How often do you drive your cobra

[YerDugliness]

When I can afford to insure it, I drive my Cobra as a daily driver (weather permitting).

Having said that, it's been sitting in the garage for 9 months now.......

Dugly

[RallySnake]

Rob,

This is a very good thread idea.

It's hard to believe that since I registered my Arntz in 1986, I've been driving it for 24 years. There have been some problems that have kept in off the road for a few months here and there, and one major body-off rebuild that took almost a year. It's on the third engine, the third transmission and the third Jag rearend. I have lost count of the tires. Since I enjoy working on it, it's in a constant state of improvement. I just got a good deal on a Holley 850 Double Pumper that should add a little punch to the new 406 engine.

Santa Monica Sports Car Club puts on a TSD Rally every month that starts in North Hills, CA. The ITN Rally Team usually puts on 3 or 4 Monte Carlo Rallies every year and these are simply the best way to have fun in a Cobra. Going for a drive through the back roads is fun, but going through beautiful scenery on a course laid out for you and having a purpose to find checkpoints adds a whole additional level of fun. Bringing home a trophy adds a little to the excitement level too.

Sometimes I go to car shows and sometimes to an SCCA autocross (Solo 2) and these are fun, but not very challenging (without racing tires).

So, the answer is, I drive my Cobra about twice a month. In a way, it keeps me alive. I'm over 60 now and have to exercise to stay in shape to drive the car. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't bother.

RallySnake

[mic n gill]

two wet days in Auckland is called the weekend, but whenever we can, I'll never get board with the car, and the people who enjoy looking at them---Mic

[terry mason]

We drive our cobra a lot. This year we have traveled to Maine to visit friends,1200 miles one way. We meet such great people and never eat at a bad restaurant. Four years ago our trip was to LA so that I could drive the Pacific Coast highway-7498 miles in 28 days. Great fun and wonderful memories.

[JBCOBRA]

Got mine in the fall of '05. Wasn't really legal until until '06. Right now I have about 15k on the clock. So far this year I'm behind schedule for miles driven only because it has been so HOT. One heat wave after another. That SOB is gassed up and waiting.........but, it is going to be 100 here this weekend
Man O Man I love driving that car! Kind of a balancing act between pleasure and heatstroke LOL

[lnfletcher]

Not raining and over 50 deg: everyday alongside my wife. Not raining and under 50: everday I can think of an excuse without my wife. Not raining and under 30: once a week definately without my wife!
My problem is I hate to do much work to it because I can't drive it if it takes too long to complete! I need to start another build for a backup!

[Bartruff1]

Not as much fun as a bike...but...close...3 years 7500 miles...I am retired and we have great roads and weather (march till nov)....can't imagine making a long trip (250 miles) in one (I am very old and grouchy and like to be comfortable) ...but it is always a thrill for couple hours of cruising on the backroads....

[cobrarob]

Great response to this thread so far guys , lets keep it going I think this thread could quite honestly become timeless just like our cars

Great stories so far I am looking forward to reading a lot more

Rob

[Slick61]

I find myself driving mine less & less with each passing year. Perhaps I worry too much... where am I going, where is it going to be parked, am I going to be able to keep an eye on it, etc. There's just too many people with no respect for OPP (other people's property!)

After 3 years of ownership, I've put about 3500 miles on it- most of that during the first two years. And I find myself with less and less free time available to drive it... too many things to do around the house... more weekends out of town, where I can't take the Backdraft due to a lack of secure parking. Plus, I have two other vehicles to maintain, and possibly a third on the way. My life's events are conspiring to keep me out of the Backdraft as much as I should be. As of late, I find myself driving it more out of a sense of obligation, i.e. ... gee, haven't had it out in a month... better take it for a spin.

Have thought of selling it on occasion... but have yet to bring myself to do it. It was always a dream car of mine... not sure if I hang onto it because of that, or because it's such an iconic, macho, "image" car. I definitely get a kick out of owning/driving it, but not sure if I enjoy it enough to justify keeping it. But whatever... my options are open... don't have to sell it, so will continue to drive/enjoy it for the time being.

[Jim Kellogg]

I drive my SPF most every day, year round, and have for almost 10 years. We have all 4 seasons here in upstate NY - snow on the ground maybe 4 months, and even in the summer rarely more than 5 days without rain, ect.

That said, I drive it to work every day, pick up groceries, pick up computers, printers, ect for repairs at my shop, you name it. Even drive it to church.

I get wet, cold, hot (depending on the season) when driving my SPF.

Every time I get in the car and fire it up, the thrill is still there.

Enjoy it while you can!
Jim Kellogg

[JBCOBRA]

Hi Jim!
You are The King when it comes to Totally Hard Core Cobra Driving!
Keep up the good work.
How many miles have you driven your car?
JB

[Jim Kellogg]

Hi, John
There are several others here with as many, or more miles than I have.
But very few, if any, with as many miles in the snow

My speedo stopped working over 6 years ago. I used the tach for several years (using a conversion chart for each gear). I just got my speedo fixed by Nisonger a couple of months ago. Great company - great work.

My speedo now works better than ever, and I am clicking up the miles again. The odometer is now just over 32,000 - I would guess I have 80-90,000 miles on her, but who knows? I live closer to work now, so the miles aren't adding up as quickly as before. It really doesn't matter, as I am still having just as much fun as when she was new!

Sometimes I think about moving to a different car, though. A dark green SPF MKIII roadster, no scoop, stripes or roll bar would be nice....

But this car and I have been through a lot together. She looks to be a keeper.
Jim Kellogg

[Sharroll Celby]

Once or twice during the week. Couple of times during the weekend. Yearly trips to Reno with the Bash, took it to Utah once for a week, but mainly cruising around L.A. and the SoCal area. Have put over 84,000 miles in about 8 years.

[madmaxx]

Kinda like a high priced whore, alot of fun in the short run buy you get tired of her sheet when you had yours but then you are ready to go at it again in a couple days, some of these old bastards may be a week or two, LOL!!! You still have the wife when it rains.

Nothing beats a cobra, you either love it or hate, there nothing in between, sorry to hear sounds like you are hooked.

[terry mason]

jim,
we drove right by your place on Thur. I don't think we are going back to Mi. the same way but if we do i well call if you email your number. terry tcmason@hotmail.com

[twobjshelbys]

It's getting to be monsoon season here in Colorado's Front Range, so that means unpredictable thunderstorms almost every afternoon. That means morning drives on the weekends.

[Got the Bug]

I try to drive my car every week. I normally don't let it sit any longer than two weeks at a time. I've put about 8K miles on it in 3 years.

My desire to drive my car in sub 40 degree weather waned a little over the last winter.

[CBattaglia]

[quote=jhv48;1065938]When it starts to feel mundane, simply push your foot down a little farther on the gas pedal and that feeling will be replaced by a bunch of others,

This guy is right. Some times you sort of forget how much fun it is to drive. Not many cars can make a 2 car pass with 3/4 throttle. Thats on the performance end. Then... something cool will happen, like when a guy ran down the middle of the street to flag me down to see the car.

Driving a cobra is equivelant to having sex. Its always fun!

[mtpockets]

I average 6,000 miles a year. At least 200 of that is on the track. I'm on my second Cobra and in 4.5 years I have a total of 25,000 miles in the seat. If it was cooler here in the summer, I'd be out even more> but it probably wouldn't be as nice in the winter then. I guess it averages out.

[Joy]

Reading these posts got me to go out this evening. We're not putting nearly enough miles on it. But then, 90 + degree days don't help either.