Should you buy a Factory Five Cobra? 3 Things I Love and Hate About my Cobra

Рет қаралды 62,438

Жыл бұрын

Here are the 3 things I love and 3 things I hate about my factory five cobra. After owning the car for a few months now, I have experienced inconveniences that I did not expect such as storage and usability, and I've also experience amazing qualities such as unique experiences at car shows.
This video is intended to give future or prospective buyers an understanding of what to expect in a hand built Factory Five Roadster. I am absolutely thrilled with my Shelby Cobra replica and continue to learn from each driving experience.
Keep in mind, each spec is different since they are hand built. My Factory Five Roadster is a 427 with a Cam, custom race heads, and all kinds of other modifications making close to 600 horsepower.
Dont forget to like the video and subscribe to my channel: / @adamdrivesla8268
Follow me on Instagram for more content you will not see on KZfaq: adamdrivesla
Email inquiries to adamdrivesla@gmail.com

Пікірлер: 137

@eliklappenbach2426 9 ай бұрын

Build it yourself and most of these problems can be fixed

@greggherod2153 Жыл бұрын

You said the gaps are one of the things you hate, but if you take your time during the build, it is very easy to have very consistent gaps on your hood, trunk, and doors. I have seen several Factory Five Cobras with near perfect gaps. It shouldn't be too difficult to have the gaps on your car adjusted if you wanted to.

@adamdrivesla8268 Жыл бұрын

This is true. However, the vast majority will generally have inconsistencies since they are not assembled in a perfectly calculated assembly line. Customers should be prepared for some of this inconsistencies unless they are willing to pay 2x-3x the price of a relatively similar build with some inconsistencies.

@Rich-yy7ny Жыл бұрын

Yeah it’s tough but it really is up to the builder.

@pjp7259 9 ай бұрын

He didn’t build it

@stanstazenski1749 9 ай бұрын

Ive not seen one including mine with gaps as bad as the one in this video

@ThomasJones-ij6hv 8 ай бұрын

@@pjp7259but did he buy it straight from the factory or from a home builder?

@jon4739 Жыл бұрын

Agree with the other comments. My gaps on my MKIV that I built are just perfect. Paid a premium for body and paint work knowing that there is SO much of it on this car. Also installed the drop trunk mod giving it even more usable trunk space. Agree about the weather. I live in the southeast and pop up showers are the norm. As for the space. I installed the carbon fiber dash which has a glove box and fabricated a carbon fiber transmission tunnel top to match the dash with aluminum cup holders installed in the forward of the shifter. Great channel and content!!

@bbaz6729 3 ай бұрын

From what I've been able to figure out, it appears one of these builds is just about 100K. Is that accurate?

@michaelvadney5803 9 ай бұрын

You are coming from a different perspective then most Factory 5 guys. When you build the car yourself you see it totally different. Plus you can have a hard time when someone asks you, "did you build the car"? Just sayin'

@Ed-lb2sm Жыл бұрын

Not if you build it yourself, I built a Mark 3, and the gaps were Perfect. How did you not notice all of this before you purchased?

@akvalues Жыл бұрын

So it was built poorly 😂😂😂

@andrewlanger2168 3 ай бұрын

Not every one. They're kit cars built by regular people, unless you have over $1m to buy an original. You can actually build one yourself for around $30k from factory 5. Keep in mind, with a small block or an LS they weigh about 2150lbs and about 100lbs more with a big block so even a stock 5.3 is going to make a fast car.

@paulbeswetherick4261 Ай бұрын

3 things you hate, why did you buy a cobra then? They are not practical cars, nor were designed to be. They have always been a race car for the road. You don't see race cars with cupholders and storage, absolute Muppet!!

@stevend8785 9 ай бұрын

How does it ride? Is it rough? Stiff? Comfortable?

@Chumly409 Жыл бұрын

I agree with the others saying the "Dislikes" are really the lackings of the builder themselves. Even a factory GM Corvette have fitment issues from car to car if you disassemble it and put it back together without attention to detail. This is a very basic vehicle building process: Get the gaps right. I noticed this right up front with the rivets chipping the paint, don't paint then install rivets! They can be done prior and masked just like anything else that would need masked (liquid electrical tape/plasti-dip does wonders for detail masking).

