Dax AC Cobras - what's the PH concensus?
Dax AC Cobras - what's the PH concensus?
Author
Discussion

srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

261 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
I generally can't abide replicas, except the AC Cobra. Providing it's 400+ BHP, V8 Chevvie and a manual box. Am I alone in the world? I've seen a beautiful one which ticks all the boxes - it sounds like the poodle's privates! However, I still have a 'purist issue' with the term 'replica'.

So what's the PH consensus?

hugoagogo

23,428 posts

257 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
shirly ford v8 is the purists choice?

srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

261 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
hugoagogo said:
shirly ford v8 is the purists choice?
Well if I was a 'proper' purist, I wouldn't get beyond the word replica.

Thevet

1,834 posts

257 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
Gardner-Douglas is all you need to know.

Hooli

32,278 posts

224 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
i think they are so damn good they are great cars without being a 'cobra'.

Happy Jim

1,070 posts

263 months

Tuesday 5th February 2008
quotequote all
Think Homage, Recreation, Facsimilie - BLX, it's my very own FPSB and I agree mine isn't a replica, it's a GD :-) receipe is correct (V8,>400HP, Loud).

The only Cobs that grate for me are those without the V8 Burble.

Jim

crmcatee

5,790 posts

251 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
quotequote all
srebbe64 said:
I generally can't abide replicas, except the AC Cobra. Providing it's 400+ BHP, V8 Chevvie and a manual box. Am I alone in the world? I've seen a beautiful one which ticks all the boxes - it sounds like the poodle's privates! However, I still have a 'purist issue' with the term 'replica'.

So what's the PH consensus?
Exactly what I have..

The dogs...

runt

314 posts

251 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
quotequote all
Hooli said:
i think they are so damn good they are great cars without being a 'cobra'.
Thats a good angle on it really, I replaced my TVR Chimaera with a Dax and while I loved the TVR .. the Dax is the wildest motor yet; in 35 years of rolling the highway..
Ride is better than you expect, roadholding not in the Scoobedo class but good, accelleration/road presence/soundtrack awesome, visit Dax factory and have a test flight!

Paul/runt.

Thevet

1,834 posts

257 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
quotequote all
runt said:
Hooli said:
i think they are so damn good they are great cars without being a 'cobra'.
Thats a good angle on it really, I replaced my TVR Chimaera with a Dax and while I loved the TVR .. the Dax is the wildest motor yet; in 35 years of rolling the highway..
Ride is better than you expect, roadholding not in the Scoobedo class but good, accelleration/road presence/soundtrack awesome, visit Dax factory and have a test flight!

Paul/runt.
Then go see Andy B at GD, go for a drive and be converted! cool

srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

261 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
quotequote all
Okay - thanks for your replies. All positive and no negatives! As such, I shall go for a test drive shortly.

Thevet

1,834 posts

257 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
quotequote all
srebbe64 said:
Okay - thanks for your replies. All positive and no negatives! As such, I shall go for a test drive shortly.
Where?

srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

261 months

Wednesday 6th February 2008
quotequote all
Thevet said:
srebbe64 said:
Okay - thanks for your replies. All positive and no negatives! As such, I shall go for a test drive shortly.
Where?
Not saying, because I don't want to lose said vehicle! wink

Dave Dax builder

662 posts

283 months

Thursday 7th February 2008
quotequote all
Thevet said:
Then go see Andy B at GD, go for a drive and be converted! cool
Bro-ther, Bro-ther, bro-ther-ly love.

smash

2,062 posts

252 months

Thursday 7th February 2008
quotequote all
Thevet said:
Then go see Andy B at GD, go for a drive and be converted! cool
And make sure you order the MK4 body wink

Thevet

1,834 posts

257 months

Thursday 7th February 2008
quotequote all
Dave Dax builder said:
Thevet said:
Then go see Andy B at GD, go for a drive and be converted! cool
Bro-ther, Bro-ther, bro-ther-ly love.
Don't you think "Dave GD Builder" has a cerain ring to it? Come on Bro' you know you've seen the light! laugh

smash

2,062 posts

252 months

Friday 8th February 2008
quotequote all
Dave Kirkham Builder sounds better tho, lol! wink

srebbe64

Original Poster:

13,021 posts

261 months

Saturday 9th February 2008
quotequote all
Okay, I went and had a look at a couple yesterday. I don't think I'll buy one because:

1) They 'felt' like kit cars - if you know what I mean.

2) The clutch was very heavy, and I can imagine it could get quite tiresome in traffic.

3) I can imagine myself (and my passenger) burning my legs on the exhaust each time I get out (or at least until I've learned a few painful lessons).

Very nice cars, but not for me just yet.

Mattymouse33

1,276 posts

231 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
Get the DAX with DB hardtop, I got one last summer and love every minute of it and the hardtop just means it can be driven in all weather conditions. I took the Chevy V8 DB DAX out today and was practising starts for the 1/4 mile at Crail next week, awesome!


bing

1,944 posts

262 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
I am considering one of these, I have got no idea about AC's, and am not very mechanical:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/335262.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/273827.htm

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/318570.htm


Can someone please tell me more about them in regards to running costs, reliability,handling, re-sell value oh and a general buying guide things to look out for etc. I am not too worried about the kit car feel i currently drive a Lotus Elise S2. This will be a second weekend/fun car only

Many thannks

bing!!!

Dave Dax builder

662 posts

283 months

Sunday 10th February 2008
quotequote all
Hi Bing.
The first ad is a car I built in 2003 for a guy in Hartford.
The second ad is my ad. redface)

Drive carefully and you'll get over 25 MPG
Drive like a loon and you get around 6 MPG.
Servicing is dirt cheap. Oil filters are around £5-10
Oil is around £20 a gallon (1 is all you need)
No fancy electronice means no need to plug it into a computer.
Running gear parts are Jaguar, and there are plenty of aftermarket manufacturers for these parts at much lower prices than Jaguar.
The Chevy small block is the most common engine in the world with over 55 million made. You might not be able to get the parts from a local motor factors or halfrauds, but a call to Real Steel or Repower who stock most parts can sort you out next day via mail order, or if all else fails Summit racing in the States can have parts to you in about 3 days.
A new gearbog, of the type fitted in the cars i build (Tremec) only cost about a grand brand new, but you are unlikely to ever need one as in the 100 odd cars i've built I have never know of a Tremec gearbox breaking even when coping with engines producing 500hp and 500 ft lb of torque.
As these cars have fully adjustable suspension and damping you can play around and tune them you your own preferences. They won't be as pin sharp as an Elise due to that lump of Detroit iron in the front but the torque and the V8 rumble make up for failings in other areas.
If buying used make sure you see the V5 reg doc and check that it says Dax etc in the Make section. If it says Jaguar or Daimler then the car is not correctly registered and will require an SVA test.

Edited by Dave Dax builder on Sunday 10th February 20:13