2015-2016 Tech Pack and Base GT350 Cooler Solution Discussion

[Caballus]

Certainly, the TP and R should be expected to perform even better, but the following (and many others like it) would not lead one to believe the car would have the limitations it has:

"Drivers interested in comfort, convenience and entertainment upgrades may select the Tech Pack, which includes power leather-trimmed seats, Shaker Audio, 8-inch SYNC® with MyFord Touch LCD touch screen, and dual zone electronic temperature control to name a few features.

“We took the best Ford Mustang yet and massaged every aspect of the car that affects the performance driving experience,” said Hameedi. “We tested endlessly on the most challenging roads and tracks in the world, and we believe serious drivers will love the Shelby GT350 Mustang.”

https://media.ford.com/content/ford...s/cars/mustang/2016-gt350-350r-press-kit.html

Again, the issue is about the minimum performance capability of a base or tech (to include the ability to drive at high speeds), not the maximum capability gained by purchasing a more track-specific variant.

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[Epiphany]

I tried demanding the 8"screen/navigation that Tech Pack owners got because Ford promised "an aural experience like no other" with the microscreen. Didn't pan out. Hence buying the pieces on my own, much like having to add the R rear seat delete, R steering wheel, R "style" wheels, R calipers, etc. Doesn't Ford understand that everyone should get everything?



*If you are scouring GT350 ads looking for mention of how awesome/capable the GT350 Track Pack sound system is you'll find it right next to mention that the Tech Pack can handle drivetrain heat just as well as a Track Pack or R model can.

 

[Caballus]

I tried demanding the 8"screen/navigation that Tech Pack owners got because Ford promised "an aural experience like no other" with the microscreen. Didn't pan out. Hence buying the pieces on my own, much like having to add the R rear seat delete, R steering wheel, R "style" wheels, R calipers, etc. Doesn't Ford understand that everyone should get everything?



*If you are scouring GT350 ads looking for mention of how awesome/capable the GT350 Track Pack sound system is you'll find it right next to mention that the Tech Pack can handle drivetrain heat just as well as a Track Pack or R model can.

Comparing oranges and tennis balls. 8" nav screen isn't a minimum performance expectation any more than a steering wheel with a red stripe is.

As for drivetrain heat, what are you basing that on? Tech pack went limp in 3.5 minutes on the Autobahn. Would a Track Pack do the same? Again, it's about minimum expectation.

Edit: misread. No, would not expect the Tech to handle heat as well, but how well should it handle it? Better than it does is the simple answer.

 

[Epiphany]

That's the issue. Some don't recognize similar fruit or sporting equipment.


You quoted and highlighted the following this way.

"For sustained high speeds or track day use with a Base or Tech model, we recommend that transmission and differential coolers are added."

This is how some non-cooler equipped GT350 owners read it.

Everyone else sees it this way...

"For sustained high speeds or track day use with a Base or Tech model, we recommend that transmission and differential coolers are added."

 

[Caballus]

That's the issue. Some don't recognize similar fruit or sporting equipment.


You quote and highlighted the following this way.

"For sustained high speeds or track day use with a Base or Tech model, we recommend that transmission and differential coolers are added."

This is how some non-cooler equipped GT350 owners read it.

Everyone else sees it this way...

"For sustained high speeds or track day use with a Base or Tech model, we recommend that transmission and differential coolers are added."

Doesn't matter how you read it. #1. It's in an owner's supplement, not any advertising. #2. It's a recommendation. #3. Why was a "cooler delete" not marketed instead of a cooler addition? A radio delete, rear seat delete, AC delete were advertised, because each of those items is expected in a car. The car should be able to perform better than it does. It should be able to complete a track session and not go limp in 3.5 minutes on the highway. If coolers get it there, great. If some other solution gets it there, terrific. Either way, Ford over advertised and under delivered.

 

[Caballus]

In fact, a better way to read it: "For sustained high speeds or track day use with a Base or Tech model, we recommend that transmission and differential coolers are added."

 

[Epiphany]

Doesn't matter how you read it. #1. It's in an owner's supplement, not any advertising. #2. It's a recommendation. #3. Why was a "cooler delete" not marketed instead of a cooler addition? A radio delete, rear seat delete, AC delete were advertised, because each of those items is expected in a car. The car should be able to perform better than it does. It should be able to complete a track session and not go limp in 3.5 minutes on the highway. If coolers get it there, great. If some other solution gets it there, terrific. Either way, Ford over advertised and under delivered.

It absolutely matters how you read it.

- Nobody said it wasn't in an owner's supplement

- If the manufacturer recommends specific drivetrain component coolers if a vehicle is going to be tracked, why would you disregard the "recommendation?"

- Cooler delete? If you are made aware that certain packages do not come with requisite track oriented coolers, do you need yet more specificity? And actually, there is quite a bit of redundance here. Ford has made it clear on plenty of occasions, both verbally and in print.

I've stated numerous times, as have plenty of others, that Ford did a poor job packaging the car. Should a Mustang GT prove more capable than a Tech Pack car? Absolutely not. Marketing trumped engineering in this case, something that should not have been allowed to happen.

That said, the parts are coming. If you wish to track your Tech Pack car, add them and move on.

 

[Caballus]

It absolutely matters how you read it.

- Nobody said it wasn't in an owner's supplement

- If the manufacturer recommends specific drivetrain component coolers if a vehicle is going to be tracked, why would you disregard the "recommendation?"

- Cooler delete? If you are made aware that certain packages do not come with requisite track oriented coolers, do you need yet more specificity? And actually, there is quite a bit of redundance here. Ford has made it clear on plenty of occasions, both verbally and in print.

