Cobra01

Considering the three local dealerships to me here in Jersey are charging between 15 and 25k over MSRP plus the 1300 gas guzzler tax, the real cost of these cars is no where near 40-51k. I've owned nothing but Mustang and Cobras since 1993 and love these cars, but would never spend 65k on a Mustang vert - Shelby 500hp or not. At that price you are in a different class of car - unless you are a collector, but for an every beautiful day ride at that price I am getting a Z06 adding a few mods and I am there and not getting an enema at every bump. This is only one driver's perspective, but I have read a couple articles now that have not been so nice about the way the Shelby interior is built and the front end heaviness. I know it's all about the power, but for the sake of repeating myself for that price tag I expect a little more - like a dash to fit good, the "plastic" to look nice and the ride to be a bit better...Robin

NY Times Article Shelby GT500: Red, White and Old School IN a rare alignment of the stars — and the bars — my test drive of the new Shelby GT500 took place over the Fourth of July. Parading along the streets of Brooklyn, Ford’s retro muscle car became part of the celebration, a two-ton American flag with white racing stripes. Children pointed and teenagers urged me to light the fuse of this glaring red rocket. As I obliged, painting the scene with black rubber, it was enough to bring a tear to the eye of a laid-off autoworker. As every Mustang fanatic knows, the Shelby is a 500-horsepower homage to the Shelby GT’s of the 1960’s, an era when gasoline flowed like nickel drafts and, believe it or not, Japanese cars were clearly inferior to Detroit’s — and a whole lot less cool. So you can almost forgive Ford (and General Motors and Chrysler) for wanting to time-warp back to that era. Which they have, reviving often slavish imitations of their greatest hits. Ford acts at times like an aging high school jock, finding it easier to rehash the glory days than to focus on the future. Now there’s no doubt that the muscle-car revival has put some style and swagger back in the American car, and it has hatched some of the better new models on the market, including the Chrysler 300 and the Mustang GT on which the Shelby coupe and convertible are based. But even this car’s target audience of boomers and blue collars may be a bit disappointed in this super ’Stang, which costs roughly $44,000, or $51,000 for the convertible. The Shelby goes fast and sounds appropriately menacing, but it doesn’t feel as explosive as its lofty horsepower rating suggests. In contrast to the Mustang GT’s 4.6-liter V-8 — with an aluminum block, three valves per cylinder and 300 horsepower — the Shelby gets a supercharged 5.4-liter V-8 with an extra valve in each cylinder. The GT500 will hustle from 0 to 60 in 4.5 seconds, its V-8 rumble overlaid with the whine of a supercharger. Second gear peaks above 80 m.p.h., and third around 110, with six speeds managed through a stiff-feeling manual shifter. Huge Brembo brakes with four-piston front calipers help rein in the wide-striped beast. On smooth highways, the Shelby feels something like a Nascar stocker escaped from the track. It rides well enough and goes exactly where you point it. Its sticky 18-inch tires deliver gobs of grip. Yet with 57 percent of its weight up front, the car is prone to understeer. Mute steering doesn’t communicate the car’s intentions, especially at the higher speeds where you’d like some reassurance. And if the Shelby loves creamy pavement, it has less taste for the chunky kind, on which the stiff suspension and low-profile tires transmit serious harshness into the cabin. On rough city streets, the Shelby is harder on your glutes than a Marine Corps Pilates instructor, and its tires chase after every hump and crack in the road. After a weeklong test, a persistent rattle had settled in near the right front wheel. In evolutionary terms, the Mustang’s solid-axle rear suspension is still dragging its knuckles on the ground. Despite Ford’s persistent claims to the contrary, the antique setup cannot match an independent suspension in ride and handling, though it does hold down costs. The best sports cars dance over bumps; the Shelby hammers them into submission. Inside, the GT500 makes half-hearted gestures to upgrade the Mustang’s nostalgic cabin, including optional (and tacky-looking) red seat inserts and a hissing cobra on the steering wheel. Driving position and comfort make a huge leap from the last-generation Mustang, but that car’s basic structure dated to the late 1970’s. Plastics are poorly matched and lackadaisically fitted and have a greasy Brylcreem sheen. The retro attitude extends to the mileage, and the Shelby proved to be one of the thirstiest cars I’ve tested, at 12.5 m.p.g. over all. In one admittedly hard-charging 70-mile stretch, the Shelby returned just 10 m.p.g. — or well over $1 for every three miles of travel. After filling up, a mere 150-mile jaunt drained the tank nearly to “E,†at which point my Visa card began to self-destruct. Babied on the highway, the Shelby hung around 19 m.p.g.; yet a Corvette Z06, with 505 horsepower, can manage 26 m.p.g. The Shelby’s poor mileage wins it one distinction: a $1,300 guzzler tax. Of course, muscle car lovers will say that fuel economy is beside the point. And come January, the 325-horse Shelby GT-H — the H stands for Hertz, and the car is currently for rent in major cities — will offer buyers the Shelby mystique with better mileage at a lower price. The bottom line is this: the GT500 is an asphalt assassin, and if squeamish types don’t approve of its methods, they’ll be forced to admit that it gets the bloody job done. As with Mustangs past, this version will put a beat-down on many pricier speed machines. If administering those beatings is your goal — or you can’t afford to collect the six-figure original — the Shelby’s throwback act will hold some appeal. But buyers whose heads aren’t permanently wedged under the hood of the 1960’s will expect more poise and polish for their 44 grand (plus the likelihood of a stiff dealer markup). Ford has made much of how modern, safe and comfortable the new model is, compared with its predecessors. But how could it not be, considering its 40-year advantage? Finally, though, it comes across as less of a sequel and more of a rerun. INSIDE TRACK: The Cobra earns its stripes, but not everyone will salute.

