Here's Why the Ford Mustang Terminator Cobra Is a Muscle Car Icon

[@jackdebona3014]

My dads coworker at Ford bought one of these in ‘04, took the day off work to drive to the Dearborn assembly plant across town to see it get built. He took pictures of it on the assembly line, and still has it to this day!

[@SayT210]

That’s badass, are the pictures on instagram or anything?

[@SwirlyTwirl]

Dude, that's a thing we can do that? that's dope.

[@TzadikTheManic]

@@SwirlyTwirl the kids today are using some kind of web, it’s world wide or wide world!!!

[@a-12dhanwinmehta40]

Wow

[@billermanthegreat]

@@SwirlyTwirl Well they did work for Ford

[@TakoIbarra]

I'm surprised that Doug didn't mention that the Cobras had independent rear suspension instead of the standard solid axle, which is one of the reasons the car handles so much better than what he expected.

[@Mid-no3pk]

probably the single most interesting "quirky" thing about the whole car and he doesn't even mention it..

[@joejesus9902]

I remember driving a GT model with the solid axle rear and it was scary with the horizontal wheel movements in the rear

[@Mid-no3pk]

@@joejesus9902 hell yeah my friend had an 04 gt and the thing felt alien compared to my old na miata, they were total opposite cars

[@camryt]

lmao why would you be surprised he didn’t mention it, he never focuses on actual mechanical features or quirks

[@dole9783]

@@Mid-no3pk he does that a lot recently... His koenigsegg regera was very dissapointing. Not presing ghost button, not mentioning the exhaust, the windshield wiper from old mercedes etc... HE DIDN'T EVEN REV IT

[@connorthompson05]

Doug is the type of guy you can live vicariously through. He’s so animated and excited and enthusiastic and you can just feel it through him! This was a special car for me too when I was growing up. I love this car.

[@mahimmustakim6859]

0:01 intro 1:43 paint 5:02 engine 10:06 interior 15:46 exterior 17:12 exhaust sound 19:32 driving 23:39 conclusion

[@LegendTheInkling]

Damn, you figured all of that out in a short amount of time. Props to you.

[@bonzobonanza]

I'm here before Doug hearts your comment

[@kidnamedfinger420]

as always thx bruddahh

[@sirgooselover241]

Plz comment this on every video!!!!!

[@Movableobject]

@@bonzobonanza he wont

[@JordanSVT]

No way! I never thought this day would come! Finally! Thank you, Doug.

[@user59371]

Something tells me this guy is into Terminator Cobra’s

[@JordanSVT]

@@user59371 Absolutely! The Terminator will forever and always be my all time favorite car. No contest.

[@caboose22320]

​ @🏔 Everest 🏔 report > unwanted content or spam

[@floridaman7]

Congratulations

[@KingLarbear]

Lol

[@leftmikerightmike]

This is a really special car and the new owner was fortunate to pick it up for $40k. The exhaust to enjoy the sound more didn’t ruin it at all! Such a cool car ESPECIALLY since it is a special and unique version of an otherwise unimpressive Mustang generation. This will be a $100k collectors car in just a few years.

[@paulkarazuba]

"any damage...would be a $10,000 respray" -as our man Doug leans on the car like a boss repeatedly

[@corygraney8556]

This drove me crazy

[@evanbooth1441]

You can tell from the "THIS" that Doug is well and truly excited about a car.

[@JLE1177]

Great observation, I always either stay or go based on his "this" level 😂

[@forresttm]

He does sound extra excited about it.

[@drippgxd]

Especially if he reviews a beautiful terminator Mustang in mystachrome, a certified hood classic!

[@jonlosito2004]

Spoiler alert.. There’s also the 1st gen Explorer that’s he’s gonna review soon. I looked at his Instagram a few days ago.

[@thomaswood5246]

Yea he makes commission on the sale. Lol.

[@Emgt302]

Still my dream car! Alot of important info was missed like the IRS, forged internals. Fun fact: When the cobra was produced, SVT purposely integrated a shift light to exempt the cobra from the gas guzzle tax.

[@riothero313]

Jesus Christ, is that why I see a fucking blink every time I go above 3k RPM's?

[@CheesusSVT]

The shift light is annoying. 😂It wants me to go into 6th gear at 45mph. Big nopeskis. Edit, Love driving the terminator on the daily. 😊

[@Vsquaddd]

@@CheesusSVT you can turn it off with a tune!!

[@mrirace926]

Holy crap. I, along with probably 10 million others have waited for this one video for YEARS! One of the most legendary and iconic cars on KZbin's best car chanel. I GUARANTEE this video will be in your top 3 most viewed in a year. Thanks Daddy Doug!

[@aazizulzaim6685]

Definitely not a top 3,still exciting thought!

[@neihomai8]

Daddy Doug? that zoundz dizguzting...

[@the_random9718]

Top 3 is a stretch, usually videos of hot new cars are the ones that Doug gets a lot of views for

[@drippgxd]

I doubt it, because it has 93k views in 5 hours. But hey I also waited for the terminator video as well

[@drippgxd]

@@neihomai8 what happened to the letter S in your keyboard

[@tjadenarcher6083]

This man really speaks things into existence, glad to see you got to check another bucket list car

[@Lowkey_DeAndre]

Well Doug is slowly becoming one of the GOAT car reviewers. Who wouldn’t wanna let him take their car out?

[@drippgxd]

@@Lowkey_DeAndre he’s already a GOAT bro for a long time now

[@shannonday6840]

For me, he was a goat when I found him at less than a Milly. He’s goofy and silly and I like that about him. I don’t much care for many of the other independent reviewers. That said Throttle House is as good in my opinion, but that’s a production company. Doug is just.. Doug. That’s why he’s the goat

[@Lowkey_DeAndre]

@@drippgxd let’s not forget about top gear

[@drippgxd]

@@Lowkey_DeAndre he’s already a goat for a long time. As much as people love to hate him and also top gear Jeremy Clarkson, they both have a good sense of humor

[@GotNextGamingEmp]

I had a '99 I also had the "fix" and it made a huge difference. It was one of my favorite cars. The independant rear suspension made it handle like it was on rails. I wanted to upgrade in '03 but my my insurance guy had told me it was a "racecar" and would jack up my insurance insanely. I passed on it. Hope that puts into context just how much of a beast these cars were back then.

