03/04 Cobra Questions

[leroy93lx]

I know there are a few current and previous 03/04 Cobra owners on here. I'm curious what kind of fuel mileage they get with your average mods and normal driving. I have seen a few lately that are priced pretty decent. What kind of problems do those cars have once they get some miles on them? Timing belts or anything internal?

[replicobra]

mine has 93,000mi on it and runs like a new car. i only have a few bolt ons right now, but i am about to do more. most people say they get around 27 mpg highway

[aperacer]

exhaust pulley cold air and a tune. 20-22 highway. not a lot in town.

[leroy93lx]

At 60 mph can you use 6th gear or does it chug?

[MWoods26]

With a ported eaton and basic bolt ons I got about 14-16mpg average with about 50/50 highway and city driving. I had got as bad as 10mpg out of a tank when I was really beating the piss out of it. The best I ever got was 100% highway. I filled up at the Mason-Montgomery exit and drove it to Louisville without getting into the boost or romping on it one single time and it was still only 20mpg

[IWRBB]

I've done 20 on the highway. Around town, messing around, 14~16. Normal driving might get me 17~18.

They are pretty bulletproof overall. There are a couple weak points if you mod them and beat on it- specifically the 10 spline input shaft and the stock diff cover.

High mileage engine issues really aren't any different than any other 4.6 DOHC engines. Tensioners and cam gears tend to be the most common failures.

It's kind of a slug in 6th at 60. 6th is really tall in the Cobra T56. You really should be in 5th if you want OD at 60. I use 6th for 70+ MPH. 4th is good from about 30-50, 5th is good from 50 to 70, 6th really is best at 70+. You could always just lay into the gas and it'll definately go in 6th, but you really don't want to be getting boost in OD gears.

[leroy93lx]

These are 3.55 gears stock correct?

[IWRBB]

Yes. 3.55 gears.

[700hp04mystic]

MINE HAS 90K ON IT, WITH A PORTED EATON FULL BOLTONS, 175 SHOT AND NO PROBLEMS. HOWEVER I THINK IT IS KINDA HARD ON FUEL, BUT I GUESS IT COULD BE BECAUSE I CANT DRIVE IT WITH OUT BEING WIDE OPEN. THE INPUT SHAFT ON THE TRANNY IS WEAK AND PUT A BRACE ON THE IRS AND GO TO TOWN WITH THE MODS THEY ARE A BEAST. I HAD A BUDDY THAT SPRAYED HIS WITH 225 ON 2 KITS, 75 AT FIRST AND THEN 2ND KIT WITH 150 FOR OVER 2 YEARS BEFORE HE HURT A PISTON. VERY TUFF CARS AND DEPENDABLE.

[rtvickers]

I have a 2.3 whipple, 60lb injectors, cai, 26 spline input shaft, spec3 clutch, mgw shifter, stock irs. I get around 20mpg and its probably 50/50 highway and in town. It has 71,000 mi

They tend to break the half shafts and diff cover. lol. I blew a head gasket but from what Ive read its a rare occurance. I would definitely recommend doing the head cooling mod. Just a little insurance. I think the 03's or earlier Cobras would develop a tick in one of the heads. They issued a TSB for it I think. Other than that I think their pretty sound. I seen an article where they ran a compound boost setup on one and they were getting 44-45 psi in the intake. On a stock motor. I think it put out aroun 1100-1200 rwhp. It was a write up on the Hellion twin turbo setup. If its true, thats pretty strong to hold up to that kind of pounding. Google it and you should be able to find it.

[leroy93lx]

I am looking at more of a daily driver. No huge mods. Just your basic stuff with a good suspension under it. I looked at one in Tennessee over the weekend and it got me thinking.

[97dustang]

i have a silver 03 vert with 78k, ford replaced crate motor, and bilstein coilovers for sale? engine mods are pulley and exhaust

[03cobra]

I get 18 to 20 depending on the type of driving. My Cobra is all stock. The wheel hop is very bad in these cars compared to other Mustangs I have owned. Overall I love the car.

[NXcoupe]

It's kind of a slug in 6th at 60. 6th is really tall in the Cobra T56. You really should be in 5th if you want OD at 60. I use 6th for 70+ MPH. 4th is good from about 30-50, 5th is good from 50 to 70, 6th really is best at 70+. You could always just lay into the gas and it'll definately go in 6th, but you really don't want to be getting boost in OD gears.

This is not my experience with my 03. In 6th on the highway it always felt like i needed another gear to shift into. Found out the cobra 6 speeds have a 6th that is similar in ratio to the tko and t5 trans 5th. So when i put a 6 speed in my vert, i chose a viper spec unit. Now THAT had an overdrive 6th! If i ever own another 03/04 cobra, thats the first mod ill do is the 5/6th gear conversion. Ford had there head up their asses on that decision imho.

[leroy93lx]

I did a ton of reading and research on the Cobras and talked with the wife about it. After running around this weekend looking at cars I think we are going to get a 5th Gen SS Camaro. I am still trying to talk her into getting a 6 speed but she thinks she wouldn't drive it as much