Bought a Terminator with a 5 speed.

[TrevorR90]

I bought an 03 Terminator on eBay recently and after I bought the car I noticed that they listed the Transmission as a 5 speed. I thought they listed it as a mistake because they are a dealership and they tend to make mistakes. So after finding out from the Army that I wasn't going home for leave as scheduled I had my brother pick the car up. He drove it from Arizona to Maryland with no problems. After he got home I called him up asked him questions about the car and the last thing I asked "The car is a 6 speed right?" He said "No the car is a 5 speed". Apparently the car has a t-45 in it.

My question is, how did the previous owner put a t-45 in the 03? The cobra is an authentic 03 cobra. Was there anything changed to make the t-45 fit that will make it more difficult to put the good ole t-56 back in it? I'm new to Cobras and new to mustangs. Thanks!

 

[cobracide]

Could be a clone, we need pics (engine bay especially). Why anyone would put a five speed in a 2003/4 Cobra is beyond me.

 

[divided]

What makes you think its authentic? If its legit and a stock t-45 was put in it, you are going to have issues.

 

[Root1022]

yea get a pic of the engine bay, and you might want to post up a picture of the vin number, they might have given you a fake VIN #...I have never heard of that swap.

 

[03cobra#694]

For sure need pics of this one

 

[TrevorR90]

Here is a whole bunch of pictures of the car from the link to their dealership site. R & J Motor Car Co. - 2003 Ford Mustang SVT Cobra 10th Anniv Ed

 

[TrevorR90]

The vin number when i entered it for my insurance came up to be a 2003 mustang cobra

 

[MVD]

Tailights are from previous model Cobra as are the wheels. Driver door switches are different too.

Need pics under the car, that will confirm. What happened to the exhaust (is it dumped)?

 

[TrevorR90]

I believe this one is authentic like I said when I enter the vin number into carfax or autocheck and even my insurance it comes up as a 2003 mustang cobra convertible. The mileage is pretty consistent on the autocheck and it has a pretty lengthy history. I'm pretty sure it would be hard to clone this with all of it adding up nicely.

 

[TrevorR90]

I don't have any pictures of the underside I'm in Afghanistan and cannot see the car currently. I can try to get my brother to take pictures so...

 

[divided]

Wow. After seeing those pics I would have passed on that car. Unless you got it for an amazing deal.

 

[.n0b.]

Thats definately a fake. Can tell just from the door switches and other things. Another thing is the tail lights and the center console has that little button thing by the cup holders, it looks different on a 03/04. A Terminator has none of this. Its got to be a 99/01 with a Terminator engine and like almost everything else lol.

**Also says it a 10th, which isn't either lol. No red inserts.


I wouldn't have bought that unless you got one hell of a deal

 

[ShortThrow50]

T56 probably took a dump on the guy. He simplied swapped out the t45 becuase he probably only paid a few hundred for the trans to have it road ready so he could trade it in to the dealer you bought it from. No big deal. I would just drive it till the trans takes a dump which it probably wont for a while. I doont know what kind of driving you do, but my cobra never saw 5th or 6th gears while driving. So did you get a good deal on the car or what?

 

[ShortThrow50]

Thats definately a fake. Can tell just from the door switches and that radio is old as well. Another thing is the tail lights and the center console has that little button thing by the cup holders, it looks different on a 03/04. A Terminator has none of this. Its got to be a 99/01 with a Terminator engine and like almost everything else lol.

**Also says it a 10th, which isn't either lol. No red inserts.


I wouldn't have bought that unless you got one hell of a deal

how do u explain the vin coming up as an 03 cobra? If this car is indeed a fake and not a cobra at all, then he should have enough legal ground to return the car becuase it is not as advertised. def not a 10th.

 

[.n0b.]

Thats the only thing I dont get. Is it possible to switch the vins ?


Idk, it just seems fishy as hell. Why would you put a T45 in place of a 56.


If its a Terminator, then shit, idk lol

 

[ShortThrow50]

Thats the only thing I dont get. Is it possible to switch the vins ?


Idk, it just seems fishy as hell. Why would you put a T45 in place of a 56.


If its a Terminator, then shit, idk lol

I mentioned above, its likely that the t56 took a dump and he put a used t45 in there just to get it streetable to to trade in

 

[.n0b.]

I mentioned above, its likely that the t56 took a dump and he put a used t45 in there just to get it streetable to to trade in

Yeah that does make sense I guess.

Also, 'vert owners, do you have a lock button like that? I just realized you guy's could cause of the 4 windows. I have a coupe so I wouldn't know.

 

[divided]

Yeah all verts have the lock window button.

 

[MVD]

There are a bunch of reasons the parts could have been replaced, but I would bet the original chassis was an 03-04 Cobra. It is next to impossible to switch that with the DMV.

The car could have been a theft recovery, it could have been in a wreck etc. and the original owner simply sourced some cheap 99-01 parts as replacements.

 

[sassafras]

Thats definately a fake. Can tell just from the door switches and other things. Another thing is the tail lights and the center console has that little button thing by the cup holders, it looks different on a 03/04. A Terminator has none of this. Its got to be a 99/01 with a Terminator engine and like almost everything else lol.

**Also says it a 10th, which isn't either lol. No red inserts.


I wouldn't have bought that unless you got one hell of a deal

You've apparently never seen a vert before then, the switches on the door are normal and so is the roof delete button by the cup holders.



It doesn't look like it's a 10th anniversary one unless the previous owner swapped out the seats and some of the interior pieces. But other than the 99/01 tails it seems to be a true 03 cobra.

I'm leaning towards the previous owner had the T-56 take a dump on him and then he swapped it out with the cheapest thing he could find and pawned it off to this car company.