Looking at buying an 03 cobra, ?'s

Hey everyone,

I've been looking into getting a terminator, but wasn't really planning on getting one until later this year (money issues). However, I found a local 03 cobra with 28,000 miles and he is asking for 23,500. I know that normally when I looked at these cars, the owners (don't know if they were actually getting this) asking price was usually around 26-28k (I've been specifically looking for ones w/under 15k miles, 1 or 2 owners), and while I've seen others ask this price, they were few and far between, or had a lot of miles or something else.(23.5k) I've read the FAQ section, and am ok with cars (did 95% of the work on my gt), but I've never owned a modular car, let alone an irs svt. Is there anything you guys can recommend for me to look out for. I know the basics (make sure panels line up, paint, fluids, clutch, brakes, carfax, tick issue) but didn't know if there should be anything on the lookout for, maybe regarding the irs or anything else not mentioned on the FAQ. There is one thing that really worries me with this car, its had 4 owners. I am going to look at it this sat, so anything you guys can think of would be appreciated. Its exactly what I want, except for lower miles, a black coupe.
Thanks,

here are some pics

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/img_popup.jsp?car_id=231774333&photoIndex=0

VR4 said:

i know about the sticky and i also know how ppl tend to skim right past stickys.

just like i kinda skimmed his post because of the stupid intellitext and other ads in it.

Click to expand...

Maybe its because I don't know what intellitext is, but how was my post stupid?

U.M.

Thanks for the advice, yeah I've read the faq all the way through, really helpful, but I was just trying to see if I missed anything, if I get it, its going to be the highest priced car I've bought so far, (tend to keep my cars for a while, and usually get some kind of used car) and never had a cobra before. The guy said he had the number to the original owner, but I thought it might be irritating for someone to call the original owner after the car has passed 3 additional hands.

Ok, just did a carfax and wanted to update and ask a ?. Carfax only show's 3 owners, so I guess the guy was wrong about the 4? Original owner had it for about 2.5 years, and the current owner has it for 1.7 years. The second owner only had it for a month, which concerns me, (maybe he had mech issues and sold it quickly?). My question is (just trying to figure out the owner who had it for 1 month, and I'm sorry if this is a stupid ?), but carfax only shows actual owners right. They wouldn't show it when a dealership had it or something right? (trade in, or anything like that) Also, the first owner showed it being registered as a personal vehicle, the second just looked like a title update, didn't mention being registered, and the third shows registration but didn't specify for personal use. Is that normal (thought it would list as personal use each time registered?) Being that this has had only 3 owners, does it seem like a good buy, (don't really know how much I'll be able to negotiate) assuming its mech sound?

Thanks,

P.S.

Here is what I'm looking at on carfax





2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA SVT
1FAFP48Y03F435602
COUPE
4.6L V8 FI DOHC / REAR WHEEL DRIVE
Standard Equipment | Safety Options
CARFAX Safety & Reliability Ratings
Hi-I'm the CARFAX Xpert™. I'm here to help you better understand the data in this CARFAX Report. Did you know...
We checked over 5 billion records from thousands of data sources for this vehicle
This vehicle qualifies for the CARFAX Buyback Guarantee
The last reported odometer reading was 26,100







A CARFAX Vehicle History Report is based only on information supplied to CARFAX. Other information about this vehicle, including problems, may not have been reported to CARFAX. Use this report as one important tool, along with a vehicle inspection and test drive, to make a better decision about your next used car.

The number of owners is estimated by CARFAX
Year purchased 2003 2006 2006
Type of owner Personal --- ---
Estimated length of ownership 2 yrs. 5 mo. 1 month 1 yr. 7 mo.
Owned in the following states/provinces Washington Washington Washington
Estimated miles driven per year --- --- ---
Last reported odometer reading 97 26,100




CARFAX guarantees the information in this section
Salvage | Junk | Rebuilt Guaranteed
No Problem Guaranteed
No Problem Guaranteed
No Problem
Fire/Flood | Hail Damage | Buyback/Lemon
Guaranteed
No Problem Guaranteed
No Problem Guaranteed
No Problem
Not Actual Mileage | Exceeds Mechanical Limits Guaranteed
No Problem Guaranteed
No Problem Guaranteed
No Problem
GUARANTEED - None of these major title problems were reported by a state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). If you find that any of these title problems were reported by a DMV and not included in this report, CARFAX will buy this vehicle back.
Register | View Terms





Not all accidents or other issues are reported to CARFAX
Total Loss Check

No total loss reported to CARFAX. No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported

Structural / Frame Damage Check

No structural / frame damage reported to CARFAX. No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported

Airbag Deployment Check

No airbag deployment reported to CARFAX. No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported

Odometer Rollback Check

No indication of an odometer rollback. No Issues Indicated
No Issues Indicated
No Issues Indicated

Accident Check

No accidents reported to CARFAX. No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported
No Issues Reported

Manufacturer Recall Check

Available directly from Ford. A current list of recalls is available at

www.ford.com. No Recalls Reported
No Recalls Reported
No Recalls Reported


Basic Warranty Check

Original warranty estimated to have expired. View Info

Warranty Active
Warranty Active
Warranty Expired



Tell us what you know about this vehicle





A CARFAX Vehicle History Report is based only on information supplied to CARFAX. CARFAX checked over 5 billion vehicle history events and found 10 record(s) for this 2003 FORD MUSTANG COBRA SVT (1FAFP48Y03F435602).




Purchased: 2003
Type: Personal
Where: Washington
Est. miles/year: ---
Est. length owned: 8/15/03 - 1/20/06
(2 yrs. 5 mo.)



Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
06/18/2003 NICB Vehicle manufactured
and shipped to original dealer

08/15/2003 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Bothell, WA Registered as
personal vehicle

08/28/2003 97 Service Plan Co.
Bothell, WA Service contract issued

09/11/2003 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Bothell, WA Title or registration issued
First owner reported
Loan or lien reported

09/02/2004 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Everett, WA Registration updated when owner moved
the vehicle to a new location

08/29/2005 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Mountlake Terrace, WA
Title #0325416143 Registration issued or renewed
Registration updated when owner moved
the vehicle to a new location
Vehicle color noted as Black






Purchased: 2006
Where: Washington
Est. miles/year: ---
Est. length owned: 1/20/06 - 2/21/06
(1 month)



Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
01/20/2006 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Mountlake Terrace, WA
Title #0602052435 Title issued or updated
New owner reported
Loan or lien reported
Vehicle color noted as Black






Purchased: 2006
Where: Washington
Est. miles/year: ---
Est. length owned: 2/21/06 - present
(1 yr. 7 mo.)



Date: Mileage: Source: Comments:
02/21/2006 26,100 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Maple Valley, WA
Title #0602052435 Title issued or updated
New owner reported
Vehicle color noted as Black

06/30/2006 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Maple Valley, WA
Title #0605216511 Registration issued or renewed
Vehicle color noted as Black

09/08/2007 Washington
Motor Vehicle Dept.
Maple Valley, WA
Title #0605216511 Registration issued or renewed
Vehicle color noted as Black

VR4 said:

intellitext is where software picks out certian words, changes their color and double underlines them to provide links. it is installed by the owner of the forum to generate advertising revenue.


dstang. in no way was your post stupid. i was calling intellitext stupid.




here is the oasis report on warranty repairs. it has a spotty maintenance history too. not all QCM maintenances were done.

Cust Comments: CHECK ENGINE LITE IS ON CHECK AND ADVISE STATES LACKS POWER
Tech Comments: VERIFIED MIL ON BUT COULD NOT VERIFY A LACK OF POWER. SETUP WDS AND RETRIEVED P0460. PERFORMED PINPOINT TESTING BUT NO 1


Cust Comments: CUSTOMER STATES HERES POPPING NOISE AT RIGHT FRONT WHEN TURNING
Tech Comments: ROAD TEST AND TRY TO VERIFY CONCERN. DID HEAR NOISE OVER BUMPS AND SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT. RUN OASIS AND FOUND A SMM ON RACK AND PINION BACKETS MAKING NOISE OVER BUMPS. BEFORE I INSTALLED THEM I CHECKED AND TIGHTEN FRONT END NUTS AND BOLTS AND CLEAN DEBRI OUT OF SPRING AREAS. INSTALL NEW RACK BRACKETS AND TIGHTEN TO SPECS. RETEST AND THE NOISE APPEARS TO BE GOME AT THIS TIME


Cust Comments: CUSTOMER STATES DIFFERENTIAL FLUID LEAKING
Tech Comments: RAISE VEC AND VERIFY LEAK COMING FROM DIFF REAR COVER AND REAR AXLE SEAL. HAD TO REMOVE INDEPENDANT REAR SUSPENSION TO REMOVE REAR END HOUSING FROM VEC. REMOVE REAR COVER AND CLEAN OFF. DRAIN FLUID. REMOVE AXLE SEALS. INSTALL NEW SEALS AND RESIICONE COVER PLATE AND INSTALL. REFILL WITH 75 140 AND FICTION MOD. INSTALL IN VEC AND ASSEMBLE REAR SUSPENSION MAKING SURE THE CAMBER ADJUSTER GET PUT BACK


Cust Comments: CUSTOMER STATES PANEL LIGHTS AND DIMMER INOP
Tech Comments: CHECK AND VERIFY CONCER. FOUND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH NOT WORKING PROPERLY TO START WITH INSTALL NEW HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND FOUND THE RADIO AND OTHER LIGHTS DIM AS THEY SHOULD EXCEPT THE ILUMINATION OF THE DASH LIGHTS. GOT EVTM AND CHECK WIRING HARNESS ETC. PULL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER OUT AND CHECK CIRCUIT BOARD AND FOUND POWER TO PRINTED BOARD BUT NOT GUAGE LIGHTS. FOUND OUT MUST REPLACE COMPLETE UNIT


Cust Comments: CHECK AND ADVISE WHEN CUST RELEASE CLUTCH MAKES A NOISE THUD NOISE, AND 1ST TO 2ND THE GEAR SHIFTER MAKES A GRIND NOISE
Tech Comments: 25884 TEST DROVE VERIFIED COMPLAINT RAN OASIS FOUND SSM 17510 INSPECTED AND RETORQUED TRANS MOUNTS DRIVE LINE BOLTS AXLE MOUNTS AND SUB FRAME ATTACHING MOUNTS CONDIDTION IS NORMAL


Cust Comments: CHECK AND ADVISE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT
Tech Comments: 27248 FOUND SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOP MADE PNA INSTALLED NEW DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ASSY TESTED ALL OK

Click to expand...

Wow, how do you get that type of information? Thats a great resource to use, I agree, the history seems like it's had some issues. (rearend and tranny were the major ones that cought my eye, although I would be really annoyed at a wiring/lighting issues as well.) also, sorry about the miscommunication, my dumb@ss just didn't know what intellitext was, and I agree, its friggin annoying. Sorry for all the ?'s guys, but what is qcm, and the ssm 17510?