01 Cobra, Bullit or Mach 1

I have a Mach and my brother has a 03 Cobra. The 03 is a lot diff from an 01 but as far as the IRS my brother complains all the time about the wheel hop he gets from it. He drove mine the other day and said his would never plant down like mine does. I looked at an 01 before I bought mine but I had to go with the Mach....the hood on the 01 is :puke: and now all the GT's have the rims.
 
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I went through all this 2 months ago. I got a 2001 cobra. I love the interior, awesome seats. The cobra I bought seems faster than the mach I drove. Might have been me. Cobra has awesome ride quality, but the mach wasn't far behind. The Mach is only here for a few years, but the cobra is the high end mustang. That's why I bought it.
 
I'll see if I can test drive both.

As for looks, I like the Mach 1 look better (stock for stock) but ideally, if i get the cobra, I'll want to swap the hood for a cobra R style hood which I like best (even thought the shaker is cool) and maybe get the R front spoiler too...

Are both blocks aluminum? I'm thinking yes. But I heard that the Mach block is kinda week... in MMFF or 5.0 or something, they S/C'd it and were weary about the block handling the S/C. Although I most prolly will not S/C either one.
 
Dog bite said:
Are both blocks aluminum? I'm thinking yes. But I heard that the Mach block is kinda week... in MMFF or 5.0 or something, they S/C'd it and were weary about the block handling the S/C. Although I most prolly will not S/C either one.

It's just cause it has higher compression. But with a safe tune u should be fine for a long while, but any engine not built won't last as long under boost as a N/A setup, I think that's just the way it is. If u want to Supercharge it why not look at a used 03+ Kebra :shrug:
 
How can anyone not like the shaker, shoot that's half the reason to buy the Mach alone, it just screams old school muscle car??

Personally I don't like hood scoops on anything. At least the Mach scoop is functional, I really don't like the non-functional GT scoop.

Obviously everyone has different tastes.

On a side note if they would have offered a Mach I minus the scoop and stripe I would have went that route. Solid rear isn't that big of a deal.
 
I was at one of the local ford dealerships today geting a new traction control button and they got a new Mach in the blue color looks really nice. I would get a mach if I had the money to do so. The only thing on the Mach that I don't like is the wheels and thats just a personal preferance
 
Ya > 03 Cobra, I would have to wait a year or two for prices to go down...
Patience, patience...

I guess it's gonna be personnal taste once I try them out. They seem pretty close but with higher compression on the Mach, prolly responds better to bolt ons.
 
it say go with the bullitt. yes i own one. and that makes me a little bias, but ill give you my reasons why.
Looks: IMO i like the sleek look of the bullitt over the others. The cobra looks is serious, and is bad ass. The Mach looks old school, and shows heritage. The bullitt is sleek, no wing, unique color (if green), plus was the first of the limited edition cars (besides 35th aniv.) that were made, and there are only about 5600.

Interior: Bullitt and Mach interiors are very similar. The seats in the Mach and Bullitt are the same in terms of bolster. so its a tie. Cobra interior is also nice, and the 2 tone seats are sweet. Your choice as to which wins this cat.

Performance/power:The Mach 1 is the fastest. hands down. The live axle, and the lower trq lets this thing pull away from the cobra down low. Up top its a tie between the Mach 1 and the Cobra. The bullitt will pull on a cobra down low. This is not a lie. Ive raced pre 2003 cobras, and the bullitt can pull on a cobra off the line. The bullitt, only have a 2v head, lacks hp up top compared to the cobra. So, once off the line for a distance, expect the cobra to pull on the bullitt. The live axle, and the more trq downlow gives the bullitt a slight advantage on stop light brawls over the cobra, but gets pulled by the mach1.

So, IMO if you want pure performance, go with the Mach1. If you want handling and power off the line, go with the Bullitt. If you want up top power, and a smooth ride over bumps, go with a cobra. The reason that i pick the bullitt is that its very good in all catagories. It has good power, a sleek look, is unique, its the first of the limited editon models, handles very well, is lower, and has an intake that is also unique (stock) to mustang.
thats my .02$. no flames please..lol
Mike
 
Found this... explains why the Mach 1 is fastest. Ya I heard that Bullits are pretty Torquy down low but to think of it, I would need more mods to keep up but I'd also have more money to spare due to lower purchase cost. Boy, the best is to think, try them out and be patient in deciding so no quick regretable decision is made.
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The 2003 Mach 1 makes up for cubic inches with multivalve technology. It uses the 2001 SVT Mustang Cobra's 32-valve, 281-cu.-in. (4.6-liter) V-8. But if you look at the Mach 1's numbers — 305 bhp at 5800 rpm and 320 lb.-ft. of torque at 4200 rpm — you're bound to ask a big "what's up?" For the horsepower number is down from the Cobra's 320.