@shortattentionspangarage1312 Жыл бұрын

I find it ironic that someone from SoCal is complaining about the weather. Back in 2016 when I lived in San Diego I remember taking my motorcycle to work every day from March to November and never hit one drop of rain. Try that in Floriduh... Also, the gaps are completely preventable if the kit is built by a competent person.

@NarwahlGaming 6 ай бұрын

Yeah. I find his weather complaints ridiculous. I'm in Michigan. We get 3, maybe 4 months of usable weather a year. Storing a vehicle is second nature up here. We learn our ABCs, how to tie our shoes and how to install a car cover as children. 😂

@43ten43 4 ай бұрын

Just the video i was looking for. Thank you! BTW, did you buy yours private party/auction/elsewhere? I'm also in SoCal and looking for one.

@weslautenbach8002 8 ай бұрын

I’ve driven mine in the rain a couple times, I haven’t melted yet! It gets wet

@snakechmr5191 8 күн бұрын

Liked your video Adam. I finished my last-run MkII nearly 20 years ago and it still going strong. Built in additional storage in the trunk and the back panel. For weather here in the mid-Atlantic, one can get a very effective removable top. There are some owners in our Cobra club that have removable hard tops. What you didn’t mention is just how fun they are to drive - and not just straight line hijinx. A well setup Factory Five Roadster (Cobra) takes turns “like a cat on carpet”. I’ve driven mine on errands, car shows, tours, autocross, and hot laps. Mine is reasonably comfortable enough to drive long periods (though I’m not as young as I was when I finished her). Is it perfect? No. But it’s mine and close enough to perfection as I could get it. The moral of the story is, build your own to YOUR specification if possible and measure perfection through your efforts and results.

@donaldkaye6736 3 ай бұрын

Thank You so much, You really “cut to the chase” as they say and it was All Useful Information! Thanks 😊

@rhodekihl5270 4 ай бұрын

You are 100% correct about who should own them. I have been in love with them since i was a child. I bought mine when i got the chance and i still grin like i did when i was 12 every time i look at it.

@tristanflynn6381 Ай бұрын

Definitely planning on saving for one, currently busy with my rusty ass charger but. I’ve always wanted a cobra that I could thrash on, and not worry about prices or ruining an authentic cobra. Thanks for the honest feedback about your experiences

@tmr626 5 ай бұрын

Some of those Backdraft Cobras are super nice. You can get carbon fiber options, power steering and a big and tall version of the car for a person who is 6' 3".

@paulborror2544 Жыл бұрын

Just to pile on, 2 of the 3 things you hate about the car are reflections of the builder. Not Factory Five. No reason for the panel/door mismatches to be like that. It doesn't take any more time to build it right. Not everyone knows, but Factory Five doesn't build these. They only sell the kit. No question there's a lot of variability in the build quality. If you don't build it yourself, take the time to find one that was built properly. There are plenty of them. Also, as already stated, this isn't the current Mk4 version which has a lot of improvements making it easier to get it right. They are a blast though and agree get a lot of attention.

@BKMDano17 7 ай бұрын

FFR is crap and they know it call their support and they just lie and make-up BS stories. Sure you can get anything right but do you want to pay $15,000 for a paint job

@mdcannon1974 Жыл бұрын

was hoping to learn what microphone is that you are using? maybe post a link? Thanks @AmateurHourGarage

@adamdrivesla8268 Жыл бұрын

Sure, heres the link. Its the DJI wireless store.dji.com/product/dji-mic?from=store-nav&vid=109401

@jeremiahm1413 26 күн бұрын

Bought a F5 MK2 in December 2019 with a 302 supercharged motor at the time. Damn lil rocketship. Love it and yet have SUCH respect for it. You can tell those back tires want to overtake the front tires if you get on it too hard. I am so glad I bought one prior to "the plague" when car prices went totally insane. Living in Ohio, I only get to take it out 1x a month during some parts of the year, so when I do, we going for a solid cruise! Overall, great video! Would give it "5 stars" if that was still a thing on YT 😆

@resiggy13 8 ай бұрын

Come on, its not really fair to complain about the car's build quality if you bought it rather than built it. It can be built to perfection or it can be half-assed to mediocrity. Poor fit and finish isn't the fault of the car - it's the fault of the builder.

