STi vs Cobra

I need some objective opinions on why one over the other. I know there apples to oranges, but leave an opinion anyways.

Well, looking at the cars, the STi Is a little lighter than the cobra, but the cobra has more horsepower. I think that if it came down to it, the cobra would win, but it wouldnt be by too much.

SVT Cobra would win in a straight line...it runs mid 12's out of the box w/no mods...and w/a few mods will run 11's easily

It's just mean...I like the SVT Cobra (390HP!)

Now on a course...I am not sure...probably the STi would win...just a guess

:icesangel

I'd definitely take the cobra. They are faster and look cooler! Plus it's always nicer to hear a V8 over a 4-cylinder.

Lets see... Do you want a carves corners and has a very decent 1/4 mi times to go with it or do you want a car thatll send fear down everyones spine when going through town? Its pretty hard for me, the STi is just so much better at handling but the Cobra definitely kicks ass. Id pick the Cobra mainly because its so mod friendly... Full Exhaust, pulley, chips and gears, which is around $1500-$3000 worth of mods, and you have a 500+rwhp... 10-11s in the 1/4 mi. You also have a mean ass V8 sound to go with it. :iceslolan

Oh forgot to mention also that the 03 Cobra can pretty much handle an S-load of Hp... theres been people with 800+rwhp and still keeping the stock bottom end, internals... Ford/SVT definitely did something good with this car!! :smile:

I like them both. The cobra is abscenely fast like 12.9's. The sti is fast too like 13.3's. They both have forced induction. But the sti's engine is more than 1/2 the size of the cobra's and has four less cylinders and has a lower center of gravity because of the "boxer" style motor. The sti also has Awd which I like also. Doesn't have that v8 sound though. But I would rather here a loud blow off valve instead. It all depends on preference.:uhoh:

I prefer the sound of a blowers whine along with the rumble/deep sound of a V8 :iceslolan

Both these cars are awesome...basically just look at what you want...The Sti has four doors, AWD, nice handleing plus a good amount of power form those four cylinders... The Cobra on the other hand is only a coupe, RWD, with a great 1/4 mile straight outta the box.

The biggest deciding factor is drive train...I live in the mountains for a RWD just wouldnt do...I'd have to go with the STI just for this reason

Sorry to have a late reply about this topic.
But I do have some interesting discovery about this.
At first, I would definitely think the Cobra will spank the STi's butt badly. However that had been proved not quite true since I've read my brother's "Hot Rod" magazine(2004 January). They've proposed that the STi is actually a bit faster than the Cobra, and the price is cheaper too. This surprised both me and my brother, a turbocharged 2.5L H4 can be faster than a supercharged 4.6L V8? This is unbelievable. Why would I think that the Cobra is fast? That was because I've tried once to race with a Cobra(I didn't find out it's a Cobra until I was left behind, and I was thinking that is just a Mustang.) at the red light, and all I had was just its dust. What I drove is not a little Sunfire, Focus or Neon(I'm not saying that they are not fast cars, but they are not so comparable to a Cobra.), but a 95' RX-7. And the book is telling me that there is another car that is faster than that Cobra monster?! Gees, I just couldn't believe it. Maybe you guys can check this out and see if it is true. But please do tell me if it is or not. Because I'm just a little college girl that doesn't know much about cars. :uhoh: (All I know is the bigger should be the faster, higher power runs faster :p )
(Oh, this is my first post in this place, maybe I should say hi to everyone :p )

There are STis, stock also, that are running into the 12s. 12.9-12.7. They are low 13s on average anways.

STi is my pick.

Sorry to have a late reply about this topic.
But I do have some interesting discovery about this.
At first, I would definitely think the Cobra will spank the STi's butt badly. However that had been proved not quite true since I've read my brother's "Hot Rod" magazine(2004 January). They've proposed that the STi is actually a bit faster than the Cobra, and the price is cheaper too. This surprised both me and my brother, a turbocharged 2.5L H4 can be faster than a supercharged 4.6L V8? This is unbelievable. Why would I think that the Cobra is fast? That was because I've tried once to race with a Cobra(I didn't find out it's a Cobra until I was left behind, and I was thinking that is just a Mustang.) at the red light, and all I had was just its dust. What I drove is not a little Sunfire, Focus or Neon(I'm not saying that they are not fast cars, but they are not so comparable to a Cobra.), but a 95' RX-7. And the book is telling me that there is another car that is faster than that Cobra monster?! Gees, I just couldn't believe it. Maybe you guys can check this out and see if it is true. But please do tell me if it is or not. Because I'm just a little college girl that doesn't know much about cars. :uhoh: (All I know is the bigger should be the faster, higher power runs faster :p )
(Oh, this is my first post in this place, maybe I should say hi to everyone :p )
Even though you read it from a magazine, that is total BS. An STi v an 03 Cobra with equal drivers would have the STi begging for mercy. Now we are not talking handling here, though the 03 Cobra can take some corners. 03 Cobras are capable of mid 12s stock and with cheap mods can get into low 11s. Full exhaust, chip, and pulleys and youll have a 500+rwhp car. :)