[@BlendedFamilyMan]

I also had the '99 and remember the drama. I got the fix and a leather jacket with VIN number in it. Sadly the engine blew. Ford gave me credit towards another car and I ended up with a 4x4 Ranger. Still miss the Cobra.

[@snaponisthebest1479]

That’s why you don’t tell your insurance guy about what your doing to your car

[@GotNextGamingEmp]

I may put that out of context. I wanted 2003 Cobra it was a huge difference between the ‘99 and ‘03 in rates so instead I modded out the ‘99 and no I did not tell the insurance guy lol.

[@Anderson_999]

As someone with an Convertible Terminator sitting in my garage I have literally been waiting YEARS for Doug to do this review. I would love to see Doug decide to buy this one for himself to add to his growing collection. Doug did a good job of telling the story of this car, but not mentioning the IRS was kind of a big miss. It was a big big modification over the standard mustangs of the era. He also could have included a few under hood rev shots to really hear the supercharger whine.

[@cliffvictoria3863]

I had one for 8 years. Still kicking myself for selling it. Did some bolt on mods and dynoed 510 rwhp which was pretty good for that era. Borla exhaust sounds phenomenal on these.

[@michaelmitchell7817]

@@cliffvictoria3863 me too. I had a hard top Mystic 537 hp & I traded it for an Escalade. Smh. O how I miss that car.

[@terrabnadia1793]

Too bad the convertibles are kinda meh

[@joeschmo9838]

@@michaelmitchell7817 You what? How the hell could one make that kind of decision. Trade-in a toy for a god damn family hauler...no thanks.

[@jamesmedina2062]

@@michaelmitchell7817 I hear you. Escalades are lux. I traded a perfectly pristine Jackson guitar for money to get my fiancé and her son to America from Ukraine. Family is always 1st. 👍

[@TacticalToolbox]

Doug Reviewing a car beside a Wal-Mart...Legend

[@charleydrummond8789]

I’m sure that’s where the owner works as a janitor.

[@ynot0714]

He should review a Ferrari in Naples Fla where the Ferrari dealership is nextdoor to a Walmart! Lol.

[@petermangerian8692]

I thought that was a prison.

[@FantasticTables]

@@petermangerian8692 Walmart does feel like a prison to be fair

[@Droopydog1975]

@@ynot0714 I drive by that EVERY day! Only in Naples....

[@braaap6292]

I've had a black coupe version of one of these since 2010 and it's still the most fun car I've driven. This includes newer Shelbys, Corvettes, and Ferraris. Something about it that just makes you feel alive. I'll never get rid of it.

[@Sloimer]

I’m thinking about grabbing one. I’ve wanted one since I was 18. Any regrets? What kind of exhaust do you have?

[@jessaphillips2846]

Don’t worry about “pulling a Mustang” Doug, these actually had a suspension designed in the 20th century unlike normal SN-95s

[@Steven-rg4bo]

lol pulling a mustang applies to pretty much any mustang.

[@moparornocar08]

S-550s have a rear suspension designed in the *21st* century, and that still hasn't kept them from being meme-worthy lol

[@jabug_1144]

@@moparornocar08 I went into the replies to find this comment lol. Pulling a mustang comes from the heart. Not the rear suspension configuration.

[@chrisvela5462]

It's not amazing. Beats the 4 link they came with, but that's not saying much

[@adhamadoh2998]

@@moparornocar08 that makes it a 20th century design, still better than the Mesopotamian suspension of pre-2015 models.

[@fireguy615]

As someone who has owned 2 of these, I have to say they are just wonderfully raw beasts and a lot of fun. Are they perfect, even for 2003?? Of course not. They are heavy. The clutch is a pain. God help you if you get any moisture under the tires. The interiors look and feel like they were ordered from Wish. But you can mod them to the absolute outer limits of your wallet. The blower whine is intoxicating, even from just the Eaton. The Tremec and Romeo 4.6 are freaking indestructible. And they will absolutely pull like a freight train, no matter if you have 390hp or 790hp. If you are in the market, better get one now as prices have been steadily going up. Thanks for the nostalgia Doug.

[@Johnnytahoe19]

I mean 3600 pounds really Isn’t that heavy really

[@TheBrokenLife]

It always shocks people to learn that Ford used a _cable_ for the clutch in Mustangs until 2005. Even the sissy clutch in my 91 is a bit stiff by even the standard of the period. I can't imagine how firm a Terminator must be.

[@SayT210]

I have a mcleod rxt clutch kit in my cobra, and the pedals light as a feather, but yea you’re correct as you are the only traction control. These things are beasts

[@Evan_5.7]

Absolutely agree. I own a 94 svt cobra that’s heavily modified but it’s one of the best cars I’ve owned. It’s cheap and feels like a McDonald’s play toy in the interior but the drive is fantastic

[@angelgjr1999]

Love my 2003 Mustang GT. It’s light (by todays standards) at 3200 lbs with the 5 speed manual. It’s not super fast, but it’s still fun to do burnouts and throw around. These were some of the last truly analog mustangs. Nowadays mustangs are high tech German coupes.

[@UpdoggWhattt]

For a long time, I wasn't close with my father, but we finally connected a few years back, and have been close ever since. It was after we started building a relationship when he told me he had purchased a 2003 Terminator back when they originally released, with plans of giving it to me one day. I had no idea about it the entire time, so it was a VERY pleasant and touching surprise! I didn't know anything about the car or its history, but once I found out about my dad owning one, I did my research, and it's an amazing car! Glad to see you reviewing it, Doug! And also, thanks Dad!

[@evanneiswanger]

The emotion when Doug does that pull at 23:30 … that’s the feeling that made us all fall in love with cars

[@TimSzabo]

Doug Pog

[@jugs33]

Finally! I’m the proud owner of one of these exact models. Mine has full exhaust, styling bar, aftermarket sound system, and coilovers. This car has been a dream of mine for about 10 years, and I’m happy to say dreams come true. Puts a smile on my face every time I fire it up. Thanks Doug!

[@drippgxd]

Man I want that car as well since that color came out in my birth year 2004 but I’ll buy one because prices are going up 😭 bro that shit makes me sad man

[@fatkat311]

I have an 03 convertible. Really wanted a hardtop but they are impossible to find. I’m afraid to drive mine anymore. If it was ever wrecked the insurance will only pay about half of the replacement cost. They don’t value the car the same way the market does unfortunately.

