Coupe or Convertable

[Zedoc]

All things considered, what would you get if you had it to do over again or for the first time, a coupe or a convertable? Why?

[nckissfan]

not saying I would do it all over again, I love my car. But, the next Cobra I get will be a coupe. Why?, well there are certain limitations to owning a convertible. For instance, if I want to go to a track event, I am limited to speed, unless I have a roll cage. That is on my want list, but until then, no fun for me. Convertibles are great for when it is beautiful outside. There is nothing that compares to riding with the top down, feels great. You smell the flowers blooming, etc.

[NewFoundPower]

Had a 97 vert Saleen. Last vert I will own that is a daily driver. Too many problems with the top (motor, leaking, etc). Just my opinion but the damn thing did look sweet with the top down:thumbsup: !


-D-

[Flip_Lx]

used to love verts, wanted my first car to be a vert(couldn't find one) but having gone through my wreck and rolling a coupe with a sunroof/moonroof works just fine for me now

[InfamousSVT]

I would have to say Coupe!
Never had a vert, but seems like it'd be a lot of trouble to keep the top looking new, easily broken into, and then there's the track issue with a Roll bar!
I just like the smooth lines of a coupe better without the hassle of the vert top!:thumbsup:

Just my .02!

[cobra330]

I had a coupe and loved it...but, got an 04 vert. Yes they are heavier and yes they have a little more shake but, that's what subframe connectors are for..and then other mods to the motor..trust me they can be just as fast! The new tops are second to none..and if you put this stuff called RaggTop on them they stay really nice...and with the top down..OH MY GOD does it look awesome...especially if you add the style bar and tonneau covers...which is what I did...style bar on tonneau covers to come!!! Go Vert!!!

[Big Daddy]

COUPE-COUPE-COUPE! Verts, heavier, less rigid, more things to break! :D JMHO! :D

[flynfink]

Two words,

Top DownTop Down

[97whitevert]

Two words,

Top DownTop Downthat should read TOP LESS!!!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[RheacerDave]

8 Mustangs over the years, 2 notches, 2 conv (87 GT and 03 Cobra), the rest hatches. Conv never feel as crisp handling, and drone seems worse, but on a clear day. Woo Woo Topless!

[JenRem]

Other than the fact that I need a roll bar...I love my vert! I never would have my Cobra if I did not insist on having a convertible...my fiancee made me drive it and it was love at first drive! I had a deposit down on another car that was on order (a new mini cooper convertible) and I got that deposit back to buy my cobra! Best decision I have made in awhile. :D

[Firme]

after becoming addicted to Open Track and all, as much as I think vert look sweet...........Coupes fo' life :headbang: (unless I hit the lotto and can afford to get a vert also, for cruising and nice days)

[RheacerDave]

Firme

Just saw your address. I've got a buddy in San Antonio that will be racing a SCCA spec Miata (yeah, I don't why he got rid of the Mustang) . Moved there about 6 months ago. We are looking for a track that is about mid-way between Central Texas and East Tennessee.
Dave

[Firme]

Firme

Just saw your address. I've got a buddy in San Antonio that will be racing a SCCA spec Miata (yeah, I don't why he got rid of the Mustang) . Moved there about 6 months ago. We are looking for a track that is about mid-way between Central Texas and East Tennessee.
Dave
I don't know about mid-way, as that would prolly put you in Louisiana, but SCMC does a track event at TWS which is in College Station, Tx. We have a handful of spec Miata's that show up too.

[arellanoz]

I don't know about mid-way, as that would prolly put you in Louisiana, but SCMC does a track event at TWS which is in College Station, Tx. We have a handful of spec Miata's that show up too.
mustang coupe !!!!!!

[crunchit]

As much as i love the stance and clean line of a coup, the freedom I feel when I'm on the open road on a clear day (or night) is indescribable.You all have some amazing looking cars with a different feel to each one of them. All the same in the heart but with individuality in the soul. I would be excited to ride in any of your machines, vert or not.

COBRAS RULE:thumbsup:

~steve

[sssvtcobra]

I had to vote for the coupe model. I like the security of the coupe, and the styling of the body lines. Doesn't mean I wouldn't own a vert if I could have a second Cobra :) But for a daily driver a coupe will have to work for now. Maybe I can talk the wife into buying the vert model :D

[cobrabitn]

Both! :)

[Zedoc]

For some reason, I see more convertables for sale than coupes, even though Ford makes more coupes than convertables. Maybe it's just that I'm looking at lower mileage cars or some other factor I'm not conscious of. Also, on the used market, the coupes are not that much less expensive than the 'vert's. Maybe $500, maybe not.

