Gt500 vs Gt350

[Mustang_Scotty]

True

Sponsored

 

[Gomer]

To each his own... But to me the gt350 is in a class all its own among Ford cars. Or really, any American sports car. That it has a DOHC, flat plane crank, high revving motor, and high tech suspension, makes it very appealing to me. True to its heritage, the current gt350 is very well designed for road racing AND touring (if you have the heated and cooled seats LOL). I don't think the gt350 was ever meant to compete with the big HP cars that really shine on the strip. If it is raw, visceral, badass HP that toots your horn, the new GT500 sure as heck should fill that bill. But IMHO, comparing the two is apples and oranges.

I have several sports cars, most of which were much more expensive than the gt350 but I can tell you that I haven't been as excited about a car in quite some time. Can't believe this is my wife's car. Dam it! lol

 

[MAV]

I still maintain that the GT350 is Ford's last specialty car with a V8. I believe this for three reasons:

1. New CAFE requirements
2. Ford has invested millions into the 4 and 6 cylinder Ecoboost designs
3. The new Ford GT is an Ecoboost

I hope I'm wrong, but we may have seen the last of new V8 engine development programs with the Voodoo.

 

[PP0001]

When the gt500 is announced and it has 750+ hp, it's it going to be gt350 trade worthy? What are some of you thinking?

I suggest that the GT350 crowd is a totally different type of enthusiast than those that want to own and drive a GT500. Obviously the previous new generation GT500's had a strong following as Ford sold pretty close to 50,000 of them over an 8 year production run.

I had previously owned a number of GT500's but once I drove a NA Boss 302/Boss 302LS I immediately sold my GT500 cars.

Hopefully Ford will knock it out of the park with the new GT500 but regardless of how fast or how well this car handles I will be very happy to stick with my Boss 302/Boss 302LS cars and my GT350/GT350R cars.

BTW, over the last ~5 years I have had a fair bit of time spent with many Ford instructors/drivers from Utah and from other road courses and after spending time with them I always ask everyone of them how the Boss 302 and now the new GT350 stacks up against the most recent GT500 cars and which one they personally would prefer to drive or own and the answer is always the same with not one driver choosing the GT500 over the Boss 302 or new GT350.

Pretty good endorsement from professional drivers who get to drive pretty much everything that Ford comes out with and just confirms why I have chosen to head in the direction that I have.

 

[Donkey]

I do turbo consulting as a side job and for fun. To say I am a turbo guy would be a bit of an understatement, as I would turbo my lawnmower if I had the time. On that same token I am a huge fan of super efficient engines in general, which is something turbochargers generally help to accomplish. Having been a fan of the original GT350 I had hoped after the Z28 was released that Ford would answer back with something, I prayed it wouldn't be 75k if they did. Ford answered in a big way and after working numbers and finding an allocation at the right price I had to have one. After owning it I have to say I can't see myself selling it any time soon.

Let's be honest with ourselves here. The 350 isn't untouchable by the future 500 or whatever it may be called, it's not untouchable by the zl1, or the z28. I'm confident the new z28 will be faster around a track and I can't say that I care. It wont have the soul the 350 does as it is likely to use an updated version of the 7.0l which resounds boat motor to me more than a high performance engine (imo). I'm not sure the awd rumor holds any water, if it does I'd say there is 2nd generation ecoboost potential to cut weight. If not and it stays rwd I'd say the 350 block and heads may be used with a conventional cross plane crank and possible turbocharging. 700-725hp with great torque would be a walk in the park especially if they mix direct injection and port efi like the 2nd gen ecoboost engines. With the new 10spd it would likely be a very, very fast car.

Taking that all in to consideration I would still keep the 350. Unless I could own both, which isn't gonna happen anytime soon. It's exciting to look into the future and wonder what it holds, I'm happy I've likely obtained the last or one of the last great small displacement naturally aspirated v8's ever. I enjoy it and it does everything I want and need it to. The question asked by the op is going to one of those that everyone will have a different approach to. For some, owning the latest and greatest Mustang is the objective, while for others a car has to meet a certain performance want or need. The 350 is one hell of a car, it can be civil and easy to drive, rides well, is pretty quiet at speed but when needed can transform into a road legal track car.. That's what I love about it and have been missing in all of my previous vehicles.

 

[Hack]

I'm very happy with the 350. Owning the latest and greatest or fastest car has never been the only reason for me buying a car. I want to enjoy my car and not be bored by it. Right now the GT350 does that for me. Also, I have a limited budget and the GT350 actually cost more than I would have preferred to spend. I just had to have the car with the FPC engine.

I don't know what the GT500 will be like. Possibly it will beat the GT350 in every way. I will still keep the GT350 for now. The changes that would tempt me the most were if the Mustang got smaller and lighter, which some people are saying could happen with the next generation. A more powerful engine might tempt me if the car is also better at putting power down to the road (I'm not into doing burnouts or spinning tires - I want acceleration and handling). I have to admit that styling changes might also tempt me. I like the current styling of the Mustang ok, but I don't really think it's classically beautiful, at least not from the front. I would also be tempted to swap cars if the seats got more comfortable - maybe an option for different sized seat would do it. I like the seats in my tech pack car ok, but the bolsters are too close together and I don't fit between them.

 

[ThreeFiveO]

And just like that the thread heads south

 

[Hack]

It headed south for me when the political whining started. Lets keep it to the subject.

Everyone else ignored the comment and moved on. You're the one with a brand new account here that had to change the focus.

 

[Bossing]

Uh, no.

