Do you worry about parking your Cobra?

[Bartruff1]

I don't worry about it because I don't do it....so that must mean I would worry about it if I did.

The simple fact is that my SPF is always parked in a secure private garage or enclosed trailer when I am not using it.... to frighten small children and domestic livestock on the backroads of the Northwest.

[DanEC]

Originally Posted by JoeT

I would also "caution" you to check your insurance policy. Many of us use a collector policy for our cars and think you may be in for a fight is someone was to steal your car while you were "at the movies"

Agreed - I have collector car insurance on mine and it's pretty restrictive on what I can do with it. It's kind of a fine line if going out for a morning drive and stopping by Lowes on the way. Is that an errand or a pleasure drive in the eyes of your insurance company when a shopping cart careens down a hill into it. I couldn't switch my low-mileage, pristine, pampered 2003 Lightning over to my collector car policy, just because I do use it to run errands and pick up yard supplies sometimes.

[hinoonaz]

A few years ago this exact subject came up. Solution was to leave an empty pistol holster on the dash. Has worked so far!

[AL427SBF]

Originally Posted by hinoonaz

A few years ago this exact subject came up. Solution was to leave an empty pistol holster on the dash. Has worked so far!

That's a good one!

[REAL 1]

Originally Posted by hinoonaz

A few years ago this exact subject came up. Solution was to leave an empty pistol holster on the dash. Has worked so far!

Agreed. That is a good one.

But what if they steal the holster?

Seriously, these cars beg for attention. They get it. Both good and bad. While my car is aluminum and subject to dings every car is subject to scratches and other nasty stuff.

Watch and protect your stuff because no one else will.

I never park my car out of my sight. Wife and I drove to an Italian restaurant once and ate outside. I parked literally feet away from the table. Best parking spot I ever had. We were so close the waiter asked if he should set a place setting for the car. True story.

[Dirkdaddy]

I feel the same way about bicycles. I have some moderately expensive bikes, like a couple of full suspension bikes that sell for about $2k each. Do I ride them to the store for some errand? No. Even on bike ride trips, I am super paranoid and even when locked to the rack I will park so I can see them from where I'm eating.

I have heard there are tracking solutions that use like an old cell phone you wire in and hide, then you can track the car pretty easily. Or lowjack sort of thing. There was a guy in LA area who had a collector car stolen and they last tracked it to the port, and then it disappeared, and guys were seen standing around and shrugging their shoulders when law rolled up. Sure car was in a container somewhere.

[427 ISH]

I've got about 60K in my FFR. Not worth that now obviously because as someone stated earlier, not an investment. In any case, its a very nice specimen and won a few car show awards. I also get it out on the track every chance I get. I drive the hell out of it all the time. I love it and would be sick if something happened. That said - I leave it outside at hotels overnight, in the parking lot at Lowes, outside restaurants. I have never had anyone molest it in any way. I do have lookers and have found a fingerprint or two over the years, but for the most part everyone is pretty respectful. NYC - Maybe not, but I've had it across most of the Mid-West and South with no issues.

[SKINNEDR]

My insurance company had me sign and agreement that once the car leaves my garage, it would always be in my sight. If stolen while unattended, it would be my loss...
Once out of the garage, all eyes are on it....
Too stressful to leave it parked anywhere.......

[JBCOBRA]

Excellent point about the insurance.
The only places I leave my car unattended for any period of time, is the Watkins Glen Vintage Grand Prix, and my neighborhood bar. The bar is great because everyone at the bar keeps an eye on it for me
I will run into stores quickly too...
Never had a real problem

[SKINNEDR]

These are more attractive than any Lambo or Ferrari. Cobras are always center stage for some reason it gets more attention than any other brand car.. I have to assume, that is the reason we are owners of these MAGNETS...

[Slick61]

As a resident of the LA 'burbs, my Backdraft is never out-of-sight when parked... too many stupid people with no respect for OPP... and who think an open car is an invitation. And then there's the people who have not taught their evil spawn to respect OPP... The LAST thing I want to deal with is confronting a PO'd parent b/c their kid got burned on the sidepipes or something. I rarely (never) drive it into LA proper... just too much stop & go, and a very stiff clutch...

[rodneym]

OK, I'm really exposing myself on this one...

Sometimes I lock my own garage door (to the house)!
When the boys are 'in a mood' and fighting, I'm afraid they're gonna take it to the garage and run around the Cobra ala The Three Stooges.

