J_Maher_AMG
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- May 29, 2016
- Threads
- 9
- Messages
- 1,475
- Reaction score
- 1,197
- Location
- Newfoundland, Canada
- First Name
- Justin
- Vehicle(s)
- 2017 GT350R (HR057)
- Thread starter
- #1
Hey guys/girls,
Figured I'd post a first impressions thread regarding the 2017 GT350R I recently purchased! I'll be making some comparisons to the vehicles that I've had experience with (2011 WRX, 2014 CLA45, and a 2015 Z51 Stingray), so I'll be going over some pros and cons of the car when compared to others, which are my Opinions.
Exterior:
My R is shadow black with white OTT stripes and red accents, which I think lends it a very sinister and Motorsports look. I love how wide the fenders are and just how aggressive the wheels are set up from the factory, definitely no "sunken" look here! The wheels themselves look fantastic, and yes, brake dust is a massive PITA with this car :lol: I am also a huge fan of the rear spoiler, though it does block a significant portion of rear view visibility while on the road.
The paint job seemed to be fairly good on my car, as I have not noticed any of the issues that many on here have spoke of. Panel alignment could definitely be improved, as I noticed along the rear decklid and rear bumper to fender seems to be wider in some places, with the panels not lining up flush with each other. No visible damage that I could see to the stripes either, and now that I have the entire car wrapped in XPEL I can rest easy knowing that the paint and stripes will remain relatively perfect.
When parked next to my fathers Corvette, you realize just how big the R is, with it being almost a full 12" longer, about 5-6" higher, and surprisingly 2" wider. You can easily see where the extra weight is when the two are parked next to one another. I personally think that the R has a more "race car" inspired look to it, whereas the Vette definitely has more general sex appeal in regards to exotic looks with it being much lower and having the appearance of being wider, especially in white w/carbon accents. Overall I prefer the racier look of the R, but without question the Vette garners more attention from the general public, with people from all age groups instantly taking note of it, whereas the R gets more attention from "car people" who recognizes what it is and why it is more rare and special than the Vette.
Interior:
Must say I am pretty pleased with the interior thus far. It is by no means a luxury car, with the Corvette and my Mercedes admittedly having higher quality interiors with nicer materials used. However, the parts that are driver focused I believe they executed very well. The Recaros are surprisingly comfortable, even after a 10 hour road trip home in the car I was not uncomfortable or aching in any way. They are also tremendously supportive and in this regard better than anything else I've sat in, and the suede looks and feels great.
Likewise, the alcantara steering wheel is amazing; very nicely designed, feels comfortable, the size is just right, and the red 12 o'clock stripe reminds you of "race car". I also happen to love the cobra emblem in the centre, think it adds a nice sporty touch. Only gripe being that the alcantara quickly becomes "matted" after use, and I am going to research on how to properly clean it and maintain its appearance/feel.
The Sync 3 system is surprisingly good, with fast response time and very good ease of use. Navigation system works great as was a neat tool to use when I picked up the car. Also really like the suede door inserts, and wish they had of at least put a vinyl leather covering on the dash as opposed to the OK looking but very cheap feeling sponge/foam insert things that have the fake stitching in them. However, I have essentially no interior squeaks or rattles at present and am pleased by this, considering even my Mercedes had some very minor interior rattle issues.
Overall, the interior is not as nice as in the Corvette or my Mercedes was in regards to the materials used, but it is still built very solid and looks very good IMO in regards to the layout and design.
Performance:
Wow. Wow. Wow. Pretty much all I have to say really, what hasn't been said already?
That sound, oh my sweet honorable Jesus. I have not heard anything sound so dam good in all my life. I cannot describe it as anything else other than purely addicting. I can't help but constantly feel like I am driving a race car when driving on some back and playing with the middle of the power band. The volume, the rasp, the change in tone under full/partial throttle, is simply amazing. Speaking of WOT, once you put your foot into it, it certainly picks up very quickly, and will easily spin the tires during the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. Definitely doesn't have the low-end/midrange grunt that the Vette has, but I think it has the edge in the top end, and the sound this car makes as it makes its way to almost 8300 rpms in pure insanity and a pure adrenaline rush. The engine is very free-revving and has great response, especially during downshifts which are incredibly satisfying and sound amazing
Contrary to what many have said regarding the low-end power of the car, I actually find it to be perfectly fine. You definitely have to wind the car out to get the most power from it, but I don't understand those who say it doesn't have enough power down low. Why would anyone be trying to go WOT low in the RPM range in a higher gear in the first place? For general passing and accelerating even at highway speeds, I find the engine to be more than apt and really have no complaints.
