2018+ GT350

[krt22]

Yes, and your source quotes this forum as well, same as Road and Track, with the original thread with the claimed "leak" nowhere to be found.

Yep, I would love to see this so called leaked dealer guide.

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[J_Maher_AMG]

At that time, that car was quite special. Feature content that made it so -

1) 5.4L naturally aspirated engine with a beautiful intake manifold, shared with no other Mustang or Ford product (including billet steel connecting rods)
2) track-oriented suspension tuning and components
3) Brembo brakes
4) Recaro front seats
5) lightweighting by deleting radio, AC, back seats
6) IRS
7) detachable front spoiler & fixed rear wing to provide downforce
8) B&M Ripper shifter with 6-speed Temec T-56 transmission
9) Bassani X-pipe exhaust with Borla mufflers with side exit
10) brake cooling ducts, with carbon fiber heatshields

Sounds pretty racy to me.

Few items there I wasn't aware of, and you definitely know your Cobras

It does sound like it could have been quite the item at the time and a pretty track competent Mustang, but in reality look at the Gen 5 Camaro Z28. That has more special/unique features with it than the Cobra R, and it's price is plummeting already. The GT350 is still commanding ADM, with R's being sold for above MSRP even when used. Biggest issue with the Cobra is that it never had a history behind it. Part of the success with the 350 is the racing legacy it left behind in the 60's. Then the fact that it has one of the most unique V8 engines every put in a consumer car. On top of that, the R's at least are going to have relatively limited numbers which also helps value when combined with aforementioned factors.

 

[MAV]

Then the fact that it has one of the most unique V8 engines every put in a consumer car.

Agree, and go one further: it has THE most unique V8 ever to be put into an AMERICAN sports car. This is the main reason I bought this car. I have watched the evolution of the "mod motor" since they first introduced it in 1996. The reintroduction of the 5.0 got me interested once again, and the 5.2 FPC sold me.

 

[Clink]

Yep, I would love to see this so called leaked dealer guide.

The only thing I can find is some guy saying something about the GT350 being extended due to the colors in the future models dealer guide or something like that.

Nothing on the DCT though :shrug:

http://www.mustang6g.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1531515#post1531515

 

[Zitrosounds]

gotta love the grapevine!

 

[ford20]

I hate to say it, but I agree with thepill here unless Ford pulls off another Ford GT miracle and has been creating the car in the basement I think it is a bit too late to pull off development and field a successful race effort in what 3 months (if I am understanding him & his interpretation of the rules correctly). In order for Ford to compete in GS for the 2017 season the GT350 would have to extend production all the way until the beginning of September, but they would also have to notify IMSA of any changes they would be doing to the 2018 MY GT350's and I bet there would be a lot of kickback from teams if Ford suddenly had to up the power of the car or the suspension in order to compete. So will they up the HP who knows, but I am guessing that they will continue on with production as from what I can recall no one from Ford had said there will be a limited 2 year run. The only reason I can think for that is that the GT350 guys are thinking Ford will follow in the foot steps of the Boss.

Yeah, we planned for that. We are putting $25,000 down.

That is going to be a big payment!

Before I could find an allocation I was wishing for more production years, now that I have the car I wish for more exclusivity and less volume. At the end of the day more years doesn't make the car less special, I guess it's frustrating if you had high hopes for an appreciating "investment"

I think that is the large sentiment of the GT350 owners here. The car will never be an investment unless you bought it and are in your 20's. The car is going to depreciate no matter what just like the Boss 302 has.

I was honestly very surprised by the Aluminators output, considering it has a CPC. Since the FPC is supposed to be so much more efficient, I'm curious as to whether Ford left a decent chunk on the table for reliability purposes, or whether emissions and fuel economy hampered output whereas the Aluminator does not have to worry about passing any of those tests correct?

I don't think I was surprised in all honesty. Guys have been making 500 to the tires in coyotes with E85 so with the addition of .2L and upping the compression with 101 octane I figured that would have been a good stopping point for crank numbers.

