2012 GT or 03/04 Cobra

cam1394 said:

Im looking for a new toy and trying to decide between the 2012 GT or the 03/04 cobra. I will only be able to do the same basic bolt ons for each.Like tuner,filter,exhaust and pulleys for the Cobra.I know the cobra will make more power but it will have more miles and not really knowing how those miles were driven but will cost less. Or would you rather have the 2012 GT ? It will be a daily driver only about 20-30 miles a day,very little strip,but will play on the street. Was just wanting some other opinions.

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2012. No question. It puts down about the same HP stock. It's a MILLION times more comfortable. The s197 chassis is lightyears ahead of the SN95

IMO, the 5.0

The best option as far as suspension, interior, ride quality, and personally i like the looks of a sn197 over that of a sn95.

They both make the same power, but the Cobra has to have a supercharger to reach the power level that the 5.0 makes naturally aspirated.

There is another thread on here now with this same argument. Here is the link if you wanna check it out.

yep, times eleventy-billion. Drive a modern 5.0 and you'll walk away so fast from the 03-04, people will think it's asking you for spare change on a street corner.

cam1394 said:

Im looking for a new toy and trying to decide between the 2012 GT or the 03/04 cobra. I will only be able to do the same basic bolt ons for each.Like tuner,filter,exhaust and pulleys for the Cobra.I know the cobra will make more power but it will have more miles and not really knowing how those miles were driven but will cost less. Or would you rather have the 2012 GT ? It will be a daily driver only about 20-30 miles a day,very little strip,but will play on the street. Was just wanting some other opinions.

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I was hesitant to post my opinion at first because sometimes these things can turn into a pissing match (FI vs N/A).. I traded in my '06 Mazda RX-8..(absolutely loved that car, problems and all). Originally, I was looking for and found and '04 Cobra Convertible Mineral Gray. Other than lowering it a bit and changing out the wheels/tires(staggered) (the car was absolutely beautiful with only 5k +/- miles on it), it was pretty much stock.

The original owner was an older fellow in his 70's, but hekept the car garaged and drove it mostly to the golf course and back or in the evenings if it was nice. Perfectly flawless. Perfect paint, shiny, no chips whatsoever. I wanted it soo badly and originally balked at the $24k price he was asking for but explained to him that I would look around a bit more before I made up my mind that weekend. The biggest draw back was that I used to have an '02 GT Premium Convertible, Mineral Gray that was totaled (not my fault). My brother sells Fords and suggested that I come down and test drive the new '12's that were out. I went out there and drove it around for a bit, stopped for some dinner and when I came back, he had the paper work ready for me to sign (along with 7000k off MSRP). I had a feeling he was doing something sneaky..as that's how I got my first Mustang... "Hey, come down here and check out this Mustang that just came in.." sort of thing.

It was not my intent to buy the one he had..I really wanted that Cobra, but with the updated interior, updated electronics, suspension etc, etc, etc, I just couldn't say no. I totally understand the appeal of the 03/04 Cobras as I still like them and will probably get one one day, but there's no comparing the 2. The current models win out in every conceivable category, IMHO.

+1. I bought my first 'stang (2012) back in Dec. and couldn't be happier. If you can, get it with navigation, heated leather and specially HID Xenon headlights. You won't be sorry. And change the oil to synthetic asap. If you want to wait until after the break in period is done, that's ok too. If you get a 6sp manual, take it easy on the throttle and don't rev up the motor too hard to allow for proper break in so you don't have any issues with burning excessive oil down the road.

I'd say if it's a DD, you'll be happiest with the 12'. Like others have mentioned, the interior/ride/fit and finish are way ahead of the terminator, which has the same interior as my old 94' GT had. You also get much better safety features etc.

For all out performance, it remains to be seen but both have their advantages. The terminator cobras have an advantage in a few areas, such as forged bottom end (able to support big #s down the road without needing to redo the short block) and of course the T56 tranny is better than the 6 speed in these cars.

