Cobra make you nervous?

[Juggernaut]

Just wondering if anyone else has ever felt this way. I have 170 miles on mine since it was finished. All these miles have been in my local "small town" area. Mostly back roads, never had it out for more than 10 miles at a clip. The only time it left me stranded was once & that was only a loose battery cable so the car's been doing pretty good.

Saturday I'll be taking it to a car show about 30 miles from my place so by the time I get home later in the day, I'm sure I will have put about 60 -70 miles on it.

I know we did a good job building it & it will probably be just fine but I can't help feeling a little apprehensive. My wife tells to just get in it & take it for a long ride, that's what I made it for & I know she's right.

Anybody else ever feel this way or is it just me?

[Yetiman]

Get AAA Plus RV and never drive more than a hundred miles from home. You can get the c ar flat bed towed for 100 miles for no cost.

I have been stranded roadside twice now. Both were ignition related problems and were less than a like from home.

First time I walked home grabbed a tow strap and a neighbor and towed it home. Second time I bypassed the MSD box and drove it home. Both times the problem was due to an intermittantly bad voltage regulator. Replaced the alternator and so far so good.

[STL Mark]

Nervous - you bet.
I've had a few problems, and been towed home once.
There are plenty of things to be sorted out, but I'm working them out.
I've been taking it on longer and longer cruises.
Up to about 250 miles (round trip) so far.

Take your time - sort things out - It will be ok.

[wtm442]

12K miles in 4 years and never been stranded.

Get a AAA card and make sure you have a cell phone and a credit card whenever you take the Cobra for a ride.

The more miles that you put on the Cobra, it will be just like taking your daily driver for a ride ... except for the BIG grin on your face and all of the honks and waves and "Nice Car" comments.

Don't sweat the small stuff. Go for the gusto. I'm going to take off at 3 PM to go to a cruise night that starts at 6 PM. Have to get a nice 3 hour ride in before the cruise night.

[Juggernaut]

Thanks guys, guess I just needed to hear that I'm not the first one to go through this.

I don't have a AAA card but my insurance company (Midwest through Robbin) covers towing.

Thanks for the good advice guys!

wtm442 - enjoy the cruise today!

[James Stern]

Juggernaut,

I have the same concerns as you. Mine probably comes from waiting too many years to get my Cobra. I think the other guys have got the right idea; AAA Card and a credit card should go a long way to creating more confidence. I am going to get a AAA card (got the Visa card) and not sweat the small stuff.

Jim Stern

[Power Surge]

I felt very nervous taking my car for it's first long drive. But luckily, it was with the local Cobra group, so I was not as worried. I felt even better that it's maiden 200+ mile voyage was trouble free! Try to do your first drive with other cars.

[landerson]

I don't have a Cobra, but I do have a Beck Speedster that we built at the Carlisle, PA show in May of '06 (16 hours from 3 pallets to a drivable car). I've since driven the car from Charleston, SC to Carlisle, PA and back twice (~1600 miles round trip), and have driven it from Charleston to the Smokies to run the Tail of the Dragon (~1000 miles round trip), all without a breakdown. Do a thorough safety check beforehand, and carry a good set of tools and you should be fine. There's no reason that a well built kit car should be any less reliable than a factory built car.

By the way, we plan another Dragon Run this October. It'd be great to have a few Cobras along as well.

[JBCOBRA]

When I just finished my car, and I mean just finished. Maybe a 100 miles on it. The wife and I jumped in and drove to Watkins Glen. Approx 260 miles. We spent the weekend, did a rally, ripped it around, and enjoyed all aspects of the Vintage Grand Prix, then drove it home. Put about 900 miles on it.
In retrospec that was pretty ballsee, but I am so glad we did it. My goal for the build was to get the car done for that event.
I did have an ace in the hole though. The guys I bought the roller from were subdealers right near Watkins Glen (Stonebridge Motors) Great guys! Don and Tom Coon. They built the white Cobra that you could see on episodes of Dream Car Garage. My buddy bought that one.
I did have one problem on the first trip come to think of it. The oil pressure guage line at the block loosened up and made a Big mess underneath. We got the car up in the air and swabbed it down really well, dumped in a couple quarts, and headed out to beat it some more. LOL
The car has left me stranded a couple times though. Right after I got back from that trip I sheared the dizzy pin, so I replaced that with a larger one. The other time it was Freezing cold out and I was delivering some Christmas presents. The battery cable popped off and fried the module in the distributor.

