2017 GT350 Pics...Surprises....

[Voodooo]

Well, I like music too. So, if a car is gonna be equipped with speakers and in this price range, they should sound good.

I think the factory radio sounds good. And I LOVE music. Perhaps I'm missing something lol. I do have a track pack and I'm happy with what I have. I think ford gave good options for the money. A one of a kind engine, awesome suspension, unique front sheet metal, fantastic brakes etc. I'm VERY happy.

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[PP0001]

Not sure if that question was directed at me or stinger whom I quoted. I am just saying I think there should be a V8 option at least. I understand Ford did the V6 in the GT for the rule books when they go racing. But I would like an optional V8. Thats what the car has had since its inception so I think thats what it needs, or an upgrade is fine. V10? Sure. V12? Absolutely. V16? Add AWD? Sure, if it works and doesn't add 1000lbs. But going V6 is backwards to me. What about a 700hp I4? It can be done but who wants that. Remember the Ferrari F40? A little 3.0 V8 TT. I would rather have a 3.0TT V8 than, a 4.0 TT V6 as far as Muscle Cars and Hot Rod Trucks go.

But at the end of the day none of this matters. The youth care less and less about vehicles with each generation. Hotrod culture is dying. You think people were happy when autotragic transmissions came out. Wait till autonomous electric cars became affordable and a decent charging infrastructure is put into place. Not only that, how do you think people in the future are gonna feel about classics? Research is saying that in a few decades classic cars (our time and older) aren't gonna be going for insane money like we see with current classics that are desirable. Simply because the future generations won't place much value on cars or their time, much less of the past. Maybe some with historical value will be valuable, but in 2065 a pristine 2015 GT350 isn't gonna go through an auction for the money (adjusted for inflation) that a 65 GT350 will today. It will be kinda like trying to sell a perfect low mile Cobra II. Its a Mustang. Its rare. But the desire just isn't there.

Not sure where in the rule book where it said that Ford had to go with a V6 in the Ford GT to go racing at Le Mans. Ford simply went with the forced air induction V6 because that was the engine that best suited this specific car to be competitive in their particular class.

Did Ford not enter 4 Ford GT's in the GTE Pro class with other V8 cars such as Corvettes and Aston Martins at Le Mans?

With respect to the youth caring less about vehicles each generation, not sure where your data comes from but is Ford not selling Mustangs as fast as ever?

Just look at the data this forum has compiled for the GT350 cars and pretty much ~50% of the buyers of these terrific cars are people 41 years of age and under. Quite impressive in my opinion based on what dealerships are getting for the GT350's let alone GT350R's.

Do your really think that GM and Chrysler are spending millions of dollars on the respective Pony Cars to compete with the new GT350 because there is no market out there for high performance Pony Cars?

I certainly respect your comments but let's just say that I have a totally different opinion than you as to where the car hobby will continue to head in the next decade or two. There is no question that electrified vehicles will be a big part of our future but don't rule out the internal combustion engine just quite yet as there are still many young and old enthusiasts that continue to enjoy the smell of exhaust fumes, burning rubber and intoxicating sounds from a Ford V8.

:cheers:

 

[Voodooo]

Not sure if that question was directed at me or stinger whom I quoted. I am just saying I think there should be a V8 option at least. I understand Ford did the V6 in the GT for the rule books when they go racing. But I would like an optional V8. Thats what the car has had since its inception so I think thats what it needs, or an upgrade is fine. V10? Sure. V12? Absolutely. V16? Add AWD? Sure, if it works and doesn't add 1000lbs. But going V6 is backwards to me. What about a 700hp I4? It can be done but who wants that. Remember the Ferrari F40? A little 3.0 V8 TT. I would rather have a 3.0TT V8 than, a 4.0 TT V6 as far as Muscle Cars and Hot Rod Trucks go.

But at the end of the day none of this matters. The youth care less and less about vehicles with each generation. Hotrod culture is dying. You think people were happy when autotragic transmissions came out. Wait till autonomous electric cars became affordable and a decent charging infrastructure is put into place. Not only that, how do you think people in the future are gonna feel about classics? Research is saying that in a few decades classic cars (our time and older) aren't gonna be going for insane money like we see with current classics that are desirable. Simply because the future generations won't place much value on cars or their time, much less of the past. Maybe some with historical value will be valuable, but in 2065 a pristine 2015 GT350 isn't gonna go through an auction for the money (adjusted for inflation) that a 65 GT350 will today. It will be kinda like trying to sell a perfect low mile Cobra II. Its a Mustang. Its rare. But the desire just isn't there.

