Consumer Update - The 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra

For an in-depth look at what consumer publications and opinions are saying about the 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra, we searched the Internet high and low. What we found was that this car is on track to become the most popular and successful driving machine in history.

Mustang enthusiasts are coming out of the woodwork and they are all buzzing about the return of the master Mustang Cobra designed by Carroll Shelby. After an up and down, and sometimes stormy absence, Carroll Shelby has teamed up with Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT) once again. "I've worked with the SVT guys for several years now," says Shelby. "And I know they have the guts, the talent and the passion to deliver the best performance Mustangs ever."

The target goal was to yield a unified rebirth of the consummate and most coveted Shelby Mustang Cobras from the glory days. The objective was not only accomplished, but far exceeded anyones expectations. It is now hailed as the most powerful factory-built Mustang in history, surpassing the 1969 Mach 1 (428 Super Cobra Jet) and the classic 1969 Boss 429.

Ford Motor Company is promoting the 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 as a unique and exciting collaboration between the racing and design legend Carroll Shelby and the Ford Special Vehicle Team. "Carroll Shelby is truly a living automotive legend, a Ford performance legend," says Phil Martens, Ford group vice president of Product Creation. "It's a dream come true to be able to put the Shelby name on a Mustang again." There was a time when Shelby and Ford could not see eye to eye on several issues, and a collaborating effort didnt seem to be in the cards. The stalemate was broken when Shelby agreed to serve as the senior advisor on the specialized team that developed the 550 horsepower Ford GT, and now the newest dominator of the streets, the 2007 Shelby Mustang.

The 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra cranks out over 450 horsepower, some, including Shelby, say as high as 475 horsepower. In spite of producing awesome power and torque, it actually has more than twice the fuel economy rating and 300 times less emissions than its legendary predecessors. Four valves per cylinder and a double overhead cam provide ideal proficiency in air and fuel ignition. This beast is equipped with Ford's 5.4-liter modular V-8 supercharged at 8.5 pounds per square inch of boost. It also features a returnless and sequential force-feed fuel injection system, a cast-aluminum intake manifold, genuine MacPherson struts and large 34-mm tubular stabilizers.

The 2007 Shelby Mustang features very large wheels: 19 by 9 inch machined aluminum, which accommodate massive P255/45R19 racing performance tires. It also comes with Brembo brakes: 14-inch vented, crossed drilled with four-piston calipers up front and thirteen inch vented, crossed drilled with two piston calipers on the back wheels. Ford and Shelby both agree that the new braking system is the best ever designed for any muscle car.

As much as we believe the statements of the manufacturer and designer, we went out and looked at what others are saying about this instant performance classic; Car and Driver compared a production prototype 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 to a 2006 Z51 Chevrolet Corvette. The Shelby Mustang ran a 12.9 second quarter-mile and the Corvette obtained a 12.8. Similar tests by the magazine Road & Track reported a 13.1 second quarter-mile for the Shelby Mustang. Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords (August 2006 issue) were able to run a low-12 second quarter-mile with a pre-production version, with a top speed of over 117mph. http://Carsmart.com ranks the 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra as the most popular and sought after vehicle in the sports car market today. It is the number one search interest by far on their site. We visited a multitude of car finder service sites. Every one of them had some feature on their home page directly tied to the 2007 Shelby Mustang. Some even hinted at a bidding war, stating that some consumers were already offering as much as $20,000 over MSRP to be first to get their foot in the door on the incoming production models. The MSRP is predicted to be under $40,000. http://Carfinderservice.com has the MSRP range listed at $40,930 - 45,755 depending on options selected [ http://www.carfinderservice.com/model/2007-Ford-Shelby-Cobra ]. They also have valuable information about standard features like the primarily leather interior, the six-speed high performance manual transmission, and style options like the Shelby signature LeMans double wide racing stripes. Performance testing on the Shelby Mustang has gleaned a 0 to 60 mph in 4.0 seconds according to the site.

Car finder services sites can provide performance-buying power to the consumer. Some even offer the Shelby Mustang at an invoice price range of $37,008 - 41,302 depending on options. Some even offer deals at below invoice pricing. These sites are streamlined for location and direct dealers that actually have the product or can direct the consumer to a dealer that has it through Email and the phone lines. These are trusted and approved in-network dealers that have a special contract with a car finder service. Their pact is to provide only the highest quality service and the lowest costs to consumers. As a result, the best way to buy your Shelby Mustang at rock bottom prices turns out to be on the World-Wide-Web. Many of these sites offer this service free of charge with no cost or obligation.

The 2007 Shelby Mustang Cobra GT500 is ready to take its rightful place in the lineage of classic and legendary American muscle cars. This one, however, has sighted the top rung of the sports car ladder, and it is climbing fast. Make way for Mustang royalty.