Unlike my 01 that had $8,000 worth of engine repair at 9,000 miles, this 03 has been an absolute dream for me and I am still trying to figure out how I can keep it and get a family car and keep my 93 LX and our 03 F250 and our 98 Jeep - it's a tough one. My dealership took the 01 back and even traded me the 03. There are no repairs that have been needed, aside from the recall for the carpet plate below the accelerator pedal (see below). - White with black convertible top, CLEAN - Charcoal interior with gray suede inserts - the leather still looks brand new with very few creases from wear - CLEAN. - Cobra floor mats - Cobra emblem in front grill instead of the horse - approx 25,000 miles at this point with no plans on drives more than local shopping (today 60k is the avg for 03's) - Brushed rims, not chrome, a couple dings on 2 rims from misjudging curbs, but nothing visible unless on top of the wheel - Magnaflow exhaust installed Spring 05 - I will miss the sound of it the most - it rumbles beautifully - original exhaust also - K&N Filter - Oil changes every 3k miles, plus general check-ups each time and tire rotations. All tune-ups done at Ford, except for 2 oil changes. - All 4 tires are new - April 06 - Eagle F1's, only approx 5,000 miles on them, maybe less, I need to look at the work order. - Rousch cosmetic roll bar still in the box, just never got it installed - Washed and waxed by my hands - too anal to go to any car wash. - Driven in the rain, maybe 10 times, never seen snow, salt in the road or anything like that - always garage kept for the entire winter as well as each night - Recall for plate over carpet under accelerator pedal being done this Friday. - Driver's side Rubber door plate being replaced this Friday because the studs came out and bent the plate in half, door wouldn't close cleanly - warranty work - Warranty ends in September - Bought it brand new and have put almost every mile on it, except for approx 1,000 which were put on by my husband who hates speed and this car - he is 6'1 and thinks it's uncomfortable plus he drives an F250 - so he drives my car very cautiously - it drives me crazy, so he never drives it when I am in the car. Other than that, I don't let anyone drive any of my vehicles!! - Only one road trip in the car from Jersey to Charlotte, NC this past June 06 - I drive the car the way it's made to be driven - I like speed and being agressive n the highway, but I never burn out, hole shot or anything like that, the tires are too expensive and that's not my style, but if you can catch me on the highway, then we are having fun because that's what I enjoy. - Fastest speed I have gone in this car is 140 on 5 lane open highway, not something I do often, but have opened up on a number of occassions. - No accidents, fender benders, body work, paint or anything of the sort I still have a 93 LX that I bought brand new in 1993 and you can still eat off the seats and carpets. It just hit 100k miles and it is pristine - point is, I take care of my cars and anyone that knows me from Jersey cruises will attest to that. Let me know if there is anything else you would like to know...Robin

Hey Guys, Hope everyone is doing GREAT! I just found out that after 17 years with my husband and not thinking we could ever have kids, we are having a baby and due Feb 18 - this is awesome news, except that I have to sell the Cobra. If you know anyone... it's impeccable, because I am very anal about my cars and really thought I would be keeping this one forever, but at this point we have 4 cars and I need something that will be good with a baby seat - can't have 5 cars in the driveway. It has ony 20k miles on it or so, Magnaflow exhaust - I still have the original exhaust, plus I have a Rousch roll bar that I never installed that I will give with it. 30k is what I am asking. Stay well and I will probably see you in a 2007 Caddy CTS-V, at least it has 400hp and a stick - - I can't give up all my fun. Stay well and let me know if you know anyone...Robin

Hey Guys, Hope everyone is doing GREAT! I just found out that after 17 years with my husband and not thinking we could ever have kids, we are having a baby and due Feb 18 - this is awesome news, except that I have to sell the Cobra. If you know anyone... it's impeccable, because I am very anal about my cars, has ony 20k miles on it or so, Magnaflow exhaust - I still have the original exhaust, plus I have a Rousch roll bar that I never installed that I will give with it. 30k is what I am asking. Stay well and I will probably see you in a 2007 Caddy CTS-V, at least it has 400hp and a stick - - I can't give up all my fun. Stay well and let me know if you know anyone...Robin

Hey All!!! Just stopped in to say hi and share some great news, thought I would post here too. I have to sell the 03 because I just found out after 17 years of being with my husband that we are having a baby - woo hoo! :happy feet: Didn't think I could have kids so we resigned ourselves to each other, 2 black labs, some great fast cars and a ton of vacations - I couldn't be happier. Although I am sad about getting rid of the Cobra because I love it so much and needless to say, the Shelby that I have a deposit on is now out of the question - in time. I hope everyone is doing great and if you know anyone who wants to buy my impeccable 03 with 20k miles on it and a Magnafllow, 30k, let me know...Robin

Hey All, First time cruising through in many months - just turned 40 on Jan 9th and spent 2 weeks in British Columbia, Canada skiing at Whistler - we were sooooo lucky because they had nothing but rain for weeks and then the night after we got there it snowed and snowed and snowed - we had anywhere between 5 and 18 inches of powder every day - awesome place! Glad to see everyone is doing well. I am getting ready to put my 03 with 18k miles on it up for sale, if anyone knows anyone that wants to buy it...Robin