Hemi's next car...

[Cobra93]

I've always wanted to reply to one of those e-mails and see how far I can take it. 

I'll bet this guy takes it further.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'll bet this guy takes it further.

Wow, that's pretty cool. I love the part about the hamster.

[SVT666]

I just found a 1997 Mustang Cobra in Calgary with 85,000 kms on it for $9,998.00.  I'm going back to Calgary this weekend so I'm going to have a look at it to make sure it's not too good to be true.  If it is just someone who doesn't know what they have, then I may be buying the car earlier then I thought.

[CALL_911]

So, uh, the M3 is eliminated? Damn.

[FordSVT]

I just found a 1997 Mustang Cobra in Calgary with 85,000 kms on it for $9,998.00.  I'm going back to Calgary this weekend so I'm going to have a look at it to make sure it's not too good to be true.  If it is just someone who doesn't know what they have, then I may be buying the car earlier then I thought.

That's a reasonable price. Remember that's the 305 hp DOHC, so don't go tangling with any 99+ Cobras or new GTs. 

People buy and sell cars right and left these days in Alberta; people coming and going, lots of money in the pocket so they'll sell cars cheap just to get them out of the driveway to make room for the new toy, etc.

[SVT666]

That's a reasonable price. Remember that's the 305 hp DOHC, so don't go tangling with any 99+ Cobras or new GTs. 

People buy and sell cars right and left these days in Alberta; people coming and going, lots of money in the pocket so they'll sell cars cheap just to get them out of the driveway to make room for the new toy, etc.

Apparently with just cams, the '97 Cobra will dyno 300 rwhp.

[SVT666]

The '97 Cobra sold before I even called about it.  The guy said the check engine light was on and the rear end needed work, so I wouldn't have bought it anyway.

[FordSVT]

I put those two symptoms together and I smell a hard-driven engine and a lot of fast take offs. Probably a well worn in car. Maybe the start of a project, but not an "as is" daily driver.

[SVT666]

Exactly my thoughts.  I've narrowed my search to '97-'99 GT's.

[FordSVT]

Brother, I really think you should "Pony up" and go for a 99, it's worth it and you know it. By the time you buy a slightly cheaper 97 or 98 and get it up to the 99+ output you'll have spent the same money anyways. And the 99+ has a slightly stronger block if you do intend to modify it further.

[SVT666]

'99s in that price range are few and far between and if I can get a low mileage '97 or '98 I'll jump on it.  The '99s in that price range are usually high mileage.  If there is a '99 in that price range when the time comes and it's in good condition and the mileage is acceptable then I'm all over it man.

[SVT666]

Just for kicks I priced a new GT on www.Ford.ca and then priced out the same car on www.Ford.com.

Ford.com: $28,902.00 USD = $26,863.00 CDN
Ford.ca: $37,822.00 CDN

If I could find a US dealer that would sell to me, I could buy the same Mustang GT in the US for $11,000 less.

[FordSVT]

'99s in that price range are few and far between and if I can get a low mileage '97 or '98 I'll jump on it.  The '99s in that price range are usually high mileage.  If there is a '99 in that price range when the time comes and it's in good condition and the mileage is acceptable then I'm all over it man.

Save up more money while you're waiting for the right car. I'm not trying to pressure you into something you don't want to do, but you want to do this. 

You've driven them both, you know the 99 is worth the extra few grand.

What happened to that $9800 BC car with 98,000 km?

[SVT666]

It's been sold.

I just went and got a quote on insurance last night and I think I shit in my pants.  Right now I'm paying $800 a year for the insurance on my truck, but in BC my rate is going to jump to $1800 with full discounts.  That rate is with the government insurance company and they do have private carriers here and they are cheaper, but not by much.  I will get a private quote tonight.  I got a quote for a '98 Mustang GT too, and that was $1800 a year as well.  I have 12 years of clean driving and it's a 9 year old car, and they want $1800 a year.  I might just keep my Alberta plates for a while.

[Eye of the Tiger]

That is an insane increase in insurance rates. Is BC really that much more dangerous? 

[SVT666]

That is an insane increase in insurance rates. Is BC really that much more dangerous? 

It's more communist in BC.

[SVT666]

I'm test driving a '97 Cobra tonight.  It's got a p'n'p intake maniffold, X-pipe, flowmaster catback, long tube headers, and chip.  It's red and has brand new Nitto 555s.  He's asking $13,500.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'm test driving a '97 Cobra tonight.  It's got a p'n'p intake maniffold, X-pipe, flowmaster catback, long tube headers, and chip.  It's red and has brand new Nitto 555s.  He's asking $13,500.

hells yeah!

[Raghavan]

I'm test driving a '97 Cobra tonight.  It's got a p'n'p intake maniffold, X-pipe, flowmaster catback, long tube headers, and chip.  It's red and has brand new Nitto 555s.  He's asking $13,500.

Awesome.

[CALL_911]

I'm test driving a '97 Cobra tonight.  It's got a p'n'p intake maniffold, X-pipe, flowmaster catback, long tube headers, and chip.  It's red and has brand new Nitto 555s.  He's asking $13,500.

That's not a lot of money?

[SVT666]

The driver's seat is shot, the mufflers are shot, and the front bumper needs paint. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

The driver's seat is shot, the mufflers are shot, and the front bumper needs paint. 

For $13,500? No. $8000 or no deal.

[SVT666]

For $13,500? No. $8000 or no deal.

$600 for the bumper
$500 for the exhaust
$2000 for the seats because I would need to replace both because the leather has aged.  If I replace one seat it will look different from the other seat.

So I was thinking $10K.  He wouldn't go for it.

[FoMoJo]

I'm test driving a '97 Cobra tonight.  It's got a p'n'p intake maniffold, X-pipe, flowmaster catback, long tube headers, and chip.  It's red and has brand new Nitto 555s.  He's asking $13,500.

Doesn't sound like it'll get 25mpg...

[Eye of the Tiger]

$600 for the bumper
$500 for the exhaust
$2000 for the seats because I would need to replace both because the leather has aged.  If I replace one seat it will look different from the other seat.

So I was thinking $10K.  He wouldn't go for it.

I'd rather go with a newer GT for the same money, especially for a daily driver.

[FordSVT]

That's what I keep telling him. Hemi, if you were willing to spend $13,000 on a 97 Cobra with some simple mods, I've got no idea why you wouldn't be willing to spend similar coin on a 99+ GT with fewer kms. There were a ton of them in the $11-13,000 range when we were looking online the other day.

[SVT666]

It's hard to explain.  There's something really special about a Cobra.  Those DOHC engines respond to mods way better then the 2V GTs, and the '97 Cobra looks much cooler then the 99+ GTs.  The '97 Cobra has 305 hp and a 99+ GT has 260 hp.  The Cobra I looked at last night is good for about 350 hp with those mods.  With the issues I listed in a previous post and with the mileage on this car, I'm not interested in paying $13,000 for the car.

Besides, I can't find many in that price range.

[the Teuton]

You need to shop here in the states.  I was laughing tonight at the fact that I found a late-model GT for $7k in an Auto Mart mag.  That'd be pretty cheap all things considered.

[SVT666]

You need to shop here in the states.  I was laughing tonight at the fact that I found a late-model GT for $7k in an Auto Mart mag.  That'd be pretty cheap all things considered.

I've looked all through Washington State and I have found nothing on Autotrader.com.

[the Teuton]

I just want to show you this for comparison's sake.

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/car/468961888.html

You're above Washington?  That shouldn't be hard to find anything decent over there at all.