I am currently active in the market for a used cobra. I have my eyes on an 03 with 32000 mi, black coupe. bone stock. It from one of those specialty car dealers, and I want to know the sign of an abused cobra, and whether him asking 23,000 is a fair price. Thanks for all the help in advance.
I feel for you Madz. In November of 07 I was lookin for a 03 Cobra. I wanted one with low miles(under 30,000), priced between 20,000-24,000 and wasnt too modified.I gave up because all the low miles ones were +26000 and the others had way too many mods or too many miles. I ended up gettin an 05.
Get a carfax report on it.
By abuse do you mean driven hard or not well maintained. Because I drive my car like Im trying to kill it and dont consider that abuse. I do all scheduled maintenance on it and keep it under a car cover. I doubt you will find any Cobra that wasnt driven hard a bunch of times.
Is the car stock? If its got a pulley change and tune then yeah its most likely been driven hard.
Check the insides of the back wheel wells to see if there is tire rubber from goin to the track.
Good luck and the price is OK too though they seem to be cheaper the further south you go.
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2005 Ford Mustang GT Torch Red Manual
Saleen Supercharger 3.4 pulley/Brenspeed Tune
FRPP Stingers Axleback Muffler System
CHE Lower Control Arms
Pro-5.0 Super Shifter
CDC Sequential Tail Lights
Best ET NA: 13.408 @ 105.31
Best SC: 12.6 @ 114 on Pirellis
Any modified cobra was probably driven hard, which is why we modify these cars. Look for one that an old man drove and left stock. I remember before i supercharged my car i was looking for 03 cobra and i found a couple with 5k-15k miles going for mid 20's.
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-04 Mustang GT-Intercooled Kenne bell 2.1L supercharged @10psi, C&L cold air intake, mass air flow, Sumitt racing 75mm throttle body, Magnaflow catback with Bassani X-pipe, chip and dyno tuned, 3:73 gears, B&M short shifter, FMS lowering springs and UPR caster camber plates, UPR upper/lower control arms, UPR subframe connectors. Kumho 275 up front/Kumho XS 315 in rear. Currently 420RWHP/435lbtq
-Daily Driver 04 Toyota Tacoma PreRunner, Blacked out, TRD suspension, K&N filter.
as far as the cheaper in the south thing, i second that. hell, the one im talking about is in south carolina. After talking with the owner, im thinking that abuse more than likely wasnt a problem. The only other thing im worried about is whether it has a tick, because its an 03... right? Is this only a rare occurance, or something I should look into before dropping my deposit?
The tick noise come from running them hard time after time. So I believe. Something about # 7&8 cylinder not being cooled. But you can fix that if the wallet is right. That's a fair price if its not hurt. I wouldn't take under 32,000 for mine. So I'll keep it and enjoy it. You will too when you get yours. Enjoy... Look the car over really well and ask for all paper work. Someone that takes care of things can show proof to back it up.
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2003 SVT Cobra vert. Tourch Red 458 rwhp at 474 rwtq. mods 2.810 pulley, steeda cold air, cat back - flowmaster exhaust, sct tune, 15.8 boost, boost overlay.
An 03 for that price, is a fair price. Did you say it had a ticking noise on the left side, drivers side? If so, check to see if the head was ever changed. You can tell by looking at it, I believe they had a blue color right above the exhaust ports. In 03, Ford had a recall on the left side head for the 03 COBRA. You could take it to your local Ford Dealer, and they would change it at no charge to you, Mike.
The ticking came from worn valve guides. If that car has that many miles and no ticking, then it's not going to have it. Anything built before Nov 1 2002, could have the issue, but not all. That price for an 03 with that many miles is a good deal. With fuel and the economy, the price is getting lower for the Cobra's. people that try to get way more than what it's worth at this time, are not selling. i've seen nice 03 cobra's with 30K miles sell from $18K to $21K, sometimes going up to $24K but they barely sale then. If it has a pulley and tune, that doesn't mean it's been abused. My 05 had cams and all the bolt ons and i made the tires barely bark once and never really beat on it. Sometimes it's all about knowing that you have that power for those "just in case moments" if you know what i mean. Do the carfax, look at the car, drive it and ask alot of questions. Also to me, if they are like 16-21 years old, i'm hesitant cause when i was that age, i would beat on my 95GT. When i got older, i calmed down a lot more. Good luck with it and shop around, you'll find that perfect one.
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1995 Mustang GT-Heavily Modded-Sold 2003 Ford Lightning-Sold 1997 Saleen-5.4 conversion-Sold 2005 Mustang GT-Torch Red-Sold 2003 Mustang Cobra-Oxford White 2003 4Runner V8 Sport Edition 4X4
My FRiend if you are going to play you are going to pay! I bought a used 2003 black rag top cobra with 7,600 miles for 28,700 in 06. Pulleys changed pipes changed and a few others, it is tuned at 467 and I cant imagine what it feels like in some of theese other ones up to 600 t0 800. Have a good mechanic look at it. If it checks out get it you wont be disappointed! Have some money ready this is a hobby! not a investment and better then a boat! It is what you make it! Live your dream! If it checks out go for it and dont look back. Common rule things do wear over time and you will spend money! More horse power goes with the territory! I hammer mine That is what it is made for 31,000 miles later some clutch work not bad a hard factory clutch! Yee Ha! I will put a better clutch in.
I still thinks it's ridiculous how much our cars sell for. camaros too, most of the time twice what the blue book value is. really sucks if you're trying to buy one.
Any modified cobra was probably driven hard, which is why we modify these cars. Look for one that an old man drove and left stock. I remember before i supercharged my car i was looking for 03 cobra and i found a couple with 5k-15k miles going for mid 20's.
Couldn't have said it better my self! I bought my 96 Cobra from a 83 year old WWII Vet. The first owner was a 53 year old man. My car is basically all stock, called the Ford dealership and they gave me every bit of information that has been done to my car.
~In other words... Try to find a car that isn't that molested, man.
23,000 is typically what they go for with that mileage. If you look hard enough im sure you can find one with lower miles. I recently bought mine for 25k with only 19,000 miles on it. Found it online through autotrader.
Signs of an abused cobra 
