Is the 2003-2004 Mustang Cobra the best straightline performance car ever?

[kman10587]

It's not quite that simple. A cheap old FC that you buy for $1000 is going to have a very hard time handling that kind of power, and it will be damn near impossible to launch properly. You'd have to do significant chassis and suspension upgrades to make it work.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by ls1mazda93rx7

The 4.6 dohc is a pretty good motor but id take a vette any day over a mustang.

It depends what Corvette we are talking about. I'd take a ZO6 any time over a Mustang but I'd take a Cobra over a basic Corvette.

Originally Posted by ls1mazda93rx7

remember the first year of the mustang ford targeted women for sales.

Actually the Mustang was called the "poor man's sports car" which was actually targeted at the teenager crowd. It was considered the first car for the baby boomer generation.

Originally Posted by ls1mazda93rx7

and it took alot of money and arm twisting to get shelby 2 work on them cars. after all these years it ended up an ok car after all.

Shelby thought the Mustang was never ment to go against the Corvette. He thought Ford was wanting him to make a Mustang a sports car to beat the Corvette and he didn't see it as that. Well after working with it his eyes were opened.

It's just an ok car? It's still the only car to ever grace the covers of Time and Newsweek magazine at the same time. It's still the only pony car on the market today. We're debating right now if it's the best straight line performance car ever. I think we can safely say the Mustang turned out as an amazing car and not just ok.

[Rakshas]

Originally Posted by Muscletang

It depends what Corvette we are talking about. I'd take a ZO6 any time over a Mustang but I'd take a Cobra over a basic Corvette.



Actually the Mustang was called the "poor man's sports car" which was actually targeted at the teenager crowd. It was considered the first car for the baby boomer generation.



Shelby thought the Mustang was never ment to go against the Corvette. He thought Ford was wanting him to make a Mustang a sports car to beat the Corvette and he didn't see it as that. Well after working with it his eyes were opened.

It's just an ok car? It's still the only car to ever grace the covers of Time and Newsweek magazine at the same time. It's still the only pony car on the market today. We're debating right now if it's the best straight line performance car ever. I think we can safely say the Mustang turned out as an amazing car and not just ok.

The Mustang(not cobra)'s strength lies in all the stories and loyalty from the first few years. No other car could get away with using the same platform for 30 years, THe 4th Gen F-bodies handed the SN95 stangs their asses in every single category, but the stangs fan base won out.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by Rakshas

The Mustang(not cobra)'s strength lies in all the stories and loyalty from the first few years.

Are you saying the Mustang is so popular because of stories and the loyalty of its fans? I'm sorry but I think its performance has something to do with it.

Originally Posted by Rakshas

No other car could get away with using the same platform for 30 years

If it works, why not keep using it?

Originally Posted by Rakshas

THe 4th Gen F-bodies handed the SN95 stangs their asses in every single category, but the stangs fan base won out.

Nope, the Mustang was able to win out because the Mustang was cheaper. The base Mustang that sold a whole lot was the V6 version. When put up against the Camaro V6 the Mustang was a cheaper buy and that lead to Ford getting more sales.

[ls1mazda93rx7]

its Great Car.. feel better, good motor 2. but im pretty sure the speed channel said it was targeted for college women. it dosent matter- look what the supra became, the most head turning import car. its nice 2 see 3.0 get 1000hp for under 10k of parts. cant hardly find a nice one for under 20k tho. Back to the subject, the mustang cobra gets the thumbs up. i just like driving something thats different imo.

[Polygon]

Simply put, no, there are faster cars out there in the 1/4 stock than the Mustang that are and were cheaper.

On a side note, the least powerful Viper, the RT-10 came in at 405HP. Last time I checked the Mustang isn't rated over 400HP. Also, the Viper was never designed as a drag racer and neither was the Z06. They are track cars.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by Polygon

Simply put, no, there are faster cars out there in the 1/4 stock than the Mustang that are and were cheaper.

Do you mind naming a few for us?

Originally Posted by Polygon

On a side note, the least powerful Viper, the RT-10 came in at 405HP. Last time I checked the Mustang isn't rated over 400HP.

Is there a point to this? The Viper cost almost triple of what the Cobra cost. Besides, the Viper comes with a performance exhaust, chip, ect on it. The Cobra has a crappy exhaust system that couldn't stand to a SUV and it has a computer fuel shut off on it. You slap a performance chip and exhaust system in there you're over 400 hp.

Originally Posted by Polygon

Also, the Viper was never designed as a drag racer and neither was the Z06. They are track cars.

Again, what does this have to do with the Cobra?

[Rakshas]

Originally Posted by Muscletang

Do you mind naming a few for us?