@user-fz8cm8yh3b 3 ай бұрын

They make soft top and removable hardtop.??

@24X7CARZ 2 ай бұрын

Hey Adam. San Diego-based car KZfaqr here. Enjoyed this video. Hope you’ll be back doing more content.

@robertandrews6555 Жыл бұрын

Luckily for me i have OCD, and my cobra was built perfectly 👍🏻

@BananaBlitz78 4 ай бұрын

My grampa was on channel 7 news for his factory 5 cobra like 20 years ago. Btw love the car

@BradThePitts Жыл бұрын

The gaps should not be like that - my bodywork was done by someone that's done hundreds of Factory Fives. 15 years later, all the gaps are still even and the doors close perfectly. But then again, if it was a home job the builder saved about $6000.

@adamdrivesla8268 Жыл бұрын

Nice, yea better to pay more and get a better quality build if the imperfections are going to bother you.

@macmaven5037 9 ай бұрын

Sounds like your body guy didn't know Cobras. As with any car, a good body guy can get perfect gaps. If you are a builder that is sloppy with your dash wiring, then yeah, it will look like yours. There is an under dash panel available to clean up the look as well. No one said you can't drive in the rain. Won't hurt the inside. :)

@elenaeverroad3389 4 ай бұрын

Ikr, it's something you just want a smooth ride in and don't wreck 😂

@marcomaldonado9518 11 ай бұрын

Wow.... good job man! Straight and to the point!

@clementkhoza6890 Жыл бұрын

I think you can get a hard top for rain and all that stuff, it’s an old people car; it doesn’t need to say it in your face that it’s a weekend only car, in a sense it captures the true essence of owning a car anyways and that is, to drive it.. As for the gaps and inconsistencies I think you can redo the car and you’ll be good … I can’t wait till I own one ..

@truantray 8 ай бұрын

This version is a car for Boomers to buy ice cream. The UK built FIA Cobras have a much lighter powertrain, handle better, and have a higher top speed from a fastback roof. Why TF would someone buy a roadster and then complain about practicality.

@kevinwells768 7 ай бұрын

No reason why a well built GRP car should have bodywork like that. As for interior storage: Usually there is a glove box, and I thought FFR owners put coffee cups in the trans tunnel? Anyway, nice vid all the same.

@bullfrogzbodyshop Ай бұрын

I found a perfect lil cup holders/mini console for mine at autozone. I'll make a short vid of it if you're interested, it fits perfectly in our cars,right up behind shifter sorta under dash

@carsthatlast441 Жыл бұрын

Cool video bud, thanks!

@randallsehn1221 Жыл бұрын

liked the video but have to disagree about driving it in inclement weather. I owned an ERA for over 10 years and used it as a daily driver for 3 while living in San Francisco. Drove mine in rain a lot; you just need a waterproof jacket, pants and boots. Oh and a small squeegee for clearing the inside of the windshield. Also drove it in a couple of blizzards; its cold but doable. Just dress very warm and don't count on any heat from the engine or heater, with the top down you won't feel any of it.

@markbartley3630 Жыл бұрын

Fitment of body panels reflect the abilitys of the person who assembled it, not ff.

@richardschipper5989 6 ай бұрын

or the quality of the paint shop

@PaintitBlackRs3 5 ай бұрын

The first point makes sense considering it’s a kit car however a good restoration shop can get these fiberglass bodies pretty straight and near perfect but most people aren’t gonna spend that kind of money on body and paint.

@2JZDestroyer 4 ай бұрын

i mean i understand as a fellow roadster driver; that its a pain in the butt to equip a hardtop for a single day. They do exist though , its exceptionally rare to see one equipped on a cobra though.

@TheUsmc0802 8 ай бұрын

Complaining about storage in a Cobra SMH

@mchristr 11 ай бұрын

The shop that painted the car could have fixed the gaps. But it's clear that the previous owner cut corners on the build.

@eddiegray793 5 ай бұрын

A 1958 mga had a soft top and side curtins

@lewf5685 Жыл бұрын

Nice video! I’ve always wanted one but it’s that practicality thing that I just can’t get past…yet!😂

@adamdrivesla8268 Жыл бұрын

Thanks. Yup it makes a great third car lol

@jeffjustice3341 3 ай бұрын

try thinking about your car as a race car. After all, it was built to go from point A to point B as fast as possible.