For me, I'd probably pick a coupe for lightness and handling, except that I think my kids would get more involved with a convertable. I think it would be more a family than a driver car.

For the record. I don't have one, yet. I wouldn't pay the $14,000 the one I was looking at was and the others which were lower mileage and less expensive got sold out from under me the day I was ready to commit. If anyone has a perfect, low mileage '97 or '98 out there, VERY REASONABLY, (did I mention Very Reasonably?), priced, I'd be interested.

:bounce:

[95SVTCobraVA]

I think convertibles look fantastic and it feels great riding in one. So, I totally understand the appeal of one.

But! I have seen the unfortunate and terrible result of a convertible which landed on its top. I was 12 when I saw it and because of what I saw I have never even considered buying a convertible.

Of course thats just the way I feel.

:D :D :D

[beerkat]

I love my rag top. I drive with the top down as much as possible. It looks great with the top down and the roll bar adds a certain touch of mean to it. I knew that I had to do the roll bar when I bought it so it was the first mod I did. I like the fact that I have great head room with the top down and my helmet on.:thumbsup:

[Stang66]

Got to be a convertible for me. I have only owned one car that was not a convertible - my PT. My '66 has only had the top up 5 times in 12 years(got caught in the rain twice and the other 3 times at shows). I try to keep my '94 GT topless as much as possible and can't wait to get my new toy - an '01 Cobra - out for some topless cruising this spring! Kind of sucks right now with the snow but....SUMMER is coming!

[95cobraR]

Coupe; because I like the stiffer chassis and less weight.

It's still a personal thing. Maybe like the Playboy playmate? Red head, blond, or ?? You can't go wrong.

[grasshopper]

Hmmm, topless, stiffer chassis and less wieght and Playmates did I miss something?

My vote is to follow the owners of multiple Cobras- gotta have both (if I could only afford to). A vert is the closest I can get to a motorcycle... However, you can't beat a coupe for track events, safety, stiffness, etc. On the other hand, the wind makes a certain distinct sound in a vert with the top down when you pass 90mph and on the track there are no cops. :)

I'll stick with the vert for now since I share a track car with a buddy. Anyway, I still like to drive the vert at CMP (relatively safe offs, except the first turn). I bet I will change my mind in a few years when I worry about rolling over.

[RF Cobra]

For an everyday driver, track car, and because of all of the morons that don't know how to drive (or think they are such experts they can spend their time behind the wheel on cell phones, doing makeup, reading books - I have actually seen this several times, or watching DVDs and/or doing all of the above simultaneously instead of concentrating on driving) which have hit our vehicles a total of 7 times in the past 2 years I prefer to have a coupe.

That said, if I could buy one just for pleasure/weekend driving etc. as an alternate vehicle then I would probably get a vert. Until I can afford and justify doing that, I'll stick with the coupe.

[Cobra4me]

I have owned a vert and now a coupe. My wife I thought was gonna kill me after replacing the top on my 99 two weeks later got the 01 cobra. I just kept thinking as I was driving about the safety of this vert. The exterior sound is worse and the costs and time consumed with taking care of the top is not worth it.
Robk

[97Cobra]

I have to go Conv ... all the way. (and not because I just bought a 1997 Cobra conv)

There is nothing better then dropping the top and going for a cruise in the moutains ... if it would only stop snowing!!!!!!!! LOL Once you twist through those mountain roads in conv. you are hooked on them. Plus I've been told that they get the chicks ... LOL ... I'll test that and let ya know (once the Cobra isn't grounded from snow being on the road - had the car for 2 days before the snow storm hit ... enough time to get it home to the garage ... hehehe).

~Erik

[Stavesacre21]

I think it would be more a family than a driver car.
OMG :eek: I believe that is the FIRST time i have ever heard anyone think of the Cobra as a family car!

Apparently you haven't attempted to put anything other then groceries and kids up to about 6 in the back of this car.

I Love my car to death, but if you think of it as a family car, yur family must all be about 90 lbs! :rotf:

....well, then again, if you have a vert, i suppose you could bust out the Dukes of Hazard and have the kiddies jump the edge to get into the back, rather then bend in HALF to fit into the back seat! :what:

As for me and my car, we will serve the verts! Just as any vert owner would tell ya....the word that says it all....TOPLESS!!