[@CopterKev]

Jesse, you should be able to insure with someone like Hagerty and do “agreed upon value.” I’ve had to do it before and the rates weren’t bad at all.

[@fatkat311]

@@CopterKev thanks for the info. I’ll look into that. My insurance company doesn’t do it that way

[@mitchellj.9360]

Thank you Doug. I've always wanted a Termi. I could never afford one, I still can't! But seeing you approach this car like it was brand new, I felt the excitement that I did when I first saw. I was 10 years old when the 03 model launched. I haven't felt nostalgia this hard in a decade. Thank you.

[@andersg95]

These also had an independent rear suspension instead of the solid axle from the GT. I knew a couple of guys who actually swapped it out for drag racing. They constantly broke CV shafts.

[@AndyU3]

Came to the comments looking for this. Surprised Doug didn't mention how Ford fit IRS in a car designed for a solid axel.

[@elmayimbe_the_amateur_mechanic]

This was actually the #1 feature of this car by far. That solid rear axle would have the Mustang's all over the place. Then they did IRS here and it literally fixed the car.

[@angelgjr1999]

Yeah back then guys hated the feel of the IRS. Some swapped it for the old school solid rear. They’re great for straight line performance but it’s bouncy in corners which leads to crashes.

[@haziqhashim2618]

What kind of independent rear suspension do these have ? Multi link ?

[@taylorc2542]

@@AndyU3 The IRS was actually crap. This chassis dates to a 78 Fairmont and was never going to handle well. Ford quite laughably tried to make the Cobra compete with the M3, starting with a DOHC motor and then in 99 with IRS. Customers didn't like it, Ford botched the motor, and the 99 Cobra was subject to class action. The Mustang crowd wanted a "motor in a box", i.e. a crap car with a great motor. And they finally got it with iteration, hence why it is the most fondly remembered and collectible Cobra.

[@CarCrazyRDM]

Having owned an '04 Terminator I enjoyed and agreed with nearly everything Doug had to say. I feel like there were a few key elements left out of this review though. The biggest one, which has been stated many times below already, that the Terminators were equipped with IRS and it did a pretty solid job of reigning in the power and controlling the cars. Two, I think it would have been worth mentioning the TQ numbers of this engine were the same as the HP. And as a function of the Eaton blower, that TQ was available in droves from very low RPM's. That's part of what made these cars so much fun to drive! Third, given Doug's knack for interesting information, I think the story behind how John Coletti "made" Ford allow him to put Manley forged steel connecting rods in the engines would have been worthy of telling. And last but not certainly not least, one of the biggest reasons these cars were and still are so popular is because as a function of those forged internals these cars are so easily and reliably modified to make 100's of extra HP. I know the car Doug was reviewing was stock but the fact remains, most people don't leave them that way because it's just too easy to make 500, 600, 700+ HP.

[@I-Teee]

Several years ago I saw what I recall to be about an hour documentary on the history and engineering of the 03-04 Cobra but I can’t to this day find it again. Do you know where I can?

[@alexander1485]

The 2003 Mach 1 had IRS as well.

[@dicksteel91]

@@alexander1485 no it didn't

[@tyopsie]

@@alexander1485 only cobra

[@RobertSmith-le8wp]

I heard they used forged rods because every car had to run 100 hours at full throttle on the dyno and these were blowing up before 100 hours. Trust me I doubt Ford would spend money they didn’t have to

[@heavensfugitive6447]

I know I’m a year late but Doug, YOU are the Man for this One! Long Live The Terminator! #StangGang

[@normiels3]

Crazy to think the 99-01s were drastically overrated and the 03-04s were drastically underrated. Ford definitely made a switch in the right direction.

[@quintman15]

99 Cobra owner here: The 99 cars pre-fix actually made around 300 hp, not the 280-290 Doug said. 272 RWHP was the target, but most made between 255-260 RWHP. Ford’s fixes (honed intake manifold, new cat back exhaust, ECU reflash) brought the 99 cars up to a full 320. The 2001 cars were accurately rated at 320 hp from the factory, a dyno-verified 272 RWHP. The 03-04 cars varied some, but most owners found between 365-390 RWHP. Underrated, but not dramatically

[@dundonrl]

@@quintman15 They made close to their rated hp at the rear wheels, not at the flywheel. Mine made 372 hp at the ground 100% stock. (which is around 425 at the flywheel, if you use a 15% drivetrain loss).

[@quintman15]

@@dundonrl correct, that’s why I said “RWHP”, which stands for rear wheel horsepower. Sounds like your car making 372 at the wheels falls right inside the normal range of 365-390 that I cited 👍

[@danielprather8849]

@@quintman15 glad to hear from another owner. I do have a question is the 99-01 cobra more rare than the 03-04 for I see plenty of terminators and never have seen another NA Cobra?

[@quintman15]

@@danielprather8849 by numbers they are similarly rare, Ford made around 8,000 99s, 8,000 01s, 13k 03s, and 5,600 04s. The difference is that the 99/01 cars are “less desirable” than the 03/04 cars due to reputation, hype, and performance, so there are more nice examples of the 03/04s still on the road. For example, in the last 3 years I’ve seen close to two dozen 03/04s in my area compared to TWO 99/01s total (including my own). I was at a car show last year where there were 20 New Edge cars: 15 terminators, 3 GTs, 1 Mach, and my 99 Cobra.

[@joshbrailsford]

Doug's excitement for this one is infectious! Of all the cars he's reviewed so far this year, this is the one I'd most want to experience myself. Very cool.

[@LS3ftw15]

Yep! I enjoy his reviews of older cars a lot more than the supercar de jour reviews for this very reason. I’m about the same age and I remember how insane the terminator cobra was at the time. 400 HP was an absolutely crazy number for a factory car.

[@musicauthority7828]

The best sounding engine in the automotive industry hands down.

[@AMaidenlessRunt]

What i appreciate about doug is his genuine love for cars even when he personally don't like them he always treat every of these machines with respect and still show us everything about there is to know.

