The Eternal Question: What car to get next?

[ajc7755]

There comes that time in every car owner's life when he/she comes to think "Maybe I want a new car" and well its happening to me, so I thought I would see the all great and power advice from the stangnet gods. Just a little background on me to help you decide what you think is a better choice. I am 23, single, just recently graduated college and am working a full time corporate setting job and living in an apartment. Currently I drive a 94GT, with 101K miles, but I am thinking I want something new. Any car I would get would need full insurance, so the older and less hp it has the less I pay. I kinda want a car with some individuality, speed and power, and that kinda has higher status of hierarchy then my 94. My price range is $28K

So I narrowed it down to a couple of choices:

00-01 Saleen S-281
01 Bullitt
02 Roush Stage 1
04 Mach 1
03-04 Cobra
05 GT

Just a note though, the area I live in, I see at least half a dozen 05s daily, so that might cost the 05 some points.

If you wouldn't mind helping a troubled soul out, I would appreciate it if you could give me your opinion and a reason. Thanks

 

[super302]

I'm guessing that the cobra is going to win the vote by a landslide

they can be had for $25,000 and are way better performers out of the box than all the rest, no to mention they have soooo much potential....Saleen would be 2nd choice, then mach 1

 

[CManT1914]

Where the hell can you find an 03/04 Cobra for $25k? Are the really that cheap now? I've never priced them before, but I mean come on, the 04 is only a year old, I doubt they depreciate $10k in one year.

 

[super302]

Where the hell can you find an 03/04 Cobra for $25k? Are the really that cheap now? I've never priced them before, but I mean come on, the 04 is only a year old, I doubt they depreciate $10k in one year.

most of them are in the 25k-28k range, just check out the svtperformance.com classifieds or ebay, it seems a LOT of people are getting rid of their's prob. b/c of insurance

 

[super302]

if you search for 2003 cobra on ebay, there is like 5 or more w/ a buy-it-now of under 26k, all with <40k miles

 

[CManT1914]

if you search for 2003 cobra on ebay, there is like 5 or more w/ a buy-it-now of under 26k, all with <40k miles

 

[pleasehelp]

You should have no problem finding them cause I'm sure some people want to trade them now that gas prices are at record highs.

 

[yellow1995Cobra]

Where the hell can you find an 03/04 Cobra for $25k? Are the really that cheap now? I've never priced them before, but I mean come on, the 04 is only a year old, I doubt they depreciate $10k in one year.

I got mine the way it sits(all the mods) for 27k last september. It had 3,200 miles on it at the time.

They were never 35k to begin with.. Well thats what ford wanted, but only suckers paid that. I looked at new 04's last summer and dealers were asking the usual 34-35k, but they would all go as low as 29,000.

Now to the question at hand. Id get the 03 cobra. Saleens are a big waste of money in my opinion (unless its a s351). If you like the saleen look just buy a cobra and put the saleen bodykit on it, and you have a very strong motor/trany/IRS and the saleen look, best of both worlds. I wouldnt bother with anything else on your list.

 

[bimmertech]

i like the bullits, mach 1 a very close second and an 01 cobra after that.

 

[Scott_95GT]

Yeah new Cobras, like any car, will go for a couple thousnand below sticker. 29K is about right.

Anyways, I would go 03 cobra. If all you do is get a catback, CAI, and a tune, you will have a 450 fwhp car with the stock blower and stock boost.

If not the cobra, I would get a mach 1. Cheaper insurance, a few thousand cheaper to begin with, awesome looks, and the best seats/interior ever offered in a 99-04 stang IMO. This also leaves you with a couple thousand to play with right away.

 

[super302]

I dont like the seats in the mach's, the cobra's and saleens seats are

 

[Zero Signal]

Problem is that those aren't all comparible costs. I vote for 05 GT with a Vortech

 

[bimmertech]

Just a note though, the area I live in, I see at least half a dozen 05s daily, so that might cost the 05 some points.

If you wouldn't mind helping a troubled soul out, I would appreciate it if you could give me your opinion and a reason. Thanks

i just realized where you live and you're gonna hate to hear this, but at work(baron bmw) this lady traded in(just last week) an 03 10th anniv cobra with a kb2.2, solid axle, etc.. 3500 miles and we sent it to auction for 21k.

 

[urban96]

i say wait untill the gt500 comes out

 

[ajc7755]

Problem is that those aren't all comparible costs. I vote for 05 GT with a Vortech

Nice idea but that might be a bit over 27K, seeing that its hard to even find the GT for 28K let alone the cost of the supercharger.

 

[ajc7755]

I already PMed bimmer, but to the rest, I know the lady that traded in that cobra for an M3. She is the mom of a friend of mine that owns Dieman motorsports in Lee's Summitt, MO. He did all the work on the car himself so it was professionally done. What really makes me mad is they knew I was looking for a car and didn't tell me about the cobra.

Forgot to ask you dimmer, how much did the dealership give them for the trade in? And if the auction has been done, how much did it end up going for? Just wondering because I would have easily given up 27K without question for that car as it has been babied and waxed every day.

 

[bimmertech]

I already PMed bimmer, but to the rest, I know the lady that traded in that cobra for an M3. She is the mom of a friend of mine that owns Dieman motorsports in Lee's Summitt, MO. He did all the work on the car himself so it was professionally done. What really makes me mad is they knew I was looking for a car and didn't tell me about the cobra.

Forgot to ask you dimmer, how much did the dealership give them for the trade in? And if the auction has been done, how much did it end up going for? Just wondering because I would have easily given up 27K without question for that car as it has been babied and waxed every day.

pretty sure they only gave her 21k for it. a guy at work was tryin to buy it and they were gonna let him have it for 23k, but he couldn't get the cash before they sent it to auction. got 21k at auction. keep tabs on autotrader, cuz there have been several times i see our auction'd stangs at other dealers in the area.

 

[ajc7755]

Damn, I would have given them more then that in cash, lol. Whoever got that car for 21, let alone under 25 got the deal of the century.

 

[ajc7755]

Ok, I also found a 02 Stage 1 Roush in my price range.

 

[yellow1995Cobra]

Saleens and roush use stock GT engines. They are very weak motors... Dont get a saleen or roush if you plan to make 450+ rwhp and be a strip monster. Roushs and saleens are a waste of money like i said, UNLESS u can find a S351, but they are still ALOT of money