03 cobra vs 87GN, Which car was more feared in it's era?

**Murder after Midnight** · 12-20-2014, 04:01 PM

Muscle car discussion at work...........which car was more feared/dominant in it's era?
Your thoughts?

**theorangeguy** · 12-20-2014, 05:40 PM

GN will still lay the smack down...and that includes going up against modern boost cars so I'd say the GN should be feared more.

The cobra's can be nasty but those GN's were straight line rocket ships.

**sjgreen6** · 12-21-2014, 08:41 AM

I think the GN was bigger news in it's time because it was so far ahead of everything else that US makers were putting out. By the time the Cobra rolled around there were other contenders that were close enough that it wasn't as big. The other thing about the GN was that it was much more of an everyman's car. Lots of people who wouldn't buy a hopped up mustang could afford and justify the GN to themselves. After all it had an actual usable back seat.

**Murder after Midnight** · 12-21-2014, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by sjgreen6

I think the GN was bigger news in it's time because it was so far ahead of everything else that US makers were putting out. By the time the Cobra rolled around there were other contenders that were close enough that it wasn't as big. The other thing about the GN was that it was much more of an everyman's car. Lots of people who wouldn't buy a hopped up mustang could afford and justify the GN to themselves. After all it had an actual usable back seat.

Hard to argue that, but the cobra had so much potential out of the box.........

**pajeff02** · 12-21-2014, 04:27 PM

GN without a doubt. And I have yet to see a movie made about the Cobra...

**FasstChevys** · 12-22-2014, 07:14 AM

In my opinion, easily the 87GN - hands down. Back then, that was really the only car off the showroom in the 13's. They laid the smack down on a lot of cars from the muscle era too at the time. Remember?? All those guys with '68 Mustangs that "ran 10's", only to get their asses handed to them by a 14 second car.

The '03 Cobra wasn't as ominous to me mostly since there were a lot of cars that could hang with it, abundantly available.

Edit: Speaking to potential, the GN still handles the Cobra easily IMHO. Think full frame, solid rear axle, and other details that still make it tough to beat on the street.

**theorangeguy** · 12-22-2014, 07:19 AM

I really forgot how much I love these cars....

**Zinergy** · 12-22-2014, 07:22 AM

GN for sure. There are guys.... even car guys who do not know what a terminator is. You can't fear it if you have never heard about it.

**FasstChevys** · 12-22-2014, 07:25 AM

Originally Posted by theorangeguy

I really forgot how much I love these cars....

I had one at one time - wish I would've kept it

**theorangeguy** · 12-22-2014, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Zinergy

GN for sure. There are guys.... even car guys who do not know what a terminator is. You can't fear it if you have never heard about it.

I just dont see a 390hp boosted Mustang as a big accomplishment...the SS and WS6 were 320-330 from the factory. Sure you could swap a pulley on a Cobra and bump it to mid 400's but still, thats not earth shattering performance like the GN was.

The GN was a V6 turbo monster of a vehicle that was way before its time IMO...automakers are just now catching up to what that car did with a boosted V6. Ford has the ecoboost, Buick just released a new version "or close to it" of the Grand National, Ford is talking about doing a boosted V6 for the mustang in the next couple of years...it set the bar for both V8's and V6's when it came to speed and performance. The terminator did not...not even remotely close.

GNX with a boosted V6 ran a 13.3-13.1 1/4.

Terminator with a boosted V8 ran a low 13 or high 12 in the 1/4.

**FasstChevys** · 12-22-2014, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by theorangeguy

I just dont see a 390hp boosted Mustang as a big accomplishment...the SS and WS6 were 320-330 from the factory. Sure you could swap a pulley on a Cobra and bump it to mid 400's but still, thats not earth shattering performance like the GN was.

The GN was a V6 turbo monster of a vehicle that was way before its time IMO...automakers are just now catching up to what that car did with a boosted V6. Ford has the ecoboost, Buick just released a new version "or close to it" of the Grand National, Ford is talking about doing a boosted V6 for the mustang in the next couple of years...it set the bar for both V8's and V6's when it came to speed and performance. The terminator did not...not even remotely close.

GNX with a boosted V6 ran a 13.3 1/4.

Terminator with a boosted V8 ran a low 13 or high 12 in the 1/4.

What's this terminator that you speak of?

**theorangeguy** · 12-22-2014, 07:31 AM

Originally Posted by FasstChevys

What's this terminator that you speak of?

hahaha I highly doubt a terminator would be a blip on your radar...most of them are probably behind you...

***SMWS6TA*** · 12-22-2014, 08:29 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

GN without a doubt. And I have yet to see a movie made about the Cobra...

and then this travesty

**Zinergy** · 12-22-2014, 08:37 AM

And don't forget the cop car in one of the Transformers movies. But none of them are 03/04 termis... are they?

***SMWS6TA*** · 12-22-2014, 08:58 AM

It was an 05, only 3 made.

**theorangeguy** · 12-22-2014, 09:47 AM

That Need 4 Speed Mustang cracks me up...every time they mentioned some spec or part I would laugh because it was all bs...

**Murder after Midnight** · 12-22-2014, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by theorangeguy

I really forgot how much I love these cars....

That's a real beauty

**5.0THIS** · 12-22-2014, 11:29 AM

I was recently at the mecum auction in KC. There were several GNs there, and they were going cheap. They weren't A-1 cars, but still, seems like they might be a decent buy right now.