Advice on Which make & options I should Buy?

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by ACademic

When selling, put a throttle-stop on the carb to keep the RPMs below 3K.

And/or you can adjust the rev limit on your MSD. I think the Digital 6 can be adjusted down to 2,000 RPM. But if I'm a buyer, I'd probably want to hear the engine in the 4,000-5,000-ish range, at least.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

And/or you can adjust the rev limit on your MSD. I think the Digital 6 can be adjusted down to 2,000 RPM. But if I'm a buyer, I'd probably want to hear the engine in the 4,000-5,000-ish range, at least.

The MSD rev limiting cuts the spark to alternating cylinders. I have the adjustable limiter tucked away in my glove box and could, conceivably, turn it down before handing the keys over to a valet (which I have never done, ERAChas....). But I have bounced off the rev limiter setting, both on purpose and accidentally. When you do that it sounds like there is something bad wrong with the engine. If an inexperienced would-be Cobra purchaser did that I think you would lose the sale.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by patrickt

But I have bounced off the rev limiter setting, both on purpose and accidentally. When you do that it sounds like there is something bad wrong with the engine. If an inexperienced would-be Cobra purchaser did that I think you would lose the sale.

I would have to think that most buyers have had MSD's in their lifetime and understand what happens when the rev limiter kicks in. Certainly a quick turn in the back of the unit upwards, when the seller is driving, should satisfy any questions about the soundness of the engine.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

I would have to think that most buyers have had MSD's in their lifetime and understand what happens when the rev limiter kicks in. Certainly a quick turn in the back of the unit upwards, when the seller is driving, should satisfy any questions about the soundness of the engine.

Naaahhh, on the older MSD units unless you have the separate "adjustable" gizmo like mine, then you have to pull the chip, which is a nuisance, and then the guy's going to rev it to 8000 and send a rod through the side of the block. I say you're better off just not selling it and then you don't have to deal with the whole problem.

[DoIBugu2]

Man, this was a horrible Friday post for me. I'm in a similar situation as Scaramanga and to read about all the compliants you guys have is just depressing. I've been on the boards reading for a couple weeks and have only found positive views of the car.

Now today you guys are like trying to convience him not to buy one. I know, I know you are just trying to be honest, which is cool.

I will have to ride or drive one soon. I expect the exhaust to be load, but with all your comments I'm wondering if it's worse then what I'm imagining.

Has anyone tested the decibal levels of the car? What range is it in?

Anyone in Chicago want to take me for a ride

[itstock]

Originally Posted by DoIBugu2

Man, this was a horrible Friday post for me. I'm in a similar situation as Scaramanga and to read about all the compliants you guys have is just depressing. I've been on the boards reading for a couple weeks and have only found positive views of the car.

Now today you guys are like trying to convience him not to buy one. I know, I know you are just trying to be honest, which is cool.

I will have to ride or drive one soon. I expect the exhaust to be load, but with all your comments I'm wondering if it's worse then what I'm imagining.

Has anyone tested the decibal levels of the car? What range is it in?

Anyone in Chicago want to take me for a ride

It's funny that you read these replies as complaints. If that is what you are doing, the cobra is definitely not for you! I'm reading through this thread and see very little in the way of complaints, and most of it makes me smile. The cobra is what it is, and if you are happy with that, then proceed in your searching process. If you can't come to terms with it, then move along.

For what it's worth, I was extremely surprised at the exhaust loudness on my backdraft, and worrying it would be too loud was a reason I held off on a stereo. Now that I have driven the car, the exhaust isn't loud at all compared to what I've read some say (like ear plugs being necessary), and it's probably quieter than many of the under exhaust no cat/loud muffler cars I've had in the past. I think that the BLOWER WHINE on my old car was louder than the sidepipes on this cobra. Needless to say, I'll be getting a stereo and have no worries about not being able to hear it.

[DoIBugu2]

It's hard to differentiate a complaint and general comments. It was comments of the car is loud, then constantly breakdown, need excessive maintenance, and 1 hour drive and you are done for the day.

It was just odd compared to the other posts I have read, which have almost exclusively been extremely positive. But I have only been here for a couple weeks, so it's from a very small window.