[@EJK94]

Except the Mercedes Metris

[@jonathanthomasjohn8348]

@@EJK94 that is not a car

[@EJK94]

@@jonathanthomasjohn8348 the Trabant then

[@greatestnitemare6626]

He trashed the Honda Civic Type R which is actually a nice car

[@tristyn1124]

I’m waiting for him to review the F Body Trans am WS6 this video is super cool though. Love the terminators 😈.

[@nairongruendling4434]

Doug just forgot to say that the Terminator Cobra had independent rear suspension, and that is why it drives well. This is the only car that really gets my heart racing when I see one in the streets. Still my dream car! Forget Ferraris, Lambos and others, this is a really fast car that anybody can (or could) have.

[@EfJuanFitty_Eco_Beast_518]

Except in today's market. Especially being mystichrome.

[@anthonyjenkins3335]

Dream big lol

[@vedanttaneja4428]

The 2018 mustang gt will smoke it what are you tripping on pal

[@nairongruendling4434]

@@vedanttaneja4428 I'm not sure it will... have you driven both to know? Even so, just install a BBK intake on the Cobra and a smaller supercharger pulley, and it will smoke any newer GTs.

[@nairongruendling4434]

@@anthonyjenkins3335 you missed the point. Sure I would rather have a Lambo Aventador or any supercar... But the Cobra was affordable, was realistic.

[@dougsmith9571]

Doug was super excited and more animated reviewing this car than I ever saw him lol. Cool car , awesome color(s) . Any SVT is great imo . A modern classic! Thanks .

[@mattmcgovern42]

Seeing Doug drive around the streets where I live is crazy, I can actually see my house in one of the shots while he is driving. Too bad I wasn't able to catch him out on the road, beautiful car.

[@hipster_tacos]

​@@peterstainer731 Doug's actually in AZ in this video, but I know those drives lol. Doug reviewed that manual swapped BMW in Escondido, and it stood out to me right away seeing the streets near my house in the background while he was driving.

[@ECGProductions092]

AZ represent. Glad we had one of Doug's most sought after cars!

[@robh3518]

I was thinking the same. I’m 3 min from that Walmart parking lot at lake pleasant and deer valley. So cool seeing him in north peoria.

[@joecarlson8171]

Doug is untouchable 😂

[@brutemegahunk3895]

Nice to see Daddy Doug rippin around Peoria, AZ

[@jeffzicker7531]

21:50 - Doug spots a blue 71 Mustang going by, pauses, and *almost* acknowledges it. 😂 A true car guy. 🙌🏻

[@innerjawn]

Broooo I’ve been waiting for you to get a hold of a termi for so long Doug. Thanks for spreading the legacy of this car

[@SyncedA]

Some years ago, I saw someone near my cousin’s house that used to have the mystichrome cobra. My uncle explained to me that it was a super rare color that Ford offered, and I was (and still am) mind blown at the time that a car company put this color out from the factory. No matter how many rare cars I would see, this will always be one of the few cars that will have a special place in my heart.

[@Intervention302]

Ive owned my 03 Cobra for 12 years now. It made 438whp the week I bought it with some simple mods. Now its making 931whp and still on the stock block, pistons, rods, and crank! The car is a LEGEND

[@SpeedDemon88X]

What makes that any different than a stock LS engine that they put in hundreds of thousands of cars? The sbe LS record is over 1300 hp.

[@joshjlmgproductions3313]

@@SpeedDemon88X That's exactly what's different. The Terminator's engine is rare and special. Also, with most LS engines, you won't be pushing 1000 horsepower reliably for long. That said, I am surprised to hear about 900+ on a stock Termi block, too.

[@SpeedDemon88X]

@@joshjlmgproductions3313 rare and special makes horsepower? There's more 1000+ hp stock rotating assembly LS engines than Terminator 4.6s. Both are ticking time bombs at the same power level. So again, what makes the Terminator special?

[@joshjlmgproductions3313]

@@SpeedDemon88X I didn't mean that being rare makes more power, it's the fact that it's as rare and capable as it is that makes it special. Also, existing at a time when nothing else was available to complete with it. Yeah, you could LS-swap anything and make power, but you'd just be like all the other thousands of people who've already done that.

[@SpeedDemon88X]

@@joshjlmgproductions3313 The LS engine was released in 1997. And plenty of them live at the same power levels the 4.6s are at, stock rods, pistons, crank. The only thing that made the Cobra unique, was the IRS. Other than that, I fail to see what made the car special.

[@craigsvt758]

Nice review. The cobras also have independent rear suspension. Only cobra rarer than a mystichrome these days is a stock pulley cobra.

[@PostalTwinkie]

My mother's friend had one of the coupes! She owned it for about a month before it was smashed into by a truck. She was a little upset about that. She was outright mad when the insurance totaled it. The paint was one of the reasons for totaling it, because the substantially higher cost of it and how difficult it was to get ahold of at the time.

[@ThatNofbody]

Yikes

[@slargo83]

That's very sad to hear. I would have been furious. As cool as that paint is, that's the main reason I'd never own one in that color. I'd be so nervous every time I drive it.

[@KCJbomberFTW]

Wow that makes sense but I would literally cry

[@ingleringlet-snipps3rd449]

Mystichrome paint?

[@carlormsbeeii988]

You forgot about the IRS.

[@wilmotown]

It’s always good to watch a video about a car Doug is excited about, but I really learned today that Doug’s at his best when telling a story. It’s always interesting to hear new things, I knew about Mystichrome but only peripherally. This video is simple and it follows the usual format, but it’s one of your best to date. What a great watch.

[@aislingmairead4939]

Agreed! Crazy to think, but back in the day, I was working at my local Ford dealer when these were still new or second-hand. I very clearly remember our SVT lineup, and I remember we had a coupe in this color. Everything in our inventory was overshadowed by the new GT on the showroom floor, though, and that only one specific staff member was cleared to drive it, as per FoMoCo. Crazy stuff.

[@mmfic98]

Well said!

[@Beebeebobingee]

So worth the wait. I LOVE these. There's a kid in my town who drives one every now and then and it still shuts down the streets when I see it. This is such an icon of the early 2000's!!

[@ethanabell2473]

Great review but one thing Doug left out was how over engineered the drivetrain of the terminator was. Forged internals from the factory (Crank, Rods, Pistons), Tremec T56 Transmission, Independent rear suspension, etc. With just a few thousand dollars these cars could put out over 700hp reliably which is insane for an 04.

