04 Cobra owner from CA

[04Terminator]

Hello!

My name is Cindy and I'm from Northern California...and I'm a muscle car addict.

Looking forward to perusing the threads on this site. I guess I should post this elsewhere? I'm considering upgrading my 2004 Mystichrome Cobra for a 1970 Challenger or the like. I know it's a big change but I think I'm ready.

Take care all!

[Mopar Thunder]

Welcome to the site Cindy.  Your Cobra is a nice car but if your ready the an E-body s te way to go.  Lots of nice folks here and very helpful.

[04Terminator]

Welcome to the site Cindy.  Your Cobra is a nice car but if your ready the an E-body s te way to go.  Lots of nice folks here and very helpful.

So I've heard. So far I'm enjoying the atmosphere here.  I know I've got a lot to learn, though!

[ToxicWolf]

Welcome! I know I have learned a lot here. It is a great place with great people and I think you will like it.   

[69ChargerRT]

So I've heard. So far I'm enjoying the atmosphere here.  I know I've got a lot to learn, though!

ive been here for 10 years reading every day, and the depth of knowledge around this place still shocks me.  any question you ask will be answered thoroughly within 15 minutes of posting, guaranteed 

[dutch]

welcome to cc       sounds like a solid plan to me 

  

[04Terminator]

Thank you, everyone! Looking very forward to learning about these awesome cars. I'm a member over on svtperformance and I posted that I was thinking of going to the dark side and several people can't fathom my desire to sell my Cobra for a classic. If I could I'd keep them both but oh well. I think I'm ready to move on. 

[Jesus H Chrysler]

Just my experience but...  At Watkins Glen my new Challenger was able to catch every Cobra on the track 

Welcome to the site.  Please do yourself the favor of taking a ride in a few classics first.  Not just a quick hell ride but a long cruise.  There will be a big difference in comfort and performance level between an 04 Cobra and a classic Challenger or Cuda.  Some members I've talked to enjoy their cars for short cruises but would never take them on long trips or daily driving.  Others have taken them on a lap of the U.S.A!    I broke in my new engine by driving from MA to Carlisle PA.

You just want to know what you're getting in to.  Mopars are a great section of the hobby with really good people.

[stu in wichita]

. . . Welcome to the site.  Please do yourself the favor of taking a ride in a few classics first.  Not just a quick hell ride but a long cruise.  There will be a big difference in comfort and performance level between an 04 Cobra and a classic Challenger or Cuda.  Some members I've talked to enjoy their cars for short cruises but would never take them on long trips or daily driving.  Others have taken them on a lap of the U.S.A!  I broke in my new engine by driving from MA to Carlisle PA.

You just want to know what you're getting in to . . .

That's the best advice anyone could give.  For most people, old cars make a poor substitute for new ones, and new cars make a really poor substitute for old ones!

To have a classic car for your only transportation, it takes a special state of mind (kinda crazy, hardcore enthusiast car guy).  You'll give up comfort, reliability, tech gadgets and features of a newer car.  That being said, I am one of those kinda crazy, hardcore enthusiast car guys - I'm willing to put up with the inconveniences that come with 40-50+ year old machines.   

• My daily driver is a '61 Ranchero with modern brakes, O/D tranny, a/c, etc.  I was a little nervous giving up the security of a newer vehicle, but I haven't regretted it.  The fun far outweighs the negatives.
• I've had my '68 AMX for over 30 years and put 10's of thousands of miles on it.  It's all original and beats me to death.  I love it.
• My '74 Challenger will become my wife's driver.  She's tired of me having all the fun.

Another issue is the risk of damage, theft, etc.  New cars can easily be repaired or replaced.  Nobody would ever say that about a classic.  Most people have a "normal" car in addition to their classics.  When it hails at my house, we pull the wifes' car out to make room for the old cars.  When it rains buckets, I sometimes wish I had the "normal" car, but I haven't been stranded (yet).

Think the decision through carefully and realize that it's a serious commitment.   Good luck.

-Stu 

[ToxicWolf]

Agree 100% with what Stu said. My biggest fear would be the damage issue. Cost and headaches of waiting for repair can be much more for a classic car.

[7212Mopar]

I would add gas mileage to be another consideration.

As much as I love to drive my beloved classic, the risk of getting my baby damaged in an accident from daily commute is too great of a risk for me to take. I don't even drive my 2012 SRT8 YJ every day. I am in the Bay Area and there are just too many cars on the road, bumper to bumper traffic during the weekdays. Many of those drivers are busy talking on phones, doing makeups and in a hurry to get to work.

[04Terminator]

Jesus H Chrysler, I would love to take a ride in a few classics, if only I knew someone nearby who had one. Unfortunately, my only exposure will be during the shopping process. I know I will love the feel. I don't expect it to feel like my Cobra...at all. This car won't be a daily driver. I have another car for that. I rarely drive the Cobra. I've put 26k miles on it in seven years.

Stu, nope this won't be a daily driver so no worries there. The Cobra is my fun car and its replacement will be as well. And I won't be leaving it in a parking lot for extended periods of time either.

And obviously gas mileage isn't an issue if it's a weekend driver.

Ha! I'm also hearing from those against my decision to sell that I should do a modern engine/drivetrain swap if I get a classic. I don't know how I feel about that...

[stu in wichita]

Cool!    Sounds like you can do exactly what you want. 

Finding and buying a special a car should to be fun, so take your time and enjoy the journey.  Old cars can't be defined, specified and ordered, so you really just need to talk to a lot of people, look at a lot of cars, and ultimately, be in the right place at the right time.  This forum is fantastic - these folks have lots of knowledge to share.

For a restored (or at least mostly "correct") classic, buy the best one you can afford.  No matter how nice it is, you'll end up doing some tweaking to make it your own.  It's  real expensive and time consuming to bring a rusty hulk "back from the dead."   

On the resto-mod option, I'd build it, not buy it.  It's a very personal thing when you modify a classic - you don't want to end up with someone else's dream.  It'll might cost more, but you'll end up with what you want. 

-Stu   

[jimynick]

Welcome to the site! It sounds like you've got the financial resources to go just about anywhere you want to in this project and half the fun will be the skull sessions figuring it out. Do what pleases you, because in the final analysis, it should thrill you and put a smile on your face. Good luck! 

[brads70]

   Welcome Cindy! Have you found any Challengers in your area? I would imagine you being in CA is great in that there should be a much better chance of finding a rust free car.
 My car came out of Lodi, near Stockton , CA
First place IMO  to look for rust is the bottom of the rear window, many E-Body's leak into the trunk rusting out the trunk floor pan.
I'd start a new post asking if any members live near you. That way they could help you look at a car when you find a possible candidate and might take you for a cruise so you know what your getting into?
Lots of great people on here willing to help anyone out!