Anyone consider or come from a C7 Grandsport or Hellcat?

[pdac]

Hello! I'm currently in the market for a new car. I'm between a GT350, a slightly used Corvette Grandsport or a Hellcat. Does anyone have experience with these? I currently own a C6 Grandsport and like it but I've also owned several Mustang GTs and liked them as well. I'm (obviously) not a diehard for any specific brand, I just love cars and all three offer great options. I know this is the GT350 forum so I expect some bias but I'm not looking for any "rustang" or other types of responses. All three are objectively good cars and price was are pretty much in the same ballpark. This would just be a fun weekend car (I'm on the road during the week) and may see a track but very infrequently.
Thanks!

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[Lorne34]

three very different cars.. obviously the Dodge is going to feel and be the largest of the bunch. If you go on You Tube and search for Women Driven- she owns a 350, a hell cat and I believe a corvette ZL1 (i know you are looking at a grand sport), her videos should give you some good comparisons between the cars.
The Shelby is going to be a high rev vehicle with very little torque down low, at least until you reach 3500-4k rpm. So if you want stop light to light performance the 350 will not be it. It is an incredibly balanced vehicle that can handle the twisties and rewards you for revving it out.
There are also some good comparison videos from Motor Trend on the net as well.
I'm sure there are other guys that may respond with more of a first person opinion having owned the other models.

 

[Norm Aspir8d]

I'm in the same predicament, although the Hellcat is not on my list. I've found that there seems to be quite a bit of downward price pressure on new 2019 GT350 and C7 GS, so the timing is good right now. More so on the GS because of inventory, and the new C8 I guess. I think both cars would bring a lot of driving pleasure, but after reading many posts and watching youtube videos on the FPC Voodoo engine, I would be slightly more paranoid to own the GT350. On the positive side, I think that the GT350 holds more long-term value if you plan to keep it. My wife likes the GS better, so I have to contend with that. Whatever you decide, do it with no regrets.

 

[pdac]

I'm in the same predicament, although the Hellcat is not on my list. I've found that there seems to be quite a bit of downward price pressure on new 2019 GT350 and C7 GS, so the timing is good right now. More so on the GS because of inventory, and the new C8 I guess. I think both cars would bring a lot of driving pleasure, but after reading many posts and watching youtube videos on the FPC Voodoo engine, I would be slightly more paranoid to own the GT350. On the positive side, I think that the GT350 holds more long-term value if you plan to keep it. My wife likes the GS better, so I have to contend with that. Whatever you decide, do it with no regrets.

Sounds like we are thinking the same way. I'm starting to see well optioned low mileage Grand Sports for right at $50k. I love both cars (the Hellcat was not really an option but just recently they have been marked down about $14k around me). I really go back and forth but the C7 is winning if only because of the durability of the LS engine (I also love the looks of the C7 Grand Sport). Agree that the Shelby will likely hold it's value a bit better but it will probably be fairly negligible. I also really like the low end torque of the C7 but I love the sound and handling of the Shelby. I'm going to give it another month or two and decide. All in all there are worse decisions to have to make.

 

[pdac]

Forgot to mention that I'm also seeing 2013-14 GT500s with low (less than 15k) miles going for low 40s so they are in the running too. Since I won't be doing any serious racing, the one thing (other than engine concerns) holding me back on the GT350 is the lack of low end torque.

 

[Lorne34]

Forgot to mention that I'm also seeing 2013-14 GT500s with low (less than 15k) miles going for low 40s so they are in the running too. Since I won't be doing any serious racing, the one thing (other than engine concerns) holding me back on the GT350 is the lack of low end torque.

If you drive a 350 you will most likely pass on the older GT500's... at least that has been my experience with guys comparing the two. It's a tough decision, but man, when Motor Trend puts the 2019 350 behind only the Porsche 911 for best drivers car it has to make you pause....it's what made me take the leap...

https://www.motortrend.com/news/201...XleOYHAlSMVKFObtNh_7HMEuyuxsR_YlUbfANAaHYBpDY


https://www.caranddriver.com/review...d-mustang-shelby-gt350-vs-porsche-718-cayman/

 

[thill444]

I owned a C7 Z51 with magride, so very close to a GS:
- GT350 is more comfortable and spacious. With backseats it’s more practical. It feels more solid and when in 6th gear or chaise on normal setting the car has less road noise.
- GT350 manual is better than the C7 gearbox.
- Vodoo engine for the win with higher rev range
- Vodoo engine exhaust sounds better than C7

Corvette pros:
- Both cars look good to me, but the GS is more supercar looking.
- Corvette has more accessible torque
- Some of the options like HUD and PDR are very slick and nice to have
-

 

[slogan8r]

for what its worth, at the dealer by me (Pittsburgh) someone traded a 2017 GS LT2 for a 2019 GT350. I dont know who it was.

 

[pdac]

If you drive a 350 you will most likely pass on the older GT500's... at least that has been my experience with guys comparing the two. It's a tough decision, but man, when Motor Trend puts the 2019 350 behind only the Porsche 911 for best drivers car it has to make you pause....it's what made me take the leap...

https://www.motortrend.com/news/201...XleOYHAlSMVKFObtNh_7HMEuyuxsR_YlUbfANAaHYBpDY


https://www.caranddriver.com/review...d-mustang-shelby-gt350-vs-porsche-718-cayman/

Awesome. Thanks for the links. Good reading!

