My thoughts/review of the GT350

[Billy1]

Nice, comprehensive write-up, especially the comparison to your other cars. I think I have seen only 1 GT350 in south Florida. I was at my dealer getting my S550 serviced this past Saturday and he's stuck on a $10K ADM on the GT350 and he refuses to budge.

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[DaveH]

Thanks for the write up and your perspectives. I had an E46 M3 and was very much disappointed when I went to drive and order an E92 (with a couple of 911s in between) as it did not feel connected at all. Steering, throttle and clutch feel just weren't there. I ended up burning the tires off a C63 for a couple of years instead.

Off subject, but I'm curious as to your thoughts on the MP4 ride vs. the 650S. I got to enjoy the latter, but not the former and it was definitely the best suspension I've ever ridden in.

I've only spent a little bit of time in a 650S, and not having owned one, I can't comment with absolute certainty. However, I felt that suspension wise, they were identical. That suspension system is an absolute masterpiece of engineering, and just removes any of the complaints many people have about daily driving a supercar.

I think the rev hang isn't necessarily an intentional feature, but rather one meant to curb emissions. I've heard that it is done to allow the engine to wind down in a more controlled manner, preventing overly rich or lean conditions that would lead to more pollution.

-T

Interesting, I had assumed/heard that it was implemented to allow easy up shifts, but it's definitely a "feature" I could do without.

Good info.

What does the audio system need to be better? Is it just missing a sub for bass, or are the factory speakers underpowered?

Aside from pulling it out and setting it on fire?

In all seriousness, I'm not an audio tech, but it sounds incredibly muffled/muddy, lacks bass entirely, and the treble is just too strong, even with it wound all the way back. If you reduce the treble/mids to acceptable levels, they just don't have any clarity, turn them up and you get some really nasty sounding audio.

Not having the mid range speakers in the doors probably doesn't help, nor does having no sub, and the rear speakers covered in carpet. I'd wager that even a simple speaker swap would be sufficient to bring some semblance of quality to the system, but I'm not sure on the ability of the amplifier that Ford put into these systems, so can't be sure yet.

I'll be taking my car to have the 9500ci jammers installed soon, so when it's there, the audio shop can take a look at it.

I can be safe in the knowledge of one thing though, that whatever any shop does to the audio system, it can't make it any worse :lol:

 

[C7 B8]

I posted this up on another forum, as people there really wanted me to compare it to some of my previous cars. I'm a true car enthusiast and don't believe in brand loyalty at all, I feel it's good to try new things and go into each one without prejudice.

To preface this, as many of you know, my past cars leading into this were a Ferrari 430 spider (manual), 991 Carrera S PDK, Mclaren MP4-12C, and an Aston Martin GT. There have been some others like GT-R's and an F-Type but those were all a couple of years back now. Naturally, these were all pretty special, and some were just pure exotica which came with their own issues and occasional regrets (losing $100k overnight on the 12C comes to mind).

I've been following the GT350 since its announcement over 12 months ago, and I remember thinking it was going to be something quite special when they decided on a flat plane crank V8. I was hoping they'd continue down the same path Ferrari have (the only other FPC engines I have experience with) and build a car around the engine, rather than as they have with the GT500's, take a stock car and throw a gargantuan motor in it. I can tell you wholeheartedly that Ford have created a masterpiece here, it's a truly special car, and that's something I didn't anticipate Ford to do.

Now, the regular 2015 Mustang is a huge leap over the previous generation, even in the base trim levels, let alone the GT, they've taken huge strides towards competing with its more obvious European rivals. I drove a regular GT before buying the GT350 (no test drives, period), and was extremely impressed with the level of specification, gearbox, interior and the motor. In essence, the GT350 is to the GT what a GT3 is to a Carrera S, it's not a simple trim swap with bigger wheels - Ford went out of their way to make this a streetable track car that, incidentally, laps almost as fast as a 911 GT3.

Now, finding one of these was all but impossible, I ended up seeing one car that wasn't already sold, with no new orders being allowed for quite a while, and only certain dealers getting allocations. The dealers know how rare these are and the dealer I purchased from wanted $30k over sticker price but I ended up getting it on New Year's Eve for $6k over. Honestly, getting yourself in front of the dealer with your trade in hand can go a long way to making the deal happen on your terms - they get a lot of time wasters/tire kickers.

So, onto the car itself - impressive.

Exterior:

It's an imposing car, with a very aggressive look to it, and the color, which may not be to everyone's taste is unique to the GT350 and IMO looks fantastic. Exterior build quality on mine has been fantastic, I really can't fault it, even the paint is pretty good with very little orange peel in it. Compared to the Aston/Mclaren, which have arguably the best paint in the business, I've not been let down. My E92 M3 had some of the worst paint I've ever seen on a car, but then that entire car was the biggest disappointment of my motoring career.

