03 Cobra backs down from a Canyon Race!

[M powered]

I was coming down Topanga Canyon this afternoon heading towards Mulholland Cyn. As I was coming down, I noticed a Sonic Blue 03 Cobra pulling out of the Washington Mutual. I immediately slowed down and let him catch up. When he lined up with me, I tried to frog him a little bit. He immediately took the bait and downshifted and floored it! I thought to myself, (This thing is pretty quick). He then slowed down and allowed me to catch up, just to pull ahead again. I knew I stood no chance with this guy from the roll. So when we reached Mulholland Canyon, we stopped at the redlight before the Topanga Canyon Curves that leads to the PCH. He rev'ed and asked me if I wanted to run. I told him that I would gladly race him through the canyon to until Old Topanga Canyon road. His replied was pretty ricey. "Naw, I cant... my car is not broken in yet, it only has 900 miles."

I thought to myself, gee... you asked me to run and now you dont want to run because your car is not broken in yet? :rolleyes:

As I followed the guy through Topanga, he put in a futile effort to loose me through the turns, as it straightened out before Old Topanga road came up, he slowed down and signaled me to take the lead :D

As I turned, he gave me a few friendly honks, I threw my hands out the window and gave him a :thumbup:

I wonder if hes on this board?

[SilverStreak]

Only 900 miles means he doesn't know the car well enough to take it into the twisties in a race with a canyon carver like your car. I imagine it wouldn't take mucn inexperience in that beast to give it just a touch too much gas in a corner and end up swapping front end for back end and possibly roll off a cliff in a canyon....

[///M_Wraith]

Was being smart or being a chicken.

I think he was being smart. I WOULDN'T wanna mess wid joo.

[BGM3]

Not too many people buy those cars for handling. They're good on straight line performance but next to a well driven M, on twisty roads it will not stand a chance. I've raced many Mustangs over the years and I've actually witnessed two of them wipe out, 1 totalled. May be inexperience drivers in a not as great handling car.

Roman

[///MTV]

w/ 900 miles, the guy made a good choice. Straight line is easy for him, but twisties takes a much different skill set. Even if he was comfortable, mustangs are NOT known for their handling.

Still, the new Cobra is FASTTT in a straight line - give credit where credit is due...

Definitely a clash of car making cultures......strip car vs track car.....

Ill take the track....wait, I already did :) lol

[suspenceman]

I think that the new cobra would actually be pretty good on the twisites if driven right. i think it pulls over .90 G's. but thats just my opinion. i would love to see one of those babies vers. an M3 just for the heck of it.

[SilverStreak]

Tommy, or you buy the track car and modify to compete on the strip... :evil2

suspenceman, yes, I imagine Cobras handle pretty well even given their weight, but I also imagine it takes time and experience in any car to learn how to push it in the twisties-- 900 miles ain't enough time for that.

[adc]

Originally posted by ///MTV

02 Steel Grey MCoupe
3.46 Differential

Did you change the differential frm OEM? If so, is the new one still the trick M differential, or did you loose that capability?

BTW, I'd LOVE to see a pic of your car, I think an MCoupe would look smashing in Steel Grey.

Thanks,

adc
98 M3

[SilverStreak]

Tommy has a Torsen LSD from the Z3 3.0.

[Poisoned Pony]

all this talk of twisties makes me wanna drive my car at Thunderhill even more so :evil2

[Phanta-Z]

Now i havent driven one or even been in one, but i hear that the newer Cobras do quite well on the track. The iron block and s/c add 140lbs to the front end over the old alum. n/a version. So weight distribution isnt as good. But it has the Cobra brakes (good for an American car lol) and IRS. Its not a live axle like my 'maro. Anywho, i wouldnt have raced twisties in my car at 900 mi no fukn way. I still dont very often. No traction control and live axle RWD with 330 ftlbs just a twitch away.....no thanks. You gotta remeber your Bimmers are much more how shall i say....docile and confidence inspiring. They let you drive faster than you should be able to. And thats nothing more than superb suspension geometry.

[MMTuning]

I couldn't agree more about the "superb suspension geometry":D However, I hear the new Cobras are supercharged and hella fast. It was rumored that the run 12s stock, True or not?:dunno

[Phanta-Z]

Well, to be blunt, with a decent driver they are easy easy 12s. The really good drivers are hitting 12.40's on a good day. Smooth up the intake and exhaust, change the pulley and get some stickies and your in the 11s without breathing hard. Pretty damn fast id say. Ford did their homework on this one. Im not a magazine guy, but the newest 5.0 mag got over 400 rwhp with the aforementioned mods. God help here i go quoting magazine times (which i hate doin) but with the above mods and the back seat and and some slicks they went consistant 11.90s. :buttrock

[///MTV]

ADC,

The 3.46 differential mod makes a HUGE DIFFERENCE in the car. It is night and day different. As good a mod as my suspension setup. Holy Fuck its great. Went for spirited driving this weekend and really worked it. Car slammed in second, now slams just as hard in third and fourth while pulling harder in fifth as well. Its expensive but well, well worth it on the fun factor. As others have said and I will reiterate, its a home run. The 3.15 stock diffy was WAY WRONG to put in the lillest M.

Pics of my car are in the Z3 section in my Strong Strut review on the first page. Steel Grey is cherry.

[SilverStreak]

Yeah, I imagine 12's in the Cobra are the norm, low 12's for the better drivers. And with the newer suspension set up, huge wheels and tires (17x9's with 275/40-17's at all 4 corners) they've done what they can to make them handle as good as possible while not sacrificing too much ride quality for an OEM machine.