What’s better Boss 302 or a GT350?

[mustang88_cars]

Damn statistics. Lets assume that there are ten engine replacements for every high mileage cars. There is a small percentage of GT350s that have been driven with high milage. I was told by someone within Ford, the failure rates for the 15-18 where twice what a Coyote was, Four to two. The 19/20 cars were the same as the coyote. This does not take into account the issues that were caused by the supplier in the 19 run. And I cannot reveal the source, They want to be employed.


I also remember Boss motors going kaboom early in the run.

I’m not familiar with the supplier issues with the 19 run. Was that with the coyote or Voodoo? What were the issues? Genuinely curious about this.

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[Nate22]

80k mile 2016 gt350 checking in

 

[svttim]

I’m not familiar with the supplier issues with the 19 run. Was that with the coyote or Voodoo? What were the issues? Genuinely curious about this.

Valves dropping. Traced to the supplier

 

[mustang88_cars]

Valves dropping. Traced to the supplier

With the Vudoo or Coyote?

 

[svttim]

With the Vudoo or Coyote?

Voodo

 

[Kachow]

I went to go buy a GHIG 13 Boss 302 but then drove the 350. They are both awesome in their own right but different cars.

Go test drive a 350!!! Different sound, feel, and torque.

.

I’m contemplating selling my 2012 Boss 302 that I’ve owned since new. I’d like to replace that with a GT 350. I’ve read many different takes but I’m torn if it’s worth the money? Power? Seems like the Boss is better on street. I’m old, more of a car show type than a track guy. I like spirited driving but don’t need to be in competition at 71. Any owners here that have had both cars?

 

[9secondko]

Can't speak firsthand in terms of ownership, but my dad's neighbor owns both. Both brand new when he bought them. The Boss is unfortunately in bad shape after years of neglect (I'll never understand how this person - a super nice guy btw - gets some of these amazing cars, only to let them sit outside under car covers, dying slow deaths, but moving on...). I rode in the Boss when he first got it. Was pretty great actually. Sounded rad, booked it, and felt very put together compared to my brother's S197 GT. The exhaust close to the doors sounded extra special too. The GT350 on the other hand is a wild animal. Sounds like you just woke up some monster from across the ocean, feels way more put together than the Boss (both feel visceral, but the GT350 feels like there is much more engineering precision going on - even when you're not driving it fast), feels way faster than the Boss, but has a sort of low end feel like my old Terminator Cobra when it was stock. I liked the Boss about the same in that regard - at the low end. But midrange and above, the GT350 will make you forget all about the Boss. My dad lives in the mountains, so there are a lot of curves. You feel a bit more challenged around the curves in the Boss than the 350, which takes them like nothing. Its probably has much to do with that.

 

[btown93]

owned both since new and loved both. GT350 far superior in almost every way especially out of the box. Boss needed some modifications for track use, transmission and brakes are not comparable to GT350. GT350 feels more European, and has its own character. IMO still the best looking and sounding mustang ever made. Boss is more old school and feels more like a race car. Fortunately I did not have any major issues with either car. My early 17 has over 75k on it (original engine). I will say, just on the whole voodoo thing, I've had a lot of mustangs over the years and unfortunately for GT350, This is the first car I've owned where there has been so many negative experiences and drama. Back in the Boss days the issues and owner complaints were almost all transmission/clutch and brake related. I think no matter what anyone says, the voodoo is a "thing". Either you can live with it, or you can't. My dealership was installing a new engine in a 2016 when mine was being built, which didn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling. I think back to those times early in GT350 era where people discussed oil brands, oil temps, oil pump gears, panel gaps, oil filters falling off... a/c compressors and all that. This was all part of the GT350 experience that was not part of Boss 302. I would say for me GT350 was love hate. Loved the car, but hated the reputation and drama that came with it. (Why do I instinctively look at the oil pressure gauge when I'm trying to enjoy a nice drive??) Its also the only car I can think of where its considered "good" to have had an engine replacement. Both have their pluses and minuses.

 

[CorralesR]

Have to remember that Ford produced almost 4 times as many 16 to 18 cars compared to the 19 and 20. So failure rates will seem much higher on the early cars. After owning one of these for several years now, I think I will always have one in the garage. If an issue arises, I'll deal with it. I really dont like the S650 cars. And while I do like the Boss cars, the GT350 just far surpasses it in my opinion.

 

[icecreamtruckz]

I always feel the same way with these comparisons. In my opinion, there is nothing better than the GT350. It really is that good.

If you took any one piece away, it would be far less magical than it is. But with everything put together, the car is just perfect. It’s perfect for me. If I had to draw a car from the ground up and it was just for me, it would be the GT350.

It’s hard to explain until you drive one. I have driven hundreds of cars. Really good ones. I have owned dozens of good ones. And the GT350 fits right at the top with the F430 Scuderia and E46 M3 as far as driving feel goes.

You have to drive one. Words can’t it justice. Ford just got really lucky and hit everything perfect for this car. As good as the engine is, the chassis is just as good. It feels wonderful balanced and it is not hard to steer with the throttle. I do not get snap oversteer.

I will have this car forever. I just know no matter what else I get, I am going to wish I still had this car in the garage.

 

[wingnutt]

I always feel the same way with these comparisons. In my opinion, there is nothing better than the GT350. It really is that good.

If you took any one piece away, it would be far less magical than it is. But with everything put together, the car is just perfect. It’s perfect for me. If I had to draw a car from the ground up and it was just for me, it would be the GT350.

It’s hard to explain until you drive one. I have driven hundreds of cars. Really good ones. I have owned dozens of good ones. And the GT350 fits right at the top with the F430 Scuderia and E46 M3 as far as driving feel goes.

You have to drive one. Words can’t it justice. Ford just got really lucky and hit everything perfect for this car. As good as the engine is, the chassis is just as good. It feels wonderful balanced and it is not hard to steer with the throttle. I do not get snap oversteer.

I will have this car forever. I just know no matter what else I get, I am going to wish I still had this car in the garage.

lol, could not have said it better myself…and I’m not necessarily a Mustang guy, as much as a ford guy

 

[Revan9]

68k on my daily driver 2016 Track Pack, I love the car but it does come with drama, I'm obsessive about temperature, oil pressure and levels. I wouldn't realistically trade it for another vehicle though, it's too much fun.

Earlier someone mentioned the race car FR350 I believe it was called didn't come with the FPC, but I thought 2016 and 2016 did before switching to CPC afterwards.

 

[svttim]

68k on my daily driver 2016 Track Pack, I love the car but it does come with drama, I'm obsessive about temperature, oil pressure and levels. I wouldn't realistically trade it for another vehicle though, it's too much fun.

Earlier someone mentioned the race car FR350 I believe it was called didn't come with the FPC, but I thought 2016 and 2016 did before switching to CPC afterwards.

The first FR350 was a flat crank. Won the championship

 

[PP0001]

68k on my daily driver 2016 Track Pack, I love the car but it does come with drama, I'm obsessive about temperature, oil pressure and levels. I wouldn't realistically trade it for another vehicle though, it's too much fun.

Earlier someone mentioned the race car FR350 I believe it was called didn't come with the FPC, but I thought 2016 and 2016 did before switching to CPC afterwards.

I know that the 2017 cars came with a 5.2 CPC engine and did not employ the 5.2 FPC engine.

 

[Hack]

In my opinion, the GT350 is a no brainer in this comparison if you are using either lightly as a street car.

The GT350 rides better. It's not even close. The SRA Mustangs (especially the Boss) have very stiff suspension and they skip around over rough pavement. The GT350 handles better. The suspension is more compliant but also grips more effectively in corners, especially on rougher pavement.

The brake feel on the GT350 is worlds better. The Tremec in the GT350 is a lot better than the early MT82s. I've owned a few and they were always crunchy.

And, if you buy a tech pack GT350, the interior is much nicer.

Engine sound is a matter of taste, but I think the GT350 is much better in this department as well. The option to click a toggle and open up the exhaust is a lot of fun. I would be irritated to unbolt the Boss 302s block off plates. Active exhaust is well worth it in my opinion.

I would not compare to a regular S550 GT. The suspension is complete mush on all of them. Even the PP1 optioned cars are very soft and I think you will find that the body motions are excessive. Although, compared to a Boss 302, they might not seem too terrible. But the GT350 has really well-damped body movements - even on track.

The one thing about the GT350 that bothers some people that I think is legitimate is the tramlining. It will grab the road contours and try to turn sometimes. I didn't find it to be a big deal. I just let the car find its groove. I think other people have more trouble with this. Some of them have swapped tires or changed alignment to reduce the effect.

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