Ford Mustang Cobra and SVT Cobra
Check out this link: http://www.bonforums.com/mustang/cobra_03presskit/
390 hp - Supercharged
390 torque
6 speed transmission
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I would imagine the 350Z 'vert would cost about the same as this car.
What will this bad boy do??
Just curious.
http://www.bonforums.com/mustang/cobra_03presskit/
download the press kit and weep below.
http://68.37.56.97/2003Cobra/03Cobra.pdf
when are you people going to learn that I never BS.
The first link you gave I already gave to start out the forum.
The second is just the pdf file - what are we supposed to be looking for? The only thing you've stated is your guess (supposedly not BS) for weight and price. I see niether in that file. Am I missing something here??
The current generation Mustang GT weighs in at 3241lbs. What about this new model would make it such a porker? Where do the extra 400+ lbs come from? Is it from the supercharger/intercooler, the bigger wheels and tires, the brakes or just a nickle-and-dime combination of all these components? I will be very disappointed if that weight figure is accurate.
BTW, I wasn't "calling you" on the numbers - I was just wondering where they came from.
Click on specifications.
Scroll to the bottom.
Look at the curb weight.
Its right there.
I wonder why so heavy? Do superchargers add that much weight?
In any case, at this price point wow is all I can say. Convertible, killer looks, killer power and the stock cars aren't too well built but Ford's SVTs enjoy a pretty solid reputation for durability and fit-and-finish.
If this is real and is produced for that price in reasonable numbers, then kudos to Ford.
Get it straight and talk about the cars here!
Yes, let's try to keep this civil.
Heck, the crapmaro weighs about 3500lbs so with 200lbs more weight and 80 more hp that's a trade I'm willing to make.
All that extra weight is not going to have positive impact on handling and braking. Even so, the new Cobra does look to be an outstanding performance car - I'm just a little disappointed with its excessive heft.
I "think" the '03 Cobra is around 200 pounds heavier than a current Cobra. Block, trans and charger easily account for that.
BTW, my MINT '97 Cobra is now officially for sale!!!!
features/autoshow2002/coverage/chicago/posted/
coverage_02_07_3.tmpl
You'll have to copy and paste the whole link into your browser. I couldn't post the exact link since it was too long.
"SVT Mustang Cobra will be able to accelerate from zero to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds"
That blue is a sweet looking color!
Isn't that too much for a Mustang? Even a Cobra?
the Mach would have bested the Cobra in straight line performance, probably the only thing that matters to most of us 'Stangers anyway. Too bad for those bow tie boys. They must watch in agony as GM kills off thier car while we bask in the glow of the best Mustangs ever produced. There was a rumor a while back that the current generation Mustang would be sent off to pasture with a limited run of Boss 302 reincarnations for '04. (4.6's stroked to 5.0) Haven't read anything lately. Is this project shelved.
Not to mention they will blow up if struck from behind
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2002/01/30/mustang.htm
Perhaps not, but there are plenty of casual LS1 fans out there who will readily switch, given the alternatives that they will have after this year. And the car has enough pop to attract the attention of a few Vette buyers as well. And even at $35K it is about 12 to 15K less than a Corvette. In fact I would say Chevy is going to have to up the power ante on the Vette 'cause at 390 HP Fords new Pony is just too darn close to a base Corvette.
It also happens to be a more livable car than almost all 2+2 import coupes on the market, especially when it comes to rear seating. It's far more livable than the 350Z, which as a two-seater automatically gets relegated to the specialty aisle of the mass market.
This is not a knock on the Z by any means. Rather, I am saying that the Mustang has a few inherent strengths (utility + torque + low price) that in combination make for a very strong package that the 350Z isn't going to steal the spotlight from, since it's likely to be inferior to a Mustang in all three.
Put differently, Mustang will probably outsell the 350Z 3-to-1 or 4-to-1. Why threaten that by turning it into a dedicated sports car and narrowing its appeal? The beauty of the Mustang is the extremely large range of folks that it appeals to. That's also the bane of the 350Z an in fact of the old Z, RX-7 and Supra as well - the very narrow audience.
I am not saying change the whole formula of the mustang. I just think that they should work the dynamics a little more so the GT mustang can gain a whole new segment of buyers. (those who might get a Z) You could sharpen up the handling and response without losing your audience, you might even make a bigger fanbase. They are still selling the soft tuned V6's to satisfy the masses.
And they will continue to do so. It's their bread and butter vehicle that has allowed Mustang to survive and partially support the SVT group that turn out the "Fun" cars for Ford. It all makes sense to me. I don't think the Japanese have figured this one out yet. If the ergonomics and quality issues had not been so pronounced and glaring with the "F" bodies, I think GM would not have discontinued this model. GM was basically following Fords formula for the Mustang. They just didn't have the proper low end product that Ford had to offer. You are never going to sell enough SS Camaros and/or Mustang Cobras to keep the production lines going profitably. Hence you better have a highly desirable "Peoples Car" in the model line-up to carry the day. Long live the V-6 Secretaries Mustang coupe. It has allowed Ford to continue to offer the Mustang model and more importantly the Mustang Cobra.
