2020 GT350R vs 2020 GT500 Track

[honeybadger]

Ah interesting same size rubber and less weight I would think would give the GT350R and advantage.

Yeah...can't say for sure. But I believe it's on bespoke Cup2s, 20in tires, different brakes, and improved ABS (according Billy).

I'd love to drive one to see, tho

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[pilotgore]

I don't think so. The GT500 literally beats the R in every category - turning, stopping and straight away. Add in the DCT to it's already 200 more HP and you'll have a car that puts down power sooner and more efficiently.

I can't think of any conditions where the GT500 will lose to an R drivers/conditions being equal, to be honest.

All that said, meh. I'll take N/A every day. I eat ZL1 1LEs, Z06s, and GT3s for breakfast. I only lose out to ones with really fast drivers and often because of those damn DCTs. I need a sequential

Just curious, with all of the modifications you've done and pieces removed (interior and otherwise), any idea what your car weighs?

 

[honeybadger]

Just curious, with all of the modifications you've done and pieces removed (interior and otherwise), any idea what your car weighs?

I haven't, but I'd guess mid 3500s somewhere. Really do need to weight it

 

[Hack]

Having been in a GT500 they're almost equal in terms of grip to the GT350. The minor weight advantage of the GT350 will help some, but not enough to make up for the extra power in 99% of the situations you'll come across. If you ran a glorified go-kart track and neutered the GT500 by making it run on PS4S tires and gave the GT350R the Cup 2 tires, then maybe you could beat it.

The base GT500 uses PS4S and the GT350R comes from the factory with Cup 2s. In my opinion the GT350R should beat the base GT500 in some situations.

I would think that the CFTP GT500 is faster than the GT350 in almost every situation, though. The DCT automatic transmission should be an advantage on very small short tracks and help the driver get more power down in the GT500 CFTP.

I heard something about the Cup 2s on the GT500 CFTP only being good for 3 laps or so trying to hit top times? Would the same be true of the Cup 2s on the GT350R?

 

[firestarter2]

The base GT500 uses PS4S and the GT350R comes from the factory with Cup 2s. In my opinion the GT350R should beat the base GT500 in some situations.

I would think that the CFTP GT500 is faster than the GT350 in almost every situation, though. The DCT automatic transmission should be an advantage on very small short tracks and help the driver get more power down in the GT500 CFTP.

I heard something about the Cup 2s on the GT500 CFTP only being good for 3 laps or so trying to hit top times? Would the same be true of the Cup 2s on the GT350R?

I dont know about 3 laps but the Cup 2s on the GT350R give their best times when new (like your second session on them) and then slowly fall off.

 

[16Kobra]

Short answer, it can hold its own just fine. The track will matter as some have suggested. Road America is a huge horsepower track whereas, Gingerman Raceway in Michigan is not. Then there is the driver which is the most important factor in the equation. Magazine track times are useless.

Exactly what I was thinking. Alot has to to with driver experience also.

 

[mavisky]

The base GT500 uses PS4S and the GT350R comes from the factory with Cup 2s. In my opinion the GT350R should beat the base GT500 in some situations.

I would think that the CFTP GT500 is faster than the GT350 in almost every situation, though. The DCT automatic transmission should be an advantage on very small short tracks and help the driver get more power down in the GT500 CFTP.

I heard something about the Cup 2s on the GT500 CFTP only being good for 3 laps or so trying to hit top times? Would the same be true of the Cup 2s on the GT350R?

Right, I guess I was comparing the GT350R to the GT500 CFTP. I mean if we're talking track cars we should be comparing the best. My point was to say that the only way you could get the GT350R to win would be to run it against a base car on PS4S and that may be the advantage.

Even a 2020 GT350 on the new FP cup 2 tires would lose to the hp of the GT500 base model in most track configurations I would imagine as the FP Cup 2 tires are closer to the PS4S than they are actual Cup2's.

 

[J_Maher_AMG]

No. Billy Johnson said the GT500 is faster than the R by a couple of seconds. Better braking, lateral grip, and power.

Well, better braking and lateral grip is just about impossible due to basic physics. They wear the same size tires, both ford spec Cup 2’s, yet one weighs in excess of 350-400lbs heavier.