Of course the coyotes have the 8.8 rear which most will agree is better for drag racing than the cobra IRS, and from what's already available it looks like they take mods pretty well too, and seem to make great power with forced induction on the stock bottom ends.

a while ago i was in that same situation, i chose a 2012 gt 5.0 and never looked back.

My dad has an 03 cobra and I just bought a 2012 GT. I let him drive my car and he said it feels way more refined and smoother. He still loves his car though we have not had a chance to race yet but should be fun to see! Also mileage seems better on the new one. I get about 25 on highway and he gets 22 ish. Both sweet though!

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Old member here, back with a new car, a 2012 Mustang 5.0. In the past, I had a h/c/i 1995 Mustang GTS, an 03 Cobra and a C6 Corvette. My 03 Cobra had a JLT, 2.8" pulley, Steig Stage IV ported blower, cat-back and tune. With an aggressive tune, car made 480rwhp/460rwtq SAE or 500rwhp/480rwtq with ice in my aftermarket intercooler. IMO, the 03/04 Cobra is a mediocre car wrapped around a fantastic engine. That's obvious based on its origin. I later moved to an 05 C6, better in every way than the Cobra. Ran a 7.8X@92-93 with 400rwhp in the C6. Ended up with 450rwhp/407rwtq SAE after a custom cam but unable to better my times in the 1/8th, ran a 7.9X@94-95.

So last week, I bought a new 5.0, was not planning on it, didn't think I'd come back to the Ford camp after the C6 but I tell you, this is one hell of a car, especially for the price. Nothing wrong with the 03/04 Cobra, very easy to make tons of power for cheap but the 2011+ Mustang is overall a better car IMO. I rate the 5.0 up there with my C6 in terms of quality, speed (LS2 at least), etc. I bought the cheapest GT as well, $30k minus $4250 military rebate.

So this comment doesn't get slaughtered I'm basing this off of interior only because of the engines between the two there is no comparison. I don't have a 04 cobra, it is a 04 pony package v6 conv, with all the bells and whistles (wifes summer car), my daily driver is a 12' 5.0 premium w/ all the bells and whistles (see signature for details). The interior quality is day and night, i used to like driving her stang, until I purchased my own and it is day and night.

I had an 03 Cobra as well and while I think it's cheaper to make it go fast the new car wins in every other category especially if you daily drive it like I do.

I think you posted this in the wrong place. You are going to get bias from everyone who owns these. Bottom line that NO ONE has mentioned, you tweak with either with the slew of bolt ons you mentioned and you will have the same thing, similar power and ZERO warranty. They will both need a tune, and this negates your warranty on the coyote. Bottom line, buy for either performance or thinking youre driving a Cadillac. Some and not all dealers will find ways to blame the altered computer for a damned bulb burning out or trans blowing etc etc...

I agree its apples and oranges, but in a coyote section, youre not giving the Termi a fair shot.

cam1394...for me the difference is whether you want a new car or a 9-10 year old car. Also how much "car" you're getting. IMO Ford went cheap on the SN-95 platform. No lock mechanism for access to the gas cap, no outside temp gauge, no info panel cluster...they didn't even put a freaking lighting mechanism on the power window/door lock buttons. My 96 Mark VIII had all those options but the Mustang didn't on the 99-04 body?!?! WTF man?!?!

The Terminator, while at the top mark of performance (for it's time) left a lot of refinement on the table. It was basically a stripped down brute when compared to other cars out there. The Coyote has soo much more to offer than performance. It has a lot of options like MP3, blue tooth, info cluster, smart key, etc. And it'll either outgun or stay with a Terminator stock to stock. Not to mention that when you consider the price of a Termi in good condition then you might as well take another 8-10 grand and get the Coyote.

Now as far as mods go...a pulley, tune, and CAI on a Termi will cost about the same price as an exhaust on a Coyote from what I've seen. And dollar for dollar, a modded Termi will get you more power and will have you walking a Coyote from what I've seen. But that isn't enough for me to decide in favor of the Termi. I'd get the Coyote if I were you.

BTW, I have an 03GT and 95 GT and I plan to get a Coyote at the end of the year. But I gotta say I would NEVER trade either of my cars to get a new one...