like they're within 7% of each other. And from what we're seeing, the modification potential for the Cobra is enormous -- certainly way more horsepower per dollar than you can get with mods for the Z06. This is very exciting.
I am scheduling my own dyno run for this week. Gotta do it soon to get a bone stock baseline, 'cuz I know the catback will be going on as soon as I can buy the parts!!! :-D
I really am dying for a decent exhaust system. I can hear the motor in there wishing it could roar! I don't know that I want to wait for the Bassani system for the '03. Do we know whether the Bassani '01 Cobra X-pipe will work with the long-tube headers they're building for the '03? Probably not....
Photos, dyno numbers, and time slips will soon be forthcoming!
