03 Cobra vs. Mach 1

[Nopantz]

Just like the title reads I'm goin off to college with a scholarship and want to treat myself to either one, but I dont know which. The mach 1 has great looks and a solid rear axle, while the cobra has brute power. The only draw back to the cobra is the IRS while the mach 1 doesnt have as much brute power as the cobra. Please give me your opinions or your experiences with each car..I really need help decidiing .

p.s. I didnt know if this belonged in tech or non-tech...I think this is technical..sorry if it isnt.

 

[showstopper2]

that comparison is apples and oranges. the Cobra is by far the better car in all areas. if the only drawback for the Cobra is the IRS then buy it! I have driven 2 04's and they are a great car. I drove a Mach 1 as well and although it is better than a GT, it is NO Cobra.

 

[Ruckus46Gt]

i'd say go with the mach. I love the cobra but there are a couple of people by me that have both a 03 cobra and a mach 1 and they drive the mach one more then the cobra and say they love to drive it more then the cobra...oh yea and he is running 12.5's with an auto mach 1(gears,line lock, drag radials, x pipe and mac cat back). I'd also say less to worry about on the mach then cobra...i've heard supercharged cars can be a pain in the butt

 

[Nopantz]

Im so confused I think I can get a used mach 1 for alittle cheaper..what about insurance rates any difference you think?

 

[Nopantz]

U think the insurance on the Mach 1 is any cheaper than the cobra I am only 18

 

[Ruckus46Gt]

yea a mach 1 is a little bit cheaper for older people(think one guy said he pays 50 less a month), but for you it would probely be more like 100 you figure cuase your 18. I'm 20 with a ticket for 5 over and they wanted me to pay 6k a year for my mustang

 

[Ruckus46Gt]

oh yea if you look at muscle mustangs and fast fords they tested the mach 1 againsted the gt and cobra and they said the cobra was the fastest but the mach 1 wasnt far behind and was a lot more fun to drive

 

[Figment]

cobra

 

[MY Cobra]

you would be crazy to go with the mach 1. Listen to people who have a cobra and have driven a mach 1. People that "Hear what there friends say" are like people who do not want you to have a better car. Just my 2 cents. There are reasons a cobra is better. Instead of spending all that time getting stuff to look good on the out side. SVT spent time under the hood. Sure i like the hoods on the mach 1's and the seats but i would not trade that for the HAND BUILT engine i have under my hood. Insurance is going to be about the same. I have a Camaro LS1 and my cobra i have been to a ton of insurance places asking quotes. By far for somebody my age (20) i have found that geico treats me the best. As far as prices and service goes. i have 3 cars on my policy so i pay about 185 a month. for 2 V8 sports cars and a Chevy silverado V8. for my cobra alone it would be about 100 bucks a month. But i have more than one car on there so i get a discount...... so they tell me. go test drive both of them. Ask some people you know which would be more your style. Diffrent strokes for diffrent folks. Then call around and get insurance quotes.

 

[tangerine]

I have to agree. the cobra is a much better buy. if you are worried about the irs then take it out sell it for about 1500 or 2 grand and put a built live rear up under it for a grand and have some money in your pocket. The motor is already completely forged. Earlier it was stated that one dude has an auto mach running 12.5 well a stock cobra runs that. the cobra will be the better buy if you ask. me but some other may see differently.

 

[Zinc03GT]

I've driven a Mach, but I haven't driven a Cobra. The Mach is incredible though. It beats my GT in every area. You can probably get a Mach for 6k under the Cobra, if that is an issue. The Cobra is amazing with it's power and refinement (compared to a GT), but it will cost you more. And to say that Ford only worked on the looks of the Mach and not under the hood is ridiculous. My buddy just put down 283 hp and 299 tq to the wheels yesterday with just a cat-back on his Mach. That equals 333 hp to the fly and 352 tq. That is a sound improvement on the n/a 4v motor.

 

[01mgvert]

I'd go with the Mach I for two reasons. First, it's about $10,000 cheaper. Second, the horsepower of the Mach I is underrated. Hot Rod magazine recently dynoed a stock Mach I at 280 rwhp (333 bhp). They then spent $1800 in bolt-on modifications and added another 30 rwhp. The result is a 310 rwhp (388 bhp) Mach I for a lot less money than a Cobra. If 310 rwhp still is not enough horsepower for you, spend another $4,000 for a supercharger. Now you will have around 500 rwhp (625 bhp) and Cobras will be watching your tail lights. With the left over $4,000, you can beef up the suspension and buy some drag radials.

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

IMO there isnt a more badass looking car than a Azure Blue Mach 1.

If you want the best looks and good performance go Mach 1.

If you want a better overall package with gobs of power with warranty go Cobra. And have fun trying to keep said warranty after the mod bug bits.

 

[760-MPH]

Buy a beater and invest the money instead.

 

[BrutalStang]

this may help, in the end they say go with the mach 1, if you plan on driving it alot the mach may be the better choice
http://www.musclemustangfastfords.com/features/0404mm_must/
plus as you will see, the mach is no sloutch in the performace department, unless all out power is your goal(plus both have the dual overhead motor)

 

[neoclasiccl]

Cobra the modding ability is the main reason. They are fords version of the supra

 

[Jackie Chan]

cobra, its a lot cheaper go to a solid rear axle, than to a hardcore short block, supercharger and bigger wheels/tires, stonger tranny.....and so on. new the price difference is only around 6k

 

[760-MPH]

btw, i didnt answer this but if you insist on getting one or the either, trust me and get the cobra. not that the mach is bad, but the cobra is badass. the power is insane. go read on mach1registry.com how 2 people within the last week who loved their machs test drove a cobra and traded it in that day.

 

[ttown]

Well as far as I'm concerned get the Mach, a little over 16k will ever be made for it's 2 year production., First time since the 70's. This car in a street race at a stoplight will take the Cobra and at the 1/8 mile track will have a fair chance there too. As you can see I could have brought 2 cobras with the 3 mustang I brought in the last 3 years. The Mach looks better, rarer, better seats, solid rear axle, and love the functional shaker.

I hate the 6 cyclinder look of the 03/04 Cobra's. I didn't like the duck tail spoiler on the 5.0 LX's or 6 cyclinders either. It's a very plain car in the fox body line IMO. The 2 advantages is why most people think it's great...a 6 speed tranny and a SC motor. If you would have put the 5 speed tranny and Motor of the 01 Cobra in it that would have been the worst Cobra EVER....think about it and why people like it.

 

[tangerine]

most mach 1 I have seen are about 28 and all the cobra's I have seen is 32. that is only a 4,000 dollar difference. for that 4 grand you get built motor, blower, sixspeed, some tight ass seats, and some really nice gauges plus the body kit. you put a blower on a mach on then you have no idea when you will see a rod come through the side of the block.