Do many of you fear that your Cobra will be vandalized?

rhart · #1 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 01:59 PM

I have this great fear that some butthead will deface my cobra when I have it parked away from home. Do many of you have this fear? Has anyone ever had his or her Cobra vandalized? Does anyone have any tips to get over this?

Thanks for your input.
Rick

mikiec · #2 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 02:19 PM

I really do not dwell on things like that.

I take the cobra shopping leave it in the parking lot etc...just put the cover on it and go.

As a matter of fact we just got back after spending the afternoon looking at model homes. Drive in park..no cover and go. I needed an excuse to put the additional 50 miles on the car to surpass 19,000 in 2 years.

Mike

427 S/O · #3 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 03:05 PM

When I'm summoned to get bread and milk (don't need much of an excuse), I hop in and go to publix, been there probably 40-50 times and no problems...

Cobrabill · #4 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 06:22 PM

I have a little sticker at the corner of the windshield that says:Expect an armed response.

Al Zack · #5 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 06:32 PM

We live about 40 miles east of Cleveland and take the car everywhere we can in the summer; library, get groceries (the packing kids fight over who gets to load them), haircuts, mall, restuarants etc.. I try to park away from the beaters, under lights if possible, same as I do with my Explorer. I won't take it into downtown Cleveland, but then again, I don't go there that often anyway. The car is never alone long enough to be vandalized. As soon as you park it, people start walking around checking it out. Its amazing to sit at a distance and watch people. I am tempted to mike the car so I can eavesdrop as to what they are saying. Two of us were at a cruise-in, my Conteporary and an E-M. We were far enough away form the cars so no one knew they were ours and we had a ball listening to the comments, why one was real and one wasn't. Great entertainment. Amazing how many people either owned an original or know someone who does. Hard to believe they madse only 1000 of these. I've had fingerprints and ice cream dribbles, but never any vandalism.

Carroll DeWeese · #6 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 06:39 PM

The car's visibility is their best protection. They are not likely to be stolen -- they are too east to spot and trace. Most people sepnd time admiring them, not defacing them.

Hal Copple · #7 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 06:53 PM

i was paranoid at first, but in the past 3 years and over 50K miles, i no longer worry about it. I do have a hidden antitheft switch under the dash, but i just park it, and go about my business.

I think the cars are pretty intimidating. I leave my phone and sunglass and such in it all the time.

No problems yet.

casaleenie · #8 (**permalink**) 03-23-2003, 07:07 PM

rhart,

Rick, what is it that you do for a living??? Truant officer, Narc, IRS field op, postal worker????

Zack,

I agree with your assessment of downtown Cleveland... No need to go there.... However, most of the little thieving jerks are sneaking around the suburbs stealing cars so downtown might be the safest place....

750hp · #9 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 07:59 AM

I'm not concerned about vandalism. Everyone seems to have a love affair with Cobras. I couldn't count the number of times I've been given the thumbs up by the very same people that snicker at the owners of Porsches and Ferraris.

Often, a car of the same value of the Cobra will only impress the stockmarket types. The Cobra on the other hand can attract stares and admiration from a broad socio-economic spectrum.

Oh, that and my scary black bitsa dog that looks after it at night...

CHRIS POTTER · #10 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 09:45 AM

I never have had any problems, although I am always careful where I park it. Leave sunglasses, and phone in it when it's parked. So far, so good.

rhart · #11 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 11:03 AM

Thanks for the great replies guys. It eases my mind that many of you have not had any trouble. I hope it stays that way for all of us.

CobraBill - I loved the "Expect Armed Response" sticker idea. Where did you get such a thing?

Casaleenie - As for my occupation I am an electrical engineer. However, I think it is my mean wife makes me so cynical.

Keep posting.
Rick

ToyCollector · #12 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 02:36 PM

Usually there will be a crowd around the car anyway if it's anyplace frequented by folks coming and going. Unless it's a crowd of hoodlums, I never worry about it and I wouldn't be in that situation if I could avoid it.

I noticed several times, you can even park it in a lot that doesn't see much traffic, and people will pull in off the street to look at it, so a vandal will soon have company.

Jerry Cowing · #13 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 04:24 PM

It's good to hear many of you haven't had any problems. However, last summer I was in the tire shop getting my tires balanced and had a guy from Alabama decide he wanted to sit in my car and play with everything. I had to use a lot of restrain to keep from decking him. When I asked what he thought he was doing climbing into my car, he said he always wanted to see if he could fit in one. I asked him if he minded if I climbed into his Suburban and went through his glove box and played with all his switches. He said he wouldn't like it -- go figure! It only takes one indiscretion on your part to have some idiot like this Alabama fool to damage your car.

Mr.Fixit · #14 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 04:53 PM

They are just like custom Harley davidson motorcycles. They are loud, everybody wants to stop, look, and talk about it. They draw too much attention for people to want to vandalize them, for the most part. I wouldn't leave one parked at the airport though. Why worry, you pay your insurance, right?

casaleenie · #15 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 05:07 PM

I agree with Hal C.... Today I made the decision to make it a daily driver... today I finally got a chance to get it out of the garage and will drive it everyday weather permitting.. Going to put a hidden switch and some sunglasses in it for good measure...
Nothing on it that can't be fixed.... I'm going to enjoy this car....

Chaplin · #16 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 05:13 PM

What's the deal with the sunglasses? Do you figure if people are going to take something or screw with the car that they'll take the glasses and leave everything else untouched? Or by leaving sunglasses, phone, etc. do you give the impression that you're going to be back quickly?

casaleenie · #17 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 05:19 PM

Chaplin,

Apparently you haven't heard about the new exploding sunglasses that are on the market...

petek · #18 (**permalink**) 03-24-2003, 05:25 PM

"Nothing on it that can't be fixed.... I'm going to enjoy this car...."

You betcha!

Edley Rondinone · #19 (**permalink**) 03-25-2003, 05:04 PM

My sunglasses are prescription, so I wear them all day long, and not leave them in the car. Dont think I would leave a camera in the car, though. I DO enjoy this car, every chance I get, stone chips and all give it that "ENJOYED" patina!!! Gotta clean those bugs off the windshield every couple hours or so; invariably, there is one BIG yellow-gutted one directly in my line of vision. Of course, the LAST thing that passes thru a bugs mind when it hits a windshield is its ARSE!!!..........(sorry!)

Excaliber · #20 (**permalink**) 03-25-2003, 06:06 PM

Are you suggesting someone would de-face a Cobra? Is it possible there is someone out there that DOESN'T like a Cobra? Hmmmm,,,,never heard of or met such a person yet! I never worried about it.

Ernie