Got cold feet yesterday

[Silverback51]

Went to Park Place Motors yesterday to make an offer on the Cobra I have been looking at. Got them to within $114.92 of what I wanted to pay and just could not bring myself to write the check.

Guess I need to provide a little history here. I'm 55. I first drove an original Cobra when I was 16. The father of a buddy of mine in high school let me drive his. I have lusted for one ever since.

Well a couple weeks ago, my one and only daughter got married, so in essence my responsibilities in that department are over and I have the income that will allow me to buy the Cobra.

What's holding me back? Fear. What if after all these years, it's not really what I'm expecting and I'm disappointed.

Make sense???

Has anyone else gone through this? Or bought one and been disappointed?

I know, I can always resell it if I don't like it, but I hate to kill a dream.

Any input?????

[55312]

I drove a COB right hand drive Cobra in 1966 while working for a local Ford dealership ( it was the owner's nephew's). I never forgot the experience and always lusted for one. Well, 38 years later and many sporty cars later, I took the plunge. I can honestly say I haven't had one second thought or regret since I drove off in my own Cobra. The only downside was I waited too long to pull the trigger. You won't be dissappointed!

Tim

[jwoodard]

If you don't do it now, when? You don't want to leave this world at some point in the future asking why didn't I do this, especially if it's been a dream for so long.
I built my first Cobra almost 10 years ago and now own my second one. In all that time time I have never looked back nor regretted jumping in and owning a Cobra. It's been damn difficult to keep a smile off my face in those 10 years.
My advice, go for it!

[wtm442]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

What if after all these years, it's not really what I'm expecting and I'm disappointed.

If you are disappointed after any ride in a Cobra, you will need to go see a psychiatrist.

Bite the bullet and go back there and BUY IT. Time is awastin' brother!

I've always loved Cobras and I bought mine at 56 years young. The sad part of it all is that I "could" have bought one when I was about 40.

[CobraEd]

You are over analyzing it. Life is a leap of faith. I think you should start worrying about space debris falling on your head, and who may be waiting under your bed at night to get you.

How could anyone not like owning/driving a Cobra. After owning mine for 8 1/2 years, I still go out in the garage to just look at it!

Just fricken Do It!


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[double ugly]

What make of Cobra is it and what's the asking price? Lots of Cobras for sale here and on Cobra Country. You will like a Cobra.
John

[PaulProe]

if $115 keeps you from enjoying a 20-70,000 car, you might want to consider a different hobby. Cobras are not known to be inexpensive

[kayakjack]

Silverback,

We all have the same story. You are not alone.

Get the car. Don't overanalyze this. Just get the car.

Then see if you can wipe the smile off your face!!

Jack

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by double ugly

What make of Cobra is it and what's the asking price? Lots of Cobras for sale here and on Cobra Country. You will like a Cobra.
John

It's 1999 Superformance (Yellow, Black stripes) with a BB.

Their original asking price was $54,950.00. I got them down to $46,500.00.

[jwd]

While agree with what everyone says, I have to ask "Did they let you test drive it?" Drive one and see if it's still what you remembered and still want. Also, the cars at ParkPlace are waaayyy overpriced. They end up sitting on them for a very long time. Don't expect to buy anything there and resale it for anything close to what you paid. There are alot of Cobras here and on other sites that are actually very good buy's. My advice is to shop around, drive a few and then jump in with both feet. We aren't getting any younger and you don't want your new son-in-law spending all your hard earned money do you?

[double ugly]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

It's 1999 Superformance (Yellow, Black stripes) with a BB.

Their original asking price was $54,950.00. I got them down to $46,500.00.

I sold a 1999 Superformance for 42.5K a few months ago. It had a 351W not a BB. Which big block? A side oiler would increase the price a few thousand.
John

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by PaulProe

if $115 keeps you from enjoying a 20-70,000 car, you might want to consider a different hobby. Cobras are not known to be inexpensive

The cost is not the issue. Hell, my beer and banana bill is more than $115 a week.

I just sold my Dodge SRT/10 (viper powered) pickup. Nothing for it was cheap either, so I know what I'm getting into from that stand point.