@CapeCodTrainTodd 9 ай бұрын

I bought my FFR in 1998 and it has been on the road for 23 years. Everything you say is True. The fit and finish depends on the builder and body guy. I added a lockable glove box but storage? Who needs a cup holder? This thing is a race car LOL I live in the North East so months go by that it sits but when a day presents itself for a drive it is like meeting up with an old friend. Security is a concern. I take mine to do errands but I don't leave it unattended for long. The Hate, more like negatives are, it's a fair weather car, security and it is loud. The Loves, it's special, people enjoy it and it is loud. The car is not for everyone but it is fun.

@peetywondr3256 8 ай бұрын

I agree with 100% of this . . . there are just some thing you have to concede to when owning a Cobra. Like an "E" ticket ride at Disneyland, you know you are going to be bounced around and might get wet . . . Built mine in 2000 (MK-II) and the gaps are perfect still. Added a few "creature comfort" items along the way; glove box, battery relocated to create (even) more trunk space, MK-IV seats, fresh air vents, moved hand brake to the left of driver and built a Bimini top for shade on sunny days (I live in Vegas and it's HOT! here).

@CapeCodTrainTodd 8 ай бұрын

Nice add ons. That is also something that is really neat about these cars. No 2 are alike having been customized by their builders/ owners. I went to the FFR homecoming "lite" this past August and saw many fine rides each with their own level of cool. 😁@@peetywondr3256

@jjmaxx3834 Жыл бұрын

Don’t claim that you built it unless you did the body and paint yourself. I did build my MKIV including body and paint. I took me a very long time and it turned out great! The body and paint was by far the most difficult part of the build.

@macmaven5037 9 ай бұрын

You spend a couple of years building a car and then cheap out on the body work and paint? LOL. Those are skills, especially body work, that takes years and years to master. Sounds like your car might look like this guy's car.

@richardschipper5989 6 ай бұрын

@@macmaven5037 a stupid reply by someone that has no clue. I've seen enough painted by the owner to know that they can be just a good as any. In fact I've seen some come out of a 'pro' paint shop that looks terrible, worse that this one

@DANTHETUBEMAN 8 ай бұрын

Get a soft top for it 😊

@davidblack2978 9 ай бұрын

Guardsman Blue?....

@davidrogers852 3 ай бұрын

It's not Factory Five Racing"s fault that you bought a car that somebody threw together and didn't have a clue they were doing. I have built 3 of these from the ground up and never had a problem. The body on a original Cobra was hand made and was not symmetrical and not perfect. Factory Five builds their molds off of an original SC Cobra. If you know what the hell you are doing they can be made perfect. Their customer service is awesome. If there is a problem they make it right.

@user-vh8vs9oq2b Ай бұрын

Cobra is the best car ever made.

@velocityjet1884 2 ай бұрын

Factory 5 is an amazing kit car, the downfall is you have to build it yourself, which I got no clue

@COBRATV427 Жыл бұрын

👍 😍

@Travis8126 Жыл бұрын

Factory 5 Cobras are only as good as the builder who built it. Your car has some issues, whoever built it did not have great attention to detail. These cars are not practical or safe, they are race cars.

@bryanmoyer6602 Ай бұрын

ERA makes a cobra that is so authentic looking that carrol shelby miss took it for one of his own cars. i have read that the fit on them is perfect. so if you do not like the fit on the factory five cars. buy an ERA cobra.

@davidless57 Жыл бұрын

If cost is no object, Superformance will reduce the problems you mentioned…perfect alignment of panels, nice glove box, more trunk space, a soft top I’m told will perform well at 100 mph.

@deano9006 Жыл бұрын

“….this car is the mistress, it can do things the wife cannot….” Perfect summary of any sports car/hotrod ever purchased/built 🤣🤣🤣

@jasonochs8369 Жыл бұрын

how about drivability and foot room? I bought mine even after asking a few questions on this subject and its so damn tight and off to the left...I dont know how I will ever be able to drive it remotely competitively...yeah, its THAT bad...

