PP vs. no PP - how much $ is too much?

[BmacIL]

I test drove a few GT's without the performance pack and then a couple with it. Night and day difference. The non PP really felt so loose and boatlike. With the PP is what convinced me to buy the car. Gears make a massive difference as the car without them did not feel very fast(I know it's more of a feel then actually being faster by a lot) Handling felt a ton better as well. Of course you can upgrade stock suspension to be better but the package comes with so many upgrades that it is completely worth it! Brakes felt a ton better and perform a lot better than stock ones according to 60-0 numbers I've seen and of course if you ever track the car it will perform much better!

I got the non-PP and my reasons were this:
Can use 18" wheels for winter tires (MUCH cheaper winters)
3.31 gears - it's my DD and it's more relaxed driving and better FE

That said, my only regret is not getting the PP. I took one home overnight about one month after getting mine, and it really is a night and day difference. It makes the car much sharper and focused without being harsh. I am gradually making improvements in the suspension to get it close and still a very nice DD.

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[l2frankie]

Can't go wrong with the pp.

 

[Asonitez]

imho If I could drive manual then I would have got PP/Premium if that was an option. Thats literally the best combo EVER. All the parts, all the perks, all the goodies. Since I dont drive manual I got the GT Premium. Never looked back. I plan to paint my calipers, and added the Kbrace and other stuff cheap. I'm much happier. If you want manual then PP is a no brainer.

 

[Higgs Boson]

Here's my two cents:

Buying a package like PP and only driving the car on the street to work and the grocery store is a total waste.

Buying a package like PP and planning to drag race the car on the weekends is a total waste.

Buying a package like PP and planning to put it on the road course is sort of a waste unless you want to keep your car bone stock because starting without PP and upgrading will cost more but result in a MUCH better overall package.

I am not a big fan of factory "performance packages" that are basically just upgraded parts swapped out. Moving to a GT350 with Magneride and a totally different engine, etc is another story.....I wouldn't buy the R. ;-)

Understand what your goals are. I got a Premium auto without the PP and it rides a little rough over anything but smooth roads, maybe because I got the 20s....If you are going to drive it to work every day I would not be concerned about not having PP.

 

[Moddiction]

Here's my two cents:

Buying a package like PP and only driving the car on the street to work and the grocery store is a total waste.

Buying a package like PP and planning to drag race the car on the weekends is a total waste.

Buying a package like PP and planning to put it on the road course is sort of a waste unless you want to keep your car bone stock because starting without PP and upgrading will cost more but result in a MUCH better overall package.

I am not a big fan of factory "performance packages" that are basically just upgraded parts swapped out. Moving to a GT350 with Magneride and a totally different engine, etc is another story.....I wouldn't buy the R. ;-)

Understand what your goals are. I got a Premium auto without the PP and it rides a little rough over anything but smooth roads, maybe because I got the 20s....If you are going to drive it to work every day I would not be concerned about not having PP.

How is it a waste? You get better wheels/tires, better brakes(mostly noticed on track but have much better initial bite) gears make a HUGE difference around town and for fun factor and handling feels like a completely different car compared to without the PP.

 

[Higgs Boson]

How is it a waste? You get better wheels/tires, better brakes(mostly noticed on track but have much better initial bite) gears make a HUGE difference around town and for fun factor and handling feels like a completely different car compared to without the PP.

Better wheels and tires is a subjective statement. Personally, I prefer the 20s look to the 19s. I am over black wheels as well. Not to mention the PP wheels are heavy, 32 and 33 lbs??? Yikes. To me, a Performance Package should provide some benefit.....How about a 20 lb wheel? So the wheels are nothing better than any other stock factory wheel

The brakes make no difference on the street, as you said, noticed on the track. Not to mention as I said, you can do much better with an aftermarket set. The suspension on the street does nothing but ride rougher. I promise you will not find the limit of the regular suspension on your way to work.

You can get gears al a carte. I also like gears, I got the 3.55s with mine, although it shifts out of first way too fast, IMO so it's not all blue skies with them either.

 

[benni302]

OP, all of this information is subjective to each individual user's likes/dislikes. The only advice i can give you is to determine your end goal, drive both cars and form your own decision. I personally drove both cars and decided to go with the PP because of the extra goodies you get for the little extra added cost, $2500ish as mentioned by others, it's a no brainer. For me, the only extras i wanted were window tint, cat-back exhaust and lowering springs. The car is a very capable and fun car to drive; doesn't really need much else.

 

[BmacIL]

Better wheels and tires is a subjective statement. Personally, I prefer the 20s look to the 19s. I am over black wheels as well. Not to mention the PP wheels are heavy, 32 and 33 lbs??? Yikes. To me, a Performance Package should provide some benefit.....How about a 20 lb wheel? So the wheels are nothing better than any other stock factory wheel

The brakes make no difference on the street, as you said, noticed on the track. Not to mention as I said, you can do much better with an aftermarket set. The suspension on the street does nothing but ride rougher. I promise you will not find the limit of the regular suspension on your way to work.

