Terminator owners... could you PM me?

[dr.zed]

Looking at purchasing a Terminator in the Spring (2021). Perhaps a lightly modified or stock owner could reach out to me, want to get an owner's perspective.

Many thanks.

[ZR]

Got an '04, shoot me your contact info via pm, happy to call.

[USAWIT2]

Looking at purchasing a Terminator in the Spring (2021). Perhaps a lightly modified or stock owner could reach out to me, want to get an owner's perspective.

Many thanks.Got an 04 termi vert, feel free to send me a pm if you have any questions

[WidowrRacing]

I have a 03 Termy coupe 10th anniv open forum to discuss the car on here...pros and cons of them just ask away.

[dr.zed]

Thanks everybody... have a full plate of info. Need to sell my 98GT... I'll post it on this forum.
As I think of things I'll ask here. Appreciate it all!

[ZR]

https://i.pinimg.com/474x/71/c2/20/71c220b9c2921c8bdbbe76114768cc6f---mustang-mustang-cobra.jpg

[MUSTANGWOP]

Shout out with questions, I've got a basically stock unmolested 03 vert.
Lots of knowledgeable and experienced people on here to help you out.

[dr.zed]

... so as I learn more a few questions. Assuming stock Eaton (Heaton... that made me laugh when I first read that) with 2.76 pulley and CAI.

Stock intercooler... thoughts on GT500 pump vs stock?

[WidowrRacing]

On this subject I can tell you my stock Cobra OEM intercooler pump failed after approx 60,000kms.
I simply replaced it with another Bosch OEM pump...I’m hoping it lasts another 60k which would prob take me to the year 2050 with the amount it gets driven lol.

[Zippy]

stock

[Quicksilver]

I had an 04 which I put almost 100,000 km on. Sold it 10 years ago. Fabulous car, lots of fun. Mine was very reliable. Lightly modded, it dynoed at 446 rear wheel horsepower. When it left my driveway for the last time, I cried. 3 years later, I had the chance to buy it back, but instead bought a new 2012 Mustang.
However, a dead stock 18-21 Mustang GT is quicker, more comfortable, more reliable, handles better, had many more amenities and is a better buy, in my opinion. In it's day a Terminator was the be all and end all. Today, not so much.

[dr.zed]

I had an 04 which I put almost 100,000 km on. Sold it 10 years ago. Fabulous car, lots of fun. Mine was very reliable. Lightly modded, it dynoed at 446 rear wheel horsepower. When it left my driveway for the last time, I cried. 3 years later, I had the chance to buy it back, but instead bought a new 2012 Mustang.
However, a dead stock 18-21 Mustang GT is quicker, more comfortable, more reliable, handles better, had many more amenities and is a better buy, in my opinion. In it's day a Terminator was the be all and end all. Today, not so much.

Really appreciated this post and the vulnerability. I doubt you often hear posted about the emotions that go along with our cars.

I have thought very hard about an 18+ and you make some good points.

[WidowrRacing]

All comes down to what you want out of the car and how you plan on using it.

I purchased mine in 2008 (1 month) after my son was born for him.
It was bought for the long haul as a Mustang I thought would be a collector when he’s older.

My father did the same when he purchased his 1969 Roadrunner new and it has been passed down to me. We declined $80K for it two years ago.

Regarding the Cobra I will say it’s a car that does everything well....and nothing great lol.
However what Mustang does?
Even if I owned a 2021 GT500 I would still mod it and make it my own.
That’s part of the fun in owning such a car.

[ZR]

Got a 2020, great car but fun factor n feels special wise.....................does not hold a candle to my Cobra.
Comment about coyote is faster, laughable.
Does that make the 20 a bad car, not at all, just an entirely different experience.

[Zippy]

However, a dead stock 18-21 Mustang GT is quicker, more comfortable, more reliable, handles better, had many more amenities and is a better buy, in my opinion. In it's day a Terminator was the be all and end all. Today, not so much.
From a roll on, a pullied Cobra would destroy a 2020 Stock GT mustang.

[BAB CObra]

I had an 04 which I put almost 100,000 km on. Sold it 10 years ago. Fabulous car, lots of fun. Mine was very reliable. Lightly modded, it dynoed at 446 rear wheel horsepower. When it left my driveway for the last time, I cried. 3 years later, I had the chance to buy it back, but instead bought a new 2012 Mustang.
However, a dead stock 18-21 Mustang GT is quicker, more comfortable, more reliable, handles better, had many more amenities and is a better buy, in my opinion. In it's day a Terminator was the be all and end all. Today, not so much.

No way a 18-21 GT is quicker than a cobra modded slightly.. and my car has 650whp and not a single issue any day.. and when i drive it i give her damn hell every time.

[bbriann]

Wish I had purchased terminator 17 years ago....seriously.