Oh and welcome to the board :D

College girl eh? Pics :p

Even though you read it from a magazine, that is total BS. An STi v an 03 Cobra with equal drivers would have the STi begging for mercy. Now we are not talking handling here, though the 03 Cobra can take some corners. 03 Cobras are capable of mid 12s stock and with cheap mods can get into low 11s. Full exhaust, chip, and pulleys and youll have a 500+rwhp car. :)


I wouldn't jump to say the the sti would be beggin for mercy. Now if your strictly talking about running the quarters, the Cobra would probably have the overall advantage considering that the driver knows how to lauch it. Throw these two cars on the track, and things will get quite interesting. I would put my money on the sti over the cobra if the two were competeing on the track. Anybody who has an idea of how to launch their car car run a straight line. Racing your car on a track is where its true capabilities can be reached.

"Now we are not talking handling here"

Im not sure if you overlooked that part ;)

cobras arent that bad at handling, cause they got that multilink rear suspension, they can pull around .90g stock, and capable of pulling 1.0g on the skidpad. i think the cobra actually has the better suspension design or geometry over the sti, but the sti's suspension is probably tuned better stock which helps it go around the corner better. both stock, the sti will probably get a better lap time. for the straights, i think the cobra should win overall, rolling starts and highway races, cobra should win.

The book said 1/4 mile for Cobra is 13.30, STi is 13.29...
I guess my little RX-7 (1.3L)Couldn't do that...But the fact is I haven't try it, because it will be a deadly ticket...Even my car got twin turbo that should be able to outrun the cops, but they like to use 10 cars to hit you... :uhoh:
Oops...Off Topic-ism again...
And the book saids the STi sits more comfortable...But that doesn't really affect the speed...However this is a factor that matters how people choose to buy cars.(I didn't choose mine, my brother gave it to me... :p )

"Now we are not talking handling here"

Im not sure if you overlooked that part ;)

No, your not talking about handling. The thread is comparing the cars. I don't see a stictly 1/4mi. comparison in the title, so that lead me, and others, to believe that maybe this comparision is a performance wise comparision. The 1/4mi. time is only one part. (and a weak one if you ask me)
I'm also not saying that the handling of a Cobra is weak, its far from that. But I would challenge anyone who would believe that stock for stock, it can outst the sti. The sti does pull a very very high .9+g skidpad, which is better than the cobra. But a skidpad rating doesn't reflect a cars ability of handling. Until you can prove my otherwise, I can't see the cobra beating an sti on the track.

No, your not talking about handling. The thread is comparing the cars. I don't see a stictly 1/4mi. comparison in the title, so that lead me, and others, to believe that maybe this comparision is a performance wise comparision. The 1/4mi. time is only one part. (and a weak one if you ask me)
I'm also not saying that the handling of a Cobra is weak, its far from that. But I would challenge anyone who would believe that stock for stock, it can outst the sti. The sti does pull a very very high .9+g skidpad, which is better than the cobra. But a skidpad rating doesn't reflect a cars ability of handling. Until you can prove my otherwise, I can't see the cobra beating an sti on the track.
Well this thread was asking for opinions and my opinion doesnt really give a crap about racing at a track. I could really care less about doing 100mph in a turn, thats just a death wish if you ask me. Although Im pretty sure the 03 Cobra wont have a problem taking turns at those speeds, and will most likely give the STi a hard time in a road course.

The 03 Cobra is just a much more fun car than the STi stock. Its easier to make faster and looks 10 times better IMO. The roads in Texas are long and straight. Theres almost no snow to be found... You cant find a more perfect car here than the Cobra, other than a bolt-on KB powered Cobra :naughty:.