I have only had the car for two weeks as of today, with only a little over 2700 kms on it, but I am already well aware of just how capable this machine is. The suspension is very well sorted, and fairly comfortable in normal mode. Admittedly, it is not as comfortable or as flexible in regards to suspension settings as the Vette is, but it certainly not uncomfortable by any measure IMO, and is also to be expected considering the track focus of the vehicle. Steering is also weighted nicely, and IMO feels very good as a street driven vehicle. Maybe if I were to push the limits of the car on track, I would find some of the flaws that reviewers mention, but as a weekend/evening car that is driven on the street/back roads, I find it to be very accurate and enjoyable. I have not pushed the car whatsoever in regards to hard braking, so I cannot honestly comment on their performance. However, I can say that I am very pleased with how well body motions are controlled under braking and cornering, thanks to the suspension, which lends confidence to the driver considering how stable the vehicle feels. Only negative thus far would be just how sticky those Sport Cup 2's are, they are literally like a vacuum for any and all sand/rocks on the road; without the XPEL wrap, the paint would be sandblasted within a week for sure.
The transmission in the car is superb, very direct, zero notchiness once moving, and very, very easy to row through the gears. Interestingly enough, the shifter actually feels lighter in the Vette than it does in the R, which surprised me considering the Vette has the TR6060 manual transmission, which is essentially a larger, more robust and beefier transmission. However, that car has almost 6000 kms on it, so it may be that my transmission will perhaps loosen up a little bit over time and with more miles. The clutch is very light, almost too light, and I have the Steeda spring at home to install. Am having trouble finding needle nose vice grips however, so I have not been able to install it yet.
I Love how adjustable the rest of the car is. Being able to individually tweak suspension, steering, traction control (mode) settings, as well as the separate exhaust switch is fantastic. I honestly leave the car in normal mode pretty well 100% of the time, with the steering in sport mode that it defaults too. I will certainly play with the settings as I learn the capabilities of the car and become more comfortable with them, but for now I love being able to have the sport steering and loud exhaust while retaining a high level of electronic safety nannies in the background while also having a fairly supple and comfortable riding suspension. To be honest, I even considered switching the car to weather mode even when it is nice out, to give that added level of traction control stability and safety. In this regard I think it is superior to the Vette as the individual settings of the suspension/steering/throttle/traction control cannot be singularly changed, and thus the second most aggressive setting (Sport before Track) must be used to open the exhaust valves.
Overall, I am beyond happy with the car and it has exceeded all of my expectations. I can honestly say that I have never had so much fun in all my life driving a vehicle, and every time I get in it I am thrilled and in somewhat disbelief that the car is mine. Thanks to TR [MENTION=11655]ohtobbad[/MENTION] that I have this car today as I wouldn't have ever gotten it without him, with a huge shout out to MacPhee Ford in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia whom I bought the car from with a $5000 ADM.
I am sure I am overlooking a few details that I will probably add in after, but if anyone has any questions at all, I would be more than happy to answer them. These are simply incredible machines, and I feel truly fortunate to be able to own an R today considering how rare they are and how hard they are to come by.
Figured I'd post a first impressions thread regarding the 2017 GT350R I recently purchased! I'll be making some comparisons to the vehicles that I've had experience with (2011 WRX, 2014 CLA45, and a 2015 Z51 Stingray), so I'll be going over some pros and cons of the car when compared to others, which are my Opinions.
Exterior:
My R is shadow black with white OTT stripes and red accents, which I think lends it a very sinister and Motorsports look. I love how wide the fenders are and just how aggressive the wheels are set up from the factory, definitely no "sunken" look here! The wheels themselves look fantastic, and yes, brake dust is a massive PITA with this car :lol: I am also a huge fan of the rear spoiler, though it does block a significant portion of rear view visibility while on the road.
The paint job seemed to be fairly good on my car, as I have not noticed any of the issues that many on here have spoke of. Panel alignment could definitely be improved, as I noticed along the rear decklid and rear bumper to fender seems to be wider in some places, with the panels not lining up flush with each other. No visible damage that I could see to the stripes either, and now that I have the entire car wrapped in XPEL I can rest easy knowing that the paint and stripes will remain relatively perfect.
When parked next to my fathers Corvette, you realize just how big the R is, with it being almost a full 12" longer, about 5-6" higher, and surprisingly 2" wider. You can easily see where the extra weight is when the two are parked next to one another. I personally think that the R has a more "race car" inspired look to it, whereas the Vette definitely has more general sex appeal in regards to exotic looks with it being much lower and having the appearance of being wider, especially in white w/carbon accents. Overall I prefer the racier look of the R, but without question the Vette garners more attention from the general public, with people from all age groups instantly taking note of it, whereas the R gets more attention from "car people" who recognizes what it is and why it is more rare and special than the Vette.
Interior:
Must say I am pretty pleased with the interior thus far. It is by no means a luxury car, with the Corvette and my Mercedes admittedly having higher quality interiors with nicer materials used. However, the parts that are driver focused I believe they executed very well. The Recaros are surprisingly comfortable, even after a 10 hour road trip home in the car I was not uncomfortable or aching in any way. They are also tremendously supportive and in this regard better than anything else I've sat in, and the suede looks and feels great.
Likewise, the alcantara steering wheel is amazing; very nicely designed, feels comfortable, the size is just right, and the red 12 o'clock stripe reminds you of "race car". I also happen to love the cobra emblem in the centre, think it adds a nice sporty touch. Only gripe being that the alcantara quickly becomes "matted" after use, and I am going to research on how to properly clean it and maintain its appearance/feel.
