I currently have a 2000 BMW M5 and I am getting very sick of the over inflated prices involved with owning this car. Last trip to dealer they wanted $750 to change out the thermostat. I am looking at a '05 Mustang GT supercharged or an '04 Mustang Cobra. I like the look and interior room of the '05, but I like the idea that the Cobra's engine was designed to handle the Supercharger. Which one would give better perfromance?
_____________________________
2000 GT, Magnaflows, X pipe, throttle body and intake spacers, Predator tuned, K&N, Steeda UDP.
The forged Cobra block will hold mor power from the get go. However you have to buy a used Cobra. They are great but are nowhere as refined as the S197. Many people have fast S197s that can beat Cobras but to achieve numbers well over 500RWHP safely you should upgrade forged rods and pistons in a 3-valve.
< Message edited by zkiller -- 4/24/2008 8:08:37 AM >
I don't mind a slightly used Cobra. I am 2.5 hrs from the nearest certified BMW M Technician. It is getting to be a real pain every time I have to have my car worked on. I had a 2000 GT and was pretty happy with it. There are a ton of aftermarket accessories at a reasonable price. I am looking at new OEM wheels for my M5, $1,100 each. I am thinking I would have more fun building a Mustang (Cobra) than maintaining an M5.
What is an S197?
< Message edited by jcdavis -- 4/24/2008 8:37:50 AM >
_____________________________
2000 GT, Magnaflows, X pipe, throttle body and intake spacers, Predator tuned, K&N, Steeda UDP.
I don't mind a slightly used Cobra. I am 2.5 hrs from the nearest certified BMW M Technician. It is getting to be a real pain every time I have to have my car worked on. I had a 2000 GT and was pretty happy with it. There are a ton of aftermarket accessories at a reasonable price. I am looking at new OEM wheels for my M5, $1,100 each. I am thinking I would have more fun building a Mustang (Cobra) than maintaining an M5.
What is an S197?
The S197 is the 05+ Mustang. The 03/04 Cobras known as Terminators are awesome beasts with potential out the wazoo. They have a 4v vs 3v in the 05+
Get the 04 cobra for performanace and fun. I love my 07 SC GT, I bought it new and installed the blower. Bought the car on an impulse, going to the car lot is 100 times harder than a pet store. I always bring something home.
In hindsight I should have bought a Cobra, but big deal I still have a great car.
Here is what I would have done had I got a Cobra, in no particular order.
-Solid rear axle -MGW shifter -3.4L whipple -New fuel system -Larger HE -Larger intercooler res. -Sparco seats -Roll cage -Alum DS -Mcloed Twin disc clutch -298ci forged/stroked block -Black 03 Cobra relica wheels (Would have got a Sonic Blue car)
Put out about 650+rwhp on pump gas, race gas ???.
_____________________________
2007 Satin Silver GT 5 speed manual 3.55 gears Pypes Violater exhaust MGW Shifter BMR Control Arms Whipple HO
Get the 04 cobra for performanace and fun. I love my 07 SC GT, I bought it new and installed the blower. Bought the car on an impulse, going to the car lot is 100 times harder than a pet store. I always bring something home.
In hindsight I should have bought a Cobra, but big deal I still have a great car.
Here is what I would have done had I got a Cobra, in no particular order.
-Solid rear axle -MGW shifter -3.4L whipple -New fuel system -Larger HE -Larger intercooler res. -Sparco seats -Roll cage -Alum DS -Mcloed Twin disc clutch -298ci forged/stroked block -Black 03 Cobra relica wheels (Would have got a Sonic Blue car)
Put out about 650+rwhp on pump gas, race gas ???.
so by the time you do all those mods on a cobra, you can buy a used GT (easily 8K cheaper than a 03 cobra) and do the SAME mods.
My point is ... if you're going that far in a cobra is absolutelly pointles buying one, you can do that in a 05GT and the baseline will be cheaper, and the results will be the same.
< Message edited by MexGT -- 4/24/2008 1:18:10 PM >
not so sure on used S197 being cheaper slighty modded Termi's can be had for around 22,000-21,000 and that puts you at about the same price as a brand new gt but the termi is rated at 390hp with forged internals and the stock GT is well a stock gt rated at 300hp which one would you choose
_____________________________
2006 GT Vert. stock.....for now
1979 LTD2 4dr "FORD...cause only pussies wear bowties"
thats a question answered by what you want to. i think the termin would have been better for me only because i have ended up only using the car for racing. i bought a brand new truck so i could drive and tow the mustang around. if i had known it would of turned into this i would have bought a cobra. now one of my good friends has an 04 cobra and he says he wished he bought an 05 and modded, he loves the room and the design and feel of the car, so its all dependent on what your goals are going to be with the car. a modded 05+ plus with blower or bolt ons with apearance work is better looking to me than a cobra, however a cobra is bad ass, in looks and is stock power.
The good thing about the cobra is most SVT owners take good care of there cars. Low Miles as well. They are easy to find that way.
They will hold there value allot stronger and you will have a 4 valve supercharged car out of the box, which is nice. You can pick up one for about 25k with low miles. Sense you said you just want 450 then I would just do basic bolt ons such as an X Pipe, Intake, Pulley and Tune if it does not have on all ready.
Now for about 3,200 you can do the whipple upgrade for it and turn that baby into a beast but I am sure like any other mod that give you more power it is the same with the Cobra's you will probably run into more issues with fuel and such.
The good thing about the cobra is its a solid car all ready with good suspension and a good rear end.
The pro's that I have found with my S197 is that the stock rear end has lasted with some good abuse as well as the stock 5spd. With only a clutch, flywheel and shifter upgrade.
You can ask any person that has done mods such as a S/C you will end up spending more money then planned easily.
I hate the leather seats in the S197. At least my 06 ones. They are the WORST seats I have ever sat in in a car. Leather is supposed to be luxurious, not like sitting on a block of wood. And don't give me that crap about it's a mustang not a jaguar. After about 15min I'm ready to get out. Ever since I got this car my middle back stays sore. I have adjusted the seat a lot too.
My old '95 V6 mustang with cloth seats were quite nice. They were soft and hugged your back. Maybe the cloth seats in the S197 are better, I don't know.
_____________________________
2006 GT Premium Vista Blue Auto K&N CAI AeroForce Interceptor dual gauges. XCal2 w/ Brenspeed tunes Corsa axle-back exhaust Corsa crew member/founder.
Once I sat in the seats of an 03 or 04 Mach 1 and from what I remember they felt pretty good. But I did not drive the car, I only sat in them for maybe 1 minute at the dealer so it's hard to say if they really were better.
_____________________________
2006 GT Premium Vista Blue Auto K&N CAI AeroForce Interceptor dual gauges. XCal2 w/ Brenspeed tunes Corsa axle-back exhaust Corsa crew member/founder.
$$ for dollar the cobra will make more power. You just have to build it right. Build the suspension/ ditch the IRS and buy a whipple. Parts are getting cheaper for cobras and the motor was built by gods.......Our motor was built by capable idiots
_____________________________
Whipple Crew Member
468whp 463 lb/ft tq 2007 Black premium GT BMC member #07208
Printable Version
'05 SC GT or '04 Cobra - 
