Considering a Cobra have some questions

[lippy]

Originally Posted by RodKnock

Lip, you should lie more often then. No on the TT? Wow.

I happened to see a new TT yesterday, of all places, inside a mall. $190k. Yikes. Great car, but for the additional (and hypothetical) cost it wouldn't be worth it to me. Instead, I'd get as close to a base S as I could and drive the wheels off it, maybe 150k+ as my daily. I have experience with turbos and am not convinced you can do that with a TT. If I did buy a turbo, it would be a much cheaper one - maybe a Cad ATS-V or CTS V-Sport, or a "Sally" M3. But I would still keep the Cobra and drive it as much as reasonably possible.

[Bernica]

I don't know Porsche-speak or the nomenclature so much, but I did get an awesome ride in an GT3 RS that was just incredible and most definitely NOT like what we are driving! Like being in a slot car or a video game!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bernica

I don't know Porsche-speak or the nomenclature so much, but I did get an awesome ride in an GT3 RS that was just incredible and most definitely NOT like what we are driving! Like being in a slot car or a video game!

We have a GT3 in the neighborhood... and the owner is getting a free ten day vacation.... Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth convicted of reckless driving - The Washington Post

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

First question (I have several). I am going to guess these cars are a bit squirrely. Short wheel base, light, lots of power, stands to reason. I am good with squirrely but how squirrely is it?

Second question. If it is a handful does swapping out to 17 or 18" rims with modern rubber make a dramatic difference? I understand it is not period correct but it still looks good.

I'll start with thouse two questions and see how it goes.

Thanks

Bill

I see later that this diverges, but I'll give my answers to your direct questions.

Answer 1 part 1: Yes, they are squirrely. Consider that your Cobra wants to kill you every time you drive it and drive it accordingly. Be especially cautious in colder weather since most of the tires people use are hockey pucks in colder weather.

Answer 1 part 2: You don't say but most people who look at Cobras want a 427. They have lots of horsepower and torque (and it is the torque that usually gets you in trouble). Seriously consider what you want to use the car for. In driving my car on the street the engine always felt like it was dragging down - you could never give it enough RPM to keep the cobwebs burned out of the exhaust. As a result I found myself driving most of the time in lower gears at higher RPMs. If the primary use is as a street car I strongly encourage you to look at one of the 289 series vehicles. I'm considering a new Cobra and it will likely be a small block car.

Answer 2: Stick with stock sized tires. (At least you didn't ask about putting a Chevy engine in it).

The Cobra really likes to oversteer - rear end breaks loose and you go around in a circle. Lots of horsepower on acceleration (and it doesn't even have to be a great amount), or lots of torque on deceleration especially when combined with a downshift without RPM matching and heel-toe shifting is very difficult to do with the pedal configuration on a Cobra.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by patrickt

We have a GT3 in the neighborhood... and the owner is getting a free ten day vacation.... Nationals outfielder Jayson Werth convicted of reckless driving - The Washington Post

Its not like they are not going to
Hear you coming in s cobra.

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by lovehamr

I, not thinking, did what I'd normally do in my Saleen; bang a down shift and stomp it! WRONG move oh diseased yak breath! We were doing about 45 when I stomped it and immediately went sideways while crabbing past the semi.

This is exactly what I was referring to above. It happened to me on a colder day when I had turned onto a state highway and was doing normal, non-spirited, acceleration from roughly 20 to 60 (the speed limit) and the shift from 3 to 4 the tires chirped a little, with a little skittle, and fortunately for me and my passenger, regained grip. The temp was in the high 50's on a grooved new concrete roadbed.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by lippy

I happened to see a new TT yesterday, of all places, inside a mall. $190k. Yikes. Great car, but for the additional (and hypothetical) cost it wouldn't be worth it to me. Instead, I'd get as close to a base S as I could and drive the wheels off it, maybe 150k+ as my daily. I have experience with turbos and am not convinced you can do that with a TT. If I did buy a turbo, it would be a much cheaper one - maybe a Cad ATS-V or CTS V-Sport, or a "Sally" M3. But I would still keep the Cobra and drive it as much as reasonably possible.

A turbo is an intense machine. I drove a 997 when I bought my car. It is hyperspace! It also is on rails, you could get pretty nutty in that car.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

Its not like they are not going to
Hear you coming in s cobra.

I've actually been pulled over a few times in the Cobra, but always because the troopers wanted to look at the car, not because I was doing anything wrong. In these parts, we take speeding pretty seriously.... Never Speed In Virginia: Lessons From My Three Days In Jail

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Buzz

Patty - if your car gets you close to the edge just pulling out of your residential subdivision, you may want to recheck those corner weights. (And consider adding a couple more roll bars)

Mine would do that early in the morning (in Colorado when even in the summer sunrise temps would hover in the high 50's). The turn out was a left turn onto a major state highway and while the speed limit was 45 most traffic was going 55-60.

Originally Posted by Buzz

Let Bill Cosby explain it to you here: Bill Cosby Tells A Great Carroll Shelby Story

PS - If he winks at you and offers you a drink, you should politely decline.

Cosby's 200MPH routine is a documentary. There's a lot of stretching the truth, but there is a lot of truth. The second owner of that car got killed driving it.

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

I see later that this diverges, but I'll give my answers to your direct questions.