You can get gears al a carte. I also like gears, I got the 3.55s with mine, although it shifts out of first way too fast, IMO so it's not all blue skies with them either.

Even if you aren't hitting the limits on a daily drive, it is a more fun drive than a non-PP car. If you're geographically blessed, you can also then take it to some great driving roads and have a lot of fun at 7-9 tenths. The PP is absolutely worth it for anyone that enjoys anything more than straight line performance or cruising.

 

[Higgs Boson]

Even if you aren't hitting the limits on a daily drive, it is a more fun drive than a non-PP car. If you're geographically blessed, you can also then take it to some great driving roads and have a lot of fun at 7-9 tenths. The PP is absolutely worth it for anyone that enjoys anything more than straight line performance or cruising.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion even if I don't agree.

This is why they sell packages like this, there are people who want them. Like I said before, if you want to keep your car stock, and there are lots of people that do, but you want an upgrade (perceived or not) over the base parts, then buy the PP.

I make the same argument on the Corvette forum about the Z51. I bought a base and installed coilovers, a stroker motor, a supercharger, wheels, etc etc. I saved like 8 or 10K by not getting the Z51 and then replacing all the parts it gives you. I made that mistake on my Z06. Once is enough.;)

 

[Socalmustang]

I got the PP and only use it for DD. Wheels and brakes sold me on it alone. Right or wrong is subjective to the buyer.

Ultimatelty, the PP is worth it! Look at how many people have it and how many people are still satisified.

I have not seen very much buyers remorse.

 

[Moddiction]

Rear end and brakes make up the $2500 option easily. The rest as said before i just a bonus. I 100% notice the difference compared to stock brakes when in the performance package. Much better bite it feels like and if ever doing aggressive mountain roads or track they will be a huge plus.
3.77 gears are only available on the PP as well as having a better performing torsen diff which you can feel on the street doing spirited driving. Much more expensive to add brakes and diff after the fact compared to coming with the kit.
Suspension bits sure you can improve them with aftermarket but it will cost you a lot more money and your cars value won't increase at all by adding them. PP model will be worth more than a non PP model come resale time.

 

[blk_5.0]

I got the PP and only use it for DD. Wheels and brakes sold me on it alone. Right or wrong is subjective to the buyer.

Ultimatelty, the PP is worth it! Look at how many people have it and how many people are still satisified.

I have not seen very much buyers remorse.

Same here-DD, no track duty etc. Base PP with Recaros and absolutely no regrets....even tho the brakes dust a ton I think they are my favorite part of the car. I actually don't love the wheels only because they have like 50 spokes a piece lol. Thinking I may get some MRRs in the spring when the winter wheels come off :clap2:

 

[mikeyjobu]

Here's my two cents:

Buying a package like PP and only driving the car on the street to work and the grocery store is a total waste.

Buying a package like PP and planning to drag race the car on the weekends is a total waste.

Buying a package like PP and planning to put it on the road course is sort of a waste unless you want to keep your car bone stock because starting without PP and upgrading will cost more but result in a MUCH better overall package.

I am not a big fan of factory "performance packages" that are basically just upgraded parts swapped out. Moving to a GT350 with Magneride and a totally different engine, etc is another story.....I wouldn't buy the R. ;-)

Understand what your goals are. I got a Premium auto without the PP and it rides a little rough over anything but smooth roads, maybe because I got the 20s....If you are going to drive it to work every day I would not be concerned about not having PP.

In my opinion, for the performance potential you gain, a mere $2500 (~2200 on X-plan), not a penny is wasted. The performance pack is for a street car: Not a drag pack, not a circuit setup -- a street performance package that makes the car a little better on twisty roads, and at stoplights. I don't disagree that the overall thrust of the package lends itself to a circuit versus other forms of racing -- if I were a "serious" drag racer, I'd buy a base GT automatic with 3.55's.

For a $2500 up charge, you're not going to get all the goodies and have forged -- or even rotary forged/flow-formed Forgestar-type -- wheels included.

While I'm not a huge fan of the Pirelli's on the PP, they're still a better performance tire than the all-seasons you'd typically find on non-PP cars.

There's a few threads out there comparing the GT350 to a regular GT -- they're both tremendous values, and for the money, I don't think you can do better than the GT350 -- but you can probably get to a very streetable 90% solution for a very reasonable sum -- it's already within 40hp of 90% power-wise.

My biggest knock on the car is how dumb trackapps is -- I need a vbox sport or similar...

 

[Higgs Boson]

Yeah man, I do have a VBox Sport and it's worth every penny!

 

[mikeyjobu]

OP: option for option, don't pay more than $2250 for the PP -- if they want to stick you with $4500 more, find another dealer. The PP is great -- but I would pound sand and never deal with a dealership playing games like that.

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