Inversely, I couldn't possiably say anything more then any Cobra at all is as beautiful as the next! :D

[jimmysidecarr]

Coupe for me...
If I ever get the urge to go topless...
I'll build a kit version of one of these...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v134/jimmysidecarr/65cobra289.jpg
Yeah that's me back in the late 70s in my best friends real 289 Shelby Cobra... See the nose???
I'd keep my coupe though :love:

Jimmy :thumbsup:

[Sniperfox]

Ragtop for sure. I don't race mine and I drive it on my days off duty and only if the weather is nice. There is nothing like cruising up in the mountains or down the Grand Strand or on the Outer Banks with the top down. It brings peace to our hectic lives. It's hard to beat.

[smashedheadcat]

I'd rather have my cars "reversed." I'd like my 97 to be a coupe, and the '03 to be a vert. I have a thing for verts I guess, but the way my 97 is going, a coupe for the "rigid" factor would be better. But my vote is convertible.

Josh

[Zedoc]

Although the comments mostly scream 'vert', the pole goes for coupes 55 / 45! Go figure.


Yesterday, as I was about to arrange delivery of my '99 cherry coupe, someone in the office told me I was nuts not to get a 'vert' if I had the choice. My wife then acknowleged she'd a preferred the 'vert' I was looking at, except for the safety factor. It totally threw me. I already passed on a couple a '99 and '97 'vert's. So I'm confused again.


:bounce:

[smashedheadcat]

If you have no plans of racing the car, then go with the vert.

[Stavesacre21]

So I'm confused again.
There really shouldn't be much to be confused about...if the wife wants a vert, yur never gonna live that one down :rolleyes:

Just ignore everyone's opinions and "tunnelvision" your way to pickup the one of yur choice today...that's the way you do it once you're to your point!

[beerkat]

My wife like the vert better also. I just put a roll bar in it and took out the back seat. Now I can do the on track events and roll bar adds aome style to the car.:thumbsup:

[Stavesacre21]

I just put a roll bar in it and took out the back seat
I've never been a huge fan of roll bars from the get-go, but it seems as though it might be an option I'll have to consider if I even plan on doin any track events...

...that kinda came as a huge upset :edmond:...but not really a surprise I guess :banghead:

[Zedoc]

...if the wife wants a vert, yur never gonna live that one down :rolleyes:




But my wife tends to misplace her keys in a 'vert'.






http://www.TheVMC.com/photos/JayMack_68277_Where's My Keys.jpg

[97Cobra]

But my wife tends to misplace her keys in a 'vert'.

http://www.TheVMC.com/photos/JayMack_68277_Where%27s%20My%20Keys.jpg
If that is your wife ... and that is your vert corvette ... why the f*ck are you thinking about anything but a V8 vert mustang?? LOL

~Erik

[Zedoc]

Does anyone really know, accurately, within 10 lbs., how much more does a convertable weigh than a coupe? (In a late model Cobra, '96 - '04).

[Stavesacre21]

Does anyone really know, accurately, within 10 lbs., how much more does a convertable weigh than a coupe? (In a late model Cobra, '96 - '04).
For the 03-04 models, it's exactly 115 lbs. (vert 3780 - coupe 3665)

For the 99-02 models, it's exactly 130 lbs. (vert 3560 - coupe 3430)

For the 96-98 models, it's exactly 144 lbs. (vert 3519 - coupe 3375)


All weights are curbweights stock - Enjoy :thumbsup:

[Zedoc]

For the 03-04 models, it's exactly 115 lbs. (vert 3780 - coupe 3665)

For the 99-02 models, it's exactly 130 lbs. (vert 3560 - coupe 3430)

For the 96-98 models, it's exactly 144 lbs. (vert 3519 - coupe 3375)


All weights are curbweights stock - Enjoy :thumbsup:

Wow! That's great information. Thanks.

[Stavesacre21]

yea, for us earlier vert Cobra owners (96-98), it's kinda depressing......because the horsepower seems to move inversly to the differential weight of the cars...making ours the lowest horsepower/weight ratio, which (obviously) figures out to less power/lb :mad:

Oh well, i still Love my car to death though, and wouldn't trade my vert...even for 144 lbs :p :thumbsup:

[Zedoc]

yea, for us earlier vert Cobra owners (96-98), it's kinda depressing......because the horsepower seems to move inversly to the differential weight of the cars...making ours the lowest horsepower/weight ratio, which (obviously) figures out to less power/lb :mad:

Oh well, i still Love my car to death though, and wouldn't trade my vert...even for 144 lbs :p :thumbsup:I'm not sure I understand your line of thinking. The '96 - '98 are the lightest, not the heavyest. The '97 vert is lighter than the '99 coupe with only a tad, a tad less horsepower, (if at all). I'd say those stats sell the earlier models.



