[nHuman]

Is the cobra motor like the GT as far as lots of bolt-ons and etc that you can add to get power out of it like the GT?

THere ones at a dealorship with 76k miles on it for 9k + 5 year waranty.
Was thinkin about trading my 96 GT , just cuz it has a few things I dont really wanna spend cash on fixing. "Heatercore, radiator fan, few sensor lights". Plus inspection time is coming up and I thought maybe I could just swap it out and get out of having to deal with all of that.

[HMUSN]

the Cobra will respond better to mods than the GT will.

[Fast98stang]

get the cobra

[Ryan Paymaster]

Get the Cobra, you'll love it. I don't think there's a cooler Mustang than the 96-98 Cobra, just a great car all around.

It's definitely a step up in the speed department. Test drive it and you're going to leave with it.

However, for $9,000, it better be in really good shape. I picked mine up for $10,000 out the door with like 55,000 on it. The car I picked up was incredibly clean and strong with long tube headers, 5.0 shifter, and a few other basic things added. Some Cobras are beat, and you have to watch it, you pay a lot for them when you shouldn't sometimes. Unless that one is in great shape, you could save thousands finding one like it elsewhere. I picked mine up from a dealership and scored. Shop around, don't just jump on this.

Also, what is this 5 year warranty? If you want to modify it, watch it, they're probably eager to void any warranty on a 12 year old car. I'm thinking they have that car marked up because of the warranty, when you really don't want it unless you just want a 1996 Cobra to daily drive and be done with. Don't jump on anything too fast, shop around. Maybe find a 1997 if you can.

[96Snaker]

Originally Posted by Ryan Paymaster Get the Cobra, you'll love it. I don't think there's a cooler Mustang than the 96-98 Cobra, just a great car all around. It's definitely a step up in the speed department. Test drive it and you're going to leave with it. However, for $9,000, it better be in really good shape. I picked mine up for $10,000 out the door with like 55,000 on it. The car I picked up was incredibly clean and strong with long tube headers, 5.0 shifter, and a few other basic things added. Some Cobras are beat, and you have to watch it, you pay a lot for them when you shouldn't sometimes. Unless that one is in great shape, you could save thousands finding one like it elsewhere. I picked mine up from a dealership and scored. Shop around, don't just jump on this. Also, what is this 5 year warranty? If you want to modify it, watch it, they're probably eager to void any warranty on a 12 year old car. I'm thinking they have that car marked up because of the warranty, when you really don't want it unless you just want a 1996 Cobra to daily drive and be done with. Don't jump on anything too fast, shop around. Maybe find a 1997 if you can.

Well said.

I'd agree in full. The 96-98 Cobras are some of the best Mustangs around, fast, relatively cheap in comparison to a new-er GT with comparable power levels; and are just a thrill to drive. They make for an expensive daily driver though, having to fill the tank with premium, a luxury you do not have to opt for in a GT. Well to give you an estimate - my car, fairly weathered but in good shape as far as engine/drivetrain goes, with 50K miles, was purchased without warranty for just over 9,000. Looking back, I think I may have even spent a thousand more than I should have, but hindsight is 20/20 I guess. Good luck, let me know if you have any specific ?'s regarding these platforms as I've owned mine for some time now.

[nHuman]

I haven't drove it yet im going to go check it out tommorrow, seems they actually want 10,900 for it.

I was going to trade my 96 GT for it with 125k miles on it.

Here is a link of the cobra http://www.websitesfordealers.com/cg...ta_id%3D230232

And here is a link of my car http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...mageID=3031667

Tell me what kinda of deal you think I should ask for to be fair, trade in etc.

[Ryan Paymaster]

The car looks incredibly clean, but pictures are different from in person. Check all over the car, even in the trunk. There should be the VIN stickers inside the trunk, run a Carfax on the car to check it's history. Dealers lie, you cry.

The car has modifications, those are authentic Ford Racing 1995 Cobra R's in silver, not knock-offs. It looks to be lowered, and the shifter was most likely changed since the knob is aftermarket.

It appears to be fully loaded and has the Mach 460 sound. The 1996 Cobra suffered from a CD Slave Drive "Click of Death." Bring a CD with you, stick it in, listen to it a bit, see if it gets stuck when you go to eject it or while playing it. Anything broke is money to fix.

Something in the pictures that strikes me as odd is the driver's side headlight. If you notice, the passenger headlight is hazy and yellow, the driver's side looks much clearer. Possibly was in a minor wreck, don't buy it without a Carfax. I was never afraid of a minor accident, but I didn't want to mess with it much either. That car is too high mileage and holds too high of a price tag for it to be anything but near "perfect" for it's age.

The seats look to be in incredible condition, and the previous owner (or dealer, doubt it) seemed to have really detailed the hell out of it. Seats, especially the black ones, are usually in horrendous shape, those are amazing for it's age. I thought I had good seats, those are just as nice!
A good detail can make a car appear more than it's worth, you have the season to your advantage if you want to pick it up. (If this was spring, tomorrow would be too late for you, Cobras around here flew off lots faster than I could call on them.)

When you take it for a drive, really get on it, wind it out. It has high milage, and you don't want any little things that appear in the high RPM range to show themselves after you bought it. Mine stopped (oil seperator fixed it) smoking, but I realized it did only after I bought it. I bet that car has more done to it than you think, you look to have stumbled onto a really good deal. Make sure it sounds and feels right all around, a nice body and obvious care doesn't mean there can't be something hiding.

If that car was selling around here, it'd probably go for that asking price. However, if you aren't in a hurry offer them way less. The warranty seems kind of weird for "free." Inquire on it, ask what it entails. Hardly anything is "free," and when negotiating they might try to throw the "We warranty this for 5 years! We can't chop anything off the price!" Then it's not free and they are just using it as a way to keep the price high. Offer what you want to pay, but don't tell them you have a trade-in until you find a price you are happy with. (You know, the usual car buying tips and stuff I'm sure.) The mileage is eh, but if I took that car out the door for 9,500 I wouldn't feel ripped off it felt really strong and checked out to be really clean. Finding a straight car with tastefully done and nice modifications such as that one is hard. That car is marked up according to KBB by almost $2,000.
http://www.kbb.com/KBB/UsedCars/PricingReport.aspx?ManufacturerId=15&YearId=1996&V ehicleClass=UsedCar&VehicleId=8947&SelectionHistor y=8947%7c10897%7c27284%7c0%7c0%7c330464%7ctrue%7c3 30472%7ctrue&PriceType=Retail&Mileage=88362&ModelI d=93&Condition=Excellent

Start talking at the KBB value if you don't know what to give. The "EXCELLENT (Basically perfect for it's age) value is $9,300. If you fall in love with it and love what's done to it and it checks out great, go for it. It's up to you, but I wouldn't touch the price they are asking for it. That thing is marked up. You don't get money back for modifications. Check private sellers if you're really serious, or even see what is on eBay. Often there's a great car within the states around you for a great deal since it is basically a private party seller too. I just keep feeling like this dealership you're looking at is gouging it because either it's like my area (Chicago) where people buy these up in the Spring, or they are just using the "5 year warranty" as a "pay us a lot of money because we're just going to claim it was abused."

For me, when Cobra shopping, I knew when I saw my car it was the one I wanted. I was originally looking for a 5.0 Cobra, and went on a whim to see a white/tan Cobra and just knew. Don't jump the gun, but if you really like this car and you feel it checks out to your standards and you'd be happy, don't sit on your hands, if you can make it happen do it, because someone else is going to. I had a hell of a time tracking down a car I liked, but you will not be dissapointed with one.