[Igofastr]

Have mine insured as a regular driver, with milage limits.

I'm careful about where I park, but mostly to avoid door-dings, and such.

I don't want to be paranoid about having insurance that will not cover a loss should someone steal the car while I drop off a movie or something. And, I can drive it to work if I want (I did yesterday)....something that is usually specifically excluded in most "collector" policies.

[dave from mesa]

Ours goes everywhere. HD, Lowes (unless I'm getting lumber), restaurants, everywhere.
Been in parking lots in Vegas.
Took it in a trailer for a 3000 mile trip and that was our transportation to do everything. Very few campgrounds that someone didn't get a ride.
So far nothing has happened to it. (knock on wo.. err fiberglass)
We have State Farm so it can be driven anywhere.
I bought it to drive and enjoy. If I had to worry about it when I'm not around it wouldn't be nearly as fun.
Some old guy that used to be our Prez once to me "It's just a car and it's insured"
BTW I know lots of things I would do diff next time if something happened.

[Snake2998]

I park it like the $25000 car it is. Hey if someone wants to ding or scratch the paintwork then that's just another battle scar that will be covered up when next it gets painted - mine is most definitely not a show car and gets just as much admiration on the street as the best, most authentic looking, concourse Cobra driving by so why stress about it's looks from close up.

I wash it when it's dirty enough for someone to write "please wash me" in the dust (maybe once or twice a year) - but I certainly enjoy it's performance and handling (mechanically its as perfect as I can get it)

As far as theft goes it is comprehensively insured, and anyway, the type of people who steal cars here would rather steal old tin-tops for spares or 4X4 and luxury cars for export to countries North of here in Central Africa, so Cobras aren't top of their list, and joy riders (very rare) will most probably write themselves off before leaving the parking area.

[289fia_cobra]

I've left my car in all sorts of places unattended, sometimes covered completely, sometimes with just a cockpit-only cover, sometimes, just open.

Parked in SF across from the Fairmont Hotel but viewable from the garage (attendant wanted me to park there so HE could see it for me), in front of the Fairmont for a few hours (there were far more exotics around me so I had the least to worry), at OSH, at Safeway, at Starbucks, at work, and just about anywhere I choose, so long as it's not raining.

It has comprehensive insurance and had it insured for about $45k as the replacement cost ( CSAA ). So like Snake2998, I drive it like any other car. It has self inflicted scratches, road rash that somehow doesn't show up in camera shots from 15 ft. away, and not built to look anywhere close to an original, but it gets a ton of looks, camera shots (both moving and stationary).

There are times I almost wish it looked the day it came home from the painters, but I love driving what I own and even more so what I built. For me, it's much like all of the cars I've ever modified and every one of those had dings/paint chips, flaws, and I'm really OK with that, even on my FFR. I'm VERY fortunate I'm not so attached to it that I can't leave it without worry.

On the contrary, should it get stolen or wrecked, I'll feel bad but it's also a new chance to build something else too or if I get too old for that, a new Porsche wouldn't be so bad.

[Bartruff1]

Upon reflection I did park it unattended one time at a nearby college but when I came back there were a half dozen girls panties (some soiled) in it....

I won't do that again at least as long as these panties are still tasty.

[BAsque1]

Originally Posted by FWB

i never park it anywhere unless its fully within my eyesight all the time.

it would take about 3 minutes to steal one of these cars if you know what your doing

Ditto here too, If I go to a restaurant, the car is parked where I can see it at all times, being the fact that my navigator (aka wifey) has a handicap permit it allow us to park in a larger spot and dings from doors are less of a danger. I am annal about my car. for I show it a lot I hate to see any imperfections on the car. Being painted in black you can see everything!! There are always the onlookers who take countless pictures etc, that don't bother me.

[Jaydee]

On a previous car I set up a smoke alarm. I wired a phone cable inside a Bakelite tube, wired to the ignition. if I didn't turn of a hidden switch, it would short to earth, drawing only 10 amps, and it would create an instant smoke cloud from under the dash. Would be enough to scare the crap out of any would be thief.
JD

[AL427SBF]

Do they make a good facsimile of a sleeping pit-bull? With a little work you can make it look like it's sleeping with 1 eye open. Pull it out of the trunk and plop it on the seat before you leave, just a thought.