[Quicksilver]

I was not talking about a pullied Cobra. Dead stock to dead stock a 2018 and up Coyote is quicker. My Termi dynoed at 367 horse stock, and a new GT is over 400.
Anyway, it's just my opinion, having owned two Cobras from new and 4 Coyotes(2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017). My cars are all daily drivers and as such get driven 25-35000 km a year. When the time came to decide whether to buy back my old 04 Cobra for what I paid for it, or to get a new 2012, for me it made sense to go with the 2012. As much as I loved that yellow vert, a new car made more sense.22520

[ZR]

Liked my vert..................right up until the first hot day.

[Laffs]

Liked my vert..................right up until the first hot day.

The great irony of convertibles. Sounds fun until the weather is actually "too nice"

[Gabe]

Perhaps the benefit of the t-top, never had a day too nice I didn’t want the tops off

[ZR]

The great irony of convertibles. Sounds fun until the weather is actually "too nice"

Got it out early spring, Ross n I drove the doors off it with top down and heater on kill pretty much every evening, enjoyed it to da max. First hot day with top down, not so much and put it up for sale.

[Scrape]

You and me both. I always remember meeting this guy at Karbelt in Pickering way back when and he just picked up a new Teminator and just had it lowered and exhaust done. I wanted one so bad.

Wish I had purchased terminator 17 years ago....seriously.

[Zutz2v]

The newer mustangs are amazing, I just love the look of the new edge body styles better. If I can find a terminator in the same colour as my car I’d buy it. And yes it would have to be vert.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dr.zed]

Got it out early spring, Ross n I drove the doors off it with top down and heater on kill pretty much every evening, enjoyed it to da max. First hot day with top down, not so much and put it up for sale.

This was my experience as well. Two convertibles and T-top car. The only great time for convertible is Fall and Spring and Summer dawn or dusk. Most of the summer the top was up AC on.... T-tops on the other hand were always off even in the rain (if you drove over 60 km/hr windows up no water came in the car... very cool....)

[ZR]

Really enjoyed Targa roof on a pair of 80's Vettes I previously owned as well. Rarely if ever was the roof on.

[Quicksilver]

Liked my vert..................right up until the first hot day.

Looks a lot like mine did!

[CON VERT]

Never understood why BLACK leather is so popular in Verts, when I had mine I would bake in it ~

[Laffs]

Never understood why BLACK leather is so popular in Verts, when I had mine I would bake in it ~

Because on New Edge your options were black leather or tan and tan gets mad dirty. So 50/50 pick your poison.

[yllrgt]

I was not talking about a pullied Cobra. Dead stock to dead stock a 2018 and up Coyote is quicker. My Termi dynoed at 367 horse stock, and a new GT is over 400.
Anyway, it's just my opinion, having owned two Cobras from new and 4 Coyotes(2012, 2014, 2015 and 2017). My cars are all daily drivers and as such get driven 25-35000 km a year. When the time came to decide whether to buy back my old 04 Cobra for what I paid for it, or to get a new 2012, for me it made sense to go with the 2012. As much as I loved that yellow vert, a new car made more sense.22520

OMG , Mikey likes that !!!

[Gr8Stang]

Liked my vert..................right up until the first hot day.

Me too....right up until it broke a piston wrist pin. :crying:

22565

[WidowrRacing]

My Termy came in at 400RW with a hi flow X pipe, cat back and Steeda cold air when purchased.

I swapped on an Accufab TB with elbow, pulley, heat exchanger, SCT tune and it made 480RW. Nice gains for simple bolt ons.

I’ve thought about installing full length headers and porting the Eaton but I don’t want to get into swapping the X pipe and upgrading the fuel system on it.

Thinking I’d rather just install 3:90 gears and upgrade the rear diff cover eventually and leave the motor alone.

[ZR]

Fuel system upgrade made easy with drop in pumps from Deutchworks

[WidowrRacing]

True but also getting into bigger injectors, meter something I’m not interested in.
I’m good with the jam mine makes and like that it’s stockish....which is kinda rare now.

But DAMN they can make some good numbers with a Whipple etc installed with supporting mods!

[Zippy]

We do a lot of work on Cobra's. It amazes me that you can have all that power and have it just as reliable as stock.
Just finished a 03vert with a 2.3 whipple & all the supporting mods.

22567

[Minaccia]

Wait till you guys learn and drive the Coyote more you may not look at the Cobra that much, they're just on another level.

Sell your Cobra to the OP.


We do a lot of work on Cobra's. It amazes me that you can have all that power and have it just as reliable as stock.
Just finished a 03vert with a 2.3 whipple & all the supporting mods.

22567

[Zippy]

Wait till you guys learn and drive the Coyote more you may not look at the Cobra that much, they're just on another level.

Sell your Cobra to the OP.