Is there a point to this? The Viper cost almost triple of what the Cobra cost. Besides, the Viper comes with a performance exhaust, chip, ect on it. The Cobra has a crappy exhaust system that couldn't stand to a SUV and it has a computer fuel shut off on it. You slap a performance chip and exhaust system in there you're over 400 hp.



Again, what does this have to do with the Cobra?

The Vipers With 405 hp retailed for 50k.

[FordJunky]

considering money? yes.

[lamehonda]

The cobra is supercharged though, that makes it a little difficut to compare to the vette. I would imagine that there are quite a few cheap production cars that would be quite fast if they were supercharged. They would still be cheaper than a Cobra. Maybe some of the manufacturers need to prove my point.

[Polygon]

Originally Posted by Muscletang

Do you mind naming a few for us?

Is there a point to this? The Viper cost almost triple of what the Cobra cost. Besides, the Viper comes with a performance exhaust, chip, ect on it. The Cobra has a crappy exhaust system that couldn't stand to a SUV and it has a computer fuel shut off on it. You slap a performance chip and exhaust system in there you're over 400 hp.

Again, what does this have to do with the Cobra?

1. The Shelby Cobra, Hemi Dart or Belvedere, Copo Nova, and even the new Firebirds and Camaro are comparable. My point is that it isn't the ultimate, but it is up there on the list.

2. The reason I brought up the Viper was because the thread starter claimed that the Mustang had more HP than the Z06 and the Viper, which isn't true. Also, the RT-10 retailed for around $50,000. Now the Viper costs a lot more than the Mustang these days because they are hand built and they do have things like a performance exhaust. They aren't just going to throw in a ton of extras for free. The Viper and the Corvette are not in the same class as the Mustang. Also, the Viper does not come with a performance chip. Let's also not forget that the Mustang is supercharged while the Viper and Corvette are N/A. Add a supercharger to those and see what happends. Arguments like that can go both ways.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by Polygon

The Shelby Cobra

It has been said that the new 2007 SVT Cobra will actually be a 2007 Shelby/SVT Cobra thing. So you may get your wish there.

Originally Posted by Polygon

The reason I brought up the Viper was because the thread starter claimed that the Mustang had more HP than the Z06 and the Viper, which isn't true.

No that isn't true because stock for stock it doesn't. I'll agree though that when it comes to horsepower per dollar the Mustang wins.

Originally Posted by Polygon

The Viper and the Corvette are not in the same class as the Mustang.

It's fun to compare them though.

Originally Posted by Polygon

Let's also not forget that the Mustang is supercharged while the Viper and Corvette are N/A. Add a supercharger to those and see what happends.

The thing is the Mustang has the smallest engine of the three. Give the Mustang two extra cylinders and 3.7 extra liters and see how it does then. How about putting the 351 from the Lightning into the Mustang so it can have respectable size to the Corvette.

Originally Posted by Polygon

Arguments like that can go both ways.

Agreed. Like I said above arguments can be said for both that backs the other's side. In the end we'd all just go around and around and around until we're sick and tired. The best thing is to like what you like and go on.

[Rakshas]

Originally Posted by Muscletang

It has been said that the new 2007 SVT Cobra will actually be a 2007 Shelby/SVT Cobra thing. So you may get your wish there.



No that isn't true because stock for stock it doesn't. I'll agree though that when it comes to horsepower per dollar the Mustang wins.



It's fun to compare them though.



The thing is the Mustang has the smallest engine of the three. Give the Mustang two extra cylinders and 3.7 extra liters and see how it does then. How about putting the 351 from the Lightning into the Mustang so it can have respectable size to the Corvette.



Agreed. Like I said above arguments can be said for both that backs the other's side. In the end we'd all just go around and around and around until we're sick and tired. The best thing is to like what you like and go on.

Lightnings use a 5.4, not a 5.7.

Plus the Lighting motor is still Supercharged..

[ls1mazda93rx7]

The thing is the Mustang has the smallest engine of the three. Give the Mustang two extra cylinders and 3.7 extra liters and see how it does then. How about putting the 351 from the Lightning into the Mustang so it can have respectable size to the Corvette oh jeez c'mon you can do that with a alot of cars, like the 2.5 wrx sti which is not far from the same peformance spec as cobra and price.You also comapre the little 3.0 toyota supra v6 which runs mid 13's stock. Maybe we should bump the engines up some liters too. the mustang still is going stong because all the crappy v6 sales thats the only reason. ford should only sell the cobras. IMO the cobra is a good buy for performance, but ill pay little more for a car with class.

[Muscletang]

Originally Posted by Rakshas

Lightnings use a 5.4, not a 5.7.

Plus the Lighting motor is still Supercharged..

The older model Lightnings used the 5.7 I'm sure of that but the very last models I don't know.
Also Saleen's S-351 Mustang showed what it could do. Even though they were supercharged they still made a whole lot of power. You take the superchargers off and those things still would probably make around 400 hp.