A friend of mine recently bought a used 2001 Mustang GT (I thought it was a GT, read on for more) with salvage title. He owns a body shop so he put it back to showroom condition with some non Ford red paint. This guy is 43 yrs old or so (about 10 years older than me).

Ever since he got the car (a few months now), he has said my G sedan is a much nicer car than his but he would whoop up on me on the road.

This evening driving thru my little 3000 person town, I meet up with him on the way to the interstate ramp, me in front. He is playing and surging back and forth behind me, so I play too.

At the ramp, I don't slow down for the corner (45 mph 90 degree turn) and hammer it in second gear with a little fishtail. He slowed down a bit for the corner and then came on hard. From 40-90 on the on ramp, I PULLED ON HIM?!?!. I was surprised. Not much but his headlights were noticeably smaller at the end than at the beginning.

But what really really surprised me is on the interstate we went 90-ludicrous speed (top of 5th gear) and back down to the speed limit and we were dead even. Normally 5.0, 4.6 and 5.7 liter american muscle pulls on me at that speed.

We stopped at the first exit to talk. As I walk up to him I see cobra emblems on the front quarter panel. The car is actually a cobra! (not the supercharged version available from 2003 on but the 320 falsely advertised hp version from 2000-2001) with an aftermarket exhaust built by Magnaflow.

I was stoked, my legs shook and I felt really good about my car. He was dumbfounded and said he hit every shift perfectly with no wheelspin or anything.

Good G Sedan, gotta go wash it now in return for the fun.

Better Life thru Chemistry
Black on Black 03.5 Sedan 6MT - Goodyear F1 GS-D3's 225/55/17, Custom Intake Tube, HyperGround Kit, Magnaflow resonator.

 

Nice! Yeah, alot of folks under-estimate the G35. They all learn the hard way!! haha

2003.5 emerald mist

 

I have a '99 Cobra convertible along with a G35. The G is no challenge for the Cobra. It's unclear to me what your friend has actually purchased through the salvage title, but a properly running Cobra is not what he has.

'03.5 G35 Sedan Premium, Aero & Sport Packages w/Auto
Desert Platinum w/wood dash & cabin trim
Injen CAI, Borla catback exhaust, Tein H-tech lowering springs (Underdrive crank pulley soon!)

 

probably the magnaflow that slows him down!

2003.5 DP 5AT Sedan (E-thing but Nav)
14.2 @ 97.18
Z-Tube
K&N Drop In & Airbox Mod
10 Wire Hyper-Ground
Crawford Plenum (V4)
UR Crank Pulley
Polk EX-3500 Tweeters/Shock Sensor/H-Liner

 

I dunno, but it was badged as a cobra and *hearsay* the owner says he checked the VIN and it is a cobra. Yes I thought a cobra would romp all over me. GT's are no problem all the way up to 140 mph, but a cobra should have eaten me for breakfast. Does altitude affect a ford ECU more than a Nissan ECU? The run was at 5000 feet where I live.

I did see one dyno with minor mods and only make 330 hp, which makes it possible for me with a bad driver. However I know this guy and even though he is not a great driver (neither am I) he isn't slow either.

So 260 very underrated hp in a 3200 lb car versus 320 overrated hp in a 3400-3500 lb car. Stock their 0-60 time was 5.5 seconds, a G sedan can run in 5.7-5.9 seconds.

It is alot closer than you might think, close enough to be a driver'r race, which would make me mad if I were a Cobra owner.

Better Life thru Chemistry
Black on Black 03.5 Sedan 6MT - Goodyear F1 GS-D3's 225/55/17, Custom Intake Tube, HyperGround Kit, Magnaflow resonator.

 

Cobra > G in a race.

Maybe this guy was not a very good driver.

Jase aka Doogie
04 G35S

 

As mentioned before, it becomes a drivers' race at some point. My guess is Mr. Cobra had some traction issues on the ramp. Altitude would affect both cars equally, don't you think?

'03 G35s 5AT, Garnet Fire/Willow
Staggered 18" SSR GT1/Bridgestone PP S03
Eibach Springs/Sways, Stillen 2-pc BBK
Stillen Intake & SS Cat-Back Dual Exhaust

 

The '99 Cobra was the year with the HP problems. Ford reecalled all of these cars and made 4 modifications to guarantee 320 HP (and 317 FtLbs torque). Mine has a sticker located just under the hood advising that it is a factory modified motor. Stock '99 Cobras will make about 280 HP at the rear wheels on a Dynojet dyno. A Magnaflow exhaust should add about 10HP at the rear wheels. The '99 Cobra coupe weighs about 3400 Lbs, the convertible weighs about 3550. From what I've seen about the G35, the 0-60 times are just over 6 seconds (C/D, Autoweek). The stock final drive ratio on the '99 Cobra is 3.27:1, a ratio that works better on the highway but still enough to get the car to 60 in about 5.5 seconds (C/D). A true Cobra has an "V" in the 7th position of the VIN. However, since this vehicle is a salvage car, you would also need to check the engine itself. Cobras will have an engraved tag on the passenger side valve cover with the engine's builders names written into it. Besides that, the intake has a blue Cobra cast into it. I agree that altitude should affect the cars equally. I hope this is helpful.

'03.5 G35 Sedan Premium, Aero & Sport Packages w/Auto
Desert Platinum w/wood dash & cabin trim
Injen CAI, Borla catback exhaust, Tein H-tech lowering springs, UR crank pulley, Technosquare ECU

 

And that is what being a car enthusiast is all about. Learning your limits, and learning about other vehicles. I learned some stuff and so did my friend.

Still beat him though, although he is looking at his motor today

Better Life thru Chemistry
Black on Black 03.5 Sedan 6MT - Goodyear F1 GS-D3's 225/55/17, Custom Intake Tube, HyperGround Kit, Magnaflow resonator.