Era/spf/csx

[kgs365]

and people put up with a waiting list....that speaks volumes!...

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by somedayaurora

ITS funny we've all heard of SPF and CSX cutting prices and dealing But it seems as ERA is raising them , must mean something

Originally Posted by kgs365

and people put up with a waiting list....that speaks volumes!...

Obviously ERA owners are stupider than the average bear. We pay more, wait longer, and buy something that most people have never even heard of. And we do this in spite of the fact that it would be much easier to buy something from one of the other manufacturers. Some of us are even extra-stupid. When I was up in New Britain I was so overcome with dumbness that I even offered to pay Peter if he would just let me come work for him. Now come on, you gotta admit that's pretty dumb. Peter probably should have just stopped me right there and said "Sorry Pat, you're just too dumb to own a Cobra -- I won't build you one."

[somedayaurora]

True story !
SDR
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DODGE DEMON CONCEPT SPECIFICATIONS

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by somedayaurora

True story !
SDR

It really is a true story. I did indeed offer to pay him to let me come work there. I also tried to bribe him to move me up in the wait list -- and failed miserably. I later learned from Jim H. that I was using the wrong bait. I dangled money instead of spicy Italian food.

[somedayaurora]

mmmmmm Pizza auauau (homer j simpson)
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MEDICAL DISPENSARIES

[Silverback51]

The only issue I have with an owner built ERA is the possiblitiy of quality issues.

The first ERA I looked at was in 1999 and it was used. It was without a doubt one of the biggest POS I have ever seen. A blind man could have done a better job. The body was offset on the frame by over 3/4 of an inch. The wiring looked like a rats nest. I lost all interest in the car at that point, so I did not inspect if further, but I'm willing to bet that the rest of the car was no better.

And before I pi$$ off a lot of people, I realize this was probably a extreme case. Most people that would buy an ERA are paying a premium price, and are the types of individuals that do a good job.

However, the possibility still exists.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

The first ERA I looked at was in 1999 and it was used. It was without a doubt one of the biggest POS I have ever seen. A blind man could have done a better job. The body was offset on the frame by over 3/4 of an inch. The wiring looked like a rats nest. I lost all interest in the car at that point, so I did not inspect if further, but I'm willing to bet that the rest of the car was no better.

John's point is a good one. Just because it's an ERA, doesn't mean it was put together right. If it was a turnkey then it was built right. Anything less than that requires personally eyeballing the car. But that's pretty much true of any of these cars. Pick any manufacturer and, if you try hard enough, you can find a piece of crap that bears their name.

[Gunner]

I can easily see someone with more money than ability tackling a kit and screwing it up, even one as finely engineered and "tab A into slot A" as an ERA.

My dad had a phrase for these folks... he said they were the kind who could dent a ball bearing.

Patrick! You blew past 10k posts! Did I miss the party?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Gunner

I can easily see someone with more money than ability tackling a kit and screwing it up, even one as finely engineered and "tab A into slot A" as an ERA.

My dad had a phrase for these folks... he said they were the kind who could dent a ball bearing.

Patrick! You blew past 10k posts! Did I miss the party?

He's a five-figure kinda guy now. I'm not sure if we can communicate with people of such lofty status.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

He's a five-figure kinda guy now. I'm not sure if we can communicate with people of such lofty status.

And I didn't even get a congratulatory card from ERAChas Honestly, I think there's a bug in the forum software. I don't think I've really posted 10K messages. I think you have, though.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by Gunner

I can easily see someone with more money than ability tackling a kit and screwing it up, even one as finely engineered and "tab A into slot A" as an ERA.

I resemble this post.

[dcdoug]

Another addition to the manual: How to pour oil into your oil fill tube through a funnel fast enough that it backs up in the tube and all over the valve covers and intake manifold and points south making an easy job a PITA job.

[Gunner]

Me, I like the jobs where you remove a front engine bolt only to discover it goes into the water jacket. Then the bolt jams on the removed part for a full minute while you struggle to get it loose and coolant pours onto the floor. You finally get the bolt threaded back into the dike... waterpump. And a tidy little job has just turned into a wash the engine compartment and garage floor job.

Not saying this has every happened, you understand. Just suggesting.

Gotta go; I... have some things to clean up.

[RodKnock]

Chapter 5 - Familiarizing Yourself With The Dashboard Prior to First Drive - Now this can be a crucial entry in the manual. Do NOT take your new car out on its maiden voyage without first studying all gauges, knobs and/or switches. If you do NOT follow this step, don't ask yourself "I wonder what this switch does?", switching on and off toggle switches, testing indiscriminately each switch, while car is in operation. This includes the most important switch, the FUEL PUMP switch. The position of the FUEL PUMP switch should be a dead giveaway, since it is DIRECTLY located below the fuel pressure gauge. This switch will shut off all gas to car and slow car down immediately. If said switch is toggled off, then IMMEDIATELY TOGGLE SWITCH BACK ON before you get yourself into an accident.

[Bill Bess]

Anybody with a buck can order a complete car, or a roller ( of course have a local shop put the motor in it). Some folks are not great mechanics, or maybe don't have the time or space to do a build, or whatever reason, so a factory built is by far the best method for them.

Perhaps the most fun of all, is driving a quality cobra that you put together, with the mods. you wanted and all the personal touches. When folks see your ride and love it, their compliments mean more because you did it.
Just my opinion.

[Stentor]

Originally Posted by somedayaurora

ITS funny we've all heard of SPF and CSX cutting prices and dealing But it seems as ERA is raising them , must mean something
SDR

Yep, it's supply and demand--basic economics. The supply of ERAs is constrained and demand is solid--so they don't discount because they can sell everything they produce. If they started producing cars beyond the actual demand for them then things would change.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Pick any manufacturer and, if you try hard enough, you can find a piece of crap that bears their name.

Uh, you have a good memory. Do you remember any POS Kirkhams? Oops, there was that dusty one down in TX, on eBay, I think.

[somedayaurora]

like ferrari
funny thing is back in the day ol' shel didn't have that business model , they sat , sometimes for a long time on dealers' lots'...... and forty years later ERA , a replica, Has strong demand even in a Economic down turn ,
happy holidays
SDR
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Girlfriend Pictures

[somedayaurora]

With prices now haha Its still that way , CSX4xxx , CSX3xxx and CSX2xxx , the market has softened ,ERA waiting list and raising prices
that's
too funny
happy holidays
SDR
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Ty250

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Bill Bess

Anybody with a buck can order a complete car, or a roller ( of course have a local shop put the motor in it). Some folks are not great mechanics, or maybe don't have the time or space to do a build, or whatever reason, so a factory built is by far the best method for them.

Perhaps the most fun of all, is driving a quality cobra that you put together, with the mods. you wanted and all the personal touches. When folks see your ride and love it, their compliments mean more because you did it.
Just my opinion.

My dream was to build an ERA, as after considerable research, I felt they were the best kit available. Still feel that way to this day.

I have the mechanical ability, tools and resources to do it. What I lacked was time. A normal work week ranges from 50 to 70+ hours. I just would not have had the time, and I know I could not have taken years to build it. I would have lost interest.

So for me a ready built and sorted out car was the answer. And I have never regretted my decision. I do have enough time to tinker with it when I need to relax, and that is almost as much fun as driving it.