:shrug:

[WidowrRacing]

[QUOTE=Minaccia;372513]Wait till you guys learn and drive the Coyote more you may not look at the Cobra that much, they're just on another level.

Not going to argue that the Coyote is a great motor even NA however the value of a Cobra continues to climb and so does the demand for a clean low mileage one.

I can’t say the same for many other Mustangs produced since 1973.
5-10 maybe on my list in nearly 50yrs.

[ZR]

Coyote vs 4V, terrific engines with huge potential beyond stock but they are two distinctly different experiences. Going from built / supercharged push rod engines would make a Coyote feel somewhat familiar with both making overachiever h/p with modest torque in the low / mid range meaning they need rpm to make them shine. If torque at low rpm is what cranks you up, hard to beat a 4v with it's big grunt from very low rpm on up. Under boost, you would swear it's got 500 cubes under the hood.
Comes down to which experience puts the biggest smile on your face.

[bbriann]

My little 2 valve just can't keep up...

[ZR]

It's making overachiever numbers for sure.
I flat out loved my 2000 GT with the Saleen blower set up. Never stopped regretting I sent it down the road.

[dr.zed]

... what's the deal with the metco tensioner support plate. Really a required thing?

ALSO!... alternators.... should this be an immediate thing to replace? ... and while I know mechman has one, I've also read about those who have had defects out of the box with it and had to send it back shortly after.

... thx for the liberty of posting these things as they come to mind!

[ZR]

We talking Cobra or you still buying an S550?

[dr.zed]

Cobra...

[ZR]

Tensioner plate is a no.
Alt, failure rate is grossly overplayed on the internet. Most common on rides where blower being spun hard via crank pulley and alt not slowed down.

[bbriann]

I order 2.9 inch alternator pulley from ebay for ALTERNATOR 8 GROOVE PULLEY FOR FORD F-450 F-550 SUPER DUTY 6.0L DESEL that should fit my 04 mustang 6g alternator and decrease its rpm from 23000 to 16000 when engine rpm is 7000 rpm, hope it works.

[ZR]

^ Far too often overlooked detail.

[Biz]

Bought mine new 2004 when Ford couldn't give them away. First time in Fords history they offered 5 year 0% on SVT.
I had one of the fastest in the club for a long time (11:51 @ 120mph)
Bought a 2013 CS to see what the hype was all about. I couldn't wait to sell that sled. Slow, heavy and handled like a wet noodle.
There is no comparison. Ford has gotten better though the last few years. Been lucky with a close relationship with my dealer to drive a new GT, GT350 and GT500 in the last couple years and Ford has definitely stepped up their game. (also the price $120,000 GT500)
My Cobra is the only car I've ever bought that I miss. I don't want it back but I do miss it.
Anyone know where it ended up? The guy I sold it to sold it I know that.


https://i.ibb.co/MS3RdxW/002-5.jpg (https://ibb.co/DWS7dHs)
https://i.ibb.co/RzKTJCn/DSC04491.jpg (https://ibb.co/PwyGV5p)

[Quicksilver]

Bought mine new 2004 when Ford couldn't give them away. First time in Fords history they offered 5 year 0% on SVT.
I had one of the fastest in the club for a long time (11:51 @ 120mph)
Bought a 2013 CS to see what the hype was all about. I couldn't wait to sell that sled. Slow, heavy and handled like a wet noodle.
There is no comparison. Ford has gotten better though the last few years. Been lucky with a close relationship with my dealer to drive a new GT, GT350 and GT500 in the last couple years and Ford has definitely stepped up their game. (also the price $120,000 GT500)
My Cobra is the only car I've ever bought that I miss. I don't want it back but I do miss it.
Anyone know where it ended up? The guy I sold it to sold it I know that.


https://i.ibb.co/MS3RdxW/002-5.jpg (https://ibb.co/DWS7dHs)
https://i.ibb.co/RzKTJCn/DSC04491.jpg (https://ibb.co/PwyGV5p)

Eric, I remember how much you loved that car. They were really something at the time. I seem to remember there was one time at a show that we were parked side by side: the two best colours for a Mustang: red and yellow.

[CON VERT]

You guys are bringing back MEMORIES ! Great Memories that is !

[ZR]

Dad's Cobra was a yr old / brand new sitting in the dealers heated n AC showroom, got an insane deal plus zero %.

[dr.zed]

Dad's Cobra was a yr old / brand new sitting in the dealers heated n AC showroom, got an insane deal plus zero %.

This is an interesting comment. I just finished reading “iron fist: lead foot”. Highly recommend.

I wonder if the lack of sales was the reason there were 1/3rd 2004 produced than 2003?

The book goes into the marketing and reveals the price was $5000 more (US) for the Cobra than the GT. With the marketing around “the first supercharged” and forged engine assembly (in advertising) the cars were left in showrooms ?

