Finally picked up a different Ford…

[Tremortrix]

Back in 2006-2010 I had a 2004 Mustang GT that I loved. Put a ton of miles on it and it was bulletproof, which originally made me a Ford fan. Since then, I’ve spent my career traveling all over for work with no house/garage, so couldn‘t justify getting back in a sports car.

Fast forward to this year, in a house and have a 3 car garage! I’d been looking for years for a clean 03/04 mustang cobra. It’s nearly impossible to find one near where I live (Texas) and if so, most have tons of mods or more miles than I want.

Last week I stumbled across a near mint, completely stock, 2003 cobra with just 9k miles on it! The condition is nearly impossible to find. A gentleman bought it new in 2003, then passed away this spring and his neighbor got it, and in turn sold it to me.

It’s such a raw car and one of the last muscle cars before technology really started taking over. With 390hp stock, they’re popular because with just a few bolt ons, they can be at 500-550 rwhp easy. I’ll slowly mod in time, but enjoying in the meantime. Have tint going on this week, and a short throw shifter in the mail.

Now for some Cobra porn…

 

[Trophyhunter01]

Sweet!

 

[Tremor76]

Good Lord that thing is clean

 

[Warpath]

Nice! Welcome to the cobra family!!

 

[plethoragreen]

Very nice. I had a cherry '98 Cobra with 2000 Cobra R wheels. Last year for the SN95 body style. Great car tons of fun. I bought it in '07 with 45k miles (show car stored in heated garage in town) and sold it in '13 with under 57k miles.

Always had a special place in my heart for the '03/'04 Terminators especially the Mystics in '04. Pretty much bulletproof internals. Would love to find a low mileage one myself. Have fun with it!

 

[CobraCamper]

Hell of a find!! Love my 03 Cobra, they are the best Mustangs ever made. Edit - reread the post pulley it and let er rip! Shifter is one of the best drivability mods though

 

[davidevan970]

well I’m jealous.

I had a Sonic Blue fully loaded 2004 Mustang GT when I was a senior in high school, busted my ass at a summer job to buy it and man did I love that car. I had no idea what a turd the 2 valve 4.6L was back then. but still, I occasionally take a couple hours to browse Craigslist in all the major us cities seeing if I can track down a clean stock Sonic Blue 2003 Cobra coupe. The terminators were so cool to me back then, and I’d love to have one just for the nostalgia and like you said, the raw factor. you had ABS and a traction control button, and that was it.

badass car. congrats.

 

[Threeper]

Terminator with 9k on the clock, wow. You hit the jackpot.

I have a 98 GT in the garage with all the bolt-on’s, 3.73’s and a PI head swap I installed from an 02 Harley Davidson F-150. Pretty quick by those days’ standards. 03/04 Cobras were the holy grail though. I think they were like $35k new back then lol.

 

[Driftwood]

Sharp looking Terminator! Great find!

 

[MoKan]

So, when you gonna put an overdrive pulley on it and take some burnout pics?

Nice find. The 2003 is on my short list for mustangs.... so much performance for the dollar.

 

[Duke]

Back in 2006-2010 I had a 2004 Mustang GT that I loved. Put a ton of miles on it and it was bulletproof, which originally made me a Ford fan. Since then, I’ve spent my career traveling all over for work with no house/garage, so couldn‘t justify getting back in a sports car.

Fast forward to this year, in a house and have a 3 car garage! I’d been looking for years for a clean 03/04 mustang cobra. It’s nearly impossible to find one near where I live (Texas) and if so, most have tons of mods or more miles than I want.

Last week I stumbled across a near mint, completely stock, 2003 cobra with just 9k miles on it! The condition is nearly impossible to find. A gentleman bought it new in 2003, then past away this spring and his neighbor got it, and in turn sold it to me.

It’s such a raw car and one of the last muscle cars before technology really started taking over. With 390hp stock, they’re popular because with just a few bolt ons, they can be at 500-550 rwhp easy. I’ll slowly mod in time, but enjoying in the meantime. Have tint going on this week, and a short throw shifter in the mail.

Now for some Cobra porn…

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AWESOME just curious how much did you get it for i'm looking at a similar mustang in my neighborhood it has 12k on the clock.

 

[BlueKilla]

Awesome terminator!

 

[Tremortrix]

AWESOME just curious how much did you get it for i'm looking at a similar mustang in my neighborhood it has 12k on the clock.

I paid $38k for it which was very fair for both the seller and myself considering the condition and history of the vehicle.. I was prepared to pay up to around $42k (mostly since it was so close and I could inspect it prior to buying and saw how mint it was. I wouldn’t take that risk on a car across the country, which is all I was finding. I have the original window sticker and it was about $35k new.

