Enthusiastic Novice Needs Help

[Want1Bad]

Well, while not a young man, nor new to computers, this is my first posting to a "forum," so patience for the new guy would be most appreciated.

Here's my issue/question for those of you with the time and inclination to respond:

"Should I buy a Cobra replica (of any kind) as an everyday car?"

I am not fiscally fortunate enough to afford even a $30K toy. My wife and I each work and need our cars to be practical (on some level). My office is 60 miles from my house (each way) and I go to the office an average of 3 times a week. This means 18K to 20K miles per year.

I have read many, many threads on this site and find lots of references to low miles due to "overheating" or other engineering aspects of the car. I also find many references to the short distance ability of the car and trips to the "track." I find nothing indicating that someone drives their car to work.

I will cut across four lanes of freeway traffic and miss my exit to be able to get a closer look at a Cobra. If I could have one car the rest of my life, the Cobra would be it. Not BMW, Mercedes, Porsche -- COBRA. I am not into it for "authenticity." It is the absolute aesthetic sexuality of the car that is the draw -- that and the rumble it makes at idle. I have made numerous trips to the SPF store that is around the corner from my office. I have been to the Shelby facility in Vegas. My son wears a Cobra shirt and hat on a regular basis.

All this from a guy who has never sat in one with the engine running!! I have most definitely been "bitten."

I don't care about re-sale value. I just want a car that I can get into, start reliably everyday and make the trek to work (IN EXTRAORDINARY STYLE)! I won't go to the "track" or try to find the car's top end. At the same time, I don't want to put the car in the shop for one month out of every year.

So, to all of you Cobra Clubbers, can I buy a Cobra and put in on the freeway at 85 mph for an hour everyday (like I do now with my BMW) and not develop a love/hate relationship because I "love" the car but "hate" the upkeep and inconvenience.

Thank you, in advance, for the reality check I'm looking for.
Gregg

[Mr.Fixit]

Daily driver...if you are hard-core. It should be considered a four wheel motorcycle. They are basically 40 year old technology, so if you have some mechanic skills that will help, as a cobra will need a little more attention from your tools than your BMW does. Everybody says they will never sell their cobra, never. Almost everybody does in the first two years (they just aren't that practical and their wife starts nagging them or something, makes no sense to me) I used to drive a 53 Willy aeroace sedan as a daily driver, totally obsolete, only partially restored, about as practical as a daily driver as a cobra, except I wouldn't get wet when it rained. You ought to have a back up car for those certain days, even if it is just a sh1twagon.

[Tony Radford]

Gregg, I'm sure most of the folks in the forum family can fully appreciate your feeling after having been bitten. The less you feel like you can afford one, the more pain you feel. I personally feel like you would be kidding yourself thinking a Cobra could be utilized like a Honda Civic. With a 120 mile round trip to work, rain or shine, the experience would probably suck after a while (even though you live in a major Cobra-friendly area. One of the reasons they are so awesome is their lack of creature comforts and necessity to "pilot" as opposed to "drive". That great "thumpty thump" sound you like is a product of the act of exchanging reliability for brute power. If you don' t have a back up, you need to live near a bus stop.

[blykins]

Gregg,

I agree with Mr. Fixit. There should be a compromise there somewhere. You have to remember, most of these cars don't have tops, no windows, no A/C...etc. Not too practical for a daily driver. However, this is still hope.

As Fixit suggested, getcha a cheap low-maintenance econo car. Something that you can drive back and forth to work. Shoot for the price of that Beemer, you could have a work car and a Cobra too.

If it's your dream, make it happen.

[HIQ]

I would not want to do it but do a search under user name:

Hal Copple

This guy has over 60K in his car using it as a daily driver. Also drives it on the track. If you do want a driver I would look at a Superformance or other mfgs that offers a hard top.

[BB427]

If you have never sat in one while it was running or driven one.

DON"T!!!!!

An absolute addiction with no chance for recovery is on its way.

[Chaplin]

If you want a daily driver and are concerned about reliability maybe a factory five with a bone stock mustang 5.0 and EFI wouldn't be a bad option. May not have as much power as some others, but would still have enough power to have a good time and it would probably be relatively maintenance free (as least as much as a mustang). However, that being said, that still does not solve the problem of top, windows, bad weather etc.

The suggestion to by a cobra and a cheap run-around car for bad weather or those days you don't feel like having your ears ringing is a good one.

[stale_face]

Originally posted by Mr.Fixit


Everybody says they will never sell their cobra, never. Almost everybody does in the first two years (they just aren't that practical and their wife starts nagging them or something, makes no sense to me)

Fixit,

You have a good point there. I am amazed by all the cobras for sale with only a few hundred miles on them, and practically new.