[@beanboi_13]

Absolutely, I was looking for this comment

[@houndsmaster34]

Not just 700hp. My buddy works at a performance shop that specializes in ford's, and his boss has built a LOT of big power mustangs. He's told me how he's had a few different guys come in with bone stock terminators and they'd take the supercharger off and throw on a twin turbo kit and make 1200HP and the car just handles it. Obviously at that point you run the risk of blowing axles or stressing the transmission but these had a T56 Magnum from the factory and people have been able to put out some serious numbers with them. The engine itself is an absolute monster for boosted applications straight from the factory

[@TraveladvRajanSRai]

More then a few k relaubky. It'll need new drivetrain

[@TwinsAndAPitBull]

This! Keeping the T56 (and later the TR6060) would have been so much better than the TR3550 and MT82 that Ford stuck with in the Mustang except for the GT500.

[@wildman510]

Bold of you to think he understands what any of that means

[@Haven2014]

The sound of the 4.6. Wow! I remember most went crazy when Ford came out with this engine from the 5.0. But the 4.6 L sound has always been masterpiece to hear!

[@2005StangMan]

Ford had 2 versions of the 4.6L V8 in these years. One was a 2v motor, the other (and the one in this) was a 4v. The 2v actually sounds a bit better to me, but that's a huge compliment because I love the 4v.

[@richardwronski6742]

About time! Love my original ‘04 convertible with 19,000 miles. I actually reached out to you to review it but never heard back. Glad you found one to feature!

[@mauriebarnes8272]

Must applaud the enthusiasm from Doug in this review, What a cool car. Love that fat exhaust note.

[@TheDomeHepot010]

“This car is bonkers! I love the supercharger whine, and this color is fantastic!” Gives cool factor a 6/10

[@1991pony]

Yeah, Doug really dropped the ball on the cool factor score. On the rare occasion when I see one of these, I kind of go nuts.

[@denniss4951]

@@1991pony that's because the new edge is ugly, I would imagine. Interior is akin to a Ford Taurus.

[@jwanta79]

The cool score is relative, in 04 this was a 8 or 9 out if 10, but compared to a new GT500 or Hellcat Redeye this thing isn't as cool. Plus 90% of people just see a SN95 Mustang.

[@angelgjr1999]

I laughed so hard when he put it on the same level as an S2000. These cobras go up in value for a reason!

[@angelgjr1999]

@@denniss4951 New Edge is ugly? You gotta get your eyes checked. At the time, it looked 10x better than the catfish Camaro.

[@M1Tommy]

Doug's smiles and "Wow!s" are what Mustangs were all about. They were... cheap speed! Fun review to watch, reminded me of the fun drives in my old fox-body Mustang "LX-Sport"!

[@hardyk2010]

@15:28 this age old Mustang has separate rear window controls for the almost unused rear windows but the new VW ID4 eliminates the rear window controls for a family SUV where they will be regularly used.. brilliant!

[@toniharti]

I owned one in GERMANY and drove GPS measured 281 km/h with open roof and windows and with a 2.3 Whipple and 640hp...a lot of fun with an awesome car...thanks Doug for this review :-)

[@batmayn]

174mph, thanks google. that's FAST!

[@angelgjr1999]

I can do 145 mph in my 2003 Mustang GT. I’m confident a cobra can do 170 mph easily.

[@drippgxd]

You took it to Nurburgring? You definitely full sended it in the autobahn right?

[@toniharti]

@@drippgxd full throttle on the Autobahn ;-) for sure

[@Ill06Taco]

Doug: "This paint is so special and expensive!" Also Doug: Rubs his forearms on the hood and fender

[@Just_Pele]

I had one of these, a 2003 Terminator in Dark Shadow Grey Metallic, and it also shifted in the light. Really fast car for its day, and it handled more like a European sports car.

[@corygraney8556]

I had a 04 GT in that same color....I loved that color.

[@Wretched2JZ]

Yea I had a DSG coupe before the MC and it’s my other favorite color. It shows the body lines extremely well!

[@arc00ta]

I miss my terminator, I put 150k on that thing and it was rock solid (except the top and the interior, both of which disintegrated at a rapid pace). It was such a blast to drive it in a way that cars today just don't really have. Simple hydraulic steering, cable clutch, transmission mounted shifter with no linkages, cable driven throttle body, etc. The experience of mashing the gas in that car is similar to the way a carbed big block feels, instant torque no matter what. Plus the sounds, always the sounds. Years later I had a supercharged 2017 mustang that by all accounts was everything about a terminator turned up to 11 but it simply wasn't as fun to drive despite being much better in every metric that matters.

[@CheesusSVT]

Right? You really feel a part of the Terminator. Everything is so mechanical feeling. 😅

[@CheesusSVT]

Chad watch SavageGeese review on the Terminator, they go in more depth but nothing against Doug we friggin love him too.

[@josephdunkle1152]

I had a '93 Cobra at the time and went to all of the Mustang shows back in the early 00s. SVT with the 99-04 F-150 Lightnings were especially popular, but I remember everyone going nuts when the Terminator Cobra came out. John Coletti at Ford really hit a home run. Those were the good days.

[@christenn32]

Its pretty wild to think this is the car that started the supercharged craze we're in now. Then they brought out the supercharged Shelby in 2007. Really good times. Now all Ford is doing is making the specialty Mustang not affordable anymore. To think the Cobras & Shelbys of the 90s to 2000s could be had for the equivilant of around $50k is almost unbelievable. That'll barely get you a brand new fully loaded 5.0 these days.

[@Wrangzilla]

I’d rather have the 93 Cobra.

[@futeditzs2482]

I really like this car, because I think it's a Mustang out of the box, a different Mustang.... This color is magnificent!

[@jaketrat3725]

Mysti chrome is magnificent

[@inkatata3432]

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 ❶❽ 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝 Exclusive for *nude-datting.online* He's the person I love, he's my light day. The way the music flows and sounds is extravagant and fun. Girls is icon, legend, beautiful girl, princess, inspiration, a star. I could go on and on, understand this. I love NBA Girls.#垃圾

[@Tommyboy11594]

That car feels much better around corners because the 03-04 Cobra had a independent rear suspension that I believe you forgot to mention. The 03-04 Cobra was the only one from that generation of Mustang with a IRS.

