help me decide cobra or GT

[ex-lt1-guy]

Hey guys, I was looking at getting a newer cobra or a brand new GT. Now if money was no option i'd get the new 03 Cobra, but i'm gonna be strapped for cash if i get that. So i was wondering, if you guys had your choice of car, what would u get? I know there is a HP difference and the IRS and all, but I like the looks of the GT and the price is much nicer. I dont know a whole lot about the powerband on the new GTs, i know the cobra will rev to about 7000 rpms with the 32 valves and all, whats the GTs capability? And i was curious too if supercharging the GT would be a feasable alternative to the cobra, i havent looked at many kits for them so i dont know what kind of power they can put out, so if any of you can help a brotha out i'd appreciate it.
thanks in advance guys

[Crazy Horse GT]

well i'm pretty new to the mod engine myself, i bought a gt, but wanted an svt snake, out of my range,im pretty happy with the gt, just started on small mod's - k&n, flow's, i got a lot of work ahead of me, but it takes time & MONEY,, good luck, im just learning myself, went from a 69 grande, to an 00 gt, whole different world, for an old school guy like me.

[Dark_5.0]

Go cobra, I drove new GT's and LS1's before I bought the cobra. The LS1 was as fast but the cobra was nicer. The cobra is quite abit faster than the GT on the average and nicer.

I may be biased though.

You will get a good car either way. I got my cobra for about the same price as a tricked out new GT.

[Red Mustang Gt 46]

Check with your insurance company first...

The premium may be a BIG deciding factor..it was for me.

[Dark_5.0]

My insurance only went up $10.00 going from a 00' GMC truck to a 01'Cobra.

[Sonics2042]

I looked into getting a 93 Cobra to replace my 90 LX and it would have cost me ~20 dollars more a month....

Not that bad considering I am 19 and I only pay ~600 a year now . (Don't ask me how...and no my record isn't perfect..or even close...)

Thanks,
DoranW

[Sonics2042]

Oh...and get the Cobra...

My friend has a 98 GT and I know he wishes he would have gotten a 95 Cobra with cash left over. Of course, the new GTs are much more badass...

Thanks,
DoranW

[Dark_5.0]

96-98 GT vs a 95'cobra I wont go there............

[Hammer]

96-98 GT vs a 95'cobra I wont go there............

Good idea....

[Sonics2042]

He he he...What?!

I still say go with a Cobra though... What year GT vs what year Cobra were you thinking?

Thanks,
DoranW

[Dark_5.0]

I was just saying there is a massive performance gap between the two cars. and I didnt want to insult the iron fist

[Hammer]

I didnt want to insult the iron fist

Oh God, I'm gonna get some mileage from this avatar...

[ex-lt1-guy]

Yeah I am looking at the 99+ GT and a 99+ Cobra if i didnt specify earlier. I like the power of the cobra and the ride, but the looks of the GT and the PRICE is goin to be a deciding factor, I mean I love the cobra it just might not be in my future right at the moment, I just want some opinions on the GT, maybe someone that has a blower on theirs, thanks guys, this is the most replies i've had on post hehe

[blue00gt]

A supercharger is probably the best mod for 99+ GT's for the hp increase for the money (as opposed to bolt-ons). On an otherwise bone stock motor most base level (mild boost) kits make about 400hp at the crank for a centrifugal supercharger and about 360hp at the crank for a roots blower. The power keeps going up from there with ntercooling and more boost.
Basically, I was looking at the same decision of whether to get a '99 Cobra or a '00 GT. There was over $100 difference per month in insurance for me, so that sort of decided it for me. Once I get the rest of the suspension and a blower I will have $32-34K total into my GT. I guarantee it will be much faster and handle better than a stock Cobra for the same money. Of course now that you can sometimes find good deals on used '99+ Cobras there may not be as much of a difference in total investment between fixing up a GT and buying a Cobra.

[blue00gt]

I forgot to mention that the $32-34K total investment I stated was with me installing everything myself and with the help of a few skilled friends. So if you were to have everything I bought and am going to buy installed at a shop you would be looking at at least $5K more.

[Badass_yellowGT]

Buy the new gt with the amount of money you save you can add your own power adders and handleing package and blow the cobra away and still have money to spare not to mention your insurance will probably be lower and your car will be unique to you the way you built it not a everyone who could afford one car has the same thing plus repair parts are crazy expensive for the cobra and i`m pretty sure i read in a magazine article the gt block is stroger than the cobras

[Dark_5.0]

A new GT top of the line cost what about $25,000.00....I didnt pay much more than that for my cobra with 7,000 miles on it.

Like I said either way I am sure he will be happy.

[NO SLO PK]

Originally posted by blue00gt
I forgot to mention that the $32-34K total investment I stated was with me installing everything myself and with the help of a few skilled friends. So if you were to have everything I bought and am going to buy installed at a shop you would be looking at at least $5K more.

For around $34K you can buy an '03 Cobra which is already done and comes with warranty.

You can get an '03 Cobra at or near MSRP if you do a little leg work.

[Mineralized]

I had a 96 cobra, and now I have a 01 GT. I can tell you I miss my cobra like crazy.

The new GT's are GREAT. Much improvments over the previous. But motor to motor the GT will NEVER be as fast as the cobra. With just about every bolt on, I'm still not as fast as most stock LS1's. I run 13.7 @ 101, it's heavy cause of the vert. I know for a fact that with the same bolt ons I'd be running 12's in the cobra.

If you KNOW without a doubt you will get a supercharger, I'd say save the money and get the GT. That's why I didn't get another cobra, but this led to that...... and I never got a supercharger..... and now I'm stuck with a slow car I wish I just kept my 96 cobra most of the time.

The cobra is more elite, but the GT's are great cars too.

I wanted a Cobra the year I bought my GT (it's a 2000, they didn't make Corba's that year), however I am very happy I had to "settle" for a GT. Out the door I paid $22.5k for a loaded car and I've put less than $5k into with a Vortech blower and the million parts it came with (K&N air filter, upgraded injectors, fuel pump, computer chip, etc, etc). The Vortech cost me $3800, including installation. I spent another $900 for a complete new exhaust system (manifold back, 2.5" X-pipes and MagnaFlow mufflers). I easily beat stock and not so stock pre-'03 Cobras, haven't come across any '03's but the latest Road and Track tested it and it's quarter mile time is about what I do (13.3 @ 108mph, I just ran 13.2 @ 107, and I hate to admit I suck as a driver). I am still running a 3.27 gear in the rear, soon to be upgraded to 3.73's ('03 Cobra's have 3.55's) and I am in dire need of a dyno-tune as I had the exhaust work done after the supercharger and associated computer tuning. So for about $27k I'm at about the performance level of the new $35k Cobra's. I do love those new Cobra's, but man $35k for a Mustang? I know it's a beast, and a beautiful one at that, but you can create your own beast, and not break the bank!

Something else to consider. If you are not a strong hands-on guy with your car (if it's not fluids and plugs, I don't touch it), and you plan on having any heavy duty mods done, be it on a Cobra or GT, I'd be sure to find a good speed shop able to do your work. One that is very Ford experienced.

Good luck! No matter which way you go you'll end up with a great car which is a blast to drive!