Cobra Replica newbie

[Joerude]

Greetings Everyone,

I'm dreaming about owning a Cobra replica sometime in the future, the first step is to build a budget so that I can have an idea as of how much I would be spending.

I'm interested in the cobra look but I'm honestly concerned about the best mpg I can get out of it (if it were for me I'd put a bicycle inside it and pedal my way to work haha), I'd be using it primarily to drive to work, go out..basically as my primary vehicle, so I was hoping to get some input from you guys the questions I have are the following:

-Is it better for me to buy a replica kit and have it built from zero? If so, which replica kit would be the best for me? considering the cheapest one an option and a middle range one as well as to see the differences between them.

-If I were to buy a kit (probably a roller as my mechanical abilities are pretty much non-existent), would it be too hard for me to get it registered? (I currently live in Florida)

-Also, how much does it usually cost to register a cobra replica in other states (the ones you know of) as to get an average of the price

-How much is the average insurance cost for these vehicles?


I apologize if some of my questions (or all of them) seem idiotic, I honestly want to have a fair idea of how much I'd be spending beforehand, thanks for taking the time to read my long post!

Cheers!

[LMH]

Not really a very good car for everyday use. You'd be money ahead if you went to a production roadster like a Miata. Most of these cars are built w/o much concern for MPG or for daily use.
If you're really determined for a Cobra replica, look for a finished car as they most often cost more to build than they sell for. But be prepared for around $25,000 at the low end.

Not trying to discourage you, just trying to steer you in the best direction.
Larry

[Joerude]

Thanks Larry,

I appreciate your feedback, I'm afraid I'm just obsessed with the look of the cobra, gotta own one, it's in my bucket list for sure, just gotta find the best way the get one without going bankrupt afterwards, thanks again for the suggestion

[dallas_]

I'm really not trying to rain on your parade, but these cars really are much better suited as a second car or just a toy. If you stretch your budget to buy the cheapest Cobra you can find to use as a daily driver you will end up hating the car.

Like Larry said, they are not good daily drivers, need frequent maintenance and very few get any kind of decent mileage.

Insurance is another problem. Most insurance is collector car insurance with mileage limits and extra premiums if you drive them to work.

It's great that you want one, but you're probably a lot better off if you save up and buy one when you can really afford an impractical second car.

Best wishes!

[LMH]

This sounds like a pretty good car from the ad. It has a late model FI engine, so it's MPG and reliability is going to be about as good as it gets. The price is really quite low for a built car.

A word of caution, you can really get burned buying a car someone else built, especially if you're not familiar with these cars. It's only as good as it's builder. From what I can see, this car looks pretty well built but you never know for sure until you see it in real life.

Take a look: Replica/Kit Makes 2 Door | eBay
Larry

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by LMH

This sounds like a pretty good car from the ad. It has a late model FI engine, so it's MPG and reliability is going to be about as good as it gets. The price is really quite low for a built car.

A word of caution, you can really get burned buying a car someone else built, especially if you're not familiar with these cars. It's only as good as it's builder. From what I can see, this car looks pretty well built but you never know for sure until you see it in real life.

Take a look: Replica/Kit Makes 2 Door | eBay
Larry

Yep - that is probably about as good a value as you will ever find, even if you have to go through it and fix a couple things. But, you're wanting a Cobra replica for all the wrong reasons. These are terrible cars for daily use - hot, loud, generally stiff to hard riding, very little to no weather protection, difficult to get in and out of, and usually require some regular mechanical upkeep. I got mine to the point of being able to back it out of the garage yesterday and honestly with the pedal position and seating position I don't know if I will ever be able to drive this thing in traffic.

A few guys have used them for daily drivers - there is a guy here in Ark that has some incredible no of miles (over 300,000 I believe) on a FFR car like the one in the ad. But, they are unique, hardy individuals who know every inch of their car and how to maintain it.

[Ron61]

Here is one that is in Sacramento Calif. that I know of. One of the people I know who is a mechanic and works on Cobras has looked at it and said it is a very well built car and he would like to have it but he already has one.
But like all of the people above have said, these cars do not make good daily drivers.