[@markball7028]

The 2000 Cobra R had IRS along with the 2001 and 2002 Cobra

[@j_freed]

Rare for any Mustang I have read!

[@haziqhashim2618]

What type of rear independent suspension does it have ? Multi link ?

[@DougDeMuro]

All of the Cobras from this era (1999 and up) had independent rear suspension, not just the 03-04 Terminator. That's why I didn't mention it!

[@SayT210]

99 was first year cobra to have IRS, the 03/04 IRS was a bit beefier though. Production run new edge cobras were 99, 01, 03, 04. They also had the 2000 cobra r, and only a few 2002 cobra in like Australia or something if im not mistaken

[@gaterzick]

Will never forget this thing. Was a porter at a ford dealer my senior year in hs when this came out. Coworker took it for a rip down the frontage road after if got out of the wash bay, 2 mins after he got back local cops showed up and there were 4 of us standing in the back. Cop said be careful knuckleheads I had one of you at 130…. Wasn’t as mad as you would think. Also drove one 250 miles for dealer trade, first time I ever was in anything that fast…. And that whine…. Brings me back

[@Jaeslecan]

I remember when my Uncle Lou was a top Employee for Ford/Lincoln, working out of Detroit..He had a new company car every month..... I was one of the first to ride in a cobra svt convertible (laser red!). Definitely glad to see Doug make this video, brought back some memories!

[@dylangriffin3554]

Doug’s energy is amazing towards this car. I’m a huge dodge fanboy, but I need one of these in my life at some point!!

[@aztrorover]

Funny feeling in my stomach when Doug cupped the head of the stick shift, -welcoming feeling, but its a Mustang and they give guys special feelings its part of the magic. It's why we love our Mustangs.

[@_anthfish]

I remember when I was a kid, my dad, who was an owner in a Ford dealership, drove 2 of these as demo’s. he had one in that canary yellow and black, one for summer 2003, then one for summer 2004. Both convertible! And both sold! We have family photos of us as kids playing in the canary yellow one. Great memories

[@SayT210]

2003 was zinc yellow, and 2004 is the most desirable called screaming yellow

[@RyneAmsler]

As a former owner of a mustang from this era, I’m tearing up reminiscing about the car I had at 16. So much joy, so many memories. Thanks for helping me relive my youth

[@drippgxd]

You got the new edge? Hope it’s a GT and not a V6… ☠️

[@driftcat7076]

@@drippgxd dont

[@drippgxd]

@@driftcat7076 what?

[@RyneAmsler]

@@drippgxd Nope. A college student totaled my car in October. Replaced my 2001 stang with a WRX

[@drippgxd]

@@RyneAmsler why didn’t you get another Mustang instead of a Subaru

[@ImMeandYouAreYou6942]

I had. 96 and 04 Mystichrome Cobra and the old regret I have selling them. But, specifically the 04 was special. Doug’s reaction is how I felt every time I sat in and drove that beast. The paint color was so cool and have considered painting my 2020 GT350 the same color. But won’t as I expect the 2020 GT350 to be a collector one day. And no way will I live to regret selling this time.

[@brentboswell1294]

I know a guy who's modded his terminator, and he's pulling over 600 HP on it...the quickest, dirtiest mod you can do is the supercharger pulleys 😉 Also, the Terminator was the first Mustang to sport an independent rear suspension!

[@angelgjr1999]

@@CorvZ061 Yeah but the 99 cobras were not nearly as good. They were under powered compared to the 03 04.

[@josebrown5961]

I owned a 97 Thunderbird V8. It was the better option. I always wanted to get this engine to replace the 4.6. The T-Bird had IRS and a better appointed interior.

[@brentboswell1294]

@@josebrown5961 maybe as a personal vehicle. I also owned a T-Bird (1993 v6). The only T-Birds that you ever saw on the track were when it was the current Ford body for NASCAR (and it was just the body shape), and T-bird funny cars on the NHRA circuit. Cobra Mustangs of this vintage were regulars in SCCA racing, and still are seen there. Won't even get into amateur night at the local drag strip 😉 The Mustang has always had street and track cred. The "Personal Luxury Coupe" is definitely a dead market segment these days 😐

[@Wretched2JZ]

Yea it’s great all the good super charger companies are still making products for these cars! Shows the demand is still there 👍

[@josebrown5961]

@EricTheNotSoRed True true I like the big Mark too. They have airbags in the suspension don’t they? One of the LSCs with a Coyote would be nice. The Mustang is a neat little drag racer- I’m too old! Nice ride with good power is what I want. I come from a Ford family, I was brought home from the hospital in a 65 289 4barrel. We kept that car till I was 12.

[@SnifflingLime0-MW2]

That paint color is so slick!

[@jamescarter8311]

Wish I never sold my '04 Cobra. I made 463rwhp / 490ftlbs with just a smaller blower pulley, intake, and exhaust. Added a "50hp" shot of nitrous and it made 490rwhp and 690ftlbs torque. THAT's what made them so cool and comparable to the Supra and Grand National, the huge power increase for relatively little money.

[@andyhooper8641]

I love that Doug still gets hyped for cars with less than 400 hp even though he's driven multiple cars with over 1000 hp.

[@inkatata3432]

𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 ❶❽ 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐥𝐝 Exclusive for *nude-datting.online* He's the person I love, he's my light day. The way the music flows and sounds is extravagant and fun. Girls is icon, legend, beautiful girl, princess, inspiration, a star. I could go on and on, understand this. I love NBA Girls.#垃圾

[@BRAINFxck10]

It actually makes over 400hp Ford underrated this engine and numbers aren't everything, the way it delivers power is more impressive than the numbers.

[@angelgjr1999]

These mustangs are extremely underrated. The engines have forged internals. You see many guys pushing 600-700 hp in cobras with a few mods.

[@SpeedDemon88X]

@@BRAINFxck10 made over 400 and most still ran 13s.

[@andyhooper8641]

Yeah, I know he said Ford underrated it. You know what I mean though. He is the same way for a 270 hp WRX or a 228 hp 86/BRZ.