In terms of mods, I have an MGW short throw shifter in the mail. Next will be subframe connectors, wider replica rear wheels (10.5” vs current 9”),then likely lowering springs (only about an inch, dont’ want it too low) catback exhaust, air intake, pulley, tune, ported heads at some point. I should be at about 500 rwhp at that point.

There will be other stuff along the way, and much further down the road I’d throw on a larger supercharger most likely etc. For now, I plan to just slowly start buying things and once I get them installed, continue on. I have a tendency to buy a lot of accessories and not spend the time to install (or get installed if needed).

 

[MoKan]

I paid $38k for it which was very fair for both the seller and myself considering the condition and history of the vehicle.. I was prepared to pay up to around $42k (mostly since it was so close and I could inspect it prior to buying and saw how mint it was. I wouldn’t take that risk on a car across the country, which is all I was finding. I have the original window sticker and it was about $35k new.

In terms of mods, I have an MGW short throw shifter in the mail. Next will be subframe connectors, wider replica rear wheels (10.5” vs current 9”),then likely lowering springs (only about an inch, dont’ want it too low) catback exhaust, air intake, pulley, tune, ported heads at some point. I should be at about 500 rwhp at that point.

There will be other stuff along the way, and much further down the road I’d throw on a larger supercharger most likely etc. For now, I plan to just slowly start buying things and once I get them installed, continue on. I have a tendency to buy a lot of accessories and not spend the time to install (or get installed if needed).

Wow. Those are 911 prices for a 2003.
Now I remember why I never bought one... Motorcycles were so much cheaper (and faster).

 

[NL-Tremor]

Nice Terminator!

Don't think I'll ever sell mine, I've had it now since '07!

Here's what makes mine different

 

[Tremortrix]

Wow. Those are 911 prices for a 2003.
Now I remember why I never bought one... Motorcycles were so much cheaper (and faster).

The only 911 I’d ever consider is a turbo, and the cheapest turbos are the early 00’s… One in similar condition and similar miles just went for over double what I paid for my cobra: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-porsche-911-turbo-100/

Also, with about $2000 in mods The cobra will be far faster than the above 911 turbo (straight line)..

I’ve had many many motorcycles throughout the years (Ducati XDiavel S, Yamaha R1, etc.), and they’re very different than fast cars..

Not to mention, riding a motorcycle in Texas is miserable for about 8 months out of the year..

 

[Tremortrix]

Nice Terminator!

Don't think I'll ever sell mine, I've had it now since '07!

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Here's what makes mine different

View attachment 30957

Wow, more engine bay pics? Is that a twin turbo setup I see? How much HP?

 

[MoKan]

The only 911 I’d ever consider is a turbo, and the cheapest turbos are the early 00’s… One in similar condition and similar miles just went for over double what I paid for my cobra: https://bringatrailer.com/listing/2003-porsche-911-turbo-100/

Also, with about $2000 in mods The cobra will be far faster than the above 911 turbo (straight line)..

I’ve had many many motorcycles throughout the years (Ducati XDiavel S, Yamaha R1, etc.), and they’re very different than fast cars..

Not to mention, riding a motorcycle in Texas is miserable for about 8 months out of the year..

Hopefully no offense was taken... I love the 2003 Cobra. I was in graduate school around then and lusted after one (my roomate and fellow grad student had a 2001 Cobra), but just couldn't afford it. But, I could afford a sport bike on my piddly graduate assistant pay, and I've been running down that rabbit hole ever since.

I just didn't realize they never dropped in price.

 

[fordguy74656]

I literally cant stand up now I am that excited. I'm drooling over here lucky lucky dog!

 

[Tremortrix]

Hopefully no offense was taken... I love the 2003 Cobra. I was in graduate school around then and lusted after one (my roomate and fellow grad student had a 2001 Cobra), but just couldn't afford it. But, I could afford a sport bike on my piddly graduate assistant pay, and I've been running down that rabbit hole ever since.

I just didn't realize they never dropped in price.

No offense taken, 911 turbo’s are at the top of my “want” list, but outlining that the good ones are considerably more.

These cobras did drop in price for quite a while, but have gone back up considerably (along with most other used vehicles right now).

I paid a bit more for it’s condition, stock, no drilled front bumper, location, etc. A “normal” cobra with 30k-40k miles and mods, not in as perfect condition, etc. would likely have no problem getting around $32k right now… I see many like that listed at $36k..