Oh, wait, I take it back, I see what you mean. I read it wrong. Still, the '96 - '98 are the lightest to begin with. Look at those moosey 2003s!
:bounce:

[Mr. Ed]

COUPE-COUPE-COUPE! Verts, heavier, less rigid, more things to break! :D JMHO! :D mmmm. I can't recall anything that has broken on my VERT! Must be because it's heavier, less rigid, which equates to less things to break. Show us your parts list, Greg! Oops! Never mind! That would occupy too much Bandwidth! :eek::cool::D:rotf::flag:

[cowboyharry]

Rag top only for me. Cause that's what I like. I thinks they look better too.

[cowboyharry]

Buy a rag top but dont race it. Buy a motor cycle for racing. :p

[Stavesacre21]

Oh, wait, I take it back, I see what you mean.
LoL....yea, it comes as no surprise that people would get confused, because I was talking about the weight DIFFERENCE between the vert and hardtop....not the overall weight. It really is a squirlly little idea to try and fathom...l:doubt:

:rotf:

[LadyCobra01']

Topless!! Best of both worlds with a vert! :thumbsup:

[nckissfan]

Wooo hooo topless!:D Oh wait, I mean car with top down, yeah!

[97Cobra]

Wooo hooo topless!:D Oh wait, I mean car with top down, yeah!
LOL ... my Cobra came with a Bra ... I couldn't let me Cobra go Topless with a Bra on ... just wasn't right ... LOL :D :thumbsup:

~Erik

[cowboyharry]

LOL ... my Cobra came with a Bra ... I couldn't let me Cobra go Topless with a Bra on ... just wasn't right ... LOL :D :thumbsup:

~Erik
No problem. I can have that bra off in no time. :eek: :yup:

[Zedoc]

Did I ever tell you what finally happened with me. I say finally. There's no 'finally' with me.I had decided on the '99 Red Coupe, 16 K mi., $13,800, delivered. Even with this decision, I was very tentative because I had my mind full of my responsibilities at work and I couldn't really think too much about it.
Anyway, this guy at work in the office across from mine, Robert, who usually has some brains, I ask him what he thought about a coupe or convertable. Well, he couldn't give me enough 'convertable'. About how it was two cars and I'd llove it in the summer and the whole rap.
So this is all it takes to make me undecided again. I was spinning. I called the guy with the car, Patton Automotive outside of Indy, a really nice guy, Dan, I'd built a rapport up with him, I call him and tell him not to deliver the car on Friday, I didn't think I was going to take it. So he doesn't.

Well, after stewing all weekend and getting an e-mail from him that this is really the car for me and how it's absolutely perfect in all respects, really Cherry, I finally decide absolutely I want the coupe and I call him back Tuesday following.

It's been four weeks of my dicking around with myself about this. So guess what. You guessed it.

He took a deposit from some other mope and I lost the car. Lost. He got $16,100 for it. He'd paid $14,300 and was taking a loss selling it to me for $13,800 just cause it'd been around too long and he had to move it.

So that's it. I've been absolutely heartsick for ten days. Some other mope got my Red/tan Cherry Cobra.

[cobrabitn]

And the moral of the story is....

All good things come to those who wait......but not to those who wait too late! :)

[cowboyharry]

Dont worry about it. There are more fish in the sea. And more cobras too.

[RF Cobra]

:doh2: :rolleyes:

Keep looking and something else may turn up. Be patient during the hunt but be ready to pounce when you find it! :bounce:

[RF Cobra]

Dont worry about it. There are more fish in the sea. And more cobras too.
All that salt water would be bad for the electronics though...not to mention the rust and corrosion! ;)

[Stavesacre21]

Some other mope got my Red/tan Cherry Cobra.
:clapping: way to go slugger :clapping:

Next time you've got yur mind made up, ignore EVERYONE else until it's sitting in yur driveway...then it'll be alot easier to blow off all those second thoughts...

...either that, or it'll make you think TWICE about changing yur mind again
:rotf: