On the other hand, a properly prepped IRS can handle just about anything. We've seen '03 Cobras run 9.60s with a six-speed/IRS combination, and the street racer pictured here found that the IRS worked extremely well on the street, as evidenced by this wheelstand.
In talking with the JDM Engineering team, we learned that as much as they liked the IRS, they had broken three of them in their '03 shop Cobra. Our own Editor, Evan Smith, was at the helm during one of these demolition sessions and received a spine-straightening shock after JDM head honcho Jim D'Amore gave the orders for a 5,000-rpm clutch drop. This was, of course, before the IRS was modified, and a softer-hitting 4R70W automatic transmission was swapped in.
Strictly Performance's Richard Lelsz explains, "On the street, you can't beat the IRS. It hooks up better than any solid will. With a 600hp car, you can hook up in First gear, but with a solid axle, you'll spin through Third." As much as he praises the IRS' street manners, Lelsz was also quick to point out that a solid axle with the right tires will be faster at the dragstrip. IRS aside, the Terminator Cobra is as bulletproof as factory hot rods get. Ask any LS1 owner about his wimpy 7.5 rear axle or the weak little clutch they put behind the engines to save it.
Now, two years after Cobra production has come to a halt, some shops have seen a decline while others report constant supercharged snake traffic. "We're still working on them every day," says Lelsz. "We've got KB/Whipple Cobra owners who are not afraid to run $5-$6 per gallon race gas."
JDM Engineering has seen a turn in the market, though. "The Cobra market definitely has peaked and is almost tapped out," says D'Amore Jr. "A lot of Terminator owners are bored with the superchargers available and are going to single and twin turbo kits."
At Alternative Auto's shop in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, owner Lidio Iacobelli says he is "busier than ever with '03-'04 Cobras. Second- and third-hand owners are coming in as the warranties are starting to run out. As a result, lots of guys are very quick to install a 100-125 shot of nitrous oxide on top of the Eaton, or replace the Eaton with an upgraded screw type blower."
Solid axles are preferred by Cobra owners who primarily use their machines for strip duty.
Joe Panciarello of Mustang Magic noted that they're still busy with the Terminators, and they've even had a couple of customers sell their '05 GTs to buy '03-'04 Cobras.
Shelby-Bigger And Better?Sporting a retro look and a new chassis, the S197 Mustang is bigger and better in most every way. With its base 300hp motor and improved driving dynamics, however, the package has not convinced most Terminator owners to trade in.
Jeff D. of Fremont California says, "I have no interest in the S197. I don't care for the body design inside or out. Even though it's not some-thing I'm interested in owning, I'm glad Ford continues to raise the bar. I had no expectations/ delusions that my Terminator would be the "be all, end all" Mustang."
Lelsz says he's had a few customers trade for the S197, but that they've mainly been older guys who prefer the retro styling for sentimental reasons. A lot of people have joined them, as SLP Performance Parts' Brian Reese can attest to. "Cobra parts sales have always been modest, but steady," he says. "The S197 has exceeded my expectations and was an instant hit in the aftermarket. We sold over 100 LoudMouth axle-backs before even producing the first unit."
Many people feel the new Mustang is simply too large, and it gets away from what the Fox-body and SN-95 cars were about. "The new car lacks the musclecar feel of the Fox body cars," says Adam Dugger of New York. "It is a bit 'too refined,' if that is possible. The S197 has also brought a lot more people into the Mustang scene, both individual owners/consumers and companies who market products. It is also interesting how it appears that many baby boomers are reliving their youths with the car."
The Terminator's subtle body modifications are cherished by enthusiasts, and give them a slight edge during the stoplight grand prix where the average gearhead may not notice that this is more than just your average Mustang GT.
Seeing as how the S197 Mustang GT wasn't enough to persuade the Cobra clan to trade in their rides, will the '07 Shelby GT500 have the value to get the job done? On paper, the car is a mean machine that boasts the most power and torque of any Mustang ever. It features a new chassis that rides better, and has bigger brakes for improved braking. But the one black spot on the Shelby's resume, that being it's portly proportions, might have necessitated them just to maintain the current braking performance level.
At 3,920 pounds, it's one of the heaviest Mustangs ever, and with an iron block, a supercharger, and water-to-air intercooler all occupying the front half of the car, it's destined to be one of the most nose-heavy. Certainly, the Terminator was significantly more nose-heavy than its naturally aspirated predecessors, but its independent rear suspension helped to even the weight distribution a bit.