I have to hold myself back from going out and buying one. I currently do not have the place to store the car and am trying to hold off till we buy a larger home. Which should be next year.

[itstock]

I must have missed the complaints on being broke down, excessive maintenance, and 1 hour drives and you are done.

I tend to think that the vast majority of us don't experience break downs, excessive maintenance, or simple 1 hour drives. Once you see one up close, you will quickly realize how simple the car is. It's for the most part, all mechanical with no gimmicks. There truly isn't much that can go wrong. It's the type of car where you get in and drive for a couple hours, aimlessly, for a day out of the week. Or you get bored during the week and hop in and drive for a little bit.

There are plenty of "complaints" to be had with these cars, but most of them would stem from someone using it as a daily driver. If it's in the mid 90's and sunny, I'm getting in the daily driver with a/c. If I'm going for a long ride where it could rain, I'm in the daily driver. Dogs? Daily driver. Too cold? Daily driver. Luggage for a weekend? Daily driver....or daily driver and the Cobra if there is storage at the destination.

Perhaps that is where you are being mislead. Scaramanga wants to believe that he can use this car as a daily driver, which is QUITE possible (plenty of people do), but for most of us, we prefer a daily driver with a bit more manners. I wouldn't own this car as my only daily driver. If I had one choice for a car, fun and DD, but still wanted something a bit more extreme for budget pricing, I'd get the Viper (or some would prefer a 911...or gasp...a vette). Either way, the items that you could see as complaints are really just reality checks.

[RodKnock]

Originally Posted by itstock

If I had one choice for a car, fun and DD, but still wanted something a bit more extreme for budget pricing, I'd get the Viper (or some would prefer a 911...or gasp...a vette). Either way, the items that you could see as complaints are really just reality checks.

What a bunch of whiners and complainers you people are. And please, buy a Vette or Viper, because 911 owners have way too much "huevos" for you guys. Even better, go buy a Miata.

At this point I would just like to make mine a monthly driver, because daily driver ain't gonna happen.

[itstock]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

What a bunch of whiners and complainers you people are. And please, buy a Vette or Viper, because 911 owners have way too much "huevos" for you guys. Even better, go buy a Miata.

At this point I would just like to make mine a monthly driver, because daily driver ain't gonna happen.

I have heated seats, but I don't see enjoying a drive in the 10* weather . And although the Viper sucks in the rain too, at least I'd stay dry!

In your region, do you have to check the doplar before going for a ride? If so...the Cobra might not be a good DD.

[Ozzir]

Dont let anybody convinve you not to get one. They are a blast but as a daily driver Im not so sure. They are a totally unpractical car, they stink, the wind at speed kills you, they are loud, they get too much attention, everybody wants to see under the hood and you wont be able to stop anywhere without somebody wanting to talk about it. Hell Ive had a guy stop me in the middle of the damn road one time to ask questions about it. They are hot as hell on a very warm day. BUT... They are a total blast to drive and something everyone should try. Buy a good used one and go have fun. If you dont like it... WHO CARES... Just sell it and get something else. At least you can say you owned one and had fun with it which is more than 99 % of the dreamers out there can say. Ive had Vettes and Vipers too and they are fun but they arent a Cobra. As far as which one to get I got a Superformance simply because it was the best I could find and I did not want something that was built in a garage. I looked at lots of the other kits and didnt find one that I would own. But that being said there are VERY limited choices where I live so I bought a Superformance and couldnt be happier. So far knock on wood I havent had one problem. And if you do ever have a problem they are cheap to fix and easy to fix relative to a Lambo or Ferrari etc. lol.. Good luck with your search.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by DoIBugu2

I have to hold myself back from going out and buying one. I currently do not have the place to store the car and am trying to hold off till we buy a larger home. Which should be next year.

Hold off and wait. I first "almost" bought my first Contemporary Classic Cobra back in the early 80's, but just couldn't make it all work at the time. Twenty years later I had my ERA built down to my exact specifications... and it was well worth the wait.

Regarding the "breakdowns," I really don't mind them (and they're not as many as I make it appear). I've only been towed home once, and I've only had to "limp" home twice. I was lucky enough to have the balancer breakdown while it was sitting in the garage -- so that doesn't even count. I actually enjoy working on my Cobra as my as I do driving it.

