Hi guys,
I just joined the community and I am possibly gettingan 03-04 cobra and I just wanted to know anythingI need to know about the car. I was actually going for 07GT but cobra would just give me theperformance I am looking for.
I have never had a FIinany of my previous cars and I do know that the forged motor is capable ofhigh power.
I have looked in to it and its typically mid 20s depending on the miles , I am conducting my reaserch on the car and I ll appreciate any help. Thanks all

Well ask away, we'll try to help answer any questions you have. Don't forget to use the search link at the top, we've gone over a bunch of topics here that could help you if you have questions. If you look at an 03 Cobra, you're looking at $20-25k depending on mileage. 04's I'm not positive but I think they are usually a few thousand more. I see low mileage 04s still hitting $27-28k. Don't get yourself too excited about a car until you know it's a good deal. You can get these cars for cheap if you take your time and find the right deal. I just paid $22k for my 03 with 35k miles and a few thousand in work done to it.

First, welcome to the forum! :D

The FAQ page on my website will help you a lot. Here is the link to info relative to buying a used '03/'04 Cobra. The rest of the page should give you a lot of good, basic information before you buy the car. Best of luck. Oh, here's the link. http://stangshiftergaskets.com/2003_2004faqs.htm#_Toc35092330

Im in the same boat so thanks for the FAQ page.

Sure. Glad to help you out. :)

Oh yeah, forgot to link to CobraBob's FAQ. It's pretty much the best there is. I remember reading it thoroughly when I got my car.:)

Thanks of the input guys, I read the list ,it was pretty comprehensive

I had a few quick questions ,
I do know that these car put about 370-380 to thewheels but what addtional mods can be done under 2k and keep the car reliable.
AJ03SVT (http://www.mustangforums.com/showProfile.asp?memid=49856)thats a good deal for 23k and a very nice looking car ,have you dyno'd it yet

Know a good amount about 2v's, I have a 2001 GT with mild bolt ons. Trying to listen and learn from all your Termi guys. Graduate in may. Sign on bonus is going straight for a Termi, I can barely stand it....

intake, pulley, exhast and tune should put you at just about 1500 or so depending on what you find and should run extremely reliably at about 450rwhp

Thats value right there , for N/A cars I have owned , it would have cost 5-6k for a blower and would probably net 100hp
450 rwhp , you can run with a lot of cars on the street with that power

These guys pretty much covered it all.. but remember..

THE SEARCH BUTTON IS YOUR FRIEND. DONT BE LAZY - LOOK THROUGH THE POSTED THREADS.


Welcome to the Forum.

ORIGINAL: renesisr2

Thanks of the input guys, I read the list ,it was pretty comprehensive

I had a few quick questions ,
I do know that these car put about 370-380 to the wheels but what addtional mods can be done under 2k and keep the car reliable.
AJ03SVT (http://www.mustangforums.com/showProfile.asp?memid=49856) thats a good deal for 23k and a very nice looking car ,have you dyno'd it yet



Nah, It's going in in the next week or two for a "baseline" run before porting the S/C. I don't have the money to put down on a twinscrew/turbo setup right now, but I can be happy with 500+ for a while.

Test driving this weekend, I did findmore convertibles than coupes, I prefer a coupe but whats the downside of the convt other than the softer ride.
I guess I gotta keep looking till I find the right one.

verts weigh more then coupes?

Welcome to the forum and good luck with finding a 03-04 Cobra. My only advice is try to find one with the least amount or no mods! Those Cobras are usaully not dogged as hard as the modded ones. Once again welcome and good luck!

ORIGINAL: BTRStang

Welcome to the forum and good luck with finding a 03-04 Cobra. My only advice is try to find one with the least amount or no mods! Those Cobras are usaully not dogged as hard as the modded ones. Once again welcome and good luck!


