Whos allowed to drive your cobra?

Tenrocca · #1 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 04:07 PM

First born (9 yr old Lucy) has been sent away to The folks farm at Bathurst for a week whilst school holidays are on. She calls me last nite. "Dad, had my first diving lesson today" (out in the paddock in the ute). "Ill be able to drive the cobra now" (Shes excited as I am).

Firstly I have to build the thing, then I dont even know if Ill be able to drive it!! Not sure if the insurance will cover a 12 yr old (assuming 3 year build time).

Made me ask the question, just who do you let drive the cobra? Surely not the teenage daughter, and maybe only the missus (Mines a bloody lead foot).

Cheers.

TerrysSPF · #2 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 04:30 PM

Who's allowed to drive your Cobra (you ask)?

NOBODY......................period.

Everybody I know has a lead foot and I don't want the liability. Nothing worse than having something like "someone wrecked my car and got hurt" hanging over my head.

The wife? Ha! Ya right. I watch her drive her 540I sport w/ Dinan modifications (about 365rwhp).....(that used to be MY toy before the Cobra) like a bat out of hell. There's no way she will ever get behind the wheel of the Cobra. And you know what? She hasn't asked.
.......Probably due to a couple of the rides I've given her in it. She doesn't want any part of that car now!

dblbarrel · #3 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 04:33 PM

Me,myself and I.
Thats it.

niles · #4 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 04:40 PM

Terry is right on. Scare the he-- out of her.
don't trust anyone!!
gn

maxrpm · #5 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 05:39 PM

I'll let anyone sit in it but I once let my brother drive it around the block and he came back TWO MINUTES LATER with a pale face and a chunk missing from the front wheel rim, after that 'quick' lesson neither friend nor family. It's too bad because I used to enjoy swapping cars with friends and go for a cruise so we could see what our cars looked like driving down the road. Sometimes we would even race each other. Not anymore.

casaleenie · #6 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 07:04 PM

everybody except Australians

Badman · #7 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 07:20 PM

Good question,

No one drives my cobra except me. Although my brothers and friends have asked me to “drive it around the block”, I’ve always politely told them no. My concern is two-fold. First: the engine has 500 HP and the car only weighs 2500 pounds, hence it doesn’t take much to spin the tires, do doughnuts and scare the S..t out of anyone. Second: it is my car and no one has every driven any of my cars.

Badman

hey,littlecobra · #8 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 08:06 PM

I know we Americans jump in on ya'll's threads all the time, but hey, Bernie comes and visits ours....
So, to answer your question.....
My hubby was kind enough to provide the funds for my cool toy, but the one time he asked to drive it, I wouldn't let him! He would kill me or himself, and that would ruin all the fun....
He hasn't asked since.... I drive us everywhere we go...... If we're going out "nice", I'll drive in my tennies, then grab my "good" shoes out of the back! I can't drive in regular shoes!!

So, my kids won't drive it. My friends won't drive it. The only person I MIGHT let drive it is the guy I bought it from, and he drives it too easy! Treats it like it's made of glass, he does. Guess that's why it looked soooo gooood! Now it's a little "rougher" looking, but boy, it goes, and it goes good!

Kristen
Hi, Bernie!
added: I have come up with an "out" if someone asks, and that is that there are limitations by the insurance company, and no other drivers are allowed.

NASSTY · #9 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 08:10 PM

Mrs NASSTY will as may a few select people who have either helped me during the build or who else have cobras and know how to respect them.

rblong · #10 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 08:34 PM

My insurance company actually made me sign a form that stated I was not insured if I let any of my teenage kids drive it. I have allowed my 17 year old to drive it with me in the passenger seat with him, but he drives a 69 camaro that screams so he is accustomed to "unscheduled" lane changes when hitting the gears hard. These cars can and will get away from you in a second!

Bill Wells · #11 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 08:35 PM

just me , my mechanic frend and fellow seasoned cobra owners. bill.

Robert T. Faust · #12 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 09:07 PM

NASSTY says it best, if they will respect it they can drive it.

pneall · #13 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 09:53 PM

Aussie Mikes got a good chance if I can get the wiring all back together

Why did I think neat wiring was important

Phil

Tenrocca · #14 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 09:56 PM

"If it aint broke dont fix it"

Aussie Mike · #15 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 10:15 PM

Thanks for the Confidence vote Phil. I'll help out with you Chiropracter bills once the wiring is finished.

I've been fortunate enough to have been given a drive in a few peoples Cobras. I take the offer as a real compliment and I can honestly say that this is a decision people should't take lightly. I'm not doubting my own ability as a driver. I know my limits and drive to them but a Cobra is something else.

Even people familiar with driving these cars needs to treat each one with new respect. Their hand built nature and variations in design, performance levels, handling and braking characteristics mean any unfamiliar Cobra is a potentially dangerous to the unfamiliar driver.

So the few Cobras I've driven have been driven very carefully and I'm not game to give any of them a big dose of throttle*. This is someones pride and joy and I wouldn't like to be the one to damage it especially when I think of all the hard work that's gone into my own.

*foot note: even a small dose of throttle in Garrets 550 RWHP monster produces blistering performance and a loose sphincter. I just can't afford the underwear bills.

Cheers

snkbte · #16 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 11:11 PM

I haven't even let my wife sit in it and make broom broom sounds yet!

However, while still in the build mode and considering she who must be obeyed often holds the purse strings I have not yet contemplated how to tell her that when finished - "NO WAY ON THIS EARTH"

SNKBTE

SCOBRAC · #17 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 11:13 PM

My father in law. I borrowed the money to buy it from him. I've offered to let him drive it twice. Both times he's declined. Come to think of it he hasn't gotten in it since the first ride I took him on

daltondavid · #18 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 11:24 PM

I let my mechanic go around the block. Once. Wife swore she was going to drive it, but once she saw it and heard it, she has not even taken a ride! She did raise the life insurance policy though....! I am not big on risking my Toys with people who cannot immediately replace "my Broken one" with "their unbroken toy" that is worth as much as if not more than Mine!

TMK 2002 · #19 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 11:29 PM

LOL - what an interesting thread...

My dad chucked me the keys to his at Wakefiled

He is a pretty cool old guy!! If he wasnt such a n00b and didnt turn the windscreen washers on at 130km/h in my car when I just spent 2.5 hours cleaning and polishing it, he'd be allowed to drive the mini

Todd

Jamo · #20 (**permalink**) 01-12-2005, 11:55 PM

Only four other folks have driven my current Cobra.

Buckley

David Kirkham...who scared the assolute he!! out of me driving it up Squaw's Peak above Provo while he giggled his ass off. He has a sick side to him.

Tom Kirkham

Ken Christiansen, my local one-man pit crew who regularly drives Dick Smith's when he's working on it.

I think I would only let another Cobra owner ever drive it...too much to learn about these beasts to be doing it for the first time in my car.