ALl I have to say is I have a 2003 Cobra and it handles curves very nice I run mine so I know like 140Mph and still climbing with out any sign of running out of air and that was on I-95 in 6 gear and it only took secound to get there just think if I had poped it into 5th and got on it I haven't found the speed limiter of course I have Diablo predator that I could take that out. But I did permantly disingauge the traction control and did Diablo's tune on it. Theres no replacement in my I feel than a good V-8 . I am very glad I bought mine and I stepped out of a 91 300zx twin turbo that would of giving the cobra a hard time but it just didn't have that V-8 grunt.

Well this thread was asking for opinions and my opinion doesnt really give a crap about racing at a track. I could really care less about doing 100mph in a turn, thats just a death wish if you ask me. Although Im pretty sure the 03 Cobra wont have a problem taking turns at those speeds, and will most likely give the STi a hard time in a road course.

The 03 Cobra is just a much more fun car than the STi stock. Its easier to make faster and looks 10 times better IMO. The roads in Texas are long and straight. Theres almost no snow to be found... You cant find a more perfect car here than the Cobra, other than a bolt-on KB powered Cobra :naughty:.
But if you are living in a State that snows so bad every year, you wouldn't pick Cobra. I've seen Cobras and Mustangs got stuck on icy roads and couldn't move an inch. (My RX-7 does too, therefore it's a summer car for me in comparing to my RSX) And there was a time that a Mustang slid backwards on a up hill and hit my dear RSX...So, for my personal opinion, I would pick a AWD for sure(At least it has a better grip). :uhoh:
Oh, forgot to mention about one thing is that, doing a 100mph turn is not a hard thing for some people that knows how to do a "power drift" or a "brake drift". But of course, it depends on what kind of turn...not a 90 degrees on a corner of a street... :p

Well this thread was asking for opinions and my opinion doesnt really give a crap about racing at a track. I could really care less about doing 100mph in a turn, thats just a death wish if you ask me. Although Im pretty sure the 03 Cobra wont have a problem taking turns at those speeds, and will most likely give the STi a hard time in a road course.

Well you are entitled to your own opinion, as well as I.

"Now we are not talking handling here"

Im not sure if you overlooked that part

Your opinion doesn't hold anymore water than mine, so don't be ridiculing what i've to say.

Maybe you don't see the need for turning, but their are lots of people who actually prefer turning over going straight. And a Cobra is just as capable as negotiating turns as it can go straight. If you only want to go straight, maybe you should look into an older muscle car with a big block. It may suit your fancy a bit better.

Okay Yuki, as you are fairly new in here and I get the idea you are relatively new to cars I am going to give you my two cents and maybe it will help get you a bit further along in your auto knowledge.

As far as WRX versus STi goes understand that the Cobra is a rwd car with a monster amount of torque...and it makes that torque way down in the rpm range. What this means is that while the car can potentially accelerate very, very fast; it will want to spin the rear tires at launch a lot which hurts acceleration if not handled correctly. So, it is a somewhat difficult vehicle to drive well.(to make it accelerate as fast as it actually can) And in all honesty, the Mustang is pretty difficult to drive well when compared to other rwd V-8 cars like the Vette...I enjoy this as it means not everyone can do what maybe I can learn to.

The Subaru is a very powerful car as well with a nice amount of torque too. However, the Subaru is noticeably lower in hp and there is a huge differnce in torque especially in the lower rpm range. The Subaru is also AWD which combined with it's power and the way it delivers it makes the Subaru easier to launch, and therefore easier to get the car to accelerate at the cars full potential. Put simply the Subaru does not require the same level of skill to get it's best acceleration run...it is an "easier" car to drive in this respect.

I have never seen the Subaru run at the strip some and therefore cannot comment too much about it's full potential. I will say that when you look at magazine test numbers from people like Motor Trend understand that usually they don't have a race car driver do the tests, and they are generally not drag racers themselves. So, the easier a car is to drive the closer they seem to get in their tests to the cars true potential as far as acceleration numbers go.

As an example I have more than once seen Cobra's get well into the twelves bone stock at the quarter. However, the numbers I have seen in new car magazines for the Evo and the WRX (not the 300hp STI) are actually fairly close to the best I have seen anyone run at a strip.

Pick up a Mustang publication and you will notice fairly quickly that some of them have goptten stock Mach-1's to equal the 1/4 mile time you qoute for a Cobra. Let me assure you a Mach-1 is not as fast as a Cobra. I have also, once again, seen both of these Mustangs do this at a dragstrip as well so these aren't just magazine numbers.