I love it when guys say this, anyone that believes this is just naive. most people hang onto the stock marts and put them back to mostly stock before they sell. Doodads car form this forum was a perfect example of that. he sold it almost bone stock, but it was a pullied car for a good part of its time with him and had the crap power shifted out if it at the track. just cuz it looks stock when you buy it does not mean it has been stock all along.

i had an 07 GT black/black fully loaded......
2 months later...
2 cobras lol

Look BlownSVT I`m just trying to warn the guy he might be thinking he`s getting a real good deal on a modded Cobra when infact he`s getting a dogged track car, that someone is trying to get rid so they don`t have to come up with the expense to fix and you do you think you are calling someone naive you don`t even know me.

and i am just saying that you can just as easily buy a stock looking car that hes been dogged all day with every mod in the book on it and has issues as well. all i was saying is that anyoine that thinks because a 03/04 cobra is stock when they buy it means it was not beat on is pretty naive. there are tons of cobras that are very modded and have made lots of track passes then get sold as stock cars. It is more important to look and listen to the sounds of the engine/drivetrain etc than look for minimal mods. chances are just about every terminator has been put through it's paces. most people don't buy a car like this to cruise at 35 mph aorund the neighbor hood.

As far as who i think i am, i would just say i am a member of this site who has been on this forum for quite sometime and have been around these cars for a while as well, not just my own or other peoples on this forum, but also as a member of the svt owners association of america. our local chapter pocesses about 15-20 of these cars. I have seen just about every issue these things can have first hand and in person. things like the irs issues all the way to burnt up pistons as a result of poor head cooling. these cars range form stock to ported eatons and KB/whipple cars and now my soon to be hellion turbo cobra. so yeah I do think i have a bit of an edge on some people with my knowledge of these cars and what they can and cannot do. I don't disrespect anyone on these forums i was just simply stating the obvious and even cited an example of what i was talking about. I never said you personally were naive just that anyone that thinks buying a stock carand thinks it has not been dogged as much as a modded one should think again.

Yea , I looked at a few , this what the break down is , correct me if I am wrong
30k miles, 24-26k
45-60k miles 22-23k

I found the verts to be cheaper for some reason
Still looking , not in a Hurry

ORIGINAL: renesisr2

Yea , I looked at a few , this what the break down is , correct me if I am wrong
30k miles, 24-26k
45-60k miles 22-23k

I found the verts to be cheaper for some reason
Still looking , not in a Hurry

Where have you been looking for them? All of the ones I could find were around $30k

Check autotrader for local ones , 1 hour or less, check local dealerships , i have quite few around me so its not bad at all. All the dealerships have verts with 30k miles and then they are 25k or so.
check other sites too ,

I bought my 04 with 11k miles on it for $32k, it was perfect shape, owned by a female, ford bought it back from her because of a cylinder firing problem. i got papers from svt saying they changed the computer and some other odds and ends and is better then new. had it for about 6 months and everything runs perfect, having owned an 01 GT which i still own, i cant stop driving the cobra even tho i want to keep the miles down! i love it.

Just keep looking and dont settle if its not EXACTLY what you want. I was dealing with a guy that is about 6 hours away on a car. Dealt with him for about a week. Guarenteed me it shifted smooth and no clunking and such. I make the 6 hour trip, get the keys sit inside and crank it. Try to put it in first gear and i had to force it in. Drove a little shifted to 2nd and it felt like the rearend was gonna fall out and i was still in the parking lot. I just parked it there and said thanks but its not what you told me it was and i left.

You can definately find some good deals if you know where to look. I managed to get an 03 vert with 9k miles for $27000, which I felt was a good deal. The forums have some of the best deals sometimes especially at this time of year. Try svtperformance they always have all kinds of cars on there for sale.

Verts do weigh more than coupes, I thought that was odd too.
Vertsalso have loud interiors, leak, creak, and have less room between the trunk and back seat in a car already known for a poor back seat area. Some tracks won't let you use a vert.
I loved my 40th GT vert and it was great for cruising VA Beach blvd, but I'd take a coupe anyday.