[@stinger_zx10r62]

Doug didn't mention the forged rotating assembly (which is a big deal) or how these cars were intentionally breathing through a straw from the factory or that it has independent rear suspension. Not hard at all to get 600rwhp out of these cars. Very iconic and fast car that still turns heads.

[@syedammarkhalid3695]

I'm sorry, but can you please explain what a rotating assembly is? And how the cars has to breathe out of a straw?

[@stinger_zx10r62]

@@syedammarkhalid3695 forged crank, rods and Pistons which allowed the car to handle more horsepower without exploding. also the stock air filter was very restricted because SVT knew that the type of owner that would buy the car would put it aftermarket intake on it. so because of this aftermarket intakes were opening up like 40 or 50 horsepower on these cars

[@syedammarkhalid3695]

@@stinger_zx10r62 oh ok, thank you

[@Stan_the_Belgian]

Thanks, didn't know that!

[@RyanLaFevre]

To expand: Stock, they generally made about 370 rwhp (indicating that the 390 advertised by ford was underrating the car) A smaller pulley, intake, tune would get you to ~450 rwhp for around $1,000. Porting the stock supercharger was a few grand and would get you north of 500 rwhp. If i recall correctly, it would cost around $3,000 to have it done back in 2007 or so. Swapping out the stock blower to a twin-screw supercharger would get you up to around 600 rwhp with the right tune. E85 was another option that could net you an extra 30 rwhp or so just by replacing the fuel pumps and tuning it. Then there were the people who went with turbo systems. This was expensive ($7k - 10k), but 800 rwhp was very doable. There were even a few running around with more than 1,000 rwhp, but reliability started to go down significantly at these levels.

[@jbnnm657]

I own two terminators. One with 17k miles in mystichrome coupe. The other is a dark shadow gray coupe with 48k miles. Both are mint. They are truly legends. I love them so much.

[@leonardborgesx]

Thanks Doug for finally putting an SN95 Mustang on here. I've owned an 81, 84, 85 Capri 5.0, 94 GT, and currently have an 04 GT Conv. They are just fun cars. The 04 is the last "raw" Mustang. Mine has 233k miles and the engine still purrs and pulls. For a throw around car they are fun and cheap to maintain. I've had offers of $15k and have never sold it and never will.

[@angelgjr1999]

Yeah people have to realize these SN95 mustangs were Fox bodies with a body kit and different engine. They have the same floor pan! Love mine. I’ve been offered 10k and I refuse to sell it.

[@TraveladvRajanSRai]

15 for the many miles. Na

[@TraveladvRajanSRai]

6k car

[@donteadoss]

I was 21 when the Terminator Cobra came out, still have the major car magazines with an article on it from back then, loved it then, and love it now. Any time I see one, I take a few photos at different angles in sunlight, if I can, b’c of their rarity. I even see a Thunderbird from that era with that same type of paint ever now and then, and they quickly catch my eye, too. I’ve never been the biggest Ford fan, but have always thought that era of Mustang was one of their top ones.

[@jpete3027666]

I test drove a new terminator cobra in early 2003 when they first came out. I loved it and I’ve wanted one ever since. The mystichome is gorgeous but I’d be terrified of getting it scratched 😂. I do like how this one appears to be completely stock. Doug neglected to mention the engine was overbuilt with forged internals, unheard of at the time and the engines are capable of up to 1,000 hp from the factory. Ford was so embarrassed over the ‘99 Cobra fiasco they threw a ton of money into these. I doubt they even made much money off these, it was more a reputation and marketing initiative for the company to accomplish this.

[@JD-bd5rd]

Shortly after I bought mine in 2004 I took it through a self-service car wash and stupidly, using the high-pressure nozzle, it stripped about 3-4 inches of the Mystihrome paint right off the front bumper

[@jpete3027666]

@@JD-bd5rd oh no! Do you still have it?

[@JD-bd5rd]

@@jpete3027666 no, sadly I traded it in two years later on a 2006 GTO (bad choice now but that GTO was sure fun to drive!)… I knew at the time the Mystichrome Cobra would be a collector car someday but other than the paint and the leather interior, which also had the Mystichrome type accents, I just didn’t like it that much (I loved the supercharger whine tho!). It seemed very cheaply made on the inside… but I sure would love to have it back… I also had a 96 Mystic Cobra that I found on eBay with only 9000 miles on it and still had the plastic on the back seats. I actually liked driving that more than the 04 even though it had over 100 less hp. Sold that too and got a 67 Mustang GT fastback with the original big block 390, factory AC, and 55,000 original miles.

[@thealmightydoge5653]

Any generation of Mustang is an icon. PERIOD.

[@lj5190]

Mustang II is iconic for the wrong reasons.

[@electrikoptik]

Even the Mustang Mach-E? That's also a Mustang!

[@angelgjr1999]

@@lj5190 Mustang 2 was very slow even for its era, but you have to remember the 70s fuel crises. The V8 engine was almost killed off.

[@lj5190]

@@electrikoptik While I'll never consider the Mach-E a "true" Mustang, it's pretty damn fast, especially considering it's a four door crossover.

[@dpALC8414]

I had a 2001 Cobra convertible and always wanted a Terminator. My 2001 was definitely a more fun car after a few favorable mods and a tune but wasn't enough in comparison to a Terminator.

[@R85DAVID]

Back I 2004 I drove one of these in a car max when I was 18. My friend had a large settlement from an accident where he lost part of his vision and received the funds on his 18th birthday. We went to all the local dealers in Maryland with a print out of his bank statement ,and found this Mustang . They were hesitant at first but finally gave in, the salesman told us to rip it on the highway and we pulled that Stang all the way up to 90 lol. Good times

[@bohottie]

What a gorgeous car. I drove a 99 Cobra convertible, and it was a ton of fun. I can’t even imagine how much more fun this is. I’m jealous of who wins this car.

[@PeterDoesFarming]

Impressive knowledge of the paint! I was at the BASF launch of the original version of the paint on the older cobra and you are spot on.

[@kevinspencer1727]

Filmed in my hometown. Literally drive that street often. That’s awesome!

[@roadbully7895]

Love Dougs enthusiasm in each video

[@punkrockford]

The reason that car handles better than you expected is because it was the first mustang with independent rear suspension.

