Here's my .02 cents.
Like many others, I too could have sprung for the '03 Cobra over my Mach. My reasons for choosing the Mach were things like the Shaker hood, retro interior (which looks much more inviting than the '03 interior, IMO), flat black stripes, front chin spoiler and black rear spoiler, the wheels, the 3.55 solid axle, and the dohc 4.6, and the sheer heritage behind the name 'Mach 1'. The '69 and '70 Mach 1's (especially the 428CJ cars) were fire breathing monsters when they came out. Sure there was another bigger, badder Mustang to be had - the Boss 429 - but the selling points of the Mach back then apply to the new Mach also. Also a big reason for picking the Mach over the Cobra for me was the fact that one of my biggest dreams was to go back in time and buy a brand new muscle car in 1969, but because I was born in '84 I kinda missed my chance. I bought a muscle car when I was 15 - a 70 Challenger - and restored it, but it just is not the same. With the '03 Mach I saw my chance to live a dream, went for it, and couldn't be happier. It's my brand new musclecar
. I'm not worried about a '03 Cobra tearing me a new a-hole in my Mach either because in my mind my Mach still looks better, is more rare, and has that heritage that the Cobra just has not earned yet. I think the Mach is more of a crowd pleaser, too. I don't understand why people would buy a '03 Cobra to be a drag car either unless they just have money to burn. Sure they're fast in the 1/4, but with the extra weight, creature comforts, IRS, warranty, and $30k+ price tag, one would be way ahead of the game buying a 5.0 Fox body and investing in it.
Sorry for the long post. Ultimately I don't even know why people must criticize someone else's opinion on a car. Especially those 'looking down' on Mach 1, GT, and V6 owners for not buying the Cobra.....they're all Mustangs. All great cars.