Answer 1 part 1: Yes, they are squirrely. Consider that your Cobra wants to kill you every time you drive it and drive it accordingly. Be especially cautious in colder weather since most of the tires people use are hockey pucks in colder weather.

Answer 1 part 2: You don't say but most people who look at Cobras want a 427. They have lots of horsepower and torque (and it is the torque that usually gets you in trouble). Seriously consider what you want to use the car for. In driving my car on the street the engine always felt like it was dragging down - you could never give it enough RPM to keep the cobwebs burned out of the exhaust. As a result I found myself driving most of the time in lower gears at higher RPMs. If the primary use is as a street car I strongly encourage you to look at one of the 289 series vehicles. I'm considering a new Cobra and it will likely be a small block car.

Answer 2: Stick with stock sized tires. (At least you didn't ask about putting a Chevy engine in it).

The Cobra really likes to oversteer - rear end breaks loose and you go around in a circle. Lots of horsepower on acceleration (and it doesn't even have to be a great amount), or lots of torque on deceleration especially when combined with a downshift without RPM matching and heel-toe shifting is very difficult to do with the pedal configuration on a Cobra.

I think there may be adjustments to be made in the suspension. But a modern tire is worth the change. I think it can look good also. May be sacrilege but I have have P zeros on the Porsche and I think they (or a tire like it). On the cobra.

[Bernica]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I've actually been pulled over a few times in the Cobra, but always because the troopers wanted to look at the car, not because I was doing anything wrong. In these parts, we take speeding pretty seriously.... Never Speed In Virginia: Lessons From My Three Days In Jail

Think I posted the story a few years ago, but I was out running and had to stop at the 76 for gas. Then, two cop cars show up and parked in front and back of the car. Thought I was in trouble, but they actually said "hey, we can all hear that thing from a mile away and we have radios so we all call each other and you have a big number 5 on it! Not hard to miss! We just want to get some pictures of it.! They were great guys.

[Ace23]

I've read the entire thread and haven't seen anyone mention a modular motor like a Coyote. Does anyone in here have experience driving a coyote powered car? While it is pretty far away from your traditional Windsor or FE setup im just wondering how well a coyote setup compares as it definitely will not have the torque to deal with. Seems like coyote setups are producing up to 450+ rwhp and close to 400 tq with some modifications. Even a stock Coyote crate setup should put down mid to high 300's at the wheels. Seems like that would be a pretty good sweet spot for a street setup based on what a few members have mentioned.

[Buzz]

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Mine would do that early in the morning (in Colorado when even in the summer sunrise temps would hover in the high 50's). The turn out was a left turn onto a major state highway and while the speed limit was 45 most traffic was going 55-60.

I only have about 500/500 at the flywheel in my Cobra and while it will spin the tires all day long in 1st and 2nd on dry pavement - if I want it to - it is also very capable of brisk acceleration without any wheelspin at all. Even on damp pavement, i've driven the car long enough to know exactly what it will do with a given amount of throttle. Someone not familiar with it though could get into trouble easily enough by by being lead footed in a variety of situations. I still say it is a safe and enjoyable ride in any conditions when I want it to be docile. With all the torque, it pulls away from a stop smoothly and easily with barely any throttle input and shifts and rumbles down the road just as sweet as can be. Driven hard, it does exactly what is expected of it - no bad manners in straight line acceleration and when there's no other traffic I can slide the back end out for a bit of fun in turns with a high degree of predictability.

Originally Posted by twobjshelbys

Cosby's 200MPH routine is a documentary. There's a lot of stretching the truth, but there is a lot of truth. The second owner of that car got killed driving it.

Yes, the Supersnake story is well known - Cosby just embellishes it a little bit. I still say you should turn down the drink offer though

PS - Merry Christmas everybody!

[Detroit Bill]

Originally Posted by lippy

I happened to see a new TT yesterday, of all places, inside a mall. $190k. Yikes. Great car, but for the additional (and hypothetical) cost it wouldn't be worth it to me. Instead, I'd get as close to a base S as I could and drive the wheels off it, maybe 150k+ as my daily. I have experience with turbos and am not convinced you can do that with a TT. If I did buy a turbo, it would be a much cheaper one - maybe a Cad ATS-V or CTS V-Sport, or a "Sally" M3. But I would still keep the Cobra and drive it as much as reasonably possible.

I have driven a CTSV and a 997 tt and there is no comparison. No CTSV for me.

[lippy]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

I have driven a CTSV and a 997 tt and there is no comparison. No CTSV for me.

Of course. Apples and oranges. But for the $53k my friend just paid for his CTS-V Sport (not full V), it is a *great* car. Any if my experience with GM is any indication (I drive GM trucks), it will far outlast any new German car and require far less maintenance.

[twin turbo]

Originally Posted by Detroit Bill

I was thinking keep the HP around 500 with lots of cubic inches creating it and it should be ok?

500 fwhp should be just fine with proper set-up including gearing and tires. Back when I first got my car, it had about 420 rwhp (on a Mustang dyno) which is about 500 at the flywheel. I had no tire spin at all in 1st gear as long as I rolled into (not stabbed) the throttle. The nice part about that hp level is you don't need a big cam to get there. The negative part is that eventually you may want more, lol.
Cheers.