2003 or 2004 Cobra Pricing X or A? Price Gouging!

In my opinion it's a bunch of crap. When I was negotiating the price of my '03 GT vert we were stuck at 27000 for the longest time, with the salesman claiming that I could not do better even if I purchased the car through the employee purchase program. That all went out the window when I got up and said I was leaving. The price them came quickly down to 25000.

Well done! As was drilled into my head from the time I got my license:

When buying a vehicle - always, always, always be prepared to walk if you don't like the deal....because if you can't do that, you deserve to get screwed.

Iggy '01 Dyna Super Glide '96 Mustang GT Convertible Keep your powder dry and don't let your meat-loaf. :o)

best price i was quoted for a new '03 mach was 23995..... best price on an '03 cobra was 29500

same has happend to me... me: "Salesperson, give me your BEST ROCK BOTTOM price on this used cobra" salesperson: "28500 is the best i can do" me: "but that is only 1k less than I can get a new one at with no miles" salesperson basically "take it or leave it" I left it. Every week since then he has emailed and said.. today's special price is xxx " always $500 less than the week before. I finally mailed him back and said, what makes you think I would buy from you now ? 3 weeks ago you quoted me your rock bottom price.. and today you are $2000 below that. if I wait two more weeks, will it be 3000 grand less ? how do I know what your rock bottom price is... I can wait, there are many, many used an new '03s flooding the market...and I have. Have been waiting for 2 months watching the 03 cobra prices crashing.

dave

In Reference to Fords' Friends and Neighbors Plan I think it is 4% under dealer invoice and 7% under for A/Z Plan (Employees, Family, retirees) as well as any rebates, finance incentives, and occasional A Plan participant extra cash back bonus. The big plus for A Plan buyers is you see the actual price that you have to pay rather than that haggling crap that gives dealerships a bad name. --Other than the street trash they use for salespeople. The buying process is cut and dry unless your trading-Yikes!!.Dealers also can't add all that horseshit they usually do as in upgrades/dealer add-ons (not to be confused with options). I've been buying A Plan for over ten years. Another plus is the Ford Plants have Customer Assurance Reps that can put a litlle heat on the dealer if a problem arises. J Burke

Jos. Burke, I agree, I've heard so many things, I don't know whats even real with the X or A pricing anymore.

You talk to some people, and they got a Cobra for $28k and then they show me the papers to back it, well, 28k + TTT.

And yet others pay $36k+

Its a little bewildering...

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From what I've seen, picking up a GT and treating it to a Vortech kompressor gets the power without near the premium expense...

Dana

You can do that. However...

Buying a GT and slapping a blower on it isn't very warranty friendly. It's labor intensive and plenty of aftermarket things need to be added. If you snap a stock cast rod in half or burn a hole through the head of a piston due to detonation, Ford is not going to care a bit.

The Cobra adds two more valves per cylinder, forged internals through and through, and allows you to be at 390 bhp with a full factory warranty. More power is easy - drop in a Kenne Bell blower in place of the existing stock Eaton blower, chip-tune, some exhaust work, and viola... 500ish rwhp.

To pull that out of a GT, I'd bet that the internals would need to be changed, or you'd be skating on thin ice...

JS

Yeah, the internals are pretty close to game over at the 450 to 470 point, or one WOT GONE BAD.

Ive had several GTs, and recently was building a pretty large scale project car with a few sponsors, but elected to go after the Cobra.

So now, I am once again price shopping.

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I have to agree. The extra Cobra money is well spent on better brakes, suspension, engine, and transmission. All those mods would cost much more if done separately, plus, it's alot better looking IMO, without being over the top like the Mach 1.

Brian

I think the "tremors" I hear about the 03 Cobra engine rigidity is being able to handle 800hp, 700 indefinitely (proper tune of course).

Now on that comment I do not know the accuracy of it, but after talking to a few 03 owners, that appears to be the mindset.

Yeah, I would have to say the extra money spent on the cobra will ultimately work out better for me in the long run.

I know I will have the chip, pullies, complete bassani exhaust and a Kenne Bell blower waiting for it.

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Up to 500 hp the GT should be fine if you do it right. A good blower will cost you 5K. Add better brakes , better suspension, shifter and you're close to let's say 8K... That's close to a cobra.,no warranty but you'll have more performance. I'd let the warranty expire (36K miles) and then start adding all the toys that would void your warranty.

but that will also void the warranty I am sure.....plus your price has gone up quite a bit

not if done right.

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All true. My point was that someone looking for "stock" Cobra *power* can probably get it with a GT at less cost than a Cobra. Sure, it wouldn't leave much margin. If you want 500hp, then you start with a Cobra and end up in the same warranty Hell, right?

Dana

I didn't even mention brakes, suspension, and transmission differences. I was talking strictly horsepower. Very good point. The Cobra is definately a lot more than a GT with a blower on top.

JS

I guess you cant go wrong with the Cobra if your target is well above the 500 range.

My personal goal for the car, realistic or not is between 610 and 625 at the rear wheels, torque to boot would be more preferrable.

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That's true. The question is - does everyone who buys a Cobra want all that? Never mind. It was just a thought. I stand corrected.

Dana

Dana, all good points, and I see what you meant.

You made a valid point on the GT being cheaper up to a point, it really all depends on the power level your trying to achieve.

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maybe someone should make a calculation of what it takes to get a Gt up to cobra spec and what it would cost. I bet it would turn out more expensive. (thinking of blower,6-speed,shocks/springs)

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Well, you do bring up a very valid point. If I had a ton of money and needed a late-model drag racer, I wouldn't be spending the extra money on a Cobra. The IRS would come off... the brakes wouldn't allow me to use the wheels I wanted (though I think they make some skinnies now in the 17" variety), the suspension would all be changed, and I'd probably put in a performance automatic instead of the stick. Why would I spend a ton of extra money for a car that, effectively, would only have the blower engine in it when I can do that myself and save the money?

In that case, a GT that came from the factory with as few options as possible and an automatic would be the car I was after. I could always have SHM build me up a bulletproof 4.6 SOHC to drop in.. or even retrofit a DOHC.

JS