Poll: Is a GT500 an upgrade over a GT350?

[HoldenSSVandGT350]

Gets mad about me making fun of VooDoos exploding and burning oil... gets a 6 year extended warranty for when his engine blows up

I’ll paraphrase Shakespeare here - “My man doth protest too much methinks.”

I buy extended warranties for any car I intend to keep, especially ones that are totally out of factory coverage. Would have bought the same warranty for the Mach 1 I was considering, or the ZL-1 for that matter. Did the same thing for my lightly modded SS Sedan.

But, you do you my man.

It’s ok. You made the “safe” play. That’s cool. I rip to 8250 and the unholy Voodoo sound on the daily. Especially with the R-style resonator delete X.

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[PP0001]

I spent several months there researching daily as I made my decision between the two cars. I saw constant discussions about it. You can deflect but we all know the reason he got the extra warranty was because of the ticking time bomb under the hood.

It was just over 11 years ago that I ordered a 2015 Shelby GT350 Track Pack car (F0077) in Shadow Black and 2 months later I ordered a 2016 Shelby GT350R (GR107) Base model in Shadow black and just a few months after that I was able to order a 2017 Shelby GT350R (HR019) Base model in Ruby Red.

Took delivery of those 3 vehicles during the first 7 months of 2016 but during that time I was also fortunate to have been invited to test drive some 2016 GT350 Track Pack and GT350R pre-production models in October 2015 at the Sebring International Raceway.

During 2015/2016 I was also able to also attend some MCA events after which time I met with many fellow Shelby GT350/R friends, fellow enthusiasts and numerous Ford Performance employees.

Based on many meetings/discussions during that time I wanted to educate myself and to fully understand some of the circumstances that centered around some of the early FPC engine failures many of which I came to find out were without question due to ownership neglect and/or abuse one of which took place with a close friend of mine.

When looking at your recent comments you obviously have lots to say about some 5.2L FPC engine failures therefore would like to hear about your ownership experiences and/or what sources of information that you rely on for the 24,219 GT350/R examples built over the 6-year production run all of which came with a "ticking time bomb under the hood"?

 

[mavisky]

See, you just named two of the best things about the car to me.

Notice I still have mine LOL, it's not an imperfect car, but it is a blast to own and drive. Be that as it may, I've said since day one on this forum that if Ford had put the DCT into this car with a tight gear spacing I'd have bought it that way over the manual.

 

[Hack]

I would have considered a GT500 if a manual transmission were available.

 

[Ninjak]

I would have considered a GT500 if a manual transmission were available.

Well.......technically a DCT is a manual transmission that is automated ....But understood, you want the MAN pedal!

That is why I sold my GT500 and now have my DH. Love my Tremec 3160.

 

[Cobra99]

A lot of the reasons mentioned seems to be preference and not based on facts

Reliability- goes to GT500. Not to harp but the issues regarding oil consumption and all doesn't help the GT350
Performance- goes to GT500. Some could argue handling is in question but I don't think it is and I would like someone to prove that the GT350 is a better performer
Transmission-goes to the GT500. This is subjective as to a stick or the DCT. once you take this out of the picture The DCT wins hand down.
Drivability This is the most subjective and isn't a metric when it come to the question of a upgrade. Yes do I prefer to drive a stick, but that is a preference and not a metric determining if this is a upgrade.

The GT350 is a great machine, but when compared, the reality is the GT500 is a better machine some could say the GT500 is just a more powerful GT350

 

[Whitedevil95]

Dang Team Shelby came out with the Thunder to protect their Voodoos legacy, very commendable boys.

Dont forget to check your oil levels BEFORE every drive!! Oh and let it fully warm up before you take it out

And never forget that the GT500 is a superior car(upgrade) to yours

 

[BlkMach10510]

Dang Team Shelby came out with the Thunder to protect their Voodoos legacy, very commendable boys.

Dont forget to check your oil levels BEFORE every drive!! Oh and let it fully warm up before you take it out

And never forget that the GT500 is a superior car(upgrade) to yours

Who created the voodoo engine, Ford or Shelby?

 

[Whitedevil95]

Who created the voodoo engine, Ford or Shelby?

Voodoo is entirely developed by Ford. Which is why the new non ford shelby mustangs just have Whipple Coyotes. When I said "Team Shelby" i was referring to all the 350 owners on this forum.

And in case anyone is wondering I have no personal beef with the Voodoo or the 350s I think its badass that ford made that move and tried the FPC engine out. Very unique and cool, sounds badass. I just think its funny how wound up these 350 guys get about it, cant even see that there are known flaws with this FPC experiment. Even to the point that they think their 350s are superior to 500s. Its a little comical.

 

[Mikepol2]

I think the most objective possible answer to the Voodoo reliability debate is the fact that FORD DOESN'T SELL A CAR WITH A VOODOO OR ANY FPC VARIANT ANYMORE. If it was as great as people want to make it out to be, Ford would know they could make a fortune selling them.

 

[MAGS1]

I think the most objective possible answer to the Voodoo reliability debate is the fact that FORD DOESN'T SELL A CAR WITH A VOODOO OR ANY FPC VARIANT ANYMORE. If it was as great as people want to make it out to be, Ford would know they could make a fortune selling them.

OR, Ford/Ford Performance wanted to keep it unique to quite possibly the last Shelby GT350 they manufacture. There is no guarantee that Ford goes back to Shelby to revive their licensing agreement, in fact all evidence to the contrary with them building on the Dark Horse platform.

I don’t think anyone denies that the Voodoo has more issues than the Coyote, that’s inherent with FPC’s in general. To say they are all ticking time bombs is ludicrous though. There are several high mileage examples here and probably many more that aren’t on this forum.

I watch the 350 market pretty closely, when cars come up for sale they don’t usually last long (even cars that have an accident history). People want them. That tells me everything I need to know about whether they’re afraid of the Voodoo or not.

 

[HoldenSSVandGT350]

A lot of the reasons mentioned seems to be preference and not based on facts

Reliability- goes to GT500. Not to harp but the issues regarding oil consumption and all doesn't help the GT350
Performance- goes to GT500. Some could argue handling is in question but I don't think it is and I would like someone to prove that the GT350 is a better performer
Transmission-goes to the GT500. This is subjective as to a stick or the DCT. once you take this out of the picture The DCT wins hand down.
Drivability This is the most subjective and isn't a metric when it come to the question of a upgrade. Yes do I prefer to drive a stick, but that is a preference and not a metric determining if this is a upgrade.

The GT350 is a great machine, but when compared, the reality is the GT500 is a better machine some could say the GT500 is just a more powerful GT350

The poll asked if the 500 was an upgrade to the 350, that’s it. No defining criteria, no objective data requirements, no metric, nothing, zilch, nada. You added defining criteria/metrics yourself because that’s how you personally define “upgrade”. And that’s cool too. But, users like myself who specifically demand a manual transmission, and/or, the absolute craziness of 8250rpm and the totally unique, metallic hammering Voodoo sound answered “No”. Not right or wrong - Is.

 

[MAGS1]

Dang Team Shelby came out with the Thunder to protect their Voodoos legacy, very commendable boys.

Dont forget to check your oil levels BEFORE every drive!! Oh and let it fully warm up before you take it out

And never forget that the GT500 is a superior car(upgrade) to yours

I check the oil levels on my Coyote frequently and I let the oil get up to temp before I drive more spiritedly. That’s just good practice with performance engines in general. And there are lots of Coyote owners that take the same approach and have said as much here. You going to laugh at all of us too?

 

[Whitedevil95]

The poll asked if the 500 was an upgrade to the 350, that’s it. No defining criteria, no objective data requirements, no metric, nothing, zilch, nada. You added defining criteria/metrics yourself because that’s how you personally define “upgrade”. And that’s cool too. But, users like myself who specifically demand a manual transmission, and/or, the absolute craziness of 8250rpm and the totally unique, metallic hammering Voodoo sound answered “No”. Not right or wrong - Is.

This has no logic to it. Like I said earlier you are just in your feels. By what your saying a guy in a 2007 Honda Civic could say your shelby isnt an upgrade to his junk becuase he like the sound of the 4 cyl vtec and its much smaller and lighter than your shelby and is a more raw experience. Even though we all know the answer. Just like in this case... We all know the answer some just cant admit it.

 

[Mach 307]

Haven’t checked this thread in a week or so, as expected…

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