2004 Cobra vs 2011 - Present Coyote 5.0 Mustang Purchase???

[90 notch]

I would like some feedback on rather I should buy a 2004 Cobra or a 2011 - Present Coyote 5.0 Mustang Purchase??? There is a nice Black with 23,000 miles I found for $25,000 un-modified but I can also get a 2011 for this price range. Please help me decide fellow stangerz, and thank you

P.S. I want an 2004 Cobra or 2007-08 GT500 if I can find a good deal.

[5.0calypso93lx]

Just depends on what you're looking for. I feel like the 03-04 Cobra's a more "raw". The 11+ 5.0's are the opposite of that, almost too smooth IMO. Just what I personally like though.

[mustangjon]

2011 plus are awesome power plants but as stated you start losing muscle car feel and getting sports car feel as a driver I love our 2011 it's stupid quick and feels like a dream even at high speeds. Nothing like the raw feeling of car could come apart/ wreck at any moment our older ones do

[SN95N/A]

5.0...ftw

[redfirepearlgt]

I'm having a flashback to my thread on this subject. Tough call. Depends on what you want. Sit in both. Drive both. In the end I suggest auto of you go Coyote and plan to do any major modifications. I still toy with trading mine and going topless in a Cobra. I'm closing in on 50. I have earned the right to desire a convertible. LOL!

The Cobra will support higher hp on the engine side. But it has a weak side called the IRS. That to can be remedied with an SRA swap or some nice upgrades that are available.

With the Cobra, no one will be surprised to see a pulley/CAI/exhaust/tune on the car. Pretty common. Almost expected. A KB or Whipple sitting on it however would be a head turner. The 11-13 Mustang GT? Most expect it to be CAI/tune/offroad Xpipe/3.73 gears. Not many expect you to have a meat grinder or hoover on them. So a little wow factor added into the equation when it comes to playing around a bit. Keep in mind that Coyote 302's do not have forged piston rods. Only the Boss 302 block had that. So there is limitation there. With the Cobra you have much more peace of mind knowing the whole rotating assembly is forged.

Good luck to you. Cobras are holding their price and then some today. For about the same price you can get into a nicely equipped 11-13 GT auto. It's your call. Good luck.

2007-2009 GT500 will cost a bit more but like the SVT terminator all forged internals. Heavier than a stock Mustang GT 05+ however. But add the new TVS supercharger package to that 5.4 and you have another little toy that will shock people even though its a GT500. Plenty of growth there and no worries on the manual tranny. Its tremec. Not to say Tremecs don't have issues, but they are more reliable than Getrags MT-82's IMO. I loved the 3650 in my 05. Never had an issue with it.

[maverick]

I always say " Go with your 1st instinct " or " Gut feeling " Don't try to talk yourself out of the one you are really wanting! Go with the one you really want 90 notch ;)

[90 notch]

Thanks for all the input so far its looking like an 04 Termi

[sean]

I was in the same boat last month. It made better sense to get the newer car. I went with a 2014 gt. Base gt 6 speed was in the mid 20's. Base so I can add the things I want and not spend money on the crap I didn't.

[Blkcobra01]

OP I was in the same boat last year go with what your gut instinct tells you the Cobra is more raw were the 5.0 is more tamed smoother ride chassis, Cobra is like a muscle car in a sense cause of how long that chasis was used. You wont see as many Cobras as GT's and as stated they seem to be holding there value we will see what happens to them and the 5.0 GT's when the S-550 hits the streets there are deals on terminators look at Svt performance, auto trader, or high end auto in VA good luck.

[Gearhead]

What Sean said above.....
Is this for a daily driver ? If it's a daily, I'd say a newer 5.0. I have both....an 03 Cobras and newer 5.0's. You can get the newer 5.0's relatively cheap....I ordered a new base 14 GT w/Recaros & 3.73's for 26k or so about a year ago. Now has a Roush SC and VMP tune and a blast to drive.

[sean]

I do wish the new mustangs had more of that muscle car feel. The camaro and challenger had it. The Mustang it fun but more sports car feel. Plenty of power stock too. I will add that my 2014 runs better and it tighter with better acceleration than my 2011. Don't know what changed from 2011 to 2014 but something did.

[redfirepearlgt]

^^^I've had edge, S197, and Coyote platforms. Each gen loses some of that raw muscle car feel. Ford did go back and refine the tuning on the 13/14 model. 11/12 came out with 412HP and the 13/14 arrived boasting 420HP. Not a squirt of piss diff in HP numbers one could feel but I am sure tuning and overall response is part of what you may be experiencing Sean. Still miss the Tremec 3650. I never had any problem with shifting them.But then again I grew up driving a 3-speed column shift.

[SN95N/A]

Z06 vette would be a better choice

[redfirepearlgt]

^^^If you're over 50 and your wiener no longer responds to Viagra. LOL!

[sean]

Chad. Cut that out. That vette was the best all around car I have owned. Yes if a 2 seater would work a c6 would be perfect. A zo6 c6 in that price range would be impossible to find. You may find a c5 zo6 but the base c6 is right there with it in power and has better in and out looks.

[redfirepearlgt]

Chad. Cut that out. That vette was the best all around car I have owned.

Yet you traded it for a Dodge...??? LOL!!!!

[sean]

I wanted something with a back seat the family could enjoy with me.

[90 notch]

Well thanks again on all the input & I do Like the Corvette's but I'm a true Ford Fan I could never purchase a Vette of a Stang, even if I won or someone gave me a Vette. I'd sell it to buy a Stang, just a preference, I'm in no way knocking the Vette, just letting that be known.