By Steven D. Gatt, Automotive Editor
This Mustang Cobra Convertible is the perfect summer car: a big, smokin' hot V8 engine under the hood and a convertible top overhead. Day-to-day driving is not the same with a flip of two latches and push of a button you seemingly have all the time in the world to get to your destination. Plain and simple I love convertibles and this is a classic of a vehicle. The glory days of Woodward Avenue in Detroit come standard with this car.
Driving the Cobra you really feel the 305 horsepower in first and second gears. When it rains, though, the Cobra becomes a beast to drive, the large performance tires are best suited to dry conditions. Making the Cobra into a convertible does create an issue, though. Chopping the top off the Mustang reduces the stiffness of the car. Driving around with all the uneven roads and potholes, the Cobra becomes shaky. This is the major fault with the Cobra; vehicles that are dedicated convertibles, like the Sebring JXI, don't have as much of the same problem.
The interior of the Cobra is almost identical to the regular Mustang GT with deeply contoured bucket seats and the twin-cowl dash design. The interior is very comfortable but other vehicles in this class offer more lateral support; the Mustang should as well. The Mustang fits all sizes of adults up-front, but the backseat is best left for luggage; the convertible top mechanism really cuts down the width of the seat. Other interior features include the powerful Mach 460 sound system and the unique-to-Cobra black letters on white face gauges. Ford also uses a glass rear window with a defroster instead of a cheap, fog prone, plastic piece.
Above and beyond the special gauge package, the Cobra features a unique hood. The hood has a larger center bulge, it provides extra space for the taller engine, and revised intake scoops. The Cobra is also distinguished by its round driving lights, and special larger rims and tires. Rear bumper facia and Special Vehicle Team badging segregate the elite Cobra from the run-of-the-mill Mustang.
A premium must first be paid to buy a Cobra, upgrading further to a convertible makes this car a bit expensive. Base price is $28,135. Adding in the optional stereo, rear spoiler and destination racks up a total price as tested of $30,190. This Mustang is a really special car one that I would love to keep permanently in my garage.