Most mags at the time had this car on the cover and there was general hype from the SVTOA group.

Would be interested in hearing discussion on this?

(Maybe we should mail this book around the members for each of us to read and sign it?!)

[ZR]

At least part of it, dealers firm or above, well right up until so many sat unsold.
Funny part about score we got on Dad's 04, they have a half dozen or more 04 verts plus a single 03 Coupe only the 04 coupe we bought for him. He really wanted the silver 03 but it was going to cost more vs the 04.

[Biz]

This is an interesting comment. I just finished reading “iron fist: lead foot”. Highly recommend.

I wonder if the lack of sales was the reason there were 1/3rd 2004 produced than 2003?

The book goes into the marketing and reveals the price was $5000 more (US) for the Cobra than the GT. With the marketing around “the first supercharged” and forged engine assembly (in advertising) the cars were left in showrooms ?

Most mags at the time had this car on the cover and there was general hype from the SVTOA group.

Would be interested in hearing discussion on this?

(Maybe we should mail this book around the members for each of us to read and sign it?!)

2005 was the reason.
The hype for the new design was real. Ford had a massive Detroit auto show display for the 2005 already in Jan 2004.
Dealers were already sold out on pre-orders.
Ford made the line change early in 2004 so the 05's were dropping by summer 04.
It was unheard of to see deals on SVT let alone 0%. It had never happened.

[Quicksilver]

2005 was the reason.
The hype for the new design was real. Ford had a massive Detroit auto show display for the 2005 already in Jan 2004.
Dealers were already sold out on pre-orders.
Ford made the line change early in 2004 so the 05's were dropping by summer 04.
It was unheard of to see deals on SVT let alone 0%. It had never happened.

I had a 2003 Cobra vert in red, which I ordered in March of 2002. Mine was the first one delivered in Toronto , August 27.2002. That weekend I put 500 km on it, and the first time I opened it up was nothing short of staggering.
I enjoyed that car until July of 2004. I walked into my dealer in Markham, and there was a yellow 04 on the showroom floor. I started joking with the sales manager about trading mine for the yellow one, but within a half hour I bought it. Massive discount, 0% financing, great price on the 03. A no brainer. They practically begged me to buy the yellow beast.
I loved that car for 5 years. I paid it off in September of '09, but I was forced to sell it way below market value to ZR in November, as I had had an extreme business failure. I literally cried when Rick drove it away.

As an aside, 3 years later, i had a chance to buy it back for what I'd sold it for. The newer owner had put less than 4000 km on it from when I sold it, and I was sorely tempted. However, by now I'd met Bill at Heritage Ford, and he had this silver 2012 GT Vert for the same price. I went for the new one, and don't regret it.

As another aside, I traded the '12 for a '14 (which, to be honest I think was the best of the lot), then a '15 and then a '17. I almost ordered a '20 Mustang, but then the Jag came up and I was seduced by it's incredible looks, and it's high pitched, supercharged wail at 6500 RPM.

[dr.zed]

Great story... thanks for sharing. I had that same Jag for a week on loan. Incredible sounds! Lots and lots of looks...

[Harbinger]

I never owned one but i had a chance at buying a okay looking 03 silver cobra which was the exact color interior and exterior i wanted. A couple of imperfections and a bad Throwout bearing made me run from it. I beat myself up every day for letting it go.

Few months after..I gave in to impulse and bought a mach 1. in spring time ill sell the mach and grab a nice cobra to replace it!

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk

[ZR]

^ We did bearing and a bunch of clean up on that car after you had seen it. Ran and drove like it was brand new, hell of a car.

[Harbinger]

^ We did bearing and a bunch of clean up on that car after you had seen it. Ran and drive like it was brand new, hell of a car.Stop reminding me lol

Sent from my SM-N960W using Tapatalk

[USAWIT2]

Can't wait for the first drive in the spring, really want to see how that FTBR improves the handlinf

[ZR]

^ Looking forward to your review.

[ZR]

Forgot to ask, were you able to get pinion angle dead nutz on?

[USAWIT2]

Forgot to ask, were you able to get pinion angle dead nutz on?I got the two angles matching as per the FTBR instructions, going to have it double checked when it goes for an alignment in the spring

[ZR]

That will make as much difference as the bushings themselves. Not only smooths it out at speed but coasts better.
Stock, most are out 7 or 8 deg or more.

[Ontariomystic]

FTBR kit is worth it on these cars. PITA install but worth it. I think I was one of the first to buy one in Canada. All this pinion angle talk brought back memories

[USAWIT2]

Wasn't as much of a PITA as I thought it was going to be.
The lift came in handy, don't think I would have wanted to do it on jack stands

[ZR]

Bit of a pita but mostly just takes time to install properly, rewarding once done though.