Your S550, 03/04 Cobra, or S197

[socalsnake]

My 03 Cobra will always be the car I regretted selling. I had the most fun in that car.

Daily driving, the S550 wins out, but if it was a weekender, then it would be the 03 Cobra all day. Wish I still had it.

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[SVT_N8]

I've owned all 3 as well. 03 & 04 Cobra, 07 GT, 08 GT500 and now the S550. S550, while not the fastest, is my all around favorite.

 

[jkstang78]

I'll keep my S550. The only other mustang i ever owned was my 91 fox that turned into a full out 1000+ hp car. I have never liked anything they made between the fox and now. The only other thing i like more then my S550 is my 2000 SVT lightning.

 

[willmkent]

I had an 04 that I sold to buy my 15. I loved my cobra, and it looked great, but it was starting to nickel and dime me. It felt faster, I guess due to being more rough around the edges. After having a 2015, I couldn't go back to an 04 unless it was a 2.2kb'd weekend cruiser.

What kind of money were you putting into the cobra? What started to break down, or need maintenance? I never even had it long enough to maintain anything, I'm wondering how those held up over the years

 

[Chameleon]

I miss my Cobra. Loved that car!

 

[Zemedici]

What kind of money were you putting into the cobra? What started to break down, or need maintenance? I never even had it long enough to maintain anything, I'm wondering how those held up over the years

In the 2 years I had mine -

Entire cooling system was new save the radiator
Brakes all the way around
Lower Intercooler (one under blower)
Intercooler Pump
3 clutches (2 from bad install/technicians, dowels weren't seated on the plate)
ABS module
radio went out
various belts/pulleys

I understand some of this stuff is maintenance, but the car was just costing me more than it was 'worth' to me. Plus I couldn't find a good tech to save my life, so every time I had the car worked on it turned into a fucking nightmare. With my '15, something breaks, I throw the service advisor next to me the keys and say 'fix it'. Don't have to worry about anything.

 

[Quiksilver15]

I loved my 05 GT, but the S550 is leaps and bounds ahead. S550 hands down for me.

 

[Desmondo]

Having been inside a 2003-2004 model, owning an S197 V6 right now, and having a 2016 on order.. I don't think I'd ever want any pre-S197 mustang except some of the 1960 - early 1970s models.

The cars from the 1990s and early 2000s look pretty lackluster.. and I'm not even talking about the interior.

 

[filmamigo]

I miss my 2012.

I liked the S197 when it was introduced. Then they kept tweaking it, making subtle changes and updating the interior. When the 2011 models arrived, I thought "they've done it -- they've made the perfect modern Mustang."

The 2012 with Pony Package was very nicely appointed. The only thing less refined than my S550 was the rear axle. Although the liveliness of that axel made the whole car *feel* fast (or maybe just dangerously unstuck over rough pavement!)

 

[willmkent]

i pretty much love everything about my S550 ECO, no doubt. you guys are right, they really nailed it with this new mustang. It was long time over due. I feel like the 3G fusion changed the sedan game for them and it was only a matter of time until the mustang got its awesome debut.

Something about that damn cobra really keeps roping me in. I don't know why i love it so much. I had a black 04 hard top, but this time around if i were to get another one, I would get an anniversary soft top red on black with red interior!!

I feel like my two favorite cars were that cobra and my supra... two i wish i had never sold.

 

[HoustonMustang]

I've owned several vintage Shelby Mustangs...

But...my '15 S550 EcoBoost is the first contemporary Mustang that's ever appealed to me...

I've owned my '15 S550 for almost 6 months...and it still has less than 500 miles...

I also have a '16 GT350 on order...

The S500 platform is a very nice design!

 

[Tamadrummer88]

I love my EcoBoost, but damn, i would love me an 03/04 Cobra.

 

[04SloSnake]

The 03/04 Cobra gives you something no new Mustang can, lack of refinement. You feel every single bit of the 500+whp (my last dyno) ever time you step on the gas. The car is a brutal beast who you think is trying to kill you. Think of the Terminator vs. S550 as bull riding to equestrian. It is a love it or hate it thing and personally I could not get enough of it. If I didn't get orders to Japan I would have never gotten rid of my Cobra.

 

[socalsnake]

The 03/04 Cobra gives you something no new Mustang can, lack of refinement. You feel every single bit of the 500+whp (my last dyno) ever time you step on the gas. The car is a brutal beast who you think is trying to kill you. Think of the Terminator vs. S550 as bull riding to equestrian. It is a love it or hate it thing and personally I could not get enough of it. If I didn't get orders to Japan I would have never gotten rid of my Cobra.

x1000

I hear ya...feel exactly about my 03 Terminator. Miss that beast

 

[Catfish]

The 03/04 Cobra gives you something no new Mustang can, lack of refinement. You feel every single bit of the 500+whp (my last dyno) ever time you step on the gas. The car is a brutal beast who you think is trying to kill you. Think of the Terminator vs. S550 as bull riding to equestrian. It is a love it or hate it thing and personally I could not get enough of it. If I didn't get orders to Japan I would have never gotten rid of my Cobra.

Well said! The S550 is just......numb.

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