I just saw the new HOT ROD mag, they ran a New Cobra with a New WRX Sti.
The Cobra rated at 390hp/390lbft could only manage a 13.30 quarter mile time???While the STi at (forgot hp/tq) ran 13.29, with it's 400lb lighter 4-door body??
Does anyone else find that "fishy"??
That's a lot of power for a Cobra just to run low 13's...don't you think?
I also don't know how this ended up in "HOT ROD", unless they're taking over for Motor Trend or something. What does that have to do with, Hot Rods???(modified quick cars)
Anyways, I'm not a huge Ford fan, but I think I could've driven it faster myself..???

 

That's cuz the STi is AWD and much easier to launch. Note the considerable difference in trap speeds suggesting the Cobra wouldn't hook up. Some sticky tires and the Cobra will own the Subaru.

 

That pretty much sums it up. '03 Cobras are good for easy 12s with decent traction.

 

Whoever drove that cobra didnt have a clue how to drive, 13.3 i think is the slowest ive heard, slowest ive seen was a 13.2@108 and the guy admittedly couldnt drive..stock for stock a cobra would catch him after a while and pull hard on the sti

 

They're just trying to please the import crowd.

Dan

 

yeah if he had actually read the article....the cobra had street tires,and he mentioned if it could have had sticky tires, and maybe a gear swap 12 seconds is possiblee. hot rod shows the specs on the WRX STi @ 300 hp...@ 600rpm 14.5 maximum boost pressure

 

new wrx aint no joke, but the article does sound kind of fishy. ONly imports around here realling stepping up to the 03s are only supras. Rarely anything else, but those were two stock cars, and nothin around here is stock, so i dotn know.

 

Actually those times are slow for both cars. But I agree, whoever drove that Cobra doesn't have a clue. Stock Cobras run high 12's easily and I've seen stock Sti's run 13.0's - 1's. Somebody posted a thread like this a couple weeks ago too. It does seem like HotRod is trying to please the import crowd. Does HotRod really need include imports in their articles nowadays? Like there isn't enough mags dedicated to the import scene already. Correct me if I'm wrong but when's the last time you saw a Stang or F-Body in a supertuner mag. I guess I'm a little bitter because the only mag I have to look forward to is GMHTP and it's only 6 issues a year.

 

good point there hellion

 

seen a new cobras stock go as fast as 12.4 by JDM Eng...Saw a STI on that import tuner last week run a 13 flat...both are bad stock, the new cobras just a behemoth

 

Their article was to show how similar imports could be in performance and still be so different. I don't think it's somehow "beneath" them to have a comparison article. In the same issue, do you think John Shepherd's 8-second street Talon is also unworthy of coverage?

Super Street is for high school kids who dream of adding clear tails to their 91 Accord. Super Tuner is for those who have already added clears to their 91 Accord and want some Nawws to finish the package. Only Turbo Magazine is actually concerned with real performance, and they've been around long before the days of the import fad. They cover import and domestic, as long as it's fast.

 

Exactly what I was thinking.

Muscle cars aren't as popular as import tuners are right now. All the import guys will read Hot Rod's test, be pleased, and then Hot Rod has several thousand more subscriptions to their magazine.

 

I understand that guys. I know it's a marketing ploy to generate new business. Money talks and bullsh*t walks. I'll admit I'm not too crazy about the import scene although I do like Suburu's. I also agree that the modern musclecars of today are not as popular as the imports. But the truth is for every reader HotRod gains will equate to at least one or more canceling their subscription. You gotta remember that guys who have been reading HotRod for 20 + years don't care about what's being manufactured overseas. All they want to read about is GM, Mopar and Ford. That's it period. Basically my main point is is that I often meet people who dig the import scene yet have no respect for the domestics. They gotta remember that they're cars wouldn't be around if it wasn't for what the U.S. manufactured 30 - 40 years ago. Just my 2 cents.

 

Hot Rod has sucked for as long as I can remember. Their articles are generally stretched too thin as they try and cover far too much of the moderm aftermarket.

If you want more specific, in-depth articles, you'll have to pick up one of the niche magazines like GM High Tech Perf, MMFF, Turbo, etc.

 

I read that article also. I understood their point being the imports are similiar in performance. But running a cobra without sticky shoes is like stepping into the ring with no arms and trying to beat Holyfield or Tyson.

Anyways, I am not a fan of ricers but the new turbo cars are not considered rice in my book! SRT-4, WRX, Evo, etc...

Heavy