Terminator Cobra, Anyone?

[NPTR]

OK guys, posting this here as I want the opinion of people who currently have (or have had) both a Terminator Cobra and a GT350 in the garage at the same time…

This has been a hero car for me for a long time now - one of those cars I lusted for in high school and never stopped thinking about. I was a valet at a restaurant and a guy had a comp orange one he’d rip by with from time to time, and I’d literally risk life and limb to hear her scream by. I owned an 03 Mach 1 at one point and that was a super cool car, but a different animal for sure. I’ve been considering finally adding one to the stable, in a harder spec to come by (mystichrome coupe with moderate miles), but trying to make the call now so when a good one pops up I can jump on it.

I get the knocks on the interior and overall build quality concerns, but I know what I’m buying here (that engine / experience). I also understand the concerns on mystichrome as a difficult / expensive color to care for and repair if ever needed, but my 4 year old daughter keeps asking me to get a purple car and this is as close as I’d get haha!

My real question for you guys is, you have both in the garage…are you still excited to grab the keys to the Termi when a 350R is sitting right next to her? I think YES given that menacing blower whine, more raw experience, different sound profile and driving characteristics, its history / nostalgia, etc…but please let me know what you think. I only want to add things to the garage now that will stick around for a while, too much time / effort / money to dial cars into my liking so I want to ensure I’m not going to be underwhelmed given the other pony car in the garage…

Thank you guys!!

-Chris

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[Pistol_91]

I owned an 03 cobra about 10 years ago. Stock blower, pulley, tune, exhaust. Made around 460ish whp. Was a blast to drive. I also want another but they're hard to come by.
I don't have a 350 but I have an ESS GT.
The 2 cars are completely different. I personally think you would find joy in both cars equally but differently. The quality of the cobra is very good. The interior may be dull to today's standards, but compared to the F-bodies of the same day, the quality is 100% better. No dash cracking or anything like that.
My personal opinion if I was buying another cobra. I would buy one with a Whipple or KB blower on it already and not the stock eaton. The stock blower is very limited.
The drivability on your 350 will be much better obviously especially if the cobra has an aftermarket clutch and/or shifter.
The clutch is something to get used to. It is controlled by a cable and any cobra with mods to add HP will most likely have an aftermarket clutch. The stock clutch is very weak.
The clutch cables are very adjustable and if they are not adjusted correctly they will eat TOBs like candy because of the design of how the clutch fork sits on TOB.

All in all, there isn't many problems with Terminators. They're extremely fun and awesome cars. You would absolutely love one. I'd obviously suggest trying to test drive one that has a stock shifter because some aftermarket shifters can be extremely stiff and may be a turn off if you're not trying to drag race it. If you're looking for a completely stock one, they're out there. Just would need patience. Buying a cobra is an investment since the value of them have only gone up and will most likely only continue to go up. I'd say go for it!

 

[robvas]

Ancient. Not as fast as people make them out to be. Takes a lot to equal a blown S550. Feels like it's going to rattle apart when you go over tracks or expansion joints on the highway. Doesn't like to be lowered. Parts are getting hard to find. Hard to tune or find a tuner. And expensive as shit.

 

[350 Feet]

OK guys, posting this here as I want the opinion of people who currently have (or have had) both a Terminator Cobra and a GT350 in the garage at the same time…

This has been a hero car for me for a long time now - one of those cars I lusted for in high school and never stopped thinking about. I was a valet at a restaurant and a guy had a comp orange one he’d rip by with from time to time, and I’d literally risk life and limb to hear her scream by. I owned an 03 Mach 1 at one point and that was a super cool car, but a different animal for sure. I’ve been considering finally adding one to the stable, in a harder spec to come by (mystichrome coupe with moderate miles), but trying to make the call now so when a good one pops up I can jump on it.

I get the knocks on the interior and overall build quality concerns, but I know what I’m buying here (that engine / experience). I also understand the concerns on mystichrome as a difficult / expensive color to care for and repair if ever needed, but my 4 year old daughter keeps asking me to get a purple car and this is as close as I’d get haha!

My real question for you guys is, you have both in the garage…are you still excited to grab the keys to the Termi when a 350R is sitting right next to her? I think YES given that menacing blower whine, more raw experience, different sound profile and driving characteristics, its history / nostalgia, etc…but please let me know what you think. I only want to add things to the garage now that will stick around for a while, too much time / effort / money to dial cars into my liking so I want to ensure I’m not going to be underwhelmed given the other pony car in the garage…

Thank you guys!!

-Chris

OK guys, posting this here as I want the opinion of people who currently have (or have had) both a Terminator Cobra and a GT350 in the garage at the same time…

This has been a hero car for me for a long time now - one of those cars I lusted for in high school and never stopped thinking about. I was a valet at a restaurant and a guy had a comp orange one he’d rip by with from time to time, and I’d literally risk life and limb to hear her scream by. I owned an 03 Mach 1 at one point and that was a super cool car, but a different animal for sure. I’ve been considering finally adding one to the stable, in a harder spec to come by (mystichrome coupe with moderate miles), but trying to make the call now so when a good one pops up I can jump on it.

I get the knocks on the interior and overall build quality concerns, but I know what I’m buying here (that engine / experience). I also understand the concerns on mystichrome as a difficult / expensive color to care for and repair if ever needed, but my 4 year old daughter keeps asking me to get a purple car and this is as close as I’d get haha!