 

[pdac]

I owned a C7 Z51 with magride, so very close to a GS:
- GT350 is more comfortable and spacious. With backseats it’s more practical. It feels more solid and when in 6th gear or chaise on normal setting the car has less road noise.
- GT350 manual is better than the C7 gearbox.
- Vodoo engine for the win with higher rev range
- Vodoo engine exhaust sounds better than C7

Corvette pros:
- Both cars look good to me, but the GS is more supercar looking.
- Corvette has more accessible torque
- Some of the options like HUD and PDR are very slick and nice to have
-

I agree with all of these points. I love the look of the GT350 but it doesn't really stand out in a sea of mustangs (which also look great).

I've got my eyes on a fully loaded black GS in black with yellow/white trim and it really does look unique. I do REALLY want that Voodoo engine though. I just wish it had more torque down low to better suit my needs. It's crazy but I'm tempted to buy the GT350 just for the sounds it makes. I currently have a 2012 GS and, while I really enjoy it, holy crap is the interior garbage. It looks like it came straight out of 1988.

 

[thill444]

I agree with all of these points. I love the look of the GT350 but it doesn't really stand out in a sea of mustangs (which also look great).

I've got my eyes on a fully loaded black GS in black with yellow/white trim and it really does look unique. I do REALLY want that Voodoo engine though. I just wish it had more torque down low to better suit my needs. It's crazy but I'm tempted to buy the GT350 just for the sounds it makes. I currently have a 2012 GS and, while I really enjoy it, holy crap is the interior garbage. It looks like it came straight out of 1988.

Not crazy at all. The high rev range and exhaust note is what sold me. I had a C8 deposit down and cancelled it after seeing and sitting in it in person and realizing I was not ready to give up the manual.

Honest opinion? You can’t go wrong with either car but if you do get the GS make sure it’s the manual. The A8 is garbage.

 

[pilotgore]

Hello! I'm currently in the market for a new car. I'm between a GT350, a slightly used Corvette Grandsport or a Hellcat. Does anyone have experience with these? I currently own a C6 Grandsport and like it but I've also owned several Mustang GTs and liked them as well. I'm (obviously) not a diehard for any specific brand, I just love cars and all three offer great options. I know this is the GT350 forum so I expect some bias but I'm not looking for any "rustang" or other types of responses. All three are objectively good cars and price was are pretty much in the same ballpark. This would just be a fun weekend car (I'm on the road during the week) and may see a track but very infrequently.
Thanks!

I have a C7 Z06, which I track, and I just bought a '19 GT350, which I will track this spring. As others have said, very different animals. The corvette is a beast on the track, and I've ridden in several unmodified grand sports at the track which were also amazing. For everyday driving I dont particularly enjoy the low amounts of cargo room in the vette, as well as how low it sits. I enjoy driving the mustang around town much more than the corvette. . . theres just something about it. Also, the flat plane crank sounds absolutely ridiculous when downshifting.

I dont think you can go wrong with either, but if I could only pick one, I would probably go with the mustang.

 

[Deleted member 37397]

I considered a corvette, my wife said what are you doing? You’re a mustang guy. And I only see old men in corvettes. I laughed, I said well I’m a car guy, but yeah. So here we are. Shelby it was to be.

 

[NC252]

I owned a C7 Z51 with magride, so very close to a GS:
- GT350 is more comfortable and spacious. With backseats it’s more practical. It feels more solid and when in 6th gear or chaise on normal setting the car has less road noise.
- GT350 manual is better than the C7 gearbox.
- Vodoo engine for the win with higher rev range
- Vodoo engine exhaust sounds better than C7

Corvette pros:
- Both cars look good to me, but the GS is more supercar looking.
- Corvette has more accessible torque
- Some of the options like HUD and PDR are very slick and nice to have
-

I agree with this as a previous Z06 Owner, I cant belive FORD didn't include a PDR or HUD. I wish they would have even included the digital dash on the 2019-2020 models like on the GT500

Not crazy at all. The high rev range and exhaust note is what sold me. I had a C8 deposit down and cancelled it after seeing and sitting in it in person and realizing I was not ready to give up the manual.

Honest opinion? You can’t go wrong with either car but if you do get the GS make sure it’s the manual. The A8 is garbage.

Agreed, I just sold my Z06 with an A8 and I always wish I had the manual.

I have a C7 Z06, which I track, and I just bought a '19 GT350, which I will track this spring. As others have said, very different animals. The corvette is a beast on the track, and I've ridden in several unmodified grand sports at the track which were also amazing. For everyday driving I don't particularly enjoy the low amounts of cargo room in the vette, as well as how low it sits. I enjoy driving the mustang around town much more than the corvette. . . theres just something about it. Also, the flat plane crank sounds absolutely ridiculous when downshifting.

I don't think you can go wrong with either, but if I could only pick one, I would probably go with the mustang.

I've been looking for a great comparison like this. I just sold my C7 ZO6 and have been looking at the GT350 and GT Mustangs with a PP1 and was wondering if I would regret buying either one.

 

[proeagles]

I came from a C7 A8 and the auto is not all it's cracked up to be so don't get an auto. The reason I left the C7 was build quality. I've owned two and both rattled (not buzzed) like crazy. They never could fix the top on the first and the second came with a rattle in the dash that was never fixed. Having said that, the car handles awesome and gets great gas mileage because of the cylinder deactivation. I got 32mpg on the highway and averaged 24 overall. My GT350 has never seen 20mpg and I average 16.5 for the most part. The GT350 is a different animal, one that I like because of the manual trans and yes, that noise of the engine at full song and all the burble and crackle around town.

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