What I have been trying to say in this much too long explination is don't bet the farm on what the typical, new car auto rags wring out of a car. Every now and then they come up pretty short.

my opinions are opposite of syr74. ive driven mustangs, mr2s, wrx's, 3000gts, and a bunch of other cars, from my experience, i found that it takes more skills to launch an all wheel drive vehicle over a rwd. ive especially been able to drive the wrx a lot, since my brother had that car. sometimes you may think you got the take off down on an awd vehicle cause it may feel fast, or cause you got the jump, but you might not be getting it as quick as it can really go. you have to practice, and get the best take of type down on certain awd cars.

Okay Yuki, as you are fairly new in here and I get the idea you are relatively new to cars I am going to give you my two cents and maybe it will help get you a bit further along in your auto knowledge.

As far as WRX versus STi goes understand that the Cobra is a rwd car with a monster amount of torque...and it makes that torque way down in the rpm range. What this means is that while the car can potentially accelerate very, very fast; it will want to spin the rear tires at launch a lot which hurts acceleration if not handled correctly. So, it is a somewhat difficult vehicle to drive well.(to make it accelerate as fast as it actually can) And in all honesty, the Mustang is pretty difficult to drive well when compared to other rwd V-8 cars like the Vette...I enjoy this as it means not everyone can do what maybe I can learn to.

The Subaru is a very powerful car as well with a nice amount of torque too. However, the Subaru is noticeably lower in hp and there is a huge differnce in torque especially in the lower rpm range. The Subaru is also AWD which combined with it's power and the way it delivers it makes the Subaru easier to launch, and therefore easier to get the car to accelerate at the cars full potential. Put simply the Subaru does not require the same level of skill to get it's best acceleration run...it is an "easier" car to drive in this respect.
-skip-
I hope I didn't get this idea wrong. Correct me if I do.
You are trying to say that a FR is harder to get over the front wheels' inertia because the front wheels don't have power to get them moving. So it is harder to start, and it will make it to lose a few(probably less than a "few", but still a bit of time) seconds in comparing to the STi, since it is easier to control?
But to tell you honestly, I am having 2 cars, one of them is FR(95'RX-7), the other is a FF(03'RSX), but I just can't really feel the difference in controlling between them...all I can feel it is whenever the road is slippery...I'm not trying to say that you are wrong, but just saying that I can't feel the difference. It might because of that I'm not a car knowing driver? :uhoh:

I hope I didn't get this idea wrong. Correct me if I do.
You are trying to say that a FR is harder to get over the front wheels' inertia because the front wheels don't have power to get them moving. So it is harder to start, and it will make it to lose a few(probably less than a "few", but still a bit of time) seconds in comparing to the STi, since it is easier to control?
But to tell you honestly, I am having 2 cars, one of them is FR(95'RX-7), the other is a FF(03'RSX), but I just can't really feel the difference in controlling between them...all I can feel it is whenever the road is slippery...I'm not trying to say that you are wrong, but just saying that I can't feel the difference. It might because of that I'm not a car knowing driver? :uhoh:

A car with FF will have the most trouble trying to launch. When you launch your car, the weight of your vehicle will be pulled to the back of your car. If your car if FF, you will loose the weight to the front of your vehicle where your tires are trying to grab the surface, and you will more than likely end up breaking the surface. The only advantage this car has is that the engine and the transmission are both in the front, which help to keep as much weight as possible in the front of the car when launching. But thats hardly an arguement that makes it an 'ideal' car to use for any type of dragging/racing.

An FR car will be more 'ideal' for these situations due to the rwd. When you launch your FR car the weight will be sent to the tires that are spinning which will help keep the traction from breaking the surface. Newer FR cars tend to have a much better weight distribution than what they used to, which will make for an even better launch.

Now a car like the Cobra will still require a driver who is capable of launching it to its full potential. What you have here is a high power/torque FR car that has well enough torque to easily break the surface (on stock tires) reguardless of the weight being put on the rear. Its still possible to launch it, but you've gotta control the throttle a bit more to limit slippage.

I hope this will help you out.

So it's more confusing now, which one is easier to launch? FF, FR(Cobra), AWD(STi)?

I cant even get any traction when launching :evillol:
I just stay there spinning my wheels up to 40-50 mph :grinyes:

So it's more confusing now, which one is easier to launch? FF, FR(Cobra), AWD(STi)?

An AWD car will be the easiest to launch cause you get traction from every wheel instead of only 2.