While the price/performance of the Cobra is far exceding the top 350Z trim level, the base models are competitive very well in performance. Both models are very good lookers too, which will only allow them to compete better. what I think you are failing to see though, is that once you get into the driving enthusiasts territory, which would mean the cobra and the 350Z track model, you have two completely different cars that appeal to two completely different people. And the small numbers of these sold wont be nearly as significant number of base models sold.
I think because of this, the sales will be very competitive, if Nissan can keep up with demand.
Everyone keeps calling the 350Z inexpensive. It's not. It's a bargain, but that doesn't mean that it's cheap. It starts at $26k, probably won't be bargained down from that much, which means that once you throw on tax and typical financing interest the base 350Z with no options is already a $30k car. More specifically, a $30k two-seater with no moonroof and no convertible top, but a really big engine. That's going to appeal to a very small group of people. Option it up and throw on tax and financing, and the 350Z approaches $40k. A lot of posters here throw around MSRP like it's the standard by which car prices are interpreted. It's not. People make decisions to buy or not buy a car not when they see the window sticker, but when the dealer tells them exactly how much the car is going to cost them, and how long it is going to take them to pay it off. The 350Z in most trims will be as pricy as a Cobra. That's going to make it a very hard sell for the typical Mustang GT aspirant.
This is simply because the 350Z is not very practical in the same sense that a S2000 or Miata aren't practical. It's a two-seater with relatively small cargo space, and unlike virtually every other two-seater in production it has neither the convertible top nor a moonroof or sunroof. The people shopping for a Mustang are looking for the size and utility that a car like the 350Z simply cannot provide, and those interested in a car of this style are already quite saturated with other 2-seater alternatives. I can understand someone cross-shopping something like an ITR (with two useless back seats) with a 350Z. However, the Mustang is a much more roomy all-purpose vehicle. I think the majority of aspiring Mustang buyers are going to look at the 350Z and think, "too small" or "too expensive to insure." Those who seriously cross-shop these two cars will be in the minority.
I'm still not convinced about how popular the 350Z will be in the long term, if Nissan tries to push five-digit production of it. It's a small, expensive and impractical car that markets itself as a stylish car that is a relative performance bargain. I think that would work wonders as a strategy if the 350Z cost as much as a Miata (or a Mustang GT) and could therefore appeal to younger people without much $$, or more established people who could afford a second car to complement a high utility daily driver. However, at $30k, you have to be a real enthusiast to be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to drive a Z around as your only car, and that's the big buyer market that cars like the Mustang or 350Z need to compete for. I don't see a lot of Mustang GT buyers paying $6-8k more for the privilege of less torque and less room but slightly more refined steering and braking. This is why folks like myself are a lot more interested in a convertible 350Z. After all, if it is the enthusiast in me that's supposed to jump for the 350Z, why would I jump for it when I can get a S2000 with better handling, similar acceleration and an automatic convertible top for about the same money?
Never underestimate the power of two rear seats, or of a convertible top. To my knowledge, the 350Z is going head-to-head against Corvette coupe as a two-seat non-convertible. That's rough waters to be in.
Don't get me wrong I think what you get for the money is great, (where else can you get it?) but if the Mustang was a better overall performer I think the car would be an even better bang-for-the-buck. It seems with the revised chassis and suspension of the next GT that this has already been considered anyhow.
Looks like the weight increase is fairly large.
I heard from somebody that the T56 weighs a full 75lbs. more than the T5.
The difference between iron and aluminum in the block is usually 80-100lbs.
The IRS weighs more too. Probalby another 75-100lbs.
That is 275 lbs even before the supercharger and additional frame bracing is added.
Reminds me of the BMW M5 that weighs 4000lbs! while the standard 540i weighs 200-300lbs less.
The Mustang continues to selel well because it is just about the only 2 door car Ford sells.
GM has the gp, cavalier,saturn, fbody etc.
So it is unfair to compare the Mustang to the fbody only.
I have owned 5 camaros but never bought a fourth gen due to the large size of the car vs. a complete lack of interior room, catcon hump, low windshield rake, poor visibility etc,
Plus the fourth gen is just not as good looking as the third gen. I have heard countless people say this.
The light really plays off of every body panel on the 3rd gen. The fenders, the sail panel, the rocker panels.
The fourth gen is an amorphous blob.
Part of the Mustangs appeal is that it is a more upright sedan looking car. There is something cool about taking a fairly plain 2 door sedan and getting the right amount of bodywork and performance improvements inatalled.
http://www.autoweek.com/
It would be nice though...
The more I read about this car the more I want to forget about the Mach-1 and just pony up the extra dollars for the Cobra