should i buy an '04 cobra or a '04 mach 1???

Guys... 1) he's not modding, 2) money isn't a problem for him

Given that, I'd say get the Cobra. It doesn't really matter which model has been beat on by the most people or whatever. If you are really worried about that, then you should get a mechanic to look over whichever car you are looking at anyway. I'm sure there are plenty of Mach's around that have been ripped on.

I'd say get the Cobra. Its got the power, and the IRS alone will make it feel like its worth $8000 more. It just provides a better ride for a daily driver on imperfect streets (from what I hear). And I've never heard of any high milage Cobra problems, as long as you aren't gaining those miles with your foot to the floor in 5th/6th gear or some craziness like that.

The Cobra is faster, will ride better, and you can even get a really nice interior upgrade with the 10th aniversary package. And lets not forget, its a freaking SVT! The 2 guys who built your engine by hand have signed their names on it.
 
1 more vote for the cobra. Mine has 59,236 miles on it and runs just as good now as it did when it was new. As long as you take care of it, which I'm sure you plan on doing, the cobra will last just as long as the mach. Oh, and the chicks dig the cobra...
 
I love my Mach 1, but if I could do it over again, I would probably just get a Cobra. Dont get me wrong, I REALLY LOVE MY MACH, but I want that bulletproof motor thats in the Cobra. But like ive said b4, nothin beats the shaker hood & the interior of the Mach1. Oh, and I take meticulous care of my Mach, but Im not scared to mod it, & I definately drive it like its meant to be driven. Both are great, reliable cars though, so it all depends on what u like better.
 
Also keep in mind for when you do get the mod bug (you will, hah), Mach's are no slouch.

There is a guy on here running 12.2's with just DR's, gears, x pipe and tune IIRC. To me thats a killer deal, but we all know you Cobra owners just need to change a pully and retune and your running rediculously fast aswell.
 
Dont get me wrong...my Mach is no slouch, but I want more power now. I would just get a KB & call it a day, but I dont have 7k to throw down. Cobra would already be fast enough, plus its easy to make them go WAY faster!!! For now Im just trying to make my Mach handle like a champ, & get everything else ready for when I can get a blower.
 
it really just depends...for example...there are more cobra's made, most everyone knows what a cobra is. A ricer at this street meet knew what a cobra was, but I got to school him with the mach (stock)...he gave me the "You think your GT with some lame hood scoop can keep up?" hehe...its a monster in disguise!

plus...scott hoag has said the mach motor is good up to 1000hp or thereabouts if you get forged rods and pistons (which arent too expensive of an upgrade).

my mach rides pimp as heck, and I ran up on a 06 GT in this nice turn while he was starting to slide out of the right hand line on the ground hehe...

im a heritage and style guy...so when I got my last raise at work, I knew it was a mach for me and nothing else.
 
At first I missed having the snakes on my fenders since my last stang was a 97 Cobra. Every1 knows what those snakes mean, even though it was only a 97. But since I got the Mach, I noticed alot of people dont know what it is, so the sleeper factor is great.
 
I like the fact that most people don't know what I have. Or if someone sees the "Mach 1" on the back, they probably think I just stuck that emblem on there. I've heard afew people at car shows mumble to their friends "That Mustang has a blower on it". (The Shaker) :D