View Single Post
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 06-03-2012, 11:29 PM
Hershey Hershey is offline
CC Member
Visit my Photo Gallery

 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Bay Area, CA
Cobra Make, Engine:
Posts: 10
Not Ranked     
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by PDUB View Post
Welcome to the club.


A Cobra is a LOT different than the cars you describe... RAW! LOUD! UNREFINED! ROUGH! UNFORGIVING! not to mention WONDERFUL! and AWESOME! But, it'll be quite a switch for you.


Check some out to make sure it is the right choice for you before you jump in, then if it is right for you, jump far! Best of luck, and again welcome to the madness.
Yes, I definitely plan to check some out before making the plunge. I have DenBeste Motorsports and Dynamic AutoWest (SC dealers) both about 1 hour away. I'll be visiting them soon


Quote:
Originally Posted by Dwight View Post
good advice

drive or ride in one before you buy. A long ride would be best.

different car for sure.

here is a quote from one of the magazine from the 60's.

we had it printed onto a t-shirt.

Dwight

There is nothing nice about a Cobra. It’s stripped down to the essentials – a big engine- a small car and four wide tires to keep the whole business on the pavement. It’s loud and smells like gasoline and shakes, shudders, and bucks. It makes your arm tired and your feet hot. You nearly crash about once every 10 minutes. It’s so damn wonderful that you can’t believe it.
^^^ Exactly what I have been looking for!
I know it's Such a different animal from my other cars.


Quote:
Originally Posted by jhv48 View Post
I could not agree more with the above posts.

The cars you have owned previously have not prepared you one bit for driving a cobra. There are no nannies to protect you if you give it too much gas in a corner (a 90 inch wheelbase car can go sideways or spin in a heartbeat.) No ABS to keep you from locking up all the tires and skidding out of control. No windows, no air conditioning, no power brakes or steering. You will consult with the weather channel before you even consider taking the car out of the garage. You won't want to drive it in the rain or even if there's a possibility of rain. You will want to have other cars to drive on a daily basis or to haul luggage on a vacation. You will only eat at restaurants where your table allows you to maintain visibility of your car at all times. Both you and your passenger will burn your legs at least twice on the sidepipes. You will bang your shins multiple times on the quikjacks. There are no speedy getaways. It will take you and your passenger at least 5-10 minutes to get in the car, fasten all the belts, insert ear plugs, adjust cap and glasses, start engine and let it warm up before you dare to engage the clutch. Should you stall it in a crowded parking lot, just get out and walk away. Come back when everyone has left and try it again. If you have small kids, forget it. This car only seats one passenger, so someone will always feel slighted and you will constantly be explaining to Social Services why little Johnny keeps coming to preschool with burn marks on his arms and legs.

Most normal women hate riding in the car. It will blow their hair, get too much sun on them, be either too hot or too cold most of the time and will make them deaf and smell like fuel. Also, while driving, you won't be able to hear a word she says. (ok, so there is an up side). You will have to entertain all the thumbs up, waves, and attention these cars continuously generate. Just stopping for gas can take twenty minutes and involve a hood-raise. Everyone, from the guy in the beater Honda to the bald guy with gold chains in a Corvette/Porsche (with his "niece" staring at you from the passenger seat) will try to egg you on into a race.

There is no 50,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty. You better know, or learn, how to turn a wrench, change the oil, adjust the carburetor, set the timing, change the plugs, bleed and adjust the clutch just for starters. You better enjoy tinkering with a car, because you will have to. If your ideal car goes 15,000 miles without any service, you are in for a big surprise.

Now, I could go on and on, but you get the point. If none of the above deters you, then go forward and be rewarded. There is no better feeling than turning that key and hearing a 500+ horsepower engine grumble and fart to life through those two nasty sounding sidepipes (well, maybe there is one better, but starting the car doesn't make you sleepy afterwards). Hopefully, you will become one of us and actually enjoy and drive your car more than 200 miles/year.
^^Thanks for the logical advice haha. I have thought about these things. yes, i realize the rain aspect with the car AND I have been "bitten" by the exhaust on the leg by my friends Viper so I'll be watching my entry approach

also, I have another car that will be my DD (Honda Accord), my Wife has her Audi SUV to tow kids, dogs around.

This purchase will simply be to own and experience the joys/nuisances of a Shelby Cobra

Quote:
Originally Posted by AL427SBF View Post
As a guy who is no stranger to performance cars and "always a fan of these cars" I'm sure you're well aware of the cobra characteristics. Being a Bay Area guy, coastal cruises in a roadster are hard to beat and contrary to a somewhat dated mindset here, women love to get in and go for a ride. As for noise, smell, comfort and the rest of it - you can get one that drives like a cadillac cts-v convertible if that what's you want. These cars come in all variants, are not mid-60s tech and very tunable to driver preferences, best of luck and enjoy.
Thanks. Looking forward to the coastal cruises myself

Quote:
Originally Posted by Silversmith View Post
jhv48 said it best! If you think this is your cup of tea! Then:

WELCOME TO THE ADDICTION THERE IS NO CURE !!

crossing my fingers I can get my hands on one!
Reply With Quote