I don't know if anyone on here gets the 5.0 mustang and super Fords magazine or the other mustang magazines but a couple months ago i got one with a challenge with the SVT Terminator Cobra against the new GT 500 and hp and torqe but on the street it said the Terminator would get in off the line and beat it with the time so just wondering on everyones opinion which would you rather have?
I would love to own either car. They are both amazing, but if I had a choice I would go with the GT500. I think they will be worth a lot more in the future and I love the looks, especially the looks of the newer GT500.
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95 Mustang Cobra
347 Stroker, Cobra Heads/Intake, Comp Cams Magnum 270 cam, Upper/Lower Control Arms, Subframe Connectors, Strange 10 Way Adjustable Struts/Shocks, Eibach Drag Launch Springs, MGW short throw shifter, O/R h pipe, SLP lm1 Catback, K&N big cone filter. Still running on the stock tune
I think we all take at least one Mustang mag if not more. The moderator at the Ranger V-8 swap site I'm alway at has an '03' Cobra, stock except had the SC blue-printed and then had a dyno tune. I really like the looks of the SN197 vs the older style but if you want to go fast? 486 rwh is not bad. He had a GT 500 owner go at him several times, he got beat every time and couldn't believe that he spent that much money and was still getting beat by an older Mustang.
Dave
Both have iron blocks with forged internals. Both have 57 front/43 rear weight distribution. Terminators have 4.6L 4-valve and GT500s have 5.4L 4-valve. Terminators have good flowing heads, but GT500s share same heads with the Ford GT (the best factory heads). Terminator got the older supercharger and GT500 gets the improved model (I'm not looking at any references here, but my memory says M112 for '03 and '04 Cobras but Eaton M212 for GT500s). Terminators got the old T56 transmission, while GT500s get the improved Tremec T6060. MM&FF had their Evan Smith turn 12.257 in the 1/4 in a GT500 with a few runs in the 12.30s to back it up. That is faster than a stock Terminator.
But in the real world, you can certainly make a used '03 or '04 Cobra faster with bolt-ons. And it won't cost nearly as much as a GT500. The Terminators are great cars, but they will never be as cool as the GT500. The combination of the S197 retro-styling with the GT500 fascias/emblems/stripes/performance/mystique/performance is unbeatable in my opinion. And add an SCT package with CAI and smaller blower pulley (plus idler pulley) and Xcal3 tuner and you can be over 600 hp with the GT500.
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2008 Shelby GT500 torch red with black stripes + sequentials
2001 Cobra mineral grey with 2003 Mach 1 shaker hood
1996 Cobra color-shifting mystic paint + sequentials
Don't get me wrong i like that shelby but the terminator in most peoples eyes would be like a sort of underdog maybe and i always go with the underdog to win and hope it comes out on top
although they are both cobras, this is an unfair comparison. Brand new the terminators were going for $35k and these gt500's are a bargain at $58k. That's $23k for an extra 100 horses(and an extra 300 lbs by the way). looks, wise i'd say the gt500 has the edge, but dollar for dollar there is no comparison here. especially if you consider them at today's prices. $25k will get you a very nice 03 and another $11k for mods (take your pick) and you have a 600hp car and you're still $22k ahead of the game.
it really depend on your goals. if you're looking for an respectable street car with some flash and you're not afraid to break the bank, go gt500. if you're looking for a monster at a muchhhhhhhh lower price go terminator. if money wasn't an issue i would personally go gt500. but i would still take a good deal on an 03 anyday.
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2003 Mustang GT
BBK CAI, Flowmaster Cat Back, Steeda Tri-ax, Maximum Motorsports strut tower brace and rear upper control arms, Tokico shocks struts and springs, Mach 1 grille delete and chin spoiler, 315/35/17 Sumitomo rears In the mail: FRPP 3.73 gears, sniper tuning software, and a 7'x3' Ford Racing banner for the garage
Well, I can't really compare the shelby gt500 since i havent driven it. But i do own a terminator sitting at 600rwhp. I cant imagine getting rid of it to get the gt500. people see it and offer $35k because everybody wants one. Ford did right with this car. I am going to test drive some roush mustangs soon.
I would go with the "SVT Terminator Cobra" I think they look alot better. But that's my opinion. With weight ratio vs. hp the extra 100 horse or so on "500" along with more wight I dont think it will add up to much more in a race. But if your looking for more of a collector I think the "500" would be the one to go with.
