The new (Sep 2002) issue of Sports Car International magazine, has an article about the '03 Cobra (author is David Colman). Generally, the article is very positive, however, one part of the story caught my eye, relative to stalling problems which have been reported, especially when slowing to make a corner. I quote:
"And as for the traction control "advantage," it must be great for keeping dealership cowboys in check at the slalom rodeo, or braving a Romeo blizzard, but it sure is a bad deal out on the street. Before realizing TC was engaged all the time, I swept the Cobra into a banzai pass on a two laner, only to find the engine go stark-raving dead for a full count of three before resurrecting itself enough to get me past (barely) the guy in front. That heartstopper was merely the precursor to an autocross debut with this car that was so disappointing it inspired me to track down the TC problem the very next day.
On a course at Candlestick Park, somewhat longer than the one at Stockton, the Cobra - with TC on - was 13 seconds slower than my 914-6! Traction Control never allowed the V8 to come on boost except at the most inopportune times. In the middle of the slalom cones, just when you least needed it, eight pounds of boost would kick in. But going up the straight, TC throttled back power to pittance levels. What a folly, and here I had a queue of expectant Mustang co-pilots lined up to experience the thrill of it all. They got their just desserts the next week, however, when the wretched Traction Control system bit the dust."
Questions: Does this experience sound like what has been reported on the board as cars stalling? Is there an on/off switch for TC?
"And as for the traction control "advantage," it must be great for keeping dealership cowboys in check at the slalom rodeo, or braving a Romeo blizzard, but it sure is a bad deal out on the street. Before realizing TC was engaged all the time, I swept the Cobra into a banzai pass on a two laner, only to find the engine go stark-raving dead for a full count of three before resurrecting itself enough to get me past (barely) the guy in front. That heartstopper was merely the precursor to an autocross debut with this car that was so disappointing it inspired me to track down the TC problem the very next day.
On a course at Candlestick Park, somewhat longer than the one at Stockton, the Cobra - with TC on - was 13 seconds slower than my 914-6! Traction Control never allowed the V8 to come on boost except at the most inopportune times. In the middle of the slalom cones, just when you least needed it, eight pounds of boost would kick in. But going up the straight, TC throttled back power to pittance levels. What a folly, and here I had a queue of expectant Mustang co-pilots lined up to experience the thrill of it all. They got their just desserts the next week, however, when the wretched Traction Control system bit the dust."
Questions: Does this experience sound like what has been reported on the board as cars stalling? Is there an on/off switch for TC?