I'm 45 years old. I have and had all kinds of Ford old vehicles. From classics to modern. Currently I have 2012 f150 fx2, 2013 transit connect, 2013 fusion, 2016 gt350, 2016 f150, 1956 F100 and a 1947 ford cab over. The hot rod culture is alive and strong. You might not see it but people everywhere are doing modified vehicles. It's a multi billion dollar business. The difference between today and yesteryear is the aftermarket. When my dad was young he and others had to make their own parts. People then had less to work from and made it happen because of the desire to go faster, make more power etc. it's a fact that muscle cars of the 60s are no match to today's 4 and 6 cylinder cars. Today we have a 2.3L making equal power to a 429 boss. The focus RS would beat a boss 429 in a drag race today. Their will always be car collectors and enthusiast. Man is fascinated with 2 and 4 wheels since the wheel was invented. That will never end.

Your comment about the GT and the V6.
You say ford is going backwards. The GT40 never had a V10, V12, V16 etc as you said. Nor did it have a V6. But the V6 is lighter, makes more power per liter, more efficient, and works well. Again it's proven. In my opinion one of the best engines ever were the 289 small block fords. I've built 3 of them and even a destroked 289 and all were bulletproof and revved 9500+ naturally aspirated for a drag car. Carroll Shelby loved the 289 over the 427. I never liked when people said "no replacement for displacement" bigger isn't better. What's the benefits of a 3.0 v8 over a 4.0 v6 to you?
Let me ask you this if I may, lets say in a GT. if a 3.5l ecoboost v6 beats a 5.0l in all racing aspects, is lighter, makes equal or more power, more efficient, and provides better handling for the vehicle which would you choose?

Also. Look at the tesla. It's electric. Right now it's the only decent electric available to the public. It can be modified. It's just the beginning of the modern electric car. Hot rodding electric cars will come. Maybe not in my life time. But it will happen. Just in different ways then what you and I know today. It's already different today then when I build my 8 second fox body mustang 20+ years ago. Times change and so does the technology.

Madcow, no offense. But you own a civic. Not exactly a sports car, but it can still be modified to your taste and likeness. People love to personalize their cars. Bikes. Boats. Trucks. Tractors. Etc.

 

[ohtobbad]

Young people are into ricer cars because of costs.
Everyone of them that see's my car, knows what is and wishes they could have one.
As said above, lots of young people driving muscle cars, and they are selling at record #'s
Go to any car show and look who is there, large mix of people all different ages.
I think the hobby is alive and well.
Emissions is driving the v-6 , not demand. I believe V-8's will be around for a long
time, I just believe they will become more rare and very expensive in the near future.
Talk to Government not manufactures. These engines cost a lot more to produce.

 

[tdzee]

Aftermarket Replacements ??

I agree these new ones look cheap

This :doh:

Has no one in the aftermarket offered custom plates? I have pondered this and wanted to make some changes.

I prefer the rather subtle Shelby badging overall on the car as provided on the stock 350. i would have liked the 350 logos to reflect mine is a 350R. They did so on the chassis # plate.

Laid out similar to the 15/16 sill plate, i wanted to show:

GT350R logo in red
Chassis number
Possibly VIN
Shelby/Ford Performance

I don't care to splash the FPC. The sound tells that story.

 

[machsmith]

This :doh:

Has no one in the aftermarket offered custom plates? I have pondered this and wanted to make some changes.

I prefer the rather subtle Shelby badging overall on the car as provided on the stock 350. i would have liked the 350 logos to reflect mine is a 350R. They did so on the chassis # plate.

Laid out similar to the 15/16 sill plate, i wanted to show:

GT350R logo in red
Chassis number
Possibly VIN
Shelby/Ford Performance

I don't care to splash the FPC. The sound tells that story.

I would like just 350R with chassis number. Make everything flow nicely.
I have a 2014 GT500... those sills light up. In all honesty, ive never paid much attention to it.
The FP sill plate, seems to flow nicely IMO. Just would have been better if FP wasnt on it. Lol

 

[Voodooo]

They should of just left them and the rest of the car alone the was it was. No need to change the sill plates, the strut brace tag, door panels etc. The paint colors and making them all standard with coolers was enough. Don't fix what's not broken.

 

[jtn83]

I think the factory radio sounds good. And I LOVE music. Perhaps I'm missing something lol. I do have a track pack and I'm happy with what I have. I think ford gave good options for the money. A one of a kind engine, awesome suspension, unique front sheet metal, fantastic brakes etc. I'm VERY happy.

I have a tech pack (with the "upgraded" stereo) and I think it can best be described as mediocre. For the money, there are some bits missing from the car. At a minimum, Ford should've offered things that are already in the parts bin and available on the GT (stuff like BLIS, automatic wipers, shaker sound system, soft roll over doors). It appears they corrected some of these issues the 2017s. the options packages were one of the most frustrating parts of the 15/16s--you should've been able to get a loaded to the gills car if you wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I love the car, but parts of it still make me miss my 2011 M3 (a true jack of all trades, especially back in its day).