The Sync 3 system is surprisingly good, with fast response time and very good ease of use. Navigation system works great as was a neat tool to use when I picked up the car. Also really like the suede door inserts, and wish they had of at least put a vinyl leather covering on the dash as opposed to the OK looking but very cheap feeling sponge/foam insert things that have the fake stitching in them. However, I have essentially no interior squeaks or rattles at present and am pleased by this, considering even my Mercedes had some very minor interior rattle issues.
Overall, the interior is not as nice as in the Corvette or my Mercedes was in regards to the materials used, but it is still built very solid and looks very good IMO in regards to the layout and design.
Performance:
Wow. Wow. Wow. Pretty much all I have to say really, what hasn't been said already?
That sound, oh my sweet honorable Jesus. I have not heard anything sound so dam good in all my life. I cannot describe it as anything else other than purely addicting. I can't help but constantly feel like I am driving a race car when driving on some back and playing with the middle of the power band. The volume, the rasp, the change in tone under full/partial throttle, is simply amazing. Speaking of WOT, once you put your foot into it, it certainly picks up very quickly, and will easily spin the tires during the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts. Definitely doesn't have the low-end/midrange grunt that the Vette has, but I think it has the edge in the top end, and the sound this car makes as it makes its way to almost 8300 rpms in pure insanity and a pure adrenaline rush. The engine is very free-revving and has great response, especially during downshifts which are incredibly satisfying and sound amazing
Contrary to what many have said regarding the low-end power of the car, I actually find it to be perfectly fine. You definitely have to wind the car out to get the most power from it, but I don't understand those who say it doesn't have enough power down low. Why would anyone be trying to go WOT low in the RPM range in a higher gear in the first place? For general passing and accelerating even at highway speeds, I find the engine to be more than apt and really have no complaints.
I have only had the car for two weeks as of today, with only a little over 2700 kms on it, but I am already well aware of just how capable this machine is. The suspension is very well sorted, and fairly comfortable in normal mode. Admittedly, it is not as comfortable or as flexible in regards to suspension settings as the Vette is, but it certainly not uncomfortable by any measure IMO, and is also to be expected considering the track focus of the vehicle. Steering is also weighted nicely, and IMO feels very good as a street driven vehicle. Maybe if I were to push the limits of the car on track, I would find some of the flaws that reviewers mention, but as a weekend/evening car that is driven on the street/back roads, I find it to be very accurate and enjoyable. I have not pushed the car whatsoever in regards to hard braking, so I cannot honestly comment on their performance. However, I can say that I am very pleased with how well body motions are controlled under braking and cornering, thanks to the suspension, which lends confidence to the driver considering how stable the vehicle feels. Only negative thus far would be just how sticky those Sport Cup 2's are, they are literally like a vacuum for any and all sand/rocks on the road; without the XPEL wrap, the paint would be sandblasted within a week for sure.
The transmission in the car is superb, very direct, zero notchiness once moving, and very, very easy to row through the gears. Interestingly enough, the shifter actually feels lighter in the Vette than it does in the R, which surprised me considering the Vette has the TR6060 manual transmission, which is essentially a larger, more robust and beefier transmission. However, that car has almost 6000 kms on it, so it may be that my transmission will perhaps loosen up a little bit over time and with more miles. The clutch is very light, almost too light, and I have the Steeda spring at home to install. Am having trouble finding needle nose vice grips however, so I have not been able to install it yet.
I Love how adjustable the rest of the car is. Being able to individually tweak suspension, steering, traction control (mode) settings, as well as the separate exhaust switch is fantastic. I honestly leave the car in normal mode pretty well 100% of the time, with the steering in sport mode that it defaults too. I will certainly play with the settings as I learn the capabilities of the car and become more comfortable with them, but for now I love being able to have the sport steering and loud exhaust while retaining a high level of electronic safety nannies in the background while also having a fairly supple and comfortable riding suspension. To be honest, I even considered switching the car to weather mode even when it is nice out, to give that added level of traction control stability and safety. In this regard I think it is superior to the Vette as the individual settings of the suspension/steering/throttle/traction control cannot be singularly changed, and thus the second most aggressive setting (Sport before Track) must be used to open the exhaust valves.
Overall, I am beyond happy with the car and it has exceeded all of my expectations. I can honestly say that I have never had so much fun in all my life driving a vehicle, and every time I get in it I am thrilled and in somewhat disbelief that the car is mine. Thanks to TR [MENTION=11655]ohtobbad[/MENTION] that I have this car today as I wouldn't have ever gotten it without him, with a huge shout out to MacPhee Ford in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia whom I bought the car from with a $5000 ADM.
I am sure I am overlooking a few details that I will probably add in after, but if anyone has any questions at all, I would be more than happy to answer them. These are simply incredible machines, and I feel truly fortunate to be able to own an R today considering how rare they are and how hard they are to come by.
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