It definitely takes a little finesse to launch a high-torque FR car. I know with my brother's 69 Camaro you have to launch at about 3 grand and hold it there for just a second and then hammer it to the floor once you hit about 20-25mph. My dad's SS427 Chevelle is a little the same way although it's an automatic (that car can spin the tires past 45mph). My car is just a jap spec Silvia Q's so I don't have to worry about spinning tires unless it's raining. Without question AWD is the easiest, most mindless launch. Rev to 4 or 5 grand, pop the clutch, and you're off! Forget about FWD. The Honda guys are only working off the fact that they're up against adversity. A small engine, NA, FWD car is about the furthest thing on earth from what you want if you're trying to make a car get down the 1/4.

The WRX gearing is better than the cobra's get this months Hot Rod mag. and they compare the two and the WRX did better time than the cobra but the wrx has better gearing and as you know theses mag. spec. don't say or include launch time and wheel spin so they aren't that truthful. I bet you that that cobra broke the rear wheels loose on take off and your not making any time while the wheels are smoking. I agree about the snow shit I just got aout of a 300 zx Twin turbo and those poor guys up north had to garage theirs during the snow. I live on the coast of SC so all I have to deal with is rain and I have my tractio control permantly turned of with a diablo tunner and I can drive my cobra just fine in the rain You can drive the cobra just like any other car just stay out of the boost or follow the cute little shift arrow. Now when it comes to just choice of cars I looked at the wrx its cute and four doors would be nice with kids but one thing is I don't want another Jap.car I had enough with that 300zx and WE cobra owners can do something you wrxers can't and have fun smoking them down when want to and I love the feel of the power and the backend when it starts to swing out and all the things this USA boy loves I
had a some Big blocks in my time and once you get that good old v8 backend dancing going it gets in your blood at lease it did with me. Man as you can tell I am one happy camper because I LOVE MY COBRA! One more thing you can go broke trying to have the fastest or best car so what if you have a 100,000 dollar Porche blow your doors off hell I don't know about you but I can buy one plus My 2003 Cobra is PAIDOFF ALL MINE!

My first car was a 1973 Mach 1 that had been converted back to a street car from an old drag car. Even with suspension improvements which the car still had when I bought it that car would fry the rear tires even when it was running a ridiculous looking ten inch wide rear tire when I first bought the car.

The the engine in the car at that time was stout, but it wasn't stupid fast in todays standards by any means. It had maybe 400 honest hp at the crank when it was running perfect. Rear axle gearing was pretty well up there too just to mention . Even with an automatic I could punch the gas and that car would not move for extended periods of time.

You really, really had to feather the gas with street tires on the car....period. I was always dissappointed in how "slow" that car was on the street IMO because it just would not hook for beans. So yes, rwd can be difficult to get to hook.

AWD has a tendency to bog on aunch, but other than that in my experience they aren't nearly as difficult to get a good launch from. Relatively speaking. FWD just comes with too much baggage when utilizing really high hp numbers IMO. Note that auto makers do not produc fwd cars over about 300hp, and those ho numbers are compromised in those applications, and only ever seen in larger fwd cars from the factory.

It takes a learning curve not to smoke the wheels in these cobras but can be done. I leaned not to hammer the clutch with the rpms way up there just easy on the throttle just to get past that point and the car has enough power to make the differants because once in second I'm gone and no tire spin. you just hammer the clutch you are going to smoke the tires. Thats worked for me.

I think credit needs to be given when credit is due. I am a fan of both, but love the STI simply because it's a 4-cylinder picked to go against a "V-8 monster". STOCK and STOCK, the SVT isn't to impressive. Hot Rod mgazine says the STI is faster in 1/4 mile. Now why would an AMERICAN MUSCLE magazine post that? Wouldn't they want to favor an AMERICAN ICON (Cobra)? There moto is even "torque and hosepwer finally explained". SO why did the STI win? Sure blame it on the drivers, because i bet Hot Rod magazine went out an picked two 15 year olds to drive. Even if the cobra did win (by a little) thats still not impressive because after all, it has 90 MORE hp, 90 MORE ft/lbs of torque, 4 MORE cylinders, and the engine is 130 ci larger. The STI is a fast car and credit should be given. After all "In a street race with the STI, the Cobra would probably lose" says Hot Rod magazine.
January 2004 issue

I think credit needs to be given when credit is due.

And I think that if you read the rules, you'd know better than to give it in a one year old thread :)