@jaredkish8716 4 ай бұрын

It’s basically like a motorcycle. It’s a roadster so you are exposed. That’s part of the experience. Gotta dress the part if you want to use it seasonally

@shi_thead475 4 ай бұрын

Fiberglass brother. You can file finish any body line to perfection

@elenaeverroad3389 4 ай бұрын

Smokey Robinson cruisen

@clarkclifford2338 Жыл бұрын

Convertible top, elbow grease (body fit), for storage… just do everyone else’s mods and realize that it’s a two seat car, much like a Miata.

@clay1883 8 ай бұрын

Comparing it to a Miata is an insult to Mazda.

@rickuyeda4818 4 ай бұрын

It will always be a Kit Car. Every Factory Five Cobra owner wishes that they had an aluminum body Cobra.

@chopsquadz Жыл бұрын

Always first! Merica!!!

@kevinredden Жыл бұрын

Contact FFR and they can sell you a soft top kit

@cs1375 11 ай бұрын

If there is inclement weather you just drive faster.

@trinidyjohnson9295 3 ай бұрын

Yeah that's weird when I purchase a two seat race car I expect ample luggage storage..... Damn dude I'm starting to think you got ripped off

@jamessepulveda5202 7 ай бұрын

What if the wife is a plaid tesla.?

@LNVACVAC 5 ай бұрын

Still it is less a pain in the than owning a ferrari or most mercedes

@ParissaKhoury 4 ай бұрын

As a woman its better to be a mistress than a wife. You get all the benefits wifhout any long term commitments

@RacerX1971 8 ай бұрын

Really, you complaining about interior storage? Heller..it's made for speed. It's not a storage..😂😂

@jonathonwerner5968 5 ай бұрын

Get a superformance next time.

@robmarino314 4 ай бұрын

He said it's impractical.

@dbullis2433 4 ай бұрын

Would you like some cheese with that wine? Maybe stick with your Tesla.

@tomnekuda3818 8 ай бұрын

Poor bastard.....I feel SO bad for you.

@jeffnash9333 8 ай бұрын

These videos crack me up. Where do people like this come from? You baught a hand built car from someone that apparently didn't care that much about those details or trying to make a known street leagl race car pretend to be a Miata and you want to pick it apart to "expose" it's issues you don't like. I can help. I can put you in touch with some people that will build you one of these cars exactly the way you want it. Just hang onto your bank account when you get the final bill. Or..... here's a crazy idea, instead of buying something to complain about, build one yourself. It really isn't that hard and you can put everything into it exactly the way you want.

@Erikanosian321 Жыл бұрын

Wife can’t do that 😂😂😂

@bebo5558 2 ай бұрын

ANY kit is only as good as the builder! Computer geeks have a saying, garbage in, garbage out!

@robwiley8614 6 ай бұрын

Sounds like you should have bought a Camry

@richardschipper5989 6 ай бұрын

or a miata

@douglaschandler199 2 ай бұрын

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

@philipshilling8665 10 ай бұрын

One thing about Factory Five Shelby AC Cobra replicas that few people know, is that the bodies ARE NOT ACCURATE. To be fair, most Cobra replicas are also not faithful replicas...therefore we should perhaps not call them replicas, but rather, Cobra-inspired kit cars. While different manufacturers all have their own unique deviations, the single biggest inaccuracy that most share, including Factory Five, is a taller profile. Beneath the doors you find an extra four inches or so that will not exist on any real Cobra built at the Thames-Ditton AC factory in the 1960s. Those inaccurate extra inches give most "replicas" a BLOATED/PREGNANT look. Real big block Cobras, while very wide because of all the flaring, still kept the sleek profile dimensions of the AC Ace and early Cobras.

@xDivinitysCreaturex 9 ай бұрын

I thought so too, thanks for explaining it.

@halimahismail6806 9 ай бұрын

Mata biru

@Guy-mx4fb 9 ай бұрын

Superformance and back draft make the better cobras

@macmaven5037 9 ай бұрын

Not really. They are assembled in South Africa as rollers....no engine, trans or plumbing. Depends on the builder though.

@richardschipper5989 6 ай бұрын

really? you have personal experience with all three? I have, thats not really true because it all depends on who built the FFR

@memphisbulls1859 7 ай бұрын

If you don’t like the door gaps buy an aluminium body car The Factory 5 is the cheap end of the scale for kits so don’t expect quality

@richardschipper5989 6 ай бұрын

dumb statement, the end results depends on how much effort the builder puts into

@dumpl3dore 16 күн бұрын

You are not a very astute shopper if panel fit etc is important to you and you bought it anyway. You should have stuck with a Honda.