Interior:

Interior is functional, but very well screwed together. Not German in quality, but a far cry from anything previously done in a Mustang. Now I don't have many miles on it yet, but it certainly doesn't squeak or rattle, even with the added vibration from the FPC engine. The seats are amazingly comfortable, though I do have the tech package so ended up losing the standard bucket seats in lieu of navigation, magnetic dampers, heated/cooled seats and a few other things. I'd have to liked to have seen fully electric seats, since the back is manually adjustable, but I can't say that really bothers me all that much. Seat memory would've also been nice, but again, not a deal breaker. Now, I had low expectations coming from the Aston Martin, which if you're not familiar, is entirely leather/metal/alacantara. Even the door jambs are covered in leather, so it's an incredibly nice, luxurious place to be. Given where I came from, I'm pleasantly surprised, as the GT350 is a lovely place to be.

Seating position is good, though visibility over the long hood is challenging. I can't say this is a major issue for me as many of my previous cars have been far worse. Rear visibility is fine, as are the quarters and sides. It's a roomy interior, and the car feels quite large compared to the AM, but probably not significantly different to the M4.

Engine/Gearbox

What is there to say, except for sensational. This is the heart of the car, and it delivers character in spades. 5.2L flat plane crank, 526hp,429lbft, with an extremely notable kick beyond 3.5k makes for a fun engine. The flat plane crank allows it to rev freely, though not as blippy as the Ferrari was, it retains a lot of the same characteristics. Firing it up in the morning causes my entire house to shake, just like my F430 did, which is always fun, and it really barks upon hitting that start button. With the exhaust valves open, it's louder than my F-Type V8S was, with ridiculous amounts of crackles and bangs on the overrun. At low revs, you can hear the FPC sound, but it's a little more muscle car esque, it's when you push beyond 5k, up to the 8250rpm red line it takes on a real hard edge, with incredible similarities to the Ferrari.

It's a seriously quick car, especially once you pass the 3.5k rpm area, it pulls rapidly to the redline, with no let off in torque or hp until the 8250rpm cut off. Naturally, with 100hp advantage it's significantly faster than the Aston Martin it replaced, and I have to say, I prefer the engine and exhaust note of the GT350 too - this surprised me because I've always been a huge lover of Aston's and the way they sound.

I'd prefer it if they removed the rev-hold on the GT350, as I find it a little annoying for rapid up shifts, but I can always have that tuned out if necessary. Pedals are spaced well enough for heel and toe, and thanks to the FPC engine, rev-matching is immensely easy on the way down the box. Speaking of the gearbox, it's a lovely movement, short throw but with a little bit more flexibility than the Aston Martin. Not as notchy as the AM, and definitely easier to get into gear than the Ferrari, but I'm afraid nothing will ever compare to the gated 6MT in my F430, that was a work of art, and a real experience to use.

Handling

My car is equipped with the magnetic ride dampers, which I've experienced in other cars before. Now, there's nothing on the planet that can compete with the MP4-12C here or anything else McLaren makes for that matter. Their suspension system is stunning, and no, the GT350 doesn't come close to the levels of comfort that provides. However, the GT350 isn't crashy compared to the Aston, and rides perhaps a little softer than the 911 too. It doesn't feel like you're on a cloud like in the MP4, but it's good, especially for a track car. What's incredible however, and something I will compare to the MP4 is the ability to control body roll. The GT350 feels big and heavy when you first sit in it, yet the second you turn the wheel, all that weight seems to just disappear, as the car darts inwards with almost zero body roll. The same goes for front end rise and dip during acceleration and braking, the magnetic dampers adjust so rapidly that the car remains almost entirely flat at all times.

The car comes equipped with Michelin PSS from the factory, and this has always been a favorite tire of mine, and one I've had on just about every car I've owned since they came out. They grip phenomenally, and at this point, I've found them to be immensely predictable. I've not had the chance to really push the limits of under steer yet but as it stands, I'm impressed with the sure footedness of the car, ease of turn in and excellent road manners.

Brakes have always been a sticking point (no pun intended) on Shelby's, and having driven the 662hp GT500 around the track, I found the brakes on that downright dangerous as they faded within a couple of moderately paced laps. It seems Ford have finally listened (or the lawyers got fed up of cars in walls) and put some extremely good brakes on the GT350. 6 pot Brembo's up front, 4 in the rear , with cross drilled rotors. They don't squeal (unlike the Aston) but they generate a decent amount of dust (Aston made even more). Stopping power is excellent, easily some of the best brakes I've experienced on a car of this size, with more importantly, a really good pedal feel.

The steering is electric, and it shows. Ford haven't had the time or money to invest into making it closer to feeling like a hydraulic system, and it definitely feels a little numb. I'd liken it to newer Mercedes steering or to the power steering + in the 991 at low speeds, where there's very little feel. In track/sport mode, the steering stiffens up nicely, but there's definitely an isolated feeling from the front end, with only fairly significant undulations and bumps being transferred to your hands. Now, perhaps I'm spoiled as the Aston GT has arguably the best hydraulic steering feel of any car currently available, but it's definitely not as communicative as a 991 without PS+.