[Fred Hamilton]

Silverback

Give me a call and we can take mine out for a drive, its an older Superformance but it will still give you a thrill. I'm in NE Tacoma. Last Fri night we were out in Covington at the Wal Mart. 253-988-9901

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by jwd

While agree with what everyone says, I have to ask "Did they let you test drive it?" Drive one and see if it's still what you remembered and still want. Also, the cars at ParkPlace are waaayyy overpriced. They end up sitting on them for a very long time. Don't expect to buy anything there and resale it for anything close to what you paid. There are alot of Cobras here and on other sites that are actually very good buy's. My advice is to shop around, drive a few and then jump in with both feet. We aren't getting any younger and you don't want your new son-in-law spending all your hard earned money do you?

Yeah, I have driven it. For that matter I test drove it when it was new also.

I originally started looking back in 1999. At that time I was thinking about buying an ERA kit and building it myself. Park Place had an ERA that I went to look at, but when I seen the quality of the Superformance I decided that was what I would get when the time was right. I almost bought that car then, but a house remodel, and upcoming college costs made me change my mind.

I guess that's why I'm not adverse to paying a few thousand more for the car as it's the one I originally wanted.

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by double ugly

I sold a 1999 Superformance for 42.5K a few months ago. It had a 351W not a BB. Which big block? A side oiler would increase the price a few thousand.
John

The car originally came with a 460 crate motor. From what the records show (I read them all yesterday) the original motor had a defect and went boom in 2002. The motor in it now is a stroked 429CJ with a displacement of 466CI.

Hope I don't piss anyone off, but I was never a fan of the FE series engines. So if it had a side oiler I would not be all that interested in the car.

[65cobra1]

Silverback,
I've lusted after the Cobra since I first saw Dan Gurney drive one at Riverside.

Many years and numerous cars went by until I was in position to own a Cobra replica.

To make sure I still wasn't just "Dreaming" I went to a Cobra driving school in Nevada. The same week I went to a Corvette driving school to see what they were all about.

Even though that particular Cobra brand wasn't what I wanted, I was able to see if driving one (Without putting anyone else in harms way) was still my desire...It absolutely was!

I got my Cobra in April and 1400 miles later, I can still definitively say that it was the right move for me....I'm having a ball, meeting other Cobra and taking trips like to Crescent City, CA this coming weekend. We're even starting a small Cobra group in our area (Southern Oregon).

Think of it this way...Spend today like there's no tomorrow (Never guaranteed) but save a little in case there is.

You certainly don't want to end up being one of those Geezers who, as they rock back and forth in their chairs, say..."Waal, by gum, I shoulda coulda but didn't!"

Go for it!
Regards, Ivan

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Fred Hamilton

Silverback

Give me a call and we can take mine out for a drive, its an older Superformance but it will still give you a thrill. I'm in NE Tacoma. Last Fri night we were out in Covington at the Wal Mart. 253-988-9901

Thanks for the offer Fred, it's greatly appreciated.

I'm one of those individuals that will bend over backwards to help someone else, but always feels awkward imposing on someone else, so I will decline the over. Sorry, no disrespect intended, just the way I am.

I have actually driven this car about 15 miles and I test drove another one with a 512 in it about the same number of miles. I have a fairly good idea of what they are like.

Once again, thank you for the kind offer of taking me for a ride.

[xlr8or]

If the car is what you want and in good shape just go for it.

You can worry now if it's what you expected or regret later about why didn't do it.

[Excaliber]

I bought my first replica Cobra some years ago, an Excalibur. I was somewhat disappointed with it, all though a very nice car. For me it did not recreate what the 427 Cobras were really all about, BIG BLOCK, IRS, more accurate detailing of the car itself. Excal's are longer, wider, more comfortable, small block, 5 speed, it was just to far from 'period correct' to recreate the 'feeling' of what a Cobra should be like. So I sold it, then some weeks later, I really missed it. All though not a perfect recreation, at least it was basically a Cobra, and now I had nothing like it! I had to pay the guy an additional $3000 over what I sold it to him for to pry it out his hands (and that within a month or so of selling it)!

Eventually I figured it out, I decided to sell again, but THIS TIME I was serious about acquiring a more accurate replica. I bought my ERA, with a 427 side oiler, flat tappet cam, original heads and intake, top loader 4 speed, Goodyear Bill Board tires, IRS, pretty darn close to 'back in the day'.

If you really want to recreate what you experienced back then, choose wisely what replica you buy today. Most of them are NOT anything like the real ones were, you could say their 'better'. Better being a relative term of course! I have no plans to sell my ERA, even though I don't drive it nearly as much as I used to. Just 'having it' is enough for me, and the occasional weekend drive is truly like a 'time machine'.

[CobraEd]

Owning a Cobra is not just owning a car. Owning a Cobra is a way of life.


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