Actual skid pad and braking tests show the R to be superior; the only advantage in this area the 500 will have is in very high speed corners where the extra aero will kick in.

 

[honeybadger]

Well, better braking and lateral grip is just about impossible due to basic physics. They wear the same size tires, both ford spec Cup 2’s, yet one weighs in excess of 350-400lbs heavier.

Actual skid pad and braking tests show the R to be superior; the only advantage in this area the 500 will have is in very high speed corners where the extra aero will kick in.

Do you have stats? I haven't seen any tests, yet, so am just sharing what Billy said.

I can see the 500 out performing the R with better magneride and ABS tuning, brake pad compound changes, etc. Tires being equal, there's still a lot of room to gain with chassis tuning.

 

[firestarter2]

Do you have stats? I haven't seen any tests, yet, so am just sharing what Billy said.

I can see the 500 out performing the R with better magneride and ABS tuning, brake pad compound changes, etc. Tires being equal, there's still a lot of room to gain with chassis tuning.

I feel like FORD is beating the marketing tree. I don't see those changes offsetting 300 lbs. I am sure eventually someone will compare the cars seem still rare and its winter.

 

[mavisky]

I feel like FORD is beating the marketing tree. I don't see those changes offsetting 300 lbs. I am sure eventually someone will compare the cars seem still rare and its winter.

They are on production hold due to the plant being in Michigan and the Cup 2's cracking in cold temps sitting out in the delivery lots and trainyards. I don't think they restart GT500 production until March.

 

[honeybadger]

I feel like FORD is beating the marketing tree. I don't see those changes offsetting 300 lbs. I am sure eventually someone will compare the cars seem still rare and its winter.

Hell, a sway bar change can make the difference. There's so much to chassis setup at the level we're talking about, it's possible. Ford development has the resources to get custom springs, sway bars, pad compounds, tire compounds, ABS, magneride tuning, etc. All that together could most definitely hide the weight better. There's a reason newer cars keep getting heavier, yet stop, turn, and accelerate faster. The development and tech keeps getting better.

I'm not claiming that the 500 IS better at everything because I have no firsthand experience with one, but I can see it. There's so much left in the GT350 chassis for improvement if you have the $$$.

 

[svttim]

Hell, a sway bar change can make the difference. There's so much to chassis setup at the level we're talking about, it's possible. Ford development has the resources to get custom springs, sway bars, pad compounds, tire compounds, ABS, magneride tuning, etc. All that together could most definitely hide the weight better. There's a reason newer cars keep getting heavier, yet stop, turn, and accelerate faster. The development and tech keeps getting better.

I'm not claiming that the 500 IS better at everything because I have no firsthand experience with one, but I can see it. There's so much left in the GT350 chassis for improvement if you have the $$$.

I was told Billy said the CF car was seconds faster then the R. But Hey, Billy is here enough, maybe he will chime in. I agree, springs, sway bars all help but I also agree, physics dont change. My R will receive gears at some point which I believe will make a huge difference. How much? cant say

 

[Hack]

I was told Billy said the CF car was seconds faster then the R. But Hey, Billy is here enough, maybe he will chime in. I agree, springs, sway bars all help but I also agree, physics dont change. My R will receive gears at some point which I believe will make a huge difference. How much? cant say

On the road course (or anywhere else) gears will only help if they get you more into the middle of the power band more often. I think gears can help 0-60 on the GT350 (because 0-30 or so the Voodoo is way out of its power band), but I would be surprised if gears help on the typical road course. Maybe if the specific road course puts you in a poor RPM range and the gears will help you get to higher RPMs.

I guess if there are really tight corners where you want to downshift to 1st, steeper rear gears could help you utilize 2nd gear better?

The GT350 has tall gears and the strategy was to minimize the time lost shifting. I feel it works really well on the road course, but I would be interested to hear your thoughts in more detail.

 

[nastang87xx]

Hell, a sway bar change can make the difference.

I feel like the 350 is one of the very few cars out there that actually has a massively dramatic change in changing out the front sway bar. Like woah...holy hell. I even felt the front end tighten up on the streets on say a curvier onramp.

Most other cars need tire, not giving your chassis and suspension all the Viagra and Cialis you can throw at it like most do.

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