I don't drive the car on anything other than a pretty day, and it literally goes in to storage from Thanksgiving to Easter. It could never make it as a daily driver in my book.

[YerDugliness]

Mine is a daily driver on clear days...up to a limit of about 400 miles a day if I am on the road.

I can see a high powered replica could easily be a PITA on the road every day, fortunately mine has the drivetrain from a 1989 Mustang GT and it is quite docile in the stop and go traffic that IS Houston.

"Daily driver" indicates to me a car that can be driven in inclement weather...I have driven mine in high crosswinds and light rain (as long as I was traveling at 60 MPH or better I did not get wet), but there are clear days when I choose to use the Accord with A/C just for comfort's sake.

I spoke to Bob Kallio of Midwest Cobras (might have flubbed that) before they merged with Shell Valley. He said his replica is equipped with speed control, heat/defrost and A/C, and a ragtop with side curtains, said he drives his every day of the year...and he was in Nebraska, where fairly heavy snowstorms are common during the winter. That takes huevos, IMHO!!!

Cheers from Dugly

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by YerDugliness

That takes huevos, IMHO!!!

Eggs? That must not be the right phrase.

[YerDugliness]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Eggs? That must not be the right phrase.

TexMex slang for cajones, amigo!

The size and shape resemble....well, you get the visual!

Cheers!

Dugly

[Slick61]

Originally Posted by DoIBugu2

It's hard to differentiate a complaint and general comments. It was comments of the car is loud, then constantly breakdown, need excessive maintenance, and 1 hour drive and you are done for the day.

It was just odd compared to the other posts I have read, which have almost exclusively been extremely positive. But I have only been here for a couple weeks, so it's from a very small window.

I have to hold myself back from going out and buying one. I currently do not have the place to store the car and am trying to hold off till we buy a larger home. Which should be next year.

... without a place to store it, I'd definitely hold off. If you go with a specialty insurance policy, they'll typically REQUIRE that it be kept in a locked garage.

Reliability is a function of many factors... routine maintenance, how hard & how often you drive it, how high-strung the engine is... stuff like that. How loud the car is will be a function of the engine/setup, and the pipes. I would say mine is loud... have had many "nice big block" comments... and I'm running a small block. Really, it's only bad around town, where the curbs direct the exhaust noise right back at you... out on the open road, it's glorious at around 3000 rpm.

[rpatton3]

Do your homework!!

My wife and I went to the replica and foreign show in Carisle, PA in 1994, we went to Run 'n Gun in Norwalk, OH in 1996 and a Shelby/Ford meet in Tulsa, OK in 1997.

At Carlise, a beautiful red Contemporary roadster was a prize. The car later burned. It was good to compare ERA, Unique, Everett-Morrison, Johnex and Midstates/Shell Valley as well as others were there, too.

The Run 'n Gun was really good to see the cars in action. One of the first Supeformance cars was there. It was yellow with a 460 Ford crate 535hp CJ engine.

In 1997, we went to Shelby/Ford event in Tulsa and Hallett Road Course.
We saw cars in action again.

Eventually, I bought a Backdraft Roadster in 2010. This was a new car, on eBay, sight unseen. I relied on Internet Research and have been well pleased.

I have had a fuel line leak and a broken shifter weld. That is why a used car might be better. The small things will be sorted out.

I wanted a Cobra since I was fourteen and my Backdraft was my 58th birthday present.

Have fun shoping. I "shopped" for forty-four years.

Russell

[YerDugliness]

Scaramanga, I realized that I didn't answer your original question regarding what options to get.

First off, if you want to have a ragtop, have the factory drill the holes in the body and install the snaps for THEIR ragtop. I watched it happen at Shell Valley one day, they had a fiberglass pattern that they just laid on the body behind the cockpit and it already had guide holes where they needed to drill for the snaps...it would fit exactly the same from one car to the other, that's the kind of consistency you need!

Another option that SOME manufacturers offer is for a fee they will cut out all the holes on the body...that saves an incredible amount of time and angst...it would be my first option were I ordering a new kit from the factory...of course, if you order a turnkey, this will all be done by the factory, I am just assuming that you will be doing your own work. Getting all the holes right can be a challenge, the factory does the job perfectly with their jigs and you'll appreciate the savings in time.

