Portables work ok at short range in a vehicle with an external antenna. The problem is because there is no provision for grounding they do pick up alot of noise on both TX and RX. If you need to go portable it is a comprimise that you must accept. If you can afford it, I would put the Cobra in the vehicle and have the Midland for portable ops. For Ham, I have an ICOM IC-7000 (HF/VHF/UHF) in the vehicle and a Yeasu FT 7r (VHF/UHF) for portable ops. Again, you have to decide what the use will be and what you are willing to accept in distance and quality. The ultimate would be a 100' tower, Beam antenna and rotor with a half acre ground plan and a 1000 watts.
It is really what is practical for you.
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