Schilling
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I finally took delivery of my car this past Saturday and I’m finally getting around to sharing my first 375 miles of experience.
Here’s a little background about my past. I've had a few sports cars in my time including a 06' Z06, 08' 911 Turbo manual and 08 GT3. I was fortunate enough to spend a couple of years tracking the GT3 on some great tracks like Barber Motorsports in Alabama and High Plains in Colorado. I ended up selling my GT3 three years ago and have been craving a new sports car since. I started looking hard at the Hellcat cause of what it offered for the money. In fact, I even ordered one but the dealer never took delivery “or” sold it out from under me. (Blessing in disguise I think even though I'd still like to have one in the future). This past September I was at my dealership picking up my new F250 and started asking about their GT350 allocation. We went back and forth a little on what I could get it for and within a day I put a deposit down on their second allocation.
Exterior. The front view is amazing and it definitely stands out from the other Mustangs. The car is wider and flatter across the hood. The front grill is unique and has a very aggressive look. The back is wide and I think the rear bumper has some unique lines on it crossing into the plate. Correct me if I’m wrong. The sides are the only part that could be mistaken as a standard Mustang. Yes, there’s a side vent, but it’s subtle.
Interior. I have the Tech pack and the seats are GREAT! Yes, you will need a race seat for the track (plus a 4/5/6 point harness) but for spirited driving and daily driving, they’re perfect! SYNC 3 is a huge upgrade and the sound system is really good. The treble is extremely clear and the bass is decent but could use a tweak. However, as many have stated, I constantly find myself turning down the radio and just listening to the motor sing! The steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara is dead on! It so reminds me of my GT3 (Great touch FORD). The Alcantara seat and door inserts are fantastic. I think the toggle switches area a nice touch and are very easy to use. The steering wheel controls might look a little busy but are very functional and make it quick to adjust the driving modes such as suspension or steering. Finally, the shift point light indicator is KILLER. I forgot about it the first day or two and found myself constantly looking down at the RPMs to see when I was approaching 8k. With the indicator on it’s hammer down and shift- eyes down the road.
Engine and Exhaust. HOMERUN! This engine is addictive, intoxicating, like nothing you’ve ever experienced. I literally can’t get enough of the sound. Ford nailed the exhaust on this car. To me, stock mode is needed for those moments when you might have to take a call or want to hear the girl sitting next to you. But the rest of the time, it’s sport exhaust and it sings!
Handling- Fantastic! Yes, spirited driving and taking it to the track are two different worlds, but I really think this car is going to be a 10/10 for 98% of drivers. For those 2%ers, changing out the wheels, tires, adding harness, seats and some camber will make this thing run with the best.
For now, I’ll end with this short story---
My close friend is a GM at a Porsche dealership. To say he’s biased is an understatement. After owning three P cars I understand how well a sports car should handle and I can understand his fondness of the P car. I wanted to get his unbiased opinion of the car so I let him drive it the other day. After a 20 minute spirited test drive, his exact words were,,,,, “it’s a GT3 with a FORD badge!” That’s a strong statement and should get every soon to be GT350 owner stoked!
I love this car! The handling is phenomenal, it’s easy to drive under 4k rpms but over 4k it’s pulls hard and very linear, the suspension is firm but the magneride suspension is outstanding and doesn’t beat you up and the sound,,,,,,,,,,,,,,well, FLAT OUT AMAZING!
Leaving the office now and going for a spirited drive!
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