I've stated numerous times, as have plenty of others, that Ford did a poor job packaging the car. Should a Mustang GT prove more capable than a Tech Pack car? Absolutely not. Marketing trumped engineering in this case, something that should not have been allowed to happen.

That said, the parts are coming. If you wish to track your Tech Pack car, add them and move on.

1. The only thing above that I agree with is this, "Should a Mustang GT prove more capable than a Tech Pack car? Absolutely not. Marketing trumped engineering in this case, something that should not have been allowed to happen."

2. Why was the recommendation buried in an owners supplement that was published late in the game and not called out in the marketing?

3. If you are going to track your tech pack car OR sustain high speeds...(or this that a misread too?)

Bottom line, Ford misled the consumers (as you noted). Glad some were smart enough to see through it--consumer Darwinism maybe...

 

[Deranged1]

Epiphany an Firetarter2, I get what you guys are saying but the point is, we Tech Pack owners thought we bought a track capable car with all the tech stuff included. We all knew it wasn't as track focused or capable as the R and Track Pack, obviously, but we did expect it to last through track session or a spirited drive without going into limp mode. It is pretty sad that a 1SS track pack or GT track pack is a more capable track car. It's basically an insult to the Shelby GT350 name to build a GT350 that can't complete a 20 minute session on the track. Honestly, it's completely F$#ked up for Ford to think that's okay! This argument is getting old and if you two think that Ford didn't do anything wrong by building a Shelby GT350 in any form, that can't complete a 20 minute session at the track, then so be it. It's F#%king embarrassing really.

 

[Epiphany]

#2 - The whole "cram in 2015 production at about the same time as 2016 cars are coming out" certainly didn't help. As for marketing, as Colleton so rightly pointed out, Ford did point out certain cooler distinctions.

In my view, the error was in the potential for any ambiguity. As discussed in the early pages of this very thread, the choice to offer the car at a less than 50k base price drove packaging decisions. No GT350 should have gone out the door sans trans/diff coolers. Ford knew that Tech Pack/Base GT350 owners would push their cars beyond a "cooler-less" threshold, hence limp mode when those respective thresholds are exceeded. And they knew that threads like this would pop up as a result. I'm certain they also knew that by 2017 all of the coolers would be standard.

They chose an advertised price target over the ensuing complaints. Might work on a Slap Chop but not on a GT350.

 

[Epiphany]

Epiphany an Firetarter2, I get what you guys are saying but the point is, we Tech Pack owners thought we bought a track capable car with all the tech stuff included. We all knew it wasn't as track focused or capable as the R and Track Pack, obviously, but we did expect it to last through track session or a spirited drive without going into limp mode.

Hey, I wanted the 8"screen/Nav but Ford refused to offer it on Track Pack cars. That really bothered me. But there was no way I was going to forego the added insurance that properly engineered cooling systems provide. I figured it was far easier to add the luxury later than to climb around under the car and add cooling system hardware.

Regardless, the packaging of this car for 2015/2016 sucked.

 

[barstowpo]

That pamphlet is for educating salesmen, not consumers. It also calls the tech cars, "Smart, sophisticated performer." Hardly a performer if a standard GT can run longer at driving events.

 

[lemers]

I'm still waiting fornsomeonento shownme anything from Ford prior to the owners supplement that excludes the car from the track.

Or something that says track package required for track use.


Naming the car Shelby GT350 and advertising the racing history of that name plate shows that Ford implied that any car that they put the GT350 name on was meant for tracking.

And [MENTION=19066]Epiphany[/MENTION] I gave you a link. Thanks for ignoring information that doesn't support your argument.

 

[Caballus]

Crickets on the "high speeds"...

 

[crazyfish]

I have mentioned this numerous times I think this is a car by car situation since I have personally seen, known and experienced limp mode on all gt350 models.

I have a base and it is mechanically STRONG and PERFORMS with NO Limp mode on the track. Fit, finish and look another story. Yet as of today I know of 1 R sold with these issues and 2 track packs as well. What were the excuses with these supposed extreme high performance track vehicles? We are a very very small sampling of the gt350 issues across the board. I also met a guy with a 17 Lightning blue who went to Elkhart lake and guess what? Limp mode by what he told me. His words were car was running like a raped ape and on 4th lap running 2nd and 3rd gear running constantly over 7000rpms and then all of the sudden it was like he went from a sports car to a bus. his words. He was not happy and I did not want to piss him off anymore than he was so I kept my mouth shut.

That is what I mean. There are a lot of very unhappy gt350 owners no matter what and here is my take on this.

My dealership sold and delivered so far 1 2015, 4 2016 and 3 2017 gt350 allocations. Mine was their second gt350 delivered. This is per dealer and now I know why no one wants to help us.
My car came in for warranty, service, issues etch in April, 2016. Per dealer the first 4 cars before me had weird issues? 2 transmissions replaced or being replaced, 1 engine failure and 1 with fit and finish issues the car got replaced by ford. So if this is true across the board and put in the other 7 guys I know with issues outside of this with 2 guys being taken care of and the others in holding pattern or moving on it tells us something? What? Maybe Ford spent all their allotted warranty money to fix some of these cars and now the rest of us holding the bag? Don't know but just seems like it. I just don't like being mistreated and having ford tell me I'm on my own with this gt350. Also I have this on a voice mail and trying to figure out how to post it on the forum.

Is Ford watching. Yes. But they will not return any calls or messages I have left. Just a great business model? Ignore the customer and maybe they will go away?

Also look at any negative posts from January til may or so and you read bad things happened but things got fixed quickly. Now it seems everything is stagnant on warranty repairs, cooler situation and more. My opinion.

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