The GT350 is for people who wanted a truly sporting Mustang for (winding) road and (circuit) track, as opposed to the raison d'être of the GT500, which is a BarcaLounger on wheels meant for cruising the street or racing at the strip.

I wouldn't consider the GT350 anyone's little brother, just like I don't consider the Boss 302 to be inferior to the previous GT500.

Doesn't matter. Porsche guys view the Turbo much like most GT350 owners view the GT500. A numbers car, a grand tourer. Whether or not it's actually faster on the track is irrelevant the crowd that wants to maximize visceral thrills, which the GT3 (and arguably even the base and S Carrerra models) has in spades over the Turbo.

Agree. Many P-car enthusiasts, like moi, would get a GT3/GT4 first over a 991Turbo. I thought about it for a split second but I'd be stupid to fork over 200k+ on a TT instead of on a GT3 RS for example. The GT cars are much better overall for a driving enthusiast than a 991T, even if a bit slower.

Same reasoning IMO on why I picked my '12 Boss302 over a GT500 back then. Two different animals and arguably one is more fun on curves than the other. Pick your poison. ;)

I kinda wonder if anyone was like "I'm trading my supercharged ZL1 Camaro for a N/A track toy Z/28.

Different customers, and I see this as the same thing.

I swapped in my 650hp C7 Z06 for a 385hp GT4... best effin upgrade I ever did!

I still maintain that the GT350 is Ford's last specialty car with a V8. I believe this for three reasons:

1. New CAFE requirements
2. Ford has invested millions into the 4 and 6 cylinder Ecoboost designs
3. The new Ford GT is an Ecoboost

I hope I'm wrong, but we may have seen the last of new V8 engine development programs with the Voodoo.

Good point. We'll see... but as you know the following/desire for V8 Mustangs will never die. I agree though that a naturally aspirated V8 (or NA's for that matter) is a dying breed especially since many manufacturers are going Turbo nowadays. Like Porsche is now doing. Even Ferrari with their new 488.

 

[dktx]

Another Porsche guy here and I agree about the GT3/GT4 vs 911 Turbo comparisons to the GT350 vs GT500. I have a GT3 (997 generation) that I bought around 4 years ago. When I was shopping for it, I cross shopped the 997 Turbo, which were the same price. The Turbo was crazy fast in a straight line and a more comfortable ride, but ultimately I wanted the track performance and reliability of the GT3. I'm a track junkie and also race wheel to wheel, so that does affect how I choose my cars.

I'm looking at adding a GT350 to the garage and I have no interest in the GT500 unless it's normally aspirated (I'm sure it won't be) and is truly track tested / reliable. I'm looking for a visceral experience over just pure speed, and I want track reliability, as in being able to run 30 minute track sessions repeatedly without overheating or puking. The GT3 does that without breaking a sweat. I don't trust turbo/supercharged cars for track use because I think they overheat too easily, so the GT500 isn't even on my radar.

I've been on track behind 997 Turbos and they barely pull on me on long straights, as in maybe a car length, when on paper they should have a much bigger advantage. I'm convinced the cars get hot and they lose their power advantage over me in my GT3.

Which is why the GT350 is so interesting to me, plus I love the current Mustang. I'd want the track package though, so I plan on waiting for 2017's to come out. I've tried to find a track package 2016 and have given up.

Now if I wasn't going to track the car, then a GT500 might be interesting, but honestly if I wasn't going to the track, I'd just get a "regular" GT (which is still a fantastic car).

 

[DrumReaper]

Ugh!!!... Another I'm conflicted with what to get and keep thread... Smh.

 

[Stage_3]

While I love me a R car, I am waiting for the new GT500 to come out.
The R car is one the best looking Mustangs out there in my opinion.

 

[SchultzLT1]

If ford was smart they would keep the 350 the track monster, and the 500 the drag King. There is no reason to recreate a better version of the 350 just 2-3 years later. I'm sure they don't want to destroy 350 values either.

I think the 500 will do well on a road course, without being purpose built for it, kinda like the 350 does well on a drag strip, you get the point.

 

[DrumReaper]

If ford was smart they would keep the 350 the track monster, and the 500 the drag King. There is no reason to recreate a better version of the 350 just 2-3 years later. I'm sure they don't want to destroy 350 values either.

I think the 500 will do well on a road course, without being purpose built for it, kinda like the 350 does well on a drag strip, you get the point.

The 500, even in its early inception in the 60's, was never intended to be a roadcourse car and Ford's primary directive with the 500 with be to destroy the Hellcat... Nothing more.

 

[PP0001]

If ford was smart they would keep the 350 the track monster, and the 500 the drag King. There is no reason to recreate a better version of the 350 just 2-3 years later. I'm sure they don't want to destroy 350 values either.

I think the 500 will do well on a road course, without being purpose built for it, kinda like the 350 does well on a drag strip, you get the point.

To your point I will say that Ford will do exactly what you have suggested and place them in completely different performance oriented categories.

As many of us know the original GT350R's built way back in 1965 were to take on the Corvettes, Porsches, XKE's etc. in B/Production road course racing and did not create the GT500 until 1967 after which time the whole purpose of that car was geared to straight line performance with the 428 cubic inch engine whereas the GT350 cars were geared towards road course duties with the small 289.

Again in 1969 Ford came out with the high winding Boss 302 and won the SCCA Trans Am series in 1970 going up against the Camaro, AAR Cuda, AMC Javelin, Firebird etc.

Ford loves their heritage and history and will be shocked if they expect the GT500 to compete with the NA small 315 cubic inch GT350.

Two completely different automobiles that have totally different purposes for Ford and us enthusiasts.

:cheers:

Sponsored