 

[Voodooo]

I have a tech pack (with the "upgraded" stereo) and I think it can best be described as mediocre. For the money, there are some bits missing from the car. At a minimum, Ford should've offered things that are already in the parts bin and available on the GT (stuff like BLIS, automatic wipers, shaker sound system, soft roll over doors). It appears they corrected some of these issues the 2017s. the options packages were one of the most frustrating parts of the 15/16s--you should've been able to get a loaded to the gills car if you wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I love the car, but parts of it still make me miss my 2011 M3 (a true jack of all trades, especially back in its day).

I think some people are missing what they paid for over the GT. Voodoo, suspension, brakes, body and aero, tires, seats, exhaust, transmission, etc. I know and understand what you are saying about the stereo and I know to some it's not good enough. But this was always marketed as a track car.

 

[jtn83]

I think some people are missing what they paid for over the GT. Voodoo, suspension, brakes, body and aero, tires, seats, exhaust, transmission, etc. I know and understand what you are saying about the stereo and I know to some it's not good enough. But this was always marketed as a track car.

I know what I paid for over the GT, and I love the car. My point is that there were parts/options already available to Ford that could have been available for the GT350. It's not like I was expecting them to develop additional things that aren't already there.

The M3 was a car who's price also covers upgraded drivetrain, suspension, brakes, aero, weight reduction, ect over the pedestrian 3 series.

Again, I love the car. I know what it was marketed as, and I think Ford did a damn good job of hitting its mark. I just find it strange that there were options available on the GT that weren't offered on the 350, and the way Ford made you choose between packaged instead having both on the 15/16s was bizarre.

 

[mustangfanatic]

Soft roll over is nice, strut tower brace is ok, sill plate is :barf:

 

[MadCow]

Not sure where in the rule book where it said that Ford had to go with a V6 in the Ford GT to go racing at Le Mans. Ford simply went with the forced air induction V6 because that was the engine that best suited this specific car to be competitive in their particular class.

Did Ford not enter 4 Ford GT's in the GTE Pro class with other V8 cars such as Corvettes and Aston Martins at Le Mans?

With respect to the youth caring less about vehicles each generation, not sure where your data comes from but is Ford not selling Mustangs as fast as ever?

Just look at the data this forum has compiled for the GT350 cars and pretty much ~50% of the buyers of these terrific cars are people 41 years of age and under. Quite impressive in my opinion based on what dealerships are getting for the GT350's let alone GT350R's.

Do your really think that GM and Chrysler are spending millions of dollars on the respective Pony Cars to compete with the new GT350 because there is no market out there for high performance Pony Cars?

I certainly respect your comments but let's just say that I have a totally different opinion than you as to where the car hobby will continue to head in the next decade or two. There is no question that electrified vehicles will be a big part of our future but don't rule out the internal combustion engine just quite yet as there are still many young and old enthusiasts that continue to enjoy the smell of exhaust fumes, burning rubber and intoxicating sounds from a Ford V8.

:cheers:

Sorry about the misunderstanding. When I mentioned the ruled book I didn't mean it was mandatory the GT have a V6, I mean Ford thought it would be advantageous based on the rules. Whether thats working or not I don't know.

As for the youth and cars there are a lot of factors. Licensed drivers are steadily on the decline, especially among the youth. They have social media and other ways to interact. Most are more concerned with tech gadgets. Automobiles are becoming more of an appliance to people. A thing that serves a simple purpose and nothing else. Here's a brief article for you.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/driving-losing-its-allure-for-more-americans-1453285801

And no, Ford isn't selling Mustangs as fast as ever. About 10K a month average or 120K a year in the US compared to a couple years at over half a million and several years above 300K and a few years with over double the 2015 Mustang sales. Here's Mustangs sales throughout the years

http://blog.caranddriver.com/warnin...aro-vs-mustang-sales-numbers-in-living-color/

Fun cars are made for enthusiasts but they are low volume sellers. One of their important duties is to generate interest which brings in show room traffic. But plain ole boring cars are where the money is, and car companies are in business to make money. Know why Toyota doesn't make any exciting cars? It doesn't need to. They sale all the cars they need to and make a ton of money without any of that.

I don't know when or how long, but more and more people just wanna get from A to B, if they even wanna go anywhere at all. The love affair with the automobile will be about like the love affair with your washing machine (not the one you married).

 

[VoodooShelby]

Looks like it may possibly be a lighted door sill as well. Seeing as that car is a convenience package car (the power seat button), it could be a little something in that package that just wasn't noted anywhere. I personally like lighted sill plates so I don't mind it.