I am building my first cobra right now, should be driving by the fall. Cannot imagine selling after putting all this work into it. But I look around and wonder what the heck is up?

Might be people realize they can't afford them (why did they ever get into it to begin with?). Or maybe they build/buy one with gigantic horsepower because it sounds cool. And then they go out and end up scaring the #)(%&) out of themselves. Dunno..

[xlr8or]

Want1,
Because of your location you are far better suited than most to use one as a daily driver when it comes to weather issues.
From your location I am assuming you are driving up to Orange County for work.
I would agree with looking into the F5 with something close to stock donor setup based on you mention of price limitation.
Could be pretty reliable and still have plenty of fun pedal.

Good luck deciding.

Scott

[SCOBRAC]

no.

[SCOBRAC]

But.. If you think you want to buy a motorcycle... if you can drive it, and it alone everyday everywhere you go for one year I would say your answer might be yes.. otherwise it's no..

[Want1Bad]

THANKS TO EVERYONE!!

I have my answer. The answer is "maybe, but unlikely." My wife and I just read all the messages and we'll just have to admire YOUR Cobras from afar. #%!@!

You were all great. Mr. Fixit and Tony, thanks for the straight talk. Blykins, thanks for the hope. BB427, you truly understand. Chaplin, your message made me look at an F5 with a Mustang engine that's for sale right now (the one in Georgia -- SWEET). XL8TOR, you pegged my drive and, again, thanks. SCOBRAC, thanks for the brevity and, yes, I road a motorcyle for years and it's a heck of a commitment to ride in one for 120 miles a day.

Again, thanks to all for the help and HAVE FUN WITH YOUR COBRAS!!!

[Bumpster]

Regarding driving as far as you do to work regularly, you need to check with whichever insurance company you will use for the Cobra. Most companies will write a policy with mileage limits because they only want you to use the car as a weekend cruiser and to go to shows, not to expose it to daily commuter driving. You can tell them whatever you want, but if you agree to a mileage limit and don't stick to it, you may find yourself without coverage if you have a claim. Better to look into that before you get the car than to find out about it the hard way.

Bumpster

[SCOBRAC]

Yea but was that your only ride? I did it one year in college.. 18k miles. I still know the feeling of the freezing rain in my face. That was with a full face helmet on.. I guess you could wear a helmet in the winter too.. It's real tough psychologically.

[Want1Bad]

Michael,
Yup, did the motorcycle thing as my only mode of transpo. Lived in Seattle area at the time, so I know what you mean.

Bumpster,
Gracias for the insurance tip. Hadn't considered this either.

Good night all.

[Excaliber]

I think you can easily have a daily driver Cobra myself. The "key" is getting the right one!

For me that would be (because Excaliburs are hard to find) a Classic Roadster with hardtop and A/C. A mild 302 with 5 speed is rock solid easy to drive and maintain. The C.R. is a little bigger, so it's more comfortable. I drive my Excalibur every chance I get and consider it a daily driver.

Ernie

[rdorman]

Ever concider the coupe?

One of the longer wheelbase cars will be a little easier to live with on a daily basis. Some, like CR, border on "roomy" if there is such a thing in a Cobra. You may want to consider a hardtop and A/C. I don't think I have ever seen a Cobra that stays completely dry inside but you can come close. Keep the horsepower down and the technology up (computer engine management, fuel injection) so a new 5.0 would be a good choice. Don't go wild with the tire widths. Some mirrors that you can actually use is a good idea. Don't spend a fortune on a show car paint job, it will just create stress! Fitting ABS to it wouldn't be a bad idea (it can be done, so can traction control). Dump the original style seats for a good modern seat perhaps even retractable belts just for ease of use. Tilt and collaspable column. Tone down the exhaust and sheild it (better to go under car and out the back, try the slabside look maybe) and thoroughly insulate the cockpit for sound and heat (won't help much with the noise). Full width roll bar a must as is a good fuel cell that has one way check valves in the vent and filler (upside down the roller cap will rip right off). Build in some of the basic idiot lights. You could place right next to the gauge to draw your attention. Crash switch for fuel/power cut off.

Everyone here is right, living with one daily is a challenge. But some of the items I and others have suggested will make a big difference in daily drivability.

The question really is, how bad do you want it?

Rick

[Tony Radford]

Rick, I think it would be hard to maintain an erection with the configuration you described.

[rdorman]

Perhaps another peice of equipement should be a Viagra drip?

I think you could do all those things and still have one nice car. Sure, it won't look very original, but it would be a much more comfortable, safer daily driver.

Remember Want1Bad, there where a number of Cobras sold for the street and people lived with them. We are just 'spoiled', for lack of a better word, by the modern cars. So again, how bad do you want it?

Rick

[xlr8or]

Just swap out the seats for a pair of Miata seats and you'll be nice and comfy.