Need opinions now!

[Jamo]

I need to choose between a very lightly used 1999 Cobra Convert w/21,000 mi. for $12,100 and a new GT/CS for $27,000.

The Cobra is the lime green w/tan leather. The new one would be Grabber Orange.

I dn't know what to do but I have to make a decision by Friday if I'm going to pick up the Cobra. But my fears are that:

1. A '99 Cobra convert is heavy;

2. A '99 is out of date and that people are loosing interest in them in favor of the new design;

3. That the '99 isn't the car that the new one is in terms of style, performance and handling;

4. With respect to the new one, of course, it's twice the bucks.

Come on, tell me what you'd do?

[Lumpydogs]

Depends on what you are buying the car for. If purchase is for a daily driver then always buy the most you can afford with warranty and all new parts. If you are buying a car to mod and or turn into a track beast buy the 99 Cobra. Don't buy either car for future re-sale value.

cliffnotes Mods Yes = 99 Cobra

Mods No = 07 GT


Just my opinion. I don't know your situation or intentions.

Good Luck either way. :D

[Hazman]

Right answer. It depends on what you want to do with the car.
For me street car cruiser equals vert.
Track care equals coupe. Coupe has a stronger chassis and better aero.

[Big Daddy]

Right answer. It depends on what you want to do with the car.
For me street car cruiser equals vert.
Track care equals coupe. Coupe has a stronger chassis and better aero.

What he said, but I'm a coupe man before a vert but I'm a Cobra guy before I'm a Mustang GT guy... :D ;)

[Jamo]

There won't be any track days or major mods. Maybe a 3.73 and 18" wheels, but that's about it.


My biggest concern is buying the '99 SVT 'vert and wishing I'd had a '07 GT/CS, then not being able to get my money out of ithe '99 because, perhaps, interest in the older Cobras had declined.

I'm also concerned that the '99 vert is too heavy for a sporty guy like me.
I had a '97 Cobra Coupe a few years ago and wish I'd kept it, I guess.

[puzzle13]

Is the 99 vert actually heavier than the new GT? From all the info the new models are quite heavy. I love my convertible because I can put the top down! Do I drive it very much when the weather isn't nice, no ... not as much. The convertible will be louder when driving, and some people really don't like this, but great on a nice sunny day. I always pick the vert first since I will drop the top every chance I get, as I have a truck that I can't take the top off of to drive otherwise. I guess it also depends upon the money in your pocket and whether or not you like the new bodystyle. Hell, the difference in price will let you do a lot to the car if you want to.

[flynfink]

Would I buy a new GTcoupe over a 99 Vert. Cobra.. Hell NO.

1) it's a Cobra
2) I dropped the top on mine today on the way home from work..
3) IRS - much better ride and handling than a solid axle car (look at my sig, I've got one of each)
4) I've got 18's and a 4.30 gear, car's lowered. Runs and handles great. It ain't no light weight like the MG Midget I once owned, but the MG did'nt have the ponies (literally and , well ya know)
5) I was a a gas pump the other day and the guy next to me thought it was a 03 or 04. (OK, he wasn't a Cobra guy)
6) it's a Cobra - Oh, I already said that

[Cobra4me]

I agree with Jeff. It only takes one time for someone at the gas station to come to your car and say "Look guys its a Cobra, nice car man" GT a dime a dozen--- Cobra another league

[cobrabitn]

The color for the 99 is called "Electric Green" not lime green. They did not make a lot in that color in 99 and there are plusses and minuses to your decision. The 99 cost less, has low miles, and will give you 100K miles of fun. The CS/GT is a special car with nice graphics that is sure to turn a lot of heads. Neither car is really faster than the other. If all you plan to do is cruise and show then I have the perfect answer. Go buy a Terminator Convertible...then you have the power, the looks, and the @ss to back it up. And when you go into that gas station for a fill up, you WILL get attention, especially if it is modded out.

No brainer = $27K should be spent on a Terminator Convertible! :thumbsup:

P.S. Don't pressure yourself to buy the first thing you see. If you are going to a dealer to get the car, they'll adhere to your demands because it's a buyer's market right now!

[Jamo]

Now you guys are starting to make some sense.Here's a photo:


http://i6.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/87/7b/d1c2_3.JPG

[tazzracing1]

I like the new mustangs , But I have had a few mustangs and 2 Cobras and would never go back to a regular mustang. I like the attention and everyones curiousity. But I would buy the 99 or find a terminator.

[ausie]

You should consider what all have said so far. My 01 SVT coupe was a fun car and was great to cruise around in and I sort of miss it but since I upgraded to an 04 Cobra my desire for other cars has ended. Not even the shelby 500GT is enough to distract my interest away from my 04.

If all you plan on doing is changing the rear gear and possibly change wheels, the best option would be the 99 (especially if the wheel option for the rear is a deep dish, the 99-04 Cobras have a narrow wheel base in the rear compared to the front which will allow for a wider wheel out back, not sure about the new 05+ platform which seems to have symetry of the wheel base front and back and wider wheels would stick out in the rear.)

However, if you were planning on power adders, my vote would be to change direction and look for a Terminator since the motor is virtually indestructable. Ford did a good job on building a strong motor in the 03/04 SVT. Since you did not offer a vote for this topic then the only choice would be to go for the GT (sorry guys, I voted for it). Why? I may not like how they look but it is possble to add power adders to the engine platform with ease. Even though the bottom end may be weaker than that of the 03/04 Terminator, from all of the articles I have read to date, they seem to favor the new GT for modding. If modifying your car is what you want to do, get prepared to spend some time researching the subject before you dive into it. IF it was my choice, I would look for an 03/04 Terminator.

