I currently drive a 2003 Ford ZX2. It has less then 60k miles, but it is of course a 4-banger.

I've got my eyes on a '97 Cobra, black/black 5spd with less then 90k and going for 9k (I'm sure I can talk 'em down since edmunds TMV is around 7k for dealer selling). I owe about 3500 on my car, and trade in is about 5k. Are these 'Stangs reliable enough to take over daily driving duties? Or should I just look at a GT and not sacrifice a cobra to the roads like that?

Thanks in advance.[/align]

 

It's only reliable enough if it hasn't been beat into the ground.

 

take it to a machanic u know have him check it out also do a car fax on it if its good u should be readyto roll yes they are good daily drivers i drive mine every day

 

Before i aquired my 96 Mustang Cobra it was beat to hell. It came from texas and was brought into my family with about 120k miles on it. The paint was faded, seats ripped shift boot torn and dirty as hell, the oil looked a year old. I was in love. The Seats are being reupholstered but im just sticking in some racing seats and putting the stock ones in a safe place, all the cosmetic stuff isn't a big deal. Anyhow back to your question, the 96-98 cobras are Nortorious for blowing a passenger side head, as mine did. I got my car from my brother with 153k miles on it and it went to 156K before blowing a head, however i know how he drove it and it did not look like it was kept well beforehand and it went to 156k miles before something went wrong. Yes it was a daily driver and yes i reccomend a cobra as a daily driver, mine lasted a decent amount of time before she had her little mishap and that was at 156k ran hard not well kept. So take care of it and enjoy the sound of a 32v as i once did and will here as soon as i get some new heads cams, and god knows what else if the valves went through anything.

 

Blowing a passenger side head? Do you mean the passenger side head gasket?

 

Nice to know they can take some abuse and still be reliable daily drivers.

Thanks for all the info. I guess at this time, it's a discussion between the wife and I about whether or not I should get it...