The reason is that Ford changed several engine pieces to give the Mach 1 better torque at lower engine speeds, at the sacrifice of peak horsepower. The biggest change is to the higher-flow cylinder heads, which were fitted with intake cams from Ford's 5.4-liter V-8. Different exhaust cams were also added along with a new set of exhaust manifolds matched to the cylinder heads.

So while the horsepower number may not look as good as the Cobra's, the Mach 1 has gained 3 lb.-ft. of torque that peaks at a much lower 4000 rpm compared with 4750 for the 2001 Cobra. In other words, Ford has just improved your chances at the highly coveted stoplight drag wars.
 
03 cobra > mach > 99/01 cobra > 99/04 gt's > 99/04 v6 > bullit > dirt > catfish camaro
looks wise
^^^^^^^^that might have been the dumbest thing ever posted. why the animosity towards the bullitt from GT owners??
Mike
 
Dog bite said:
Found this... explains why the Mach 1 is fastest. Ya I heard that Bullits are pretty Torquy down low but to think of it, I would need more mods to keep up but I'd also have more money to spare due to lower purchase cost. Boy, the best is to think, try them out and be patient in deciding so no quick regretable decision is made.
__________________
The 2003 Mach 1 makes up for cubic inches with multivalve technology. It uses the 2001 SVT Mustang Cobra's 32-valve, 281-cu.-in. (4.6-liter) V-8. But if you look at the Mach 1's numbers — 305 bhp at 5800 rpm and 320 lb.-ft. of torque at 4200 rpm — you're bound to ask a big "what's up?" For the horsepower number is down from the Cobra's 320.

The reason is that Ford changed several engine pieces to give the Mach 1 better torque at lower engine speeds, at the sacrifice of peak horsepower. The biggest change is to the higher-flow cylinder heads, which were fitted with intake cams from Ford's 5.4-liter V-8. Different exhaust cams were also added along with a new set of exhaust manifolds matched to the cylinder heads.

So while the horsepower number may not look as good as the Cobra's, the Mach 1 has gained 3 lb.-ft. of torque that peaks at a much lower 4000 rpm compared with 4750 for the 2001 Cobra. In other words, Ford has just improved your chances at the highly coveted stoplight drag wars.


Well the numbers lie on all the 03/04 Cobras and Machs. See my sig. the 280RWHP is stronger than most 01 Cobras and the torque is vastly different. That's 330hp 350tq with a 15% drive train loss. Most 5 speeds are getting 275-285RWHP and with an EFI solutions tune I've seen stock Mach's as high as 299RWHP (290's common). Keep in mind the early 03's were tuned very weak and some were only putting out 265-270RWHP but since June 03 they've tweaked the tune some. These cars were underrated due to the 99 Cobra screw up. Both the Cobra and the Mach are LE cars and nice, if your a 1/4 mile or stoplight guy get the live axle. If you like the road courses the 01 Cobra will do a little better.

As far as high end Mustangs I like the Mach. The Cobra Mustang was born from the Mustang II platform and although promoted since 1993 it really hasn't had the power of a true muscle car until 99 and with the 03/04 finally almost matching the older Mach's. The Mach were around from 1969-1978 with the 428 cid being the king. I jumped on the chance to own a real legend that hasn't been around (which I couldn't afford) since I was a kid.

If your wanting a car to soup up and hot rod get the GT and have fun. If you want a car to keep and enjoy without much work needing done for street use get the Mach or 99/01 Cobra.JMO
 
Bottom line is that the Mach 1 is faster in stock trim. However, super/turbocharging a Mach 1 really is a risk with it's raised CR. Just look at LS1's (share the same CR), maybe 1 in 1000 is supercharged and even then it usually doesn't last long. The Cobra LOVES boost however. So, if you want to stay N/A (300-350rwhp), go with the Mach. If you plan to supercharge (450-500rwhp) go with the Cobra. :nice:
 
I would go with the cobra. Sure the mach is a little faster but it also has better gearing. Put some gears in the cobra and it will be just as good or not a little better, the cobra has 320 hp. I have heard that the IRS is hard to luanch though. My brother has a 99 cobra and it is awesome
 
ok definately the bullitt. my dad has one and i know that the suspension is better than both the cobra and the mach 1. since you are not going to race it then the bullitt because it has the best handling. also it is a one year car only. the mach 1 is two years 03 and 04. the cobra well a lot of years. but the bullitt. its quick, nice to drive, looks great, get the dhg color dark highland green, and its a movie history car. looks great trust me ive driven one since my dad owns it. anyway, hope you make a good choice for yourself.
 
Orange04BOSS said:
ok definately the bullitt. my dad has one and i know that the suspension is better than both the cobra and the mach 1. since you are not going to race it then the bullitt because it has the best handling. also it is a one year car only. the mach 1 is two years 03 and 04. the cobra well a lot of years. but the bullitt. its quick, nice to drive, looks great, get the dhg color dark highland green, and its a movie history car. looks great trust me ive driven one since my dad owns it. anyway, hope you make a good choice for yourself.

IRS > Bullitt suspension