[RalphSchmalph]

I ordered my BDR with an outlet in the glove box so my cell phone will always be charged up. Don't ever leave home without your cell phone!!

[Ron61]

When I had mine I first drove it on short trips and then I started taking it on longer ones. I guess about 200 miles was the longest and I never once had a problem. But as with any vehicle, things can happen and the way these cars are built and most with somewhat radical motors, you need to keep on top of the maintenance. I used to go over all of my nuts and bolts after every drive and check for any looseness and make sure the torque was ok, especially on the aluminum to aluminum parts such as the heads and intake.

Ron

[Roscoe]

I've got over 25k miles on mine over a period of almost 10 years. Driven to Watkins Glen, Pocono Raceway, Carlisle, Jersey Shore many times.

Roscoe

[1985 CCX]

I would drive mine coast to coast without any issue or second thoughts.

[hey,littlecobra]

Randy, I have been stranded a couple of times and sent hubby to get the trailer both times. Frustrating and nerveracking!!!!
I do not have AAA either, but you might want to get it. From what i understand, Triple A will send a 'rollback' tow truck if you request it, but not sure your regular insurance would do that. You might want to check. You cannot tow a Cobra with a regular trailer, of course.
Seeya Sunday!!!
kristen

[CHANMADD]

Originally Posted by 1985 CCX

I would drive mine coast to coast without any issue or second thoughts.

Exactly.... It is after all a "CAR" that is meant to be driven. Mine has over 50K miles. I have broken a few times but what the!!!!! It is fun ...

[Paul F]

Don't be nervous. You bought the thing to drive. What's the worst that can happen? You don't trust the mechanics 400 miles from home? No biggie. Rent a one-way truck and trailer and drive it home.

[WV66AC]

Stay close to home until you find the electrical connections etc. that will vibrate loose. I came back from an early car show, proudly lifted the hood and a loose fuel line looked like a sliced jugular. Lucky we didn't have a fire. Haven't had it in the trailer for two years. No problems.

[chipperb]

fuel filter clogged: rigged a plastic boat gas tank and put it on the floor of the passenger's seat, bulb near me, ran the line under the aft edge of the hood, hooked up to the carb after disconecting the ffuel line: brought her home pumping and driving.

Required supplies: charged cell phone, basic tools, number of a good reliable fleat bed tow service (I have all!) cb

[Michael C Henry]

I carry the tow strap and cellphone in car. We have the AAA card I haven't used it for the Cobra. We have taken it out on some overnight trips. Some have been eventfull . On a local trip, We Left my nephews home late one evening only to find I had no lights , went home by the four way flashers. One trip up the coast the oil foamed and went away. I replaced the oil with Mobil 1 things got better right away. Another trip last summer, a wif of steam up through a sparkplug heat sheild enitiated a summer of getting the heads welded. Now a trip to the gas station to get gassed up is a planned event. $4.49 per gal. I had a half tank and spent $52($40 + $12) and still had room for more. I spend a lot more time checking gauges. A warm up period is important before getting to the throttle. Watch for drips on garage floor when you move the car. Think about which friends and relatives (That could help )are home before you leave. With one of these cars you will get attention some good some bad.

[capteddie]

Good advise....

As my car is about 3-4 weeks away from being finished. I never thought about something like AAA. Just left their web site and signed up for the +RV coverage.

Thanks again,

Ed