[@beanboi_13]

No it wasn’t, the previous Cobras also had irs

[@svtpower03]

They were the baddest thing on the street when they came out. I was there to! I bought my sonic blue coupe in 2004 and I still have it today. But now it’s a 730hp whipple supercharged beast. I love it

[@FflawedMetalhead]

I love odd variants of cars like this - It's less about the car's value, and more about how unique and rare it is.

[@mrkcaldwe5]

A friend of the family bought one brand new in 04' and he took me for a ride I remember the hair on the back of my neck standing up when he rolled out and went into full throttle, haha! I was 16 at the time and it was the fastest car I had ever been in. Even though that interior leaves a lot to be desired I'd love to have one.

[@zbs8334]

I had an 02 mustang but it was a V6. Love to see this body style get some attention, it will always have a place in my heart.

[@natedetailscars]

I feel like I JUST heard Doug say he wanted to do this EXACT car... And here it is! Love how it worked out.

[@teamjay2837]

It's amazing how it works out when it's a Cars&Bids sale.

[@coreyadam6667]

I wish Doug could find a 2000 Cobra R to review. One of the craziest factory aero kits ever.

[@Clapxiomatic]

Seems it was hard enough to find a decent mystichrome Cobra, but we can hope!

[@DougDeMuro]

Someday!!

[@sarmatiancougar7556]

@@DougDeMuro can you please review the Ford GT90? You just HAVE to drive that thing as long as it’s still in a working condition. It’s going to turn into a museum piece eventually, you just can’t afford to miss the opportunity.

[@MrCae85]

That's the one I want to see!

[@longtailgt]

I would go as far as saying the Cobra R is probably my favourite Mustang of all time. Ford went completely nuts with the aero on that car. And I've read that unlike most other Mustangs, it actually handled pretty well too.

[@TheSpink02]

I had a modified 87 GN back then that wasn't losing any races on the street when these things first started showing up with their pulleys and they literally made you think something was wrong with your car the way they'd just leave you. Icon for a good reason.

[@roadbully7895]

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS REVIEW FOR SO LONG 🤩

[@TheMGChannel]

Wow this was an amazing review, I could tell that you were so exited to review this car. Thank you Doug. You nail perfectly the back story of this car and that when this car came out nothing could touch the performance of this car for this kind of money. This was the king of the muscle cars in the early to mid 00’s.

[@1998232v6]

I highly recommend the book by John Coletti (the SVT head who spearheaded the 03-04 Cobra development process) called “Iron Fist Lead Foot.” It’s a great read for anyone, not just people who love this car. It was developed in secret under the name “The Terminator” so rival companies would not know what SVT was designing.

[@TheJediJoker]

Can't believe you didn't mention the independent rear suspension! Hell of a quirk for a car that, in all iterations other than these New Edge Cobras, had a solid rear axle until the S550 in 2015.

[@chesspiece81]

I absolutely love these in this color. We saw a hard top one of these at Tx2k13 I believe it was that was twin turbocharged and parts of turbo kit was painted or powdercoated to match and the hot parts were coated with polished piping. It had full suspension and was on polished CCW Classics. It was done so well. These with the Eaton pulled and a Whipple with headers and exhaust making around 650hp would be an awesome driver. Same basic modifications I would do to a Ford GT. Headers, exhaust, and bigger blower.

[@SlaughterDog]

The sounds during the drive are the best I’ve ever heard. They bring me back to Crusin’ World!

[@AceEverett]

I had an 03 GT with the very basic mods: intake, exhaust, tune as my first car. Simply a great car, only problems were the rear axle liked to step out a little occasionally even with high quality tires, and the top of the rear bumper paint liked to spiderweb, just underneath the license plate. I like the interior design, and after 150k miles it was still almost 10/10 condition. I had all tan interior with leather seats. Only real negative I could agree with is that some of the plastics are quite cheap, but they never faded or cracked. I could keep up with my dads Pontiac Firebird Trans Am up to 80-90 mph neck and neck if I got a good launch (LS1), but then he'd pull away on the top end. If I had money, one of these would 100% be in my collection.

[@ronmcqueen2088]

Had a black 04 gt conv with a couple bolt ons and 10.5 bullit wheels gold centers to match super snake stripes

[@pryme2013]

Your dad doesn’t know how to drive then. An Ls1 F body would walk away from the start easily.

[@AceEverett]

@@pryme2013 Those cars are so planted on a good road, you really didn't have to drive it. Just stick it and it'd go. Just shows that the little 2v was a pretty decent motor until it ran out of air. I was also power braking and he wasn't.

[@bonzobonanza]

I always wanted Doug to review this beast, and I'm glad he finally did it!

[@coreylucas5997]

I love how cool Doug says the car is it gets a 6 out of 10, I was thinking maybe a score of 8 or up

[@lilchickenwing7556]

Cool doesn't necessarily mean good, yes, its a "terminator" but otherwise its just a mustang, 420 horsepower today doesn't impress anyone

[@DailyDriver.]

I’ve never ever liked this color but growing up seeing these I fell in love with this gen cobra. Such an beastly looking car. The sound was incredible and everyone knew if you heard that whine it was about to be a good time lol. Kenne Bell super chargers made these sound even more insane. Amen to the interior being a recycling bin. Such a cool car never the last. Iconic modern muscle

[@timothycoyne5874]

What a beautiful exterior!! I wasn’t familiar with this model at all. Thanks for bringing it to us, Doug!

[@VcArena]

420-430hp was quite good. Love the 03-04 Cobra. A very mean car.

[@davidwolf226]

Boy, Doug, I completely agree with how remarkable that unique, fantastic color is! That's a truly fascinating backstory with the over-promoted 320hp from the late 90s. In any event, this particular SVT Cobra is still impressive!

[@kempfzknifelife9772]

Great video Doug! Thanks for continuing to bring us unique and different vehicles. My buddy had a Mustang from this generation (base model) on which he upgraded the suspension and transmission and it was a blast to drive. I imagine the Terminator Cobra is magnitudes more fun 🤩.

[@TheBlackDeath3]

As a Terminator owner (currently in SD, even), I've been waiting for this review. Thanks for the video!

[@RedLP5000S]

I adore the Mystichrome Cobra of this era. And I also love the 2000 SVT Cobra R with its outrageous front fascia and rear spoiler. ✌🏻🇺🇸