Sure...an IRS that was put together with a mish mash of parts to make it compact enough to fit into a chassis that was made to run a solid axle. I'll take the modern 3-link design, complete with panhard bar of the S197 over the compromise of space over function that was mounted in the '03-'04 Cobra. Couple that with the fact that the S197 has the longest wheel base and the most rigid platform ever to wear the Mustang moniker and was designed with a "true" Macpherson strut front suspension design, with lighter front end components and revised suspension geometry in comparison to the old modified Macpherson strut set up they ran for 25-years before that, it's no wonder the S197 was the better handling car. Lets not also forget, although the S197's were criticized for their portly weight, the '03-'04 Cobra's were actually slightly heavier in comparison....carrying most of that weight up front.
As for the claim of the 4.6L being a "detuned race car". It's kinda funny....I always thought of it as a glorified "Truck" engine. There's really nothing special about adding a set of forged internal and a huffer to what was otherwise a basic DOHC engine. You wouldn't consider the mills in the Lincoln Mark VIII, Continental, or Mercury Marauder "Race Engines", would you? Take away the forged rotating assembly and Eaton supercharger on the '03-'04 Cobra and that's basically what you've got.
A nice engine and certainly ground breaking 20-years ago when it was first designed (and certainly more modern than the 5.0L OHV it replace) but it's a 1st graders finger painting compared to the Picasso the Coyote's TiVCT is. All Aluminum engine, with 4-bolt mains, forged counterweighted steel crank and integrated oil cooler, twin independent variable cam timing, oil cooled pistons, and heads with flow ratings that would make a Ferrari blush. If the '03-'04 4.6L DOHC is what you'd consider a detuned "race engine", then you must consider the Coyote's 5.0L TiVCT a detuned "space shuttle engine" by comparison?
Not sure how you figure that? A pulley and tune on an '03-'04 Cobra is maybe getting it into the 440-450fwhp range if you're really lucky. The 5.0L TiVCT guys are making those same number with a CAI and tune, sans supercharger. These cost of mods and resulting horsepower increases for each are eerily close with these two cars.
While I agree that the '03-'04 Cobra has the potential to “handle” more horsepower due to the cast iron block and forged internals, the Coyote has the potential to “make” more horsepower across the board bolt on for bolt on and seems to consistently do so. Pretty impressive marks for the 5.0L when you consider the Cobra needs a blower and forged internal to compete with, what the TiVCT is bringing to the table in N/A form.
….again. Love the ’03-’04 Cobra’s. To be quite honest…if it were just a summer cruiser, I’d probably go with the Cobra myself. I’ve got my F150 to daily driver, so owning just to hear the blower whine and see the envious looks I’d get pulling into local hot spots, or sitting at traffic lights alone would be worthwhile. But I am certainly aware I’d be giving up a far “better”, more practical car, for a prettier, more rare one. It’s all about where your priorities lie. Anyone who chooses an ’03-’04 Cobra over an ’11 GT is most certainly choosing form, over function….without a doubt.
/end thread
