Ill be getting a new stang in the near future and it may be either a 00 GT or a 98 Cobra. I dont know much about the early sn95's but ive been hearing people bad mouthing them so i thought id come and see whats what. Are there any serious problems that are common with the 98 Cobras? I read that they are rated at 305 HP stock, how much of that will i actually see? Are the cobra reliable in the long run? Anything else u guys can tell me about them is much appretiated. Id much rather get the Cobra, the one im looking at has 45,xxx miles and has been well maintained so it all depends on what u guys tell me about them.

 

From what I recall, the cruise control was one of the more common problems with the 98's that I remember while looking for 97 and 98 Cobras.

You are looking at the right car though. I drive mine every day and it's a blast. I have over 76,000 miles on it and not one problem. The 32 valve 4.6 is as solid a platform as you can find. Redline at 7000 RPMs doesn't get old either (pulls the whole way to it as well). I am admittedly partial, but don't even consider the GT.....you can drive the Cobra as is and have plenty of power, or modify it and get into the obscene amount of power range [:-].

Good luck with the decision!
Mills

2002 Saleen S-281E (#46)
1997 SVT Cobra (#5726)

 

cobra hands down. I actually had a 2000Gt and when i bought my cobra BIG difference

 

i agree. i was looking at a 2000 gt and then i thought i will go ahead and test drive the cobra also that was on the lot. i left with the cobra. after driving them there was no way i could get the gt.

 

I was between a 01 GT and a 97 cobra. Bought the cobra and do not regret it one bit. Cobra hands down. 71000 and no real problems (piddly sh*t here and there, but nothing major).

Matt

 

The two of them are fairly close pre-modified, but I am partial to the cobra. I have had mine for several years with no problems... Bought it with 25,000 miles on it and now it has 70,000... The leather is comfortable as heck, but even when taken care of it will not stay new looking. With More HP, better brakes, and better suspension, a couple of simple modifications make it a really strong car. It can be as simple as rear gears and some lowering springs (include caster/camber plates and new shocks/struts)... You will have to contend with higher insurance costs though, as it is more HP stock... I don't think that there will be that much of a difference in the used price between the two that would outweigh the benefits...so go for the cobra.

 

Go with the cobra.
They are much rarer than the GT.