2001 Midstates Classic Cars Cobra replica For Sale

Ron

[MOTORHEAD]

being in Florida has it's own problems, like RAIN ! Every day in the summer ! I got rained out of a carshow just last nite ! You'll need one with a top and side curtain. Not too many of those around!..
As far as mpg, a stock 302 with a 5 speed will get you in the 20's.
Where in Fl. are you ?

[ICBomber90]

Buy yourself a $3,000 Miata and Bob's Cobra, have the best of both worlds!

I'm living proof!



Here's my '97 Miata and Daily Driver (purchased for $2,400) very fun to drive and returns 30+ MPG



My Cobra, $32,000 invested. Carbed small block, got 18 MPG the only time I checked after cruising at 75 mph for 3 hours on the NYS Thruway. Cobras burn gas not save it! If you can't wrench, buy a Z4 or S2000 and continue to dream about Cobras.

HIH,

Pat

[Kobura]

I rode motorcycles as my "daily driver" for more than 40 years. I stopped riding bikes when I retired and got a Cobra because it is like a motorcycle with 4 wheels and thus relatively safer.

Given what I have experienced, I would not consider the Cobra as a daily driver: They are not fun to drive in heavy traffic; when parked in public they are vulnerable to theft, vandalism and damage; they are not "weatherproof' to rain or extreme heat; they are higher maintenance when compared with modern vehicles; they are a high cost per mile means of transportation.

In other words, what I am saying is what your father probably would tell you, or has told you, and so you are likely to just go ahead and get a Cobra in spite of the advice.

Now that I think about it, my father told not to get a bike.

[Silversmith]

If you are really set on using a cobra for a daliy driver! Buy a driving Cobra, Or almost completed kit to finish out. Your still looking in the high teens if your lucky, or mid 20's. You can get a hard top for year round use. FFR's have good cockpit room & are a strong kit from the factory. You can find them here in low 20's to mid 40's. Running! Good luck.

[OnyxRider]

I would say the same as LMH...not a good daily driver. I'm only going by my expeirence with 60's Cobras. Maybe some of these newer models have an automated car top in the boot.

[spf645]

Buy it, buy it..... Don't pay ant attention to dad.

69 Boss 302, 3k in 1976
70 Hemi Cuda 5k 1976
74 Pantera 13k 1978
List goes on.
Dad said you don't need that junk..

69 GT500 13.5k 1986, this one about caused a divorce.

Sorry I got carried away thinking of the past, what might have been. Course if I'd been able to have gotten any of them, I'd have monkeyed with them in some way, loose interest within a few years, and lost money when sold.. I've got a nack for that.

Yep,, best bet to start with,, that guy's Miata... Had 1999 a few years back. Cool air if needed, good top and mpg.

[fordracing65]

I had a Superformance with a DOHC motor and a 6 speed that got 20 plus mpg, I drove it almost as a daily driver the only thing is in AZ without AC it can get Hell Hot...If you do buy one my advice is buy used there are deals everywhere...

[Paul F]

Joe,

Don't buy a roller. Don't buy a kit. You will spend too much time and money on it and not get your money back if you decide to sell.

Buy a used one with a mild motor. Drive it every day. If you find isn't what you thought it would be, you can always sell it for what you paid for it.

You can always trade up if you want more power or a better build.

[Joerude]

Thank you all so much for your answers,

I'll set a budget of 40K and buy a used cobra with a hardtop or something like the "ERA 289 Slabside" (again, with the hardtop), depending on the final price I'll invest in a more .."docile" engine that gives me more mpg as I definitely want to ride it as a daily vehicle, a friend had a miata, really comfortable vehicles and fun to ride.

Thank you again for taking the time to answer to my really long post

EDIT: I meant softop, not hardtop, got distracted with my dog

[fordracing65]

See mrmustangs ERA for sale, not sure the price but it had a good mpg powerful engine...for sale ad here I believe...

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

See mrmustangs ERA for sale, not sure the price but it had a good mpg powerful engine...for sale ad here I believe...

He sold his FIA.

[mrmustang]

Originally Posted by spf645

69 GT500 13.5k 1986, this one about caused a divorce.

Do you still have it



Bill S.

[Midwest Classic]

From an insurance standpoint I can tell you that you will not find a collectible insurance market that will write the coverage for you as a daily driver. You will need to add to your current auto insurance IF they will write it or possibly Progressive might do it but hang on for the price ride.