A blast to drive!
No Problems.
This car still drives and looks like new. The leather interior looks and wears much better than the cloth. The Mach 460 sound system needs no upgrades. No squeaks or rattles even though the car is seven years old. A high powered sports car for not a lot of money. The insurance isn't bad. Gas mileage could be better.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 24th May, 2003
A great car to get stranded in!
Leaky gas filler tube o-ring, caused gas to leak badly when the tank was filled, and slosh from the tank at 3/4 full or more.
PCM ("powertrain control module", which is the car's computer brain) is misreading the signal from the IAC (air idle control) valve, causing the check engine light to come on.
Passenger side power door lock failure.
Head gasket leaking at 92K miles.
The main reason I bought this car was because I was in the right place at the right time to get a great price on it, and the car checked out well mechanically and cosmetically. I am generally not a Ford fan, but I liked the styling, and this car is similar to the V6 Camaro I owned for many years, and was very happy with.
Initially and overall, this is a very fun car with a lot of good qualities and nice street appeal. It handles very well (though not as crisp as the Camaro) and has decent power considering how economical it is to run. The engine has good torque, although it is not high revving, and the 5 speed manual is geared perfectly for the engine's characteristics. I had to move the power driver's seat back 3 inches on its frame to make the car comfortable for me to drive, as I am 6'5, but after that it was pretty decent for long distance trips.
The gas leak and door lock problems were cheap to fix, but the computer misreading the IAC valve is a dilemma. The IAC valve functions properly, so the car runs fine, but having the check engine light on most of the time due to it, could keep me from being warned of a more serious problem arising. The computer would be expensive to replace.
The real problem with this car is the 3.8 engine head gasket problem. It turns out that this is a major defect with these and the 4.2 Ford engines. There have been thousands of complaints, and basically, Ford is doing everything it can to avoid paying for repairs. Some models and years have had extended head gasket warranties offered by Ford, only '94 and '95 for the Mustang, but most people are stuck paying for the repairs themselves.
I can't recommend buying from a company that knowingly puts out a defective product and won't stand behind it. Go to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to see hundreds of complaints regarding this issue.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 22nd February, 2003
Ford Mustang Cobra: A true American muscle car legend..
Battery dies if you don't drive a few miles every 2 days. You cannot simply start the car every day to avoid power failure, you must drive it.
Broke anti roll bar when launching onto a freeway on ramp at 90 MPH. (the car was actually in mid air for a brief second, and the impact from the asphalt broke it)
Overheats on warm summer days. This is a common problem on 1996 Ford Mustang Cobras, but can be corrected by your dealer.
The Cobra we have is equipped with an aftermarket 3.73 rear end gear. This gearing makes a huge acceleration gain. The car takes off like a rocket.
Our Cobra is also lowered 1 inch in the rear and 1.5 inches in the front. With a custom rear wing and the factory Ford hood, this black Cobra definantly turns some heads.
Because it is driven the way it was built on a regular basis, the Cobra gets about 8 miles per gallon. This may come to a shock, but if you are in the market for a cheap, fuel efficient car, the Ford Escort, or Ford Taurus would be a better choice.
On the inside, the driver is treated to factory Black On White gauges and leather. Our Cobra has the black leather. The slick shifting 5 speed manual transmission is standard on all 1996 Mustang Cobras, but who would want it any other way?
1996 was the first year for the 4.6 liter V8. The '96 Cobra made more horsepower then the 5.0 liter '95 Cobra did. The Cobra V8 is different from the GT version because it is a Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC) engine while the GT has a Single Over Head Cam V8.
All in all, I love this car. Right now, one can find a 1996 Cobra in good condition for about 11 to 16 thousand dollars. Just remember, this is a true American muscle car, not a Honda Civic.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 26th December, 2002
This Review is the best yet I've ever seen on a Cobra. It is so awesome and so true and I wish there were more people out there who were dedicated to their Cobras like this guy and myself. Keep up the good work.
If you guys really want to intimidate people, you guys have to start spelling your words right in the sentences. Most importantly, the one with all the warning and stuff in them. On the rules and all that other stuff.
3rd Oct 2014, 18:20
The Ford 3.8 engine is a complete disaster; it manages to be both low powered and gutless. My V6 Mustang was the most unreliable car I ever owned. Don't walk, run away from these cars.