The last I would recommend, and this again is dependent on whether the factory offers this option or not, would be to have them mount the body to the frame and adjust all the gaps. That usually means the doors, the hood and the trunk on a cobra replica. Getting the gaps even can be a real challenge and if the factory offers this option you are freed from one of the biggest challenges in building a component car.

Hope these few ideas have helped....good luck in your search!

Cheers from Dugly

[rpatton3]

I second the above comments 100%.

Any option needs to be included with purchase. Dual roll bars are a ***** and powersteering was so hard to do, we gave up on both P/S and never even thought about a second rollbar.

No question is silly if you don't know!

[Quintum]

While I am still very new, and have yet to make my own purchase of a cobra. I first found the following post from Silverback51, who got it from relaxinrob. Thanks for the repost Silverback51, and thanks to relaxinrob for posting it.

I really do think that the following should be a Sticky.

Regards,
Dave

I think you need to read this. If you don't want a cobra by the end, then you have your answer:

Driving a Cobra Replica

"If you want to just gas and go, and never have to worry about replacing an alternator, or snugging down the header bolts, or getting a wet leg driving in a rainstorm, or learning how to set your carb float level, or driving in traffic on a warm winter day with "winter gas" in the tank, get a Corvette. "

With a Cobra Replica you have to remind yourself that you are driving a hand made race car on the street. There is no compromise for anything other than pure speed. These cars are brutal and unforgiving, with all the refinement of a medieval battle ax. Like being in a relationship with an exotic dancer, you can never take anything for granted. These cars don't have millions of miles of testing refinement before you get yours. For any trip longer than an hour, you need earplugs, and goggles, and carry Advil and eye drops. You will need to learn to "read" the clouds for rain in your path, and have experience in unwrapping your frozen fingers from the MotoLita. You will experience lady passengers "wetting" the passenger seat when you merge into traffic from an on ramp, and then nearly burn their calf getting out of the car.

You will have all the invisibility of a burning Hindenburg, and flee from underground parking lots when uncountable car alarms are screaming your departure. When you shop, you will remind yourself that these cars get more attention than a dead body in a parking lot.

With a power to weight ratio better than almost every super car, you will find your 1/4 mile times traction rather than power limited. On the other hand, when you stage, out of the corner of your helmet's visor you will see almost the entire audience lining up at the fence, most with cameras up. If you track on a road course with a Porsche club, owners of expensive German machines will come to the fence to watch you power out in smoking oversteer. You won't even try to start your engine in the garage, but push it out onto the driveway, else your loyal watch dog will croak from the exhaust fumes. If you idle next to other "sports" cars at a traffic light, by the green, their girlfriend will be coughing green phlegm into her hanky, yelling at her date to just go! When you refuel, you might as well prop the "bonnet" open, because you are going to have to show your motor to just about every other guy there. When you order your wings at Hooters, your waitress will whisper in your ear "take me for a ride." When you stop at the red light, the girl in the convertible next to you will invite you to "take my top off too."

When you slowly pass a troop of Harley riders, they will look over and give you thumbs up. When you want to ease out into traffic, other cars will immediately pause to let you go ahead of them. When your engine has its hot, crackling, intimidating exhaust side pipe aimed right at the flank of the GTO, or the Z28, your exhaust pulsation's slowly unscrewing his lug nuts, the other car will remain motionless, as if the slightest quiver of his car will cause your car to stomp it dead. When you leave it open in a parking lot, and come back to find your sunglasses and cell phone still sitting on the tunnel, it is because your car has sullenly warned those who came over to admire it "touch me and I will rise up here and kill you dead."

When you put that tiny silver key into the ignition, and begin your start countdown, your car will whisper "take me for granted, and I will kill you."

When other drivers just hop in and snap up their belts while backing out of their parking space, you will still have two more minutes before you even get all the Simpsons properly on and snugged down. Pulling up in a Cobra Replica is like landing an F4U at an ultralite convention.

In summary, very, very few drivers want this kind of attention, or can tolerate all that a formidable Cobra Replica demands. These cars are intolerant mistresses.

But remember, there will come a day when you have to hang up your car keys for the last time. And perhaps you want to say then "I did it."