That said, the steering being a little numb doesn't detract from its ability to corner or handle well. Turn in is immediate, with excellent precision from the wheel.

Summary

Overall, I've been rather impressed by the GT350, and I think I shall be keeping it for a long time to come. It has real character, is extremely exciting to drive, and gets more attention at car shows than any of the exotics I've previously had. Sometimes it's nice to have something that you're not afraid to put miles on, that you can leave just about anywhere, yet still has the character of an exotic car. Regarding that last point, Ford have definitely given this car an exotic edge, and given the competition it has had to face from my past cars, I'm actually rather surprised that I hold it in as high regard as the Ferrari and Aston.

Would I change anything? Audio system (I know I've harped on about this in the past) as it's absolutely abysmal. and make the steering a little more communicative. Other than that, there's not much I'd change at all. My hat goes off to Ford on this one, they've knocked it out of the park IMO with a well rounded track capable car, that's perfectly usable as a daily driver on the street.

I strongly believe Ford Performance had owners like you in mind when they benchmarked the GT350. And based on your review here, I think FP delivered. Thank you for a great review.

 

[Hack]

What does the audio system need to be better? Is it just missing a sub for bass, or are the factory speakers underpowered?

I know my 2011 GT sounded a ton better with even a relatively inexpensive set of replacement door speakers. Not sure about this car, but I'd be willing to bet the speakers from Ford are super cheap.

 

[Chameleon]

Nice write up Dave!

 

[ronda]

Great review! You have an impressive resume of cars. I find it very interesting that with the high end cars that you have owned that you still find the 350 to be a wonderful car! KUDOS to Ford Performance, I can't wait to experience it myself.

 

[nastang87xx]

I know my 2011 GT sounded a ton better with even a relatively inexpensive set of replacement door speakers. Not sure about this car, but I'd be willing to bet the speakers from Ford are super cheap.

I don't think Ford has ever really had a very good speaker system in their cars. My Shaker 500 in my '11 car is very so so, it's incredibly muddy. HOWEVER...I don't care all that much in my car. My living room? Very different story. But I couldn't care less in my car right now. In fact, I'll even look at some of the speakers as potential weight savings opportunities with my Track Pack car. First things first though, doing the homework to see if its even worth it. If the speakers are like 5lbs each, obviously forget it; that won't matter.

 

[R 350 gt Donson]

Great write up....We have had very similar cars in the past. I look forward to driving my R and comparing notes. .....By the way you write, I'm guessing you are from England? I lived there for a couple of years...Cheers.

 

[Rogue]

Got a few UK people - I grew up in London.

Anyway put 380 miles on my Shelby GT350 - it does EVERYTHING sooo well - i'm still in a sort of shock. I expected good don't get me wrong - but this is just ridicolous. I see why Road and Track magazine rated it 2016 winner. And the sound....no words.

Other cars I had been test driving and considering for my new track toy over the last 14 months include the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo PDK, 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo (6Speed), Porsche 997 GTS PDK, Ferrari Modena (6speed) and the Corvette Stingray Z51.

THE SHELBY BLOWS THEM ALL OUT OF THE WATER....NO COMPARISON.

 

[DaveH]

Great write up....We have had very similar cars in the past. I look forward to driving my R and comparing notes. .....By the way you write, I'm guessing you are from England? I lived there for a couple of years...Cheers.

Sure am, what gave me away?!

I grew up there, moved to the US about 9 years ago when I was 23.

Got a few UK people - I grew up in London.

Anyway put 380 miles on my Shelby GT350 - it does EVERYTHING sooo well - i'm still in a sort of shock. I expected good don't get me wrong - but this is just ridicolous. I see why Road and Track magazine rated it 2016 winner. And the sound....no words.

Other cars I had been test driving and considering for my new track toy over the last 14 months include the 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo PDK, 2008 Porsche 911 Turbo (6Speed), Porsche 997 GTS PDK, Ferrari Modena (6speed) and the Corvette Stingray Z51.

THE SHELBY BLOWS THEM ALL OUT OF THE WATER....NO COMPARISON.

It's an impressive machine isn't it? I was honestly expecting to be a little disappointed based on my previous car history, but I'm floored by what Ford have managed to accomplish. This car will be staying with me for quite some time.

 

[DaveH]

Finally got around to taking pics today - here they are!

 

[Rogue]

Love the Avalanche with black painted roof - Awesome.

Dave H - where in England were you? Did you happen to attend the American School in London (ASL)?

 

[Helios1234]

Posted on OCUK already but another excuse to say how just beautiful that car looks!

 

[GT P-TREE]

Thanks for posting up your impressions. Searching for a R myself, one day

 

[Teddy Dal]

Absolutely beautiful! I originally ordered my R in that colour with the black roof...I almost wonder how clear tail lights would look?

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