@IAmLusion 8 ай бұрын

This is the dumbest love/hate list...sell the car

@MrRonaldl128 8 ай бұрын

Sounds like you should have gotten a car with much better QUALITY...like a Backdraft or Superformance.

@Roosterjello Жыл бұрын

For non car guys this is a replica cobra

@mikeconner3280 6 ай бұрын

boo hoo. Feel so bad for you. Perhaps you could BUY the fixes!!!

@jrstarts5458 11 ай бұрын

I haven’t seen any comments likes this about backdraft racing. Just sayin..

@viperaggressor516 Жыл бұрын

No excuse for the fiberglass defects. It's due to poor quality fiberglass work. You don't see that on say "Backdraft" Cobras. The Factory Five body fiberglass is too thin. If the engine isn't balanced, you will see cracking in the fiberglass after about a year, or year and a half. Especially around weak corners, or joints.

@macmaven5037 Жыл бұрын

LOL. Never happened with my FFR and I had a 427 Blueprint turning 505HP at the crank. Not sure what junk you are looking at.

@viperaggressor516 Жыл бұрын

@@macmaven5037 Just look on KZfaq on reviews after putting miles on the car. The Blueprint engines claim they are balanced so that helps somewhat. If you look at the FFR build videos you see guys drilling out mounting tabs because the bolt holes don't line up. That's due to poor jig work. One guy had to bend a shock mounting tab to spread it so he could mount the suspension. What do you think happens when you bend metal that supports a car's suspension ? Do you think that's good ? You also see guys waiting for weeks for parts that were missing from their kits which slows down their build. No excuse for that. That's just poor quality control. By the way, I owned an authentic 66 Cobra side oiler back in the 70s.

@richardschipper5989 6 ай бұрын

@@viperaggressor516 someone that has no clue. I'v driven the 2 I've own for over a combined 50,000 miles. NEVER had any issue with the body. Spreeding a shock mount a 1/16 of an inch, or even a little more has zero effect on the metal. You do realize that many frame components get bent to the correct shape so they fit before welding?

@scooter1261 4 ай бұрын

Classic LA car bro. More money than sense and buys a 1960s race car for attention. And then whines about the things that make it a 1960s race car.

@truantray 8 ай бұрын

Why do Americans insist on building the roadster 427 version of this car? This was arguably the least successful version of the Cobra. The 289 with fast back roof is what won the world championship. The 427 is just a stupid fair weather dragster.

@user-qr7ee2cp4y 8 ай бұрын

Save your money and get a crotch rocket. The cobra has a larger trunk but it's all that thing has on a motorcycle.

@BKMDano17 7 ай бұрын

I have built two. The frame is not straight. Almost every bracket had to be redrilled hit with a hammer or in some cases re-welded. The aluminum does not fit either. The body is a disaster. To get the gaps consistent along with decent paint will cost 13k. That puts you at 30k with shipping and you have at least another 30 k to unless you slap it together like most do. Finally the support; You will soon find out that Dan G is a worthless lying jerk. If you have the time and money to fix all of the sub standard and lack of quality control issues, then go for it. Otherwise you are going to be one very unhappy person if you thought you were just going to follow the manual and assemble of well-built car. It's not a well built kit from the start. That is the reality of this car and everything this company makes.

@richardschipper5989 6 ай бұрын

Have been associated with building FFR for 20 yrs, you statements are bologna. I have NEVER worked with any company that puts more effort into standing behind their product

@_ford_crown_victoria_p 10 ай бұрын

Man complaining about the car he built himself 💀💀💀

@what-is-a-handle. 9 ай бұрын

No, he paid 20,999$+ to have it built for him by a company called Factory Five Racing that “specializes” in replica cobras.. the only things you have to own are, trans, rear end and tires which isn’t much

@macmaven5037 9 ай бұрын

Factory Five doesn't build Cobras. @@what-is-a-handle.

@richardschipper5989 6 ай бұрын

@@what-is-a-handle. you don't know squat 🤡