Back in an 03/04 Cobra - Vert this time

[OutKast]

Well, I only lasted 9 months without a Cobra. I sold my 04 Torch Red Coupe last December and started to look for new options. At first, another Cobra was not on the list. I looked into used Corvettes, Vipers, Mustangs (both SVT and non-SVT), pretty much any American sports type car. I even looked at some used Porsches. I was pretty much capping myself at 50k, even though I didn't really want to spend that much. So after looking at numerous options, I kinda realized there was not that much out there that I wanted to spend my money on. Just when I was ready to quit looking for a while, I ran across this local 03 MG Vert. I had an 01 MG Vert that was great except for the lack of power, although 13.8 in the quarter is not slow. I went and test drove it a few days later and my heart was set. I would be back in a Terminator. So I picked it up a few weeks ago, but with work travel I didn’t have time to clean it and get pics. After a wash yesterday, I decided to take some pics. Of course it rained last night so it is a little dirty. Engine needs detailed too.

The mods are;
2.3 Whipple (Gen 1 I think)
3.5 Pulley ~ 13 pounds of boost
Made 565hp and 495tq when originally tuned back in 03.
^ I will post dyno sheet later.
Pro 5.0 shifter
Torsion T2R diff
Billetflow diff cover brace
MM caster camber plates
MM subframes
MM IRS Bushings
Magnaflow catback
Koni adjustable shocks/struts
03 Coupe springs
Autopower 4pt cage (bolt in)

Its setup for road racing and has been used as such since new. It has 74k and has been modded since 14k.

On to the Pics, please forgive the quality, the light was a little low....

 

[Red Poison]

Welcome back...

Care to elaborate on your hunting experience? Those are some of the very same cars that many cobra owners sell to "upgrade" to. I'm curious to know what you test drove and your impression on those options.

I've been toying with the idea of selling mine but the only thing I'll let it go for is a GT-R.

 

[timspony]

Congrats on the new Cobra :beer:

 

[03cobra#694]

Nice color, welcome back.

 

[UncleSAm]

how do you like having the vert after the coup

 

[Senkak]

Congrats!
very nice!

 

[Ddawg18]

You bastard! Lol. I was all set to come see this car and buy it on the spot but I was away for a long weekend with my family and couldn't go until Monday. I guess you came and got it before I could make it there!

In all seriousness congrats! I really wanted that car but I am happy with the one I ended up with. I got a silver vert pretty much mint with not many mods besides exhaust and a pulley. I wish I had the whipple though

Good stuff man and I look forward to seeing you on here :beer:

 

[CobraBob]

Very nice. Congratulations! Nice power right from the getgo. Weird that this has a Whipple but retains the stock intake. Wonder if the previous owner re-installed the stocker before selling it. Enjoy it. I love the color. That was what I wanted when I bought my '03. But it was no longer available so I went with DSG.

 

[bambinov8]

Very nice , welcome back into the 03-04s .. mind me asking what deal did you get ?

 

[P49Y-CY]

congrats! :beer:

 

[05satinGT]

Very nice. Congratulations! Nice power right from the getgo. Weird that this has a Whipple but retains the stock intake. Wonder if the previous owner re-installed the stocker before selling it. Enjoy it. I love the color. That was what I wanted when I bought my '03. But it was no longer available so I went with DSG.

Bob I have found it quite common that people even with twin screws run the stock intake with the K&N filter. Nick did it with his whipple and still made amazing numbers.

Congrats OP, clean that engine bay!

 

[19svt97]

Nice looking vert

 

[dom418]

Congrats! I too only lasted about 9 months without my Terminator before buying another one about 1 month ago. My first was a black 04 with 6700 miles and I knew I made a mistake a week after she was gone. I'm sick though because I just bought another black 04 with 2800 miles. Same car I had before but less miles. I know how u feel

 

[RedfireSVT]

welcome back at congrats!

 

[AdamSVT]

Welcome back! I'm regretting selling my terminator been almost 7 months now I will be looking to get into another real soon. Can't stay away from the cobras :-D

 

[KINGCOBRA86]

Nice, you going to crank up the hp?

 

[OutKast]

Thanks for the compliments.

Welcome back...

Care to elaborate on your hunting experience? Those are some of the very same cars that many cobra owners sell to "upgrade" to. I'm curious to know what you test drove and your impression on those options.

I've been toying with the idea of selling mine but the only thing I'll let it go for is a GT-R.

Well, even though I'm in Pittsburgh, there is a pretty good car culture. However, when i was looking, everything i found just wasn't right for me. I actually did not get to drive a whole lot of cars. I looked at a bunch of 2 seaters and quickly realized that if i wanted to enjoy this thing it was going to have to seat 4. I have a 5 and 3 year old, so if i cant take them with me, i probably wouldnt get to drive it as much as i wanted. So that basically left me with mustangs, camaros, challengers etc. After looking at certain cars, i just couldnt find anything that was going to be a step up from my 04 that i liked enough to spend my money on. Then i stumble across this car. Once i drove it, with not much expectation of buying it, i just loved it. Much more power, already modded, convertible and mechanically in great shape. I had an 01 MG cobra vert and liked having it, but it was comparatively slow and i just couldnt bring myself to add a cage for tracking it. This car ended up being the best of both my old 01 and 04.

 

[OutKast]

Here is the dyno sheet. Also, i forgot to mention that it has the Y2K Cobra R Brembos and an MM clutch quadrant and adjuster. If anyone thinks the clutch pedal is too heavy, this is must do mod. It is a world of difference from my stock 04, and had i known it was this much of a difference i would have done it without question.

 

[OutKast]

how do you like having the vert after the coup

I think it is great. This is the third convertible ive had (01 Cobra, 05 Crossfire) if you dont count the wifes wrangler unlimited, which is kind of a convertble. Especially in the nice weather, with the top down and the loud exhaust providing the soundtrack, it is quite enjoyable.

Very nice , welcome back into the 03-04s .. mind me asking what deal did you get ?

I think it was a fair deal, i know some think it is taboo to talk about, but i paid 16k.

Bob I have found it quite common that people even with twin screws run the stock intake with the K&N filter. Nick did it with his whipple and still made amazing numbers.

Congrats OP, clean that engine bay!

Hahahaha, yeah, i started the other day, but didnt finish and the weather hasnt been great since so i havent finished. Work has to slow down a little too, then ill get it clean. the good news is that it is just dusty and dirty, no grease or oil all over, which is a pain.

Nice, you going to crank up the hp?

I'm thinking about it. it came with a 3" pulley, but it has been setup this way since 04 (about 60k miles), so the tune and everything seems to be good, so i dont know if i should mess with it. Its definitely fast, so once it starts to feel slow, the pulley will go on. I do want to get some 1/4 mile passes on the current set up and i am going to try to get in an on track day before winter.

-Chris

 

[OutKast]

You bastard! Lol. I was all set to come see this car and buy it on the spot but I was away for a long weekend with my family and couldn't go until Monday. I guess you came and got it before I could make it there!

In all seriousness congrats! I really wanted that car but I am happy with the one I ended up with. I got a silver vert pretty much mint with not many mods besides exhaust and a pulley. I wish I had the whipple though

Good stuff man and I look forward to seeing you on here :beer:

Wow, i know he said he did not get a lot of interest, but there were a few others that inquired. Once i drove it, i got him a down payment as quickly as i could because a car like this can sell itself in one drive. The whipple makes good power and sounds good too, was always looking at the kenne bells, but i am impressed with this so far.