Is there an argument to be made that the 2016 GT350R is more better in some way than the later versions?

[Markmarkmr]

I know it's lauded for its performance on the track but the one issue I can't seem to work around is its overall weight.

Granted, I drove a scion for more than a decade. So that was my frame of reference for a long time. Everything seems easier and more enjoyable with a light car.

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[PP0001]

Google brings up much info from Ford

Your just another great example of someone who believes everything that they read on the internet and has no ownership or practical experience when it comes to these outstanding Mustang GT350/R models.

 

[PP0001]

Anything over 3200 pounds

Did you find that fact on the internet as well therefore it must be true!

 

[IPOGT]

I have to vent.... I think I got caught up in the ethos of this car for a long time and it's taken me years to admit that even the 2020 was just not that fun to drive. The moments at the limit were pretty great, and it pulled enough G forces to physically hurt. But, on cup2's, and at the limit I basically had 36 minutes of fun and then a $2300 bill for new tires which hardly any shop can put on the carbon wheels properly -- and DEFINITELY don't take it to a Ford dealership for that.

On a twisty at slow speeds I don't really get to pick my line like I might've imagined and I'm sitting too high for it to feel like a long and low race car. So, maybe it's time to move on from this platform

I am content with having the car for cars and coffee, but even then, if I don't pick the final two years of it, I'm left with what many buyers would call a ticking time bomb engine. The whole point of having a big name automaker like Ford creating the car was to get something that wouldn't explode itself.

Is anyone else frustrated with this car like I am? I thought about buying a GR86, coming to the conclusion that nothing beats lightweight. But then I missed all of the things about the R and wanted to come back. Now I don't know what to do.

I met a guy that was on his 5th or 6th GT350R and he expressed the idea that he just enjoyed the hunt. He befriended me on a call and then made a detailed case, using my comments from our call, for why I should sell him my 2019 far below the price I had listed at. What kind of owner is this? The worst kind.

I don’t own a 350R, but I do own the Mach 1 and have driven the GT350. I went for the Non HP M1, because on the street, the coyote seemed much more responsive although admittedly less aurally intoxicating. Having owned (and loved)an original early 80’s RX-7, I can relate to your GR86 comment. For me, I found the NON-HP M1 the best middle ground. I do think the GT350 to me, is the best looking S550 though.

 

[KilgoreLSU]

Why not try different tires? Nankang CRS-V2, Goodyear Supercar, RE71s? I run Nankangs and I'll admit, I'm not driving as hard as many others.. Only HPDE2 and learning.. but with a good track alignment, tire pressures, and coaching.. I've run 4 weekends already on them.. At some point we will flip them as they become slicks..

This is running NOLA, Road Atlanta, and Barber during the summer.

 

[BrakeFade]

I had a ‘16 GT350R also and then a ‘19 GT350. The ‘16 R drove better in every way, imo. But from what I’ve read the ‘19-‘20 R had revised knuckles and different suspension tuning that made it better. I’ve never driven one of the “newer” R’s. Now I’m in a ‘23 HP 6MT Mach 1….

 

[Champale]

Just to be clear, only the 2020 GT350R had the revised GT500 style knuckles.

 

[JAJ]

Just to be clear, only the 2020 GT350R had the revised GT500 style knuckles.

And... (IMO) that had nothing to do with improving the handling of the 2020 GT350R, and everything to do with having a very special front knuckle in the FP OEM parts supply chain that would allow GT500 owners to switch to a front knuckle that repositioned the front caliper inward so they could install the smaller GT350 front rotors and run 19" rims all around.

I know it sounds like a conspiracy theory, but then there are just too many coincidences with the FP cars. For instance, if you install a 1.5" (38mm) spacer on the front of a GT350 and bolt on a factory ET62 11" rear rim, you get exactly the same front geometry as you get with a factory GT350R CF front rim. Of course it's completely random...

 

[Hack]

Granted, I drove a scion for more than a decade. So that was my frame of reference for a long time. Everything seems easier and more enjoyable with a light car.

I agree with this, but for regular street driving most modern V8 cars that weigh less than 3,200 lbs feel a bit like a crackerjack box. My 2004 Z06 rode and turned great, but I never thought it would do well in an accident. Even 4 cylinder RWD cars can have a similar feeling. The 944 and GR86 were better structurally, but most vehicles would still squish them due to how low they are.

 

[K4fxd]

Your just another great example of someone who believes everything that they read on the internet and has no ownership or practical experience when it comes to these outstanding Mustang GT350/R models.

Really? These cars are bloated pigs. I never said they weren't fun or great cars.

Now shoo away you pesky fly. Quit getting butt hurt over the truth.

Did you find that fact on the internet as well therefore it must be true!

Why are you so triggered?

OP asked for reasons to like the 15 over a 20

 

[BrakeFade]

Really? These cars are bloated pigs. I never said they weren't fun or great cars.

Now shoo away you pesky fly. Quit getting butt hurt over the truth.


Why are you so triggered?

OP asked for reasons to like the 15 over a 20

Bloated pigs? Yikes. Everything with power is going to be over 3500lbs. The 350R is one of the best handling cars I’ve ever driven. Feels very light for its size. Drives better and has way more power than my old heavily modified ‘95 M3 coupe. But I guess opinions are like assholes. Don’t sleep on the HP Mach 1 either.

 

[K4fxd]

Bloated pigs? Yikes. Everything with power is going to be over 3500lbs

My frame of reference is a Sunbeam Tiger.

Now that is a FUN car and no one would call it a pig.

 

[icecreamtruckz]

Let's hear it. Just as a hypothetical...

I have recently owned a 2019 tramliner GT350R and a 2020 bulldozer GT350R... Now I'm going back to the 2016 because I think I found the right car in the spec that I like.

My 2018 tramlined astonishingly bad when I got it. Used, 18k miles, new nittos in the back, pilot sports up front. It would sway side to side, grab grooves, and honestly was not that fun to drive long distances. The car just wandered all over the damn place, and it wasn’t a light tug. It was strong pull.

Upgraded to 20 inch 6GR R spec wheels, Nitto tires and an alignment and it’s crazy how much better it feels. I no longer have to grip the wheel hard at interstate speeds. It’s normal. It feels like a normal car. It just goes straight.

The car feels better on FP springs and 20 inch wheels than it did factory, by a huge margin. I guess combo of the alignment and odd tire wear was the culprit.

If I hadn’t been able to solve the tramlining, I would have been forced to get rid of it. It was that bad.

 

[wingnutt]

Not gonna lie, my 16R tramlined like a BI-TCH when I first got her!

i tried the BMR chassis brace that did nothing, played with tire pressures that did nothing, then finally dumped the Cup2 tires and all has been well ever since…and I daily this thing all over the country, almost 75k miles of fun on every road imaginable

 

[IPOGT]

I agree with this, but for regular street driving most modern V8 cars that weigh less than 3,200 lbs feel a bit like a crackerjack box. My 2004 Z06 rode and turned great, but I never thought it would do well in an accident. Even 4 cylinder RWD cars can have a similar feeling. The 944 and GR86 were better structurally, but most vehicles would still squish them due to how low they are.

Those RX-7/GR86 type cars are a blast…hella fun to toss around.…

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