i'd love one, and while $35k is a good price for the level of performance, i'm still not yet in a position where i can shell out that kind of cash for a car of limited usefulness. i drive an RSX-S, a car that stickers $11k less, and i'm having to look for a 2nd vehicle (truck, jeep) to use to carry my mtn. bike and other homeowner-type things.
with that said, however, i did talk to one of the salesman at my local SVT dealer of choice not too long ago. he told me that the '03's would be produced in two runs - one in may and another later in the year (early fall, iirc). this particular dealership was scheduled to get 5 of the first run, and 2 or 3 of those had already been pre-sold - and that was before the price was even official. i'd say they've probably pre-sold the remaining ones by now.
also, iirc, the 'new' generation mustang - the ones based on the so-called "DEW-lite" chassis - are supposed to be out in '04 or '05, meaning that the '03 could be a one or maybe two-year model run - limiting its availability even more. i'm sure rara or someone could speak more knowledgeably about the subject (though i'm sure such conversation is prohibited), and i hope i'm not way off-base - but that's what i was told by the salesman (who, unlike other salesmen, actually knows what he's talking about most of the time).
i love the car, to sum up....and if i see one sitting on a dealer's lot, i might just go talk numbers. i'm still probably a tad bit upside down on my RSX, so i doubt i'd trade it just yet....but lust is a powerful thing, and the new '03 cobra is definitely something to lust after.
blake