I like the 04 terminator. It would be nice to say I had a Gt500, but for the $ the 04 is the smart choice. I looked at a used Shelby Gt 500 with like 8,000mi on it and they still wanted $68,000 for it. Get a 04 with about $10,000 in mods and you own the streets(at least around here). And you still have $20-30,000 in your pocket. And (my opinion) they look a hell of alot better. But my fav is the 93 fox body(GT or Cobra). That was the last time I thought they had a kinda muscle car look to them. Its not as bad as the Camaro, they ruined it after 92. But the 09 looks bad a--. Its supposed to be 400+hp from the factory. And they are also re-releasing the ZR-1 corvette with over 600hp(for $90,000). So, I guess it really depends on how deep your pockets are.
Terminators are great cars, but they will never be as cool as the GT500. The combination of the S197 retro-styling with the GT500 fascias/emblems/stripes/performance/mystique/performance is unbeatable in my opinion. And add an SCT package with CAI and smaller blower pulley (plus idler pulley) and Xcal3 tuner and you can be over 600 hp with the GT500.
Speak for yourself Gary . I personally like my bodystyle over the new Shelby Cobra. I think they are cooler. But to each his own!
I have the mag where they pitted the Shelby against the SVT Cobra.
They tried to match both cars mod for mod and the Shelby was just stronger all around.
0 - 60, the SVT Cobra will will tussle with the Shelby. After that, I think the Cobra can say goodbye.
i just bought an 04 cobra with a pully, a tb and a tune, with a few other little mods, and raced my uncle in his shelby, and he was soooo pissed that he couldnt keep up, we were neck n neck for the first 2 gears but after that it was a done deal, so like everyone else said, the gt500 is faster factory, but with little mods, the cobras are quicker, considering he paid just under 60 for his shelby and i bought mine as is WITH the mods done for 26, so take your pick...
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White 1991 GT Convertible - 1993 Cobra Motor Swap (363rwhp)
Black 2004 SVT Cobra - Chip n Tune w/ Goodies (488rwhp)
Green 1994 Explorer - Daily Driver, Ol' Faithful (317,000mi)
I might be a little out to lunch but i think the 03/04 cobra will be a more desirable car in the future. If you think about it, the 03/04 have a lot more going for them from a collectors standpoint. They are the last 2 years of the beloved fox platform, They were only made for 2 years, and only have a production run of 20,000 units. They are also the first factory supercharged mustang. The Shelby's will have a longer production run and more units produced which will make them more common than the Terminator.
If i had the money for a Shelby I would spend it on (2) 03/04's one for the track and one for the street
GT500 is still a hell of a car though. It just comes down to personal preference.
Both have iron blocks with forged internals. Both have 57 front/43 rear weight distribution. Terminators have 4.6L 4-valve and GT500s have 5.4L 4-valve. Terminators have good flowing heads, but GT500s share same heads with the Ford GT (the best factory heads). Terminator got the older supercharger and GT500 gets the improved model (I'm not looking at any references here, but my memory says M112 for '03 and '04 Cobras but Eaton M212 for GT500s). Terminators got the old T56 transmission, while GT500s get the improved Tremec T6060. MM&FF had their Evan Smith turn 12.257 in the 1/4 in a GT500 with a few runs in the 12.30s to back it up. That is faster than a stock Terminator.
But in the real world, you can certainly make a used '03 or '04 Cobra faster with bolt-ons. And it won't cost nearly as much as a GT500. The Terminators are great cars, but they will never be as cool as the GT500. The combination of the S197 retro-styling with the GT500 fascias/emblems/stripes/performance/mystique/performance is unbeatable in my opinion. And add an SCT package with CAI and smaller blower pulley (plus idler pulley) and Xcal3 tuner and you can be over 600 hp with the GT500.
The GT500 has an eaton M122. I'll let it slide since you did not look at your references It would be a tough choice, but for now, I am sticking with my decision...04' Cobra. I like the New Edge design better.
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Current Vehicle: 2004 SVT Mustang Cobra: Born 03/03/2004 #2882 of 3768
Previous Vehicles: 2002 Mustang GT & 1998 Mustang GT
S.V.T. Cobra or Shelby Cobra 
. I personally like my bodystyle over the new Shelby Cobra. I think they are cooler. But to each his own!