My real question for you guys is, you have both in the garage…are you still excited to grab the keys to the Termi when a 350R is sitting right next to her? I think YES given that menacing blower whine, more raw experience, different sound profile and driving characteristics, its history / nostalgia, etc…but please let me know what you think. I only want to add things to the garage now that will stick around for a while, too much time / effort / money to dial cars into my liking so I want to ensure I’m not going to be underwhelmed given the other pony car in the garage…

Thank you guys!!

-Chris

Chris,
I understand the mental battle you are having here. Childhood memories can be SO powerful. At 17, I was on my 3rd Mustang. They were not classics yet; just old cars. It was a 1967 GTA Fastback with a 390 engine. It looked cool with its mag wheels and it screamed like NASCAR. Got into so much trouble with that one. Such wonderful memories.
A year ago I had a chance to pick up a restored one for a somewhat reasonable price. Hadn’t driven one in 45 years. It was nostalgic for about 5 minutes, but it was so disappointing compared to a 350. Period, full stop.
Enjoy the memories of the guy ripping on a Cobra. Go into your garage and fondle the 350, then plunk down any extra cash on your daughter’s college fund.
Sorry, this is my “Dad” speech for the day.
Cheers,

 

[btown93]

I also had one back in the day, a mystichrome coupe. The 2 cars are not even comparable IMO. Ancient flexible small chassis, laughable brakes/hubs, primitive IRS. (Especially compared to GT350/R) Game changer at the time for sure. Owning Mystichrome is a double edged sword. Amazing color and interior, but in the real world you will find reasons not to drive it. Owned mine for 6 years put 14k on it. Sold it to a friend in 2012 and I don't think he's put 3k miles on it in 13 years.

Nostalgia is a hell of a drug. I agree with @robvas and @350 Feet

if purple is your thing, consider Mischievous Purple Mach 1/GT and put a blower on it to scratch that blower whine itch.

 

[robvas]

I had one, enjoyed it, but realized how much better the newer cars/engine are. Would I pay $35,000 for a clean example with low mileage? No.

Owned quite a few (most were supercharged) SN95/New Edge cars over the years. The Cobra is basically a factory built motor/blower/T56 New Edge. The price almost makes sense when you factor in how much it would cost to add those three things to a Mustang GT of that era. However, you will want to replace that Eaton right out of the gate so that's a chunk of change.

If you really want a car of that era I would find a clean, cheap GT and enjoy it close to stock, you can enjoy it just like you would a stock Fox body.

 

[The Watchman]

I know the listing says this whip is "black" but it sure looks like the shade you are looking for:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplac...wse_serp:f6752930-5108-4a59-bdba-706173df85bb

There is a renown dermatologist who has several practices in my area here. He is also a car collector.

He has a mystechrome Terminator Cobra, but this car is a CONVERTIBLE and all original. When we took a tour of his vast collection of cars and we came to this particular car in a very rare shade, he remarked for some time how rare and difficult it was to find it.

The Moral of the Story is when/if you find the exact car you are looking for, swoop it up immediately because these cars are truly rare and exclusive for the collector market.

Good luck and cheers!

 

[robvas]

Also...maybe an unpopular opinion...Mystichrome was a fugly trend that couldn't go away fast enough. Give me any other color instead.

Remember when the other paint brands came out with their own and EVERY FUCKING CAR was getting that slapped on it?

 

[lo-fi]

This guy has a nice build series that you might find interesting.

 

[SnowFox]

Mystic Cobras are great. The Terminator was awesomeness when it was out.

Sure it's power by today's standards wouldn't be epic compared to some NA or super charged GT's. But we are talking a time period when the GT made what...265hp?

I'd buy one in a heart beat. I'm lusting after the Cobra R still, I don't care that by today standards it's meh. It's still fking Cobra R

 

[Bob Lob Law]

My buddies '03 has the stock eaton ported with LTH , bolt ons and E, making 675whp. It's rowdy!!

 

[robvas]

My buddies '03 has the stock eaton ported with LTH , bolt ons and E, making 675whp. It's rowdy!!

He's definitely not making 675whp on an Eaton

 

[robvas]

This guy has a nice build series that you might find interesting.

He has good videos. This one was a pain in the ass

 

[MAGS1]

I get it from a nostalgia perspective and the Mystichrome Cobra’s are attention getters. I had an F body Camaro SS and a supercharged Monte Carlo SS at the time of the SN Cobra’s but always eyed the Cobra’s.

I think as long as you set your expectations appropriately (the Cobra will not be at the level of your 350R) it would be cool to have both in the garage. It will be a totally different driving experience, which could be cool going back and forth between the two.

There’s several Terminator Cobra’s in our local Mustang club including a Mystichrome. It’s a really cool color to see in person and I flock to it every time I see it at an event. There’s also a Mystic Cobra in the group and the two get photographed together every now and then.

I’ve fancied getting an F Body (Firebird WS6) in the garage for old times sake, but every time I drive one I find myself almost disappointed in the way the car drives compared to my Mustang. They just feel different (almost inadequate) compared to the newer cars. Not quite to the point it ruined my memories of my former car, but it just didn’t feel special (from a nostalgic perspective) like I hoped it would. So that’s my perspective when I say set expectations accordingly, it could be a similar feeling going from the R to the Termi.

 

[Bob Lob Law]

He's definitely not making 675whp on an Eaton

Just going by what he's saying. I cannot confirm. I thought it sounded a little high. I thought that was old Kenny Bell numbers.

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