Not to offend anyone with a Cobra R, but there really wasn't anything particularly special about that car other than the fact so few were made. Big difference to that car which had no real historical background, to the 350R that:

A) has the largest displacement FPC V8 that will ever be produced
B) the last naturally aspirated FPC V8 that will ever be produced due to new emissions and CAFE regulations coming out in 2018
C) has great racing history success from 50 years ago, hence it is a tribute of those cars today

I'm not saying its a guaranteed thing, because I too did not buy it as an investment. I will drive it and use it and keep it until the day I die, but to compare the 350R to a Cobra R is apples to oranges really. Limited numbers alone do not represent something special or make it a wise investment; you need either very unique and special aspects unlike anything else currently available OR success in pro racing OR historical value, of which the 350/R has all of the above

At that time, that car was quite special. Feature content that made it so -

1) 5.4L naturally aspirated engine with a beautiful intake manifold, shared with no other Mustang or Ford product (including billet steel connecting rods)
2) track-oriented suspension tuning and components
3) Brembo brakes
4) Recaro front seats
5) lightweighting by deleting radio, AC, back seats
6) IRS
7) detachable front spoiler & fixed rear wing to provide downforce
8) B&M Ripper shifter with 6-speed Temec T-56 transmission
9) Bassani X-pipe exhaust with Borla mufflers with side exit
10) brake cooling ducts, with carbon fiber heatshields

Sounds pretty racy to me.

That haha. That car IMO started the move towards the track focused cars that we see today and the grandfather of the GT350 R.

Few items there I wasn't aware of, and you definitely know your Cobras

It does sound like it could have been quite the item at the time and a pretty track competent Mustang, but in reality look at the Gen 5 Camaro Z28. That has more special/unique features with it than the Cobra R, and it's price is plummeting already. The GT350 is still commanding ADM, with R's being sold for above MSRP even when used. Biggest issue with the Cobra is that it never had a history behind it. Part of the success with the 350 is the racing legacy it left behind in the 60's. Then the fact that it has one of the most unique V8 engines every put in a consumer car. On top of that, the R's at least are going to have relatively limited numbers which also helps value when combined with aforementioned factors.

Not even close! The Z/28 is IMO a parts bin car in all honesty. It takes a Camaro SS removes the engine, brakes, tires and suspension and then throws in the Corvette Z06 engine, the Corvette Z06 Carbon brakes, Magnaride suspension, 1LE hood and then adds some super sticky tires and wheels and that's about it. Don't get me wrong, GM did a fantastic job with the engineering of it, but I still think it is a bit of a parts bin car.

Now the Cobra R's are currently selling around GT350 R MSRP or higher depending on where you go. I just saw a Cobra R selling for 75k, but it was a time capsule. Even still most of the Cobra R's that I have seen are in the 60k range.

 

[ohtobbad]

The 2017 production will continue through all of 2017.
the order guide for 16's did not change until June1.
they can produce cars and still not make an 18 model.

I suspect we will get a hint at Sema, with any official announcement
at Detroit Auto show, as per normal.

 

[Forgedwheeler]

I'm a very happy GT350 owner and I drive mine every day. BUT:
In my opinion, Ford has plenty of development work to do on the existing Voodoo engine and GT350 platform.
The engine's part-throttle piston rattle is terrible. Low speed torque could use some improvement. The shifter is nowhere near where it should be for a car at this price.

Don't get me wrong, I love my Shelby. But there is more to do to get the best from this chassis/engine combo.

 

[btown93]

At that time, that car was quite special. Feature content that made it so -

1) 5.4L naturally aspirated engine with a beautiful intake manifold, shared with no other Mustang or Ford product (including billet steel connecting rods)
2) track-oriented suspension tuning and components
3) Brembo brakes
4) Recaro front seats
5) lightweighting by deleting radio, AC, back seats
6) IRS
7) detachable front spoiler & fixed rear wing to provide downforce
8) B&M Ripper shifter with 6-speed Temec T-56 transmission
9) Bassani X-pipe exhaust with Borla mufflers with side exit
10) brake cooling ducts, with carbon fiber heatshields

Sounds pretty racy to me.

I had a similar discussion on another forum a few months ago. the topic was the 12/13 Boss 302 vs the 1993 Cobra. When this sort of discussion comes up about which is more "unique" or "special" it just doesn't go well. I personally can appreciate all the special edition late model mustangs, and they all have their own identity. what one person thinks is "special" may not translate to someone else. In my opinion, The 2000 R is the baddest of all the new edge SEs.... and really, a car that at the time broke all the rules. Some special editions over the years are "evolutions" and some are "revolutions" I know which category I put it in. The discussion on the 18 GT350 will be a simple either or. those that currently have don't want an 18, and those that currently want a car will want them to keep producing.

 

[96cobra]

I have bought several cars (and a truck) that I said I would never sell... and you know what, none of them remain. At that moment, I felt nothing was better or could be better, but reality has shown that as long as there is development in auto manufacturing, there will always be something down the line that will be better.

I remember back in '95 when I ordered my '96 DOHC 32V 4.6 Cobra with 305HP, it was considered over the top back then. I swore I'd never sell it! It was just amazing. I did own it for 10 years, but the novelty and specialness wore off with all the new offerings out. Now the entry level V6's in a lot of cars have more HP than my Cobra did. Even after supercharging it to 500HP and building it up, I just wanted something new and refreshing. I still love the 96-98 Cobras, but not enough to buy another at this time.

I've also had Corvette's, Z06's, BMW M's, and every one of them was special.. but all of them are gone.

I'm totally thinking that Ford will make a better GT350 in a few years or even next year, and I'm good with that. I think I can enjoy the 2017 pretty extensively the way it sits regardless.

 

[Voodooo]

I have bought several cars (and a truck) that I said I would never sell... and you know what, none of them remain. At that moment, I felt nothing was better or could be better, but reality has shown that as long as there is development in auto manufacturing, there will always be something down the line that will be better.

I remember back in '95 when I ordered my '96 DOHC 32V 4.6 Cobra with 305HP, it was considered over the top back then. I swore I'd never sell it! It was just amazing. I did own it for 10 years, but the novelty and specialness wore off with all the new offerings out. Now the entry level V6's in a lot of cars have more HP than my Cobra did. Even after supercharging it to 500HP and building it up, I just wanted something new and refreshing. I still love the 96-98 Cobras, but not enough to buy another at this time.

I've also had Corvette's, Z06's, BMW M's, and every one of them was special.. but all of them are gone.

I'm totally thinking that Ford will make a better GT350 in a few years or even next year, and I'm good with that. I think I can enjoy the 2017 pretty extensively the way it sits regardless.

I agree. This is why we don't need a 2018 GT350. End it at 2017 and bring on another killer. The S550 is already 3 years old.

Bring on the "NEXT" special vehicle ford.

 

[FPCV8YO]

When the FPC V8 was 1st confirmed in the 2015 - 2017 GT350, I believe that the general consensus was that this was the last hurrah for the normally aspirated V8. Perhaps not...

 

[Colleton]

I agree. This is why we don't need a 2018 GT350. End it at 2017 and bring on another killer. The S550 is already 3 years old.

Bring on the "NEXT" special vehicle ford.

LOL

Yeah, the S550 is ancient. I am eyerolling so hard right now, I swear.

The S197 ran from 2005 - 2014. The GT500 ran from 2007 - 2014 because it kept selling. There were periodic improvements in that time (2010 engine improvements and new body, 2011 new engine, 2013 new engine and new body styling), but production was uninterrupted.

I can't find anywhere where Ford has stated that GT350 production is limited to 2 years. Ford put a lot of money, time and effort into the GT350 and I don't see them ending production after 2 years. I hope they keep making them and keep improving them.

If the S650 is going to debut in 5 years I don't see a new halo Mustang until then. I do think/hope we'll see a special variant like a Mach1 before then though.

I don't know any more than anyone else here, so I certainly can be wrong. We'll see. :cheers:

 

[Voodooo]

When the FPC V8 was 1st confirmed in the 2015 - 2017 GT350, I believe that the general consensus was that this was the last hurrah for the normally aspirated V8. Perhaps not...

I agree. I'll be very displeased if they continue it beyond 2017. I may even sell mine if that is the case.

 

[whatjones911]

If ford wants to continue competing in the new GT4 series, can't they just use the mustang GT as the platform? They replace suspension, brakes, etc in the GT350 anyways. I don't have a good understanding of the homologation rules but from what someone posted earlier being most parts replaced and the power restricted, there's no real reason to homologate the GT350 to continue competing.

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