Extended Test Drive

[nsquared]

Finally was able to do an extended test drive alone, entire day (without the sales person). It was just myself and my fiancé and I really wanted to get a feel for the car.

Concerns going into buying a GT 5.0:

1. Weight
2. Size

11 inches longer than my current car and weighs like 200lbs more.

The car I'm looking for:

GT350, of course I didn't test drive it but I'm still looking.

What I did drive and may order: '16 GT 5.0 PP manual if I can't find a GT350.

Thoughts/Review:

The car seems to have a lot of environment noise - I can hear everything around me, wasn't a huge fan of that but that could also be the tires. The car also seem very bumpy. The clutch took some time to get used too and the brakes are extremely touchy.

401 package w/ premium does give it a nice interior. I love the Recaro seats and will be definitely getting it as an option. Couldn't use the navigation because it wasn't fully hooked up.

Mods to maybe help with my issues:

Eibach Prokit
Better tires

Overall great experience. Looking to order soon.

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[fionic]

The car seems to have a lot of environment noise - I can hear everything around me, wasn't a huge fan of that but that could also be the tires.

not sure why this is an issue?

The car also seem very bumpy.

what does this mean?

 

[paul123]

The car seems to have a lot of environment noise - I can hear everything around me, wasn't a huge fan of that but that could also be the tires. The car also seem very bumpy. The clutch took some time to get used too and the brakes are extremely touchy.

I think caranddriver publishes dB at idle, acceleration, and highway speed. But you could take your own dB meter along for a test drive. Compare it to your 335i.

Me personally, I wouldn't put a lot of effort into trying to get into a 350. Unless I could get a good deal, I would just do a base GT / PP, and bolt on a ProCharger or equiv.

 

[Zerobar78]

The GT and GT350 are very different cars, options being the same the price points are very different and seems a bit odd to be shopping both I guess. It will be very difficult to secure a test drive of a GT350 of course, definitely recommend getting in one before settling if you're really shopping both.

The PP is a bit bouncy, is has barely enough damping in stock form, good shocks remedy that.

I've found the car to be nice and quiet, but coming from a German it may seem noisy, doubtful its the tires. You can always add some sound deadening if it really bothers you or just upgrade the stereo.

The clutch is not the smoothest to operate, there are multiple thread on here about removing the return spring and helping with consistency.

I have not used Sync 3, can't say whether its a step up or not. Keep in mind Sync 2 is still going to be in the GT350 as I read it, and frankly it doesn't work very well so don't expect too much.

These are are heavy, GT premiums are over 3800lbs. Aftermarket can help a ton there with catback exhausts, carbon fiber driveshafts, lighter wheels etc...

Hope you join the fray soon, these are great cars!

 

[Khyber]

 

[nicnac1020]

Sync 3 works quite well in my gt350. You will like it. Like others have said the gt and gt350 are different animals.

 

[Beetlespin]

:headbonk::frusty::faint:

 

[Hack]

Finally was able to do an extended test drive alone, entire day (without the sales person). It was just myself and my fiancé and I really wanted to get a feel for the car.

Concerns going into buying a GT 5.0:

1. Weight
2. Size

11 inches longer than my current car and weighs like 200lbs more.

The car I'm looking for:

GT350, of course I didn't test drive it but I'm still looking.

What I did drive and may order: '16 GT 5.0 PP manual if I can't find a GT350.

Thoughts/Review:

The car seems to have a lot of environment noise - I can hear everything around me, wasn't a huge fan of that but that could also be the tires. The car also seem very bumpy. The clutch took some time to get used too and the brakes are extremely touchy.

401 package w/ premium does give it a nice interior. I love the Recaro seats and will be definitely getting it as an option. Couldn't use the navigation because it wasn't fully hooked up.

Mods to maybe help with my issues:

Eibach Prokit
Better tires

Overall great experience. Looking to order soon.

You should also compare Camaro and Challenger if you like American muscle. The Camaro is lighter than Mustang without being quite as boxy and plain looking as your BMW. Not sure how loud it is inside. The Challenger is heavier yet, but quiet, very solid seeming and still fast. GT350 has a great performance ride in my opinion. Quite firm but definitely not under-damped (at least with the Magneride). I owned a 2015 non PP GT prior to my GT350, and I thought the ride was really great. The suspension allows more body motion during spirited driving, but I didn't find it excessive or annoying. If you don't like the PP ride you might try a car without it. The brakes in the base GT are still really great.

The newer Fords do have very strong brakes and the initial grab in the performance brakes takes some getting used to.

 

[Chameleon]

.

 

[ForTehNguyen]

youll get used to the touchy brakes in the PP

clutch feel is weird because of the clutch spring which can be removed in about 15 seconds

Yes theres road noise, I upgraded my audio and dont really hear it anymore

 

[Phillip123]

The PP has really light and soft brakes but it is something you get used to as well as the clutch.

 

[CommyO]

not sure why this is an issue?

because a lot road noise is not very pleasant...

what does this mean?

means that it's not a comfortable car to go bumps on...

OP is coming from a beamer

 

[daltron]

youll get used to the touchy brakes in the PP

Yep. People just need to be very gentle at first and they'll immediately pick up the "feel" for it.

 

[bmatt]

The worse problem is if you drive another car after. the first few times I drove my wife's van and my accord while I was selling it I felt like the brakes were not working!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ForTehNguyen]

Yep. People just need to be very gentle at first and they'll immediately pick up the "feel" for it.

now when I drive other cars, the pedals feel like absolute mush

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