If I raced magazines I would join ya, but I race in reality. For example, I ran 12.90@110mph with a 1.90 on my bone stock SS, factory F1 tires and all. I also weighed my car without the rear seats and spare and jack (40lbs), it weighed 3200lbs even, far from your magazine hyperbole/average.
Also Evan Smith ran a Z28 in to the 12.8's bone stock, and in a fleet car at that, so you know it was flogged by the press. So no, the 03 Cobra was not a faster car...........

http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...ro_ss_feature/