IF you are torn between deciding which way to leap, I would test drive each option an see how they feel when you drive them. If one stands out over the other then that would be an easy decision maker.

[Jamo]

The terminators are still just too expensive, IMO. I seldom see one that isn't being asked $25,000 or more for. For $25,000 I'd probably get a new GT/CS.


What kind of possibilities are there for supercharging a '99? I know they don't have an iron motor. Can't you 'lightly' supercharge an aluminium block?

[flynfink]

The terminators are still just too expensive, IMO. I seldom see one that isn't being asked $25,000 or more for. For $25,000 I'd probably get a new GT/CS.


What kind of possibilities are there for supercharging a '99? I know they don't have an iron motor. Can't you 'lightly' supercharge an aluminium block?

There are a few members that have done that. Redsnake99 has over 150K mikes on his and I think he's running about 8 lbs of boost. He open tracks the car and is (was) his daily driver.

[tgentry]

I voted for the Cobra and I'm actually surprised it's only garnered 60% so far. I mean, this IS a Cobra club right?

Other than that, what FlyinFink said. :thumbsup:

On the supercharger, there are many people getting lots of hard miles out of stock engined supercharged Cobras. My luck is a little different, so I wouldn't put the supercharger on until you feel you can afford a rebuild. Or look for a nice Terminator.

[Jamo]

Please be patient with me, but I just had lunch with my advisor and he cautions me against buying any used car sight unseen and without a mechanic check out, much less a 8 year old Cobra.


What's the chance, even in 21,000 miles, that a SVT engine could have been blown and/or replaced or some other niggling mechanical problem that would be a major bummer?

The guy I'm getting it from is a mechanic who says he got it for $5,000 from his aunt who only drove it a few times and that's why he's selling it cheap. The CArfax comes back OK. It was originally a lease then had three title transfers.

[flynfink]

First, never buy a car sight unseen.. (ever try online dating??)

Second, there are a mulitude of issues that could arise from miss use (never change the oil..) have a mechanic (not one recommend by the seller) check the car out and check carfax to see if it's been hit or salvaged.

That said, the 99/01 SVT engine is hand assembled and has a great rep for build quality, many high mileage cars out there with no issues.

[cobrabitn]

I'm going to help you out as I know where there is a Redfire Cobra Convertible with a tan interior and tan top for sale. They're asking $27,750.00 for it or best offer. It is a current club member and the car is a multiple SCMC show winner. The Snake probably has around 430 rwhp and has been well taken care of since day one. These members are very articulate about their snake so if you are interested in it you can e-mail Bill Dangerfield at dawghaus@northstate.net and he can answer allof your questions. I don't think this car will dissappoint. :thumbsup:

[ausie]

From what I can recall, the 99 has a better block than the 01 model year since ford decided to cast the blocks for the 01 and up to save in cost. The pre 01 blocks were manufactured by the same company in Itally that does all of the castings for Ferrarri. Wheather or not this makes any difference at all.

[Jamo]

I'm going to help you out as I know where there is a Redfire Cobra Convertible with a tan interior and tan top for sale. They're asking 28.5 for it or best offer. It is a current club member and the car is a multiple SCMC show winner. The Snake probably has around 430 rwhp and has been well taken care of since day one. These members are very articulate about their snake so if you are interested in it you can e-mail Bill Dangerfield at dawghaus@northstate.net and he can answer allof your questions. I don't think this car will dissappoint. :thumbsup:

Thank you for the lead. What year is the car? Is it a Terminator?

I cancelled the Cobra and ordered a GO GT/CS, which I can take or leave when it comes. $100 refundable deposit to order. Without the GT package. Ugh!. Cobra was too big a gamble sight unseen, what with it being 9 years old and no real mechanical evaluation available. Those motors are finiky, you know. Run regular gas in them and you can do somne damage. He's a mechanic. I coudn't figgure why his aunt sold it to him for $5,000 unless it awas was with a blown engine. I don't know. And I prefer a coupe anyway. I was just getting a 'vert for the kids. Oh, well, they can ride on the back of my VN2000 for top down fun.<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->

[ausie]

The redfire SVT cobra vert sounds like a good deal at the asking price.

Jamo, did you test drive a GT? Did you test drive the 99? I would have at least taken a test drive in both. A year after I bought my 04, I showed someone how to replace the spark plugs, clean the throttle body, and so forth. Her car had over 100k miles on it and it was a 2001 SVT Cobra. Then I took it for a test drive and it still impressed me even at 100k miles on the clock. It may not have exploded off the line like an 03/04 Cobra but still had plenty of kick to it to keep the smile on my face. I sat in an 05 V6 to get a feel for the driver's seat and I did not car much for it when compared to the 04. I can see your dilema but a new car with warranty does have merrit over used. If I had to shop for another mustang, it would have to be for another 03/04 SVT. My next option would be the shelby gt500.

[cobrabitn]

The price is $27,750.00 and all 03/04 SVT Cobras are dubbed "Terminators"! :thumbsup:

[Jamo]

The price is $27,750.00 and all 03/04 SVT Cobras are dubbed "Terminators"! :thumbsup:

It sounds like a great car. And I'd like it. But I've decided to get the later model and sacrifice some of the 'ooomph' that a terminator offers. For that kind of dough a used, non-current car is a tough sell, especially when I don't race or modify. I'll be thinking about it.

[puzzle13]

For sale in Raleigh, NC - '03 Red Cobra Convertible with Black top, 18000 miles, garaged, asking $25,000.00.

919-622-0574 in case you are interested.

I know nothing about the car.

[JROC]

I would get a 07 GT coupe 10x's faster than I would get a 99 Cobra vert.