03-04 Cobra vs 07 GT-500

[GForce957]

Alright guys, what are your thoughts on the new shelby vs the previous supercharged svt offering? Granted it hasn't been out long, but I dont know how impressed I am. Sure it has 500 hp for 40k or so (without dealer mark up), but the mag times i've seen are very comparable to the older gen cobra. I've seen around a 13 flat 1/4 while trapping 115 and about a 4.5 0-60. The 03 cobras were doing that with their underrated 390hp 4.6 engines (although the trap speeds weren't so high). It has alot more weight on it thanks to the 5.4 liter engine + supercharger, so thats not helping, but the skidpad was pretty impressive with a .95. The interior looks to be alot better, and I am more a fan of the look this go around, despite last gen's cobra being a fav everyday car of mine.

Anyways, just wondering what public opinion was

[k3smostwanted]

GT500 is a great bang for the buck but the older generation is that much better used.

i personally like the 03s and with the money saved i would modify it. but im also a modifying whore!

[kman10587]

'03 is a lot more bang-for-buck. I mean seriously, good luck finding a new GT500 for $40,000. Hell, good luck finding one for $50,000. Sure, the new GT500 is a more complete package, with a much better interior and good handling to go with its power, but from a pure bang-for-buck perspective, the 03/04 wins.

[1969CamaroSS350]

One magazine compare the GT500 to a base C6 and it couldn't even hang with that never mind the ZO6. I'm a Chevy man so I was worried when I first heard of the GT500 coming out with 500 horses but the car is kind of dissapointing. Don't get me wrong it's a fast car for the price but like kman10587 said, your are not going to find one near sticker price. The GT500 just isn't the ZO6 killer Ford and all automotive publications hyped it up to be. The 03/04 Cobra could pretty much hang with a C5 for $10,000 less and the new GT500 is the same price as a C6 and it gets beat by it. So bang for buck definately goes with the 03/04 Cobra.

[BlackGT2000]

Well the new GT500 is cheaper than the C6 so I really can't see how their prices are considered to be even. I have all the magazines with the GT500 in it and I have seen everywhere from 13 sec to 12.5 for a quartermile. I think that the GT500 is a better bang for the buck because it is one of the only cars I have seen in a while that could loosely be called an investment. It will likely be the last production vehical with the SHELBY name on it and (not to be morbid or anything) Carrol Shelby is getting up in years. Everything with his name on it will go up in value with his eventual passing, particularly the first cars with his name on it and the last ones (being the GT500s). I have always been a fan of the 03/04 cobras and I was considering getting one but as solid of a performer as it is, its not the car that the GT500 is. Also, comparing a Mustang of any kind to a Vette is crazy.....Its like comparing an M3 to a 911. The vette is a purebred performer and the mustang is a pony car.

[G-man422]

I like them both. but the new Gt500 just seems a little better with all i've read about it compared to the '03 cobra. both are great cars for the $, but the '03 cobra is deff going to be cheaper.

[BurntGauge]

Originally Posted by BlackGT2000

Also, comparing a Mustang of any kind to a Vette is crazy.....Its like comparing an M3 to a 911.

M3's compete against 911's all the time in the Le Mans series in GT3 or whatever it's called.

GT500 is RWD, sports car, that cost about 50k (if you can find one for that price, you can just forget about the MSRP of 40k). So is the Corvette C6 (non ZO6).

[porscheguy9999]

Comparing a Mustang to a Corvette is when talking about the non-performance versions (Cobra/GT500 and Z06) is a little one sided to the Corvette. But they do and you wouldnt expect M3 CSL's to compete with 911 GT3's. But they do. Just because cars are in different price ranges doesnt mean they dont compete.

[kman10587]

I have a hard time believing that the GT500 is competition for even the base C6. It may be able to match its acceleration numbers with massive power output, and it may be able to keep up in the corners with tight enough suspension tuning, but it still weighs nearly 1000 lbs more than the 'Vette, gets about half as many miles per gallon, is probably a harsher ride, and doesn't have the same upgrade potential.

The only reason why I can see anyone buying a GT500 is for the prestige of owning one. Not that people don't buy Corvettes just based on image alone, but the Corvette is a significantly better car for almost $50,000.

[G-man422]

^ I see what you're saying.

[BlackGT2000]

Hey, all I am saying is that a base C6 MSRP can aproach 65000 dollars with full options. I wouldn't be surprised to see an early model of the GT500 sell for that either but I don't think comparing the high end of GT500 prices to the low end of C6 prices is really fair. Also I was by no means saying that an M3 is a poor performer, but a 911 is definately designed with more thought into raw performance. Arguing race versions is rediculous because last year some FR500C Mustangs beat the BMWs and the Porsches.....I wouldn't call that a typical real world situation. Lastly, I don't see how a corvette has more upgrade potential than a Supercharged mustang. If anything I would say thats one thing the GT500 has going for it.

[k3smostwanted]

Originally Posted by BlackGT2000

Arguing race versions is rediculous because last year some FR500C Mustangs beat the BMWs and the Porsches.....I wouldn't call that a typical real world situation.

CSL isn't the race version...the GTR is more towards the race version. the CSL is a better suited competitor for the 911 beings the price difference is a little more minimal than comparing a standard M3.

http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/bmw_m3csl.asp

[kman10587]

Originally Posted by BlackGT2000

Hey, all I am saying is that a base C6 MSRP can aproach 65000 dollars with full options. I wouldn't be surprised to see an early model of the GT500 sell for that either but I don't think comparing the high end of GT500 prices to the low end of C6 prices is really fair. Also I was by no means saying that an M3 is a poor performer, but a 911 is definately designed with more thought into raw performance. Arguing race versions is rediculous because last year some FR500C Mustangs beat the BMWs and the Porsches.....I wouldn't call that a typical real world situation. Lastly, I don't see how a corvette has more upgrade potential than a Supercharged mustang. If anything I would say thats one thing the GT500 has going for it.

I'm not comparing the C6's low-end to the GT500's high-end. The VERY cheapest you will find an off-the-lot GT500 for is $50,000. Maybe $45,000 if you are really lucky. Meanwhile, the C6 costs $45,000 base, you could get it for around $50,000 with a few nice options. They are going to end up costing about the same.

Also, with the "upgrades" comment, I was talking more about the Corvette's better chassis and suspension design. Not that the GT500 is bad in those areas, but it's not in the same class as the Corvette. Though if you wanna talk about acceleration, I look at it this way: the GT500 is already supercharged, and it matches the C6's 0-60 and quarter mile times. Think about what kind of power it can make with a supercharger or twin turbocharger setup. Hell, you don't even have to bother speculating about it, the LS1/LS2 has proven itself to be an absolute powerhouse, second only to the Viper. I mean, it's kind of a moot point, since anything much over 750ish horsepower is just going to slow you down with wheelspin, and both cars are capable of 750, but still.

[BurntGauge]

Originally Posted by porscheguy9999

you wouldnt expect M3 CSL's to compete with 911 GT3's.

I thought the M3 that currently/recently competed was the M3 GTR, not the M3 CSL.

[C2Z06]

I've never like the Mustang because of it being a dog in the twisties. I'd rather buy and older used M3 and kill it. Around here, we're lucky to get 100yrds of a straight away. The GT500 to me is a better deal for that reason.