Agreed !! Liked the MY Color with the lit sill plates. Loved that option.

 

[ngiardina]

Can someone please explain to me what "soft door rollover" is?

 

[MadCow]

I'm 45 years old. I have and had all kinds of Ford old vehicles. From classics to modern. Currently I have 2012 f150 fx2, 2013 transit connect, 2013 fusion, 2016 gt350, 2016 f150, 1956 F100 and a 1947 ford cab over. The hot rod culture is alive and strong. You might not see it but people everywhere are doing modified vehicles. It's a multi billion dollar business. The difference between today and yesteryear is the aftermarket. When my dad was young he and others had to make their own parts. People then had less to work from and made it happen because of the desire to go faster, make more power etc. it's a fact that muscle cars of the 60s are no match to today's 4 and 6 cylinder cars. Today we have a 2.3L making equal power to a 429 boss. The focus RS would beat a boss 429 in a drag race today. Their will always be car collectors and enthusiast. Man is fascinated with 2 and 4 wheels since the wheel was invented. That will never end.

Your comment about the GT and the V6.
You say ford is going backwards. The GT40 never had a V10, V12, V16 etc as you said. Nor did it have a V6. But the V6 is lighter, makes more power per liter, more efficient, and works well. Again it's proven. In my opinion one of the best engines ever were the 289 small block fords. I've built 3 of them and even a destroked 289 and all were bulletproof and revved 9500+ naturally aspirated for a drag car. Carroll Shelby loved the 289 over the 427. I never liked when people said "no replacement for displacement" bigger isn't better. What's the benefits of a 3.0 v8 over a 4.0 v6 to you?
Let me ask you this if I may, lets say in a GT. if a 3.5l ecoboost v6 beats a 5.0l in all racing aspects, is lighter, makes equal or more power, more efficient, and provides better handling for the vehicle which would you choose?

Also. Look at the tesla. It's electric. Right now it's the only decent electric available to the public. It can be modified. It's just the beginning of the modern electric car. Hot rodding electric cars will come. Maybe not in my life time. But it will happen. Just in different ways then what you and I know today. It's already different today then when I build my 8 second fox body mustang 20+ years ago. Times change and so does the technology.

Madcow, no offense. But you own a civic. Not exactly a sports car, but it can still be modified to your taste and likeness. People love to personalize their cars. Bikes. Boats. Trucks. Tractors. Etc.

Yes, aftermarket parts have gotten cheaper and more cars are going faster cheaper and easier. We got all manner of parts from China and so on. Technology has also increased the performance of modern cars by a lot. But the statistics don't lie. Check my post to PP0001. The amount of people getting drivers licenses has been declining for decades particularly the youth. How can you be a car enthusiast if you can't legally drive? I know several young people who don't have a license, don't want one, and don't wanna drive either. When I turned 16 getting a license was a big deal but now its not.

I would prefer a GT with a V8, not an inline 3 even if it were faster. I just couldn't seeing paying 400K for a supercar with an inline 3. As for a 3.5TT vs a 5.0, how about an apples to apples comparison when we are talking 400K supercars. A 3.5TT V6 vs a 5.0TT V8. I will take the 5.0TT everyday of the week and twice on sunday. All things equal, the larger motor will make more power period. There is also the perceived value. How many times does the engine in the most expensive model of a vehicle have less cylinders naturally aspirated? I can't think of any.

Some people are always gonna race no matter what, feet, bicycle, car, scooter, and even when the electric cars rise up and become self aware. But the amount of people who are passionate about cars is declining. A thing to consider about people buying performance cars, is that they are usually more expensive. And the higher the performance, the higher the cost. So some people have the money and buy an exotic but don't know the first thing about driving or care about cars. It just says, look at me, I can afford this. And it says that to women, especially the young pretty kind. A comedian I heard once said some men just buy nice things to impress women, if he could f#*k her in a card board box he wouldn't even buy a house.

I do own a civic as you stated and no offense taken (are some people offended by that?). Its absolutely awesome. It was cheap and gets great mpg and I have no desire to mod it because it serves its purpose just fine. I also have a few SHO's and Mustangs and Ford trucks and some classic fords and some project cars. Nothing to write home about but I just didn't really feel the need to list all the vehicles I have on my profile.

People will always customize things, but what is Hotrod culture? Is a sound with system with 20 speakers hotrodding? How about 28" rims? Thats up for debate but to me part of hotrodding is making something better at doing something than it was meant to be. Faster, more capable off road, whatever. License plate frames and seat covers personalize a vehicle. But is that in a tangible and meaningful way? Is it hotrod culture? Some things are scribbles on paper and some are works of art. Now we are good and off topic.

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