2018 Performance Pack - A big step BACKWARDS

[Grintch]

The gap to the 1LE is far too big. Making the GT PP faster than or as fast as the 1LE means it's as good or better on track as the GT350. That is not happening. Their benchmark for the GT PP should've been to best the SS.

Maybe for the 2015-2017's that were almost 10k cheaper than the 1LE. Now that the price advantage is mostly gone, it had better be able to compete GT to SS and PP+ to 1LE.

Any word yet on what it going to be in the PP2 (a terrible name) package, and it's pricing?

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[HoosierDaddy]

Remember, they're replacing one for another as-built, not buying some, throwing those away, and putting different ones on. There is no reason for such a high increase. I'd have understood if they had made it $3095 or even $3195.

The price is always what they believe the market will bear. So they think enough people will pay the extra $1000 than they will lose from people who refuse. I hope they are wrong. Its not good to be shopping for anything when a bunch of people will pay a much higher markup.

 

[RocketGuy3]

I have no data, which is why I prefaced my post with "pure speculation"... unlike you.

Also, my statement is that I believe the PP is being carried over largely unchanged... that should not infer "inferior performance"... it is a great package, especially at its old price point of $2450.

Again, IMO, PP is likely unchanged, GT350 is still top dog, and PP2 will fill a gap between the two. Will the PP2 meet or exceed a 1LE on the track? Again, IMO, no. The weight difference alone is damn near impossible to overcome.

Because what I'm saying about it being changed is NOT speculation. It *is* unquestionably changed, even if the printed list looks the same as it is before.

The only speculation is how well it will perform. But if the base GT now handles as well with as much rigidity as the outgoing 2017 PP, then how in the world would the new PP be "unchanged"? (Not to mention we already know of a couple of obvious, on-paper changes -- namely the wing and the improved tires).

None of this is to say that I'm not with you guys on being upset about the higher price and doubtful whether it's as good of a value as it used to be, but it's definitely going to be better than the outgoing performance package.

 

[crs2879]

Mustang v Camaro comparisons are always so much fun........
You can throw-out all the "track" numbers you want but I can find low mile, Z28's at $30K below original MSRP all day long.....please, please show me one GT350 at $20K below MSRP, anywhere.

 

[Madlock]

While I agree that the PP shouldn't have gotten $1000 more expensive, the damper tuning and spring/bar rates will be far more in line with the Camaro SS than the current GT PP. The base GT will have a suspension equivalent to the current GT PP.

It should cost the absolute maximum Ford believes sufficient numbers of prospective buyers are willing to pay. Oy.

Go buy a camaro.

Pffft...!!!

 

[Madlock]

Any word yet on what it going to be in the PP2 (a terrible name) package, and it's pricing?

$6,500

Gonna be pissed if it leaves Automatics wanting by adding significant content that would've benefitted both types. I'd expect GTPP plus wider wheels and wider and sticker tires to go with them (SC2s?) and probably additional drivetrain cooling for better track durability.

 

[slag1911]

But if the base GT now handles as well with as much rigidity as the outgoing 2017 PP, then how in the world would the new PP be "unchanged"?

So now the base 18 GT handles as well as the 2017 PP equipped car?

lol... where are you getting this from?

 

[BmacIL]

The price is always what they believe the market will bear. So they think enough people will pay the extra $1000 than they will lose from people who refuse. I hope they are wrong. Its not good to be shopping for anything when a bunch of people will pay a much higher markup.

This is true. I believe they're getting very greedy with it. Unfortunately I believe enough people will still select it that they'll keep the price where it is. For those of us mechanically inclined and who like to tinker/tune, and can think before impulse buying, I am not convinced the PP is definitely worth the entry cost on the 2018. It's borderline. On the 15-17, absolutely.

 

[Kevin08]

So now the base 18 GT handles as well as the 2017 PP equipped car?

lol... where are you getting this from?

Some of the original press releases from the 2018 announcement said this. But they also said the GT would be about $1,000 more expensive than the 2017, and we all see how that played out.

 

[RocketGuy3]

So now the base 18 GT handles as well as the 2017 PP equipped car?

lol... where are you getting this from?

Pretty surprised you haven't heard this. People have been talking about this for a while on this forum now, and in fact I even saw a couple other people mention it in this very thread. Ford said this in a recent press release, I'd have to dig it up. Probably in one of those big threads on the front page.

 

[BmacIL]

So now the base 18 GT handles as well as the 2017 PP equipped car?

lol... where are you getting this from?

The '18 base GT will have springs, dampers tuned nearly the same as the 15-17 PP. As such, it will handle mostly as well as a 15-17 GT PP. The '18 GT PP will be another step up from that (stiffer, more track-focused).

 

[slag1911]

Some of the original press releases from the 2018 announcement said this. But they also said the GT would be about $1,000 more expensive than the 2017, and we all see how that played out.

No... the PR said the 18 base suspension was firmer than the plush riding 15-17. I believe folks are taking a pretty large leap from that wording to "base GT now handles as well with as much rigidity as the outgoing 2017 PP".

Huge assumptions are being tossed around like they are documented fact. No where has it been stated that the 18 base is now the 15-17 PP, and therefore the next jump to conclusions statement that the 18 PP surely is "much improved" is pure conjecture based on pure speculation.

Given that Ford likely has a hard ceiling of handling prowess set with the Halo GT350, and given that the 15-17 PP was a fairly decent package, there just isn't a lot of room left to slot a PP2 between a "greatly improved" PP and the GT350.

 

[02gtnh]

The '18 base GT will have springs, dampers tuned nearly the same as the 15-17 PP. As such, it will handle mostly as well as a 15-17 GT PP. The '18 GT PP will be another step up from that (stiffer, more track-focused).

The big difference between the two will be tires.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

The '18 base GT will have springs, dampers tuned nearly the same as the 15-17 PP. As such, it will handle mostly as well as a 15-17 GT PP. The '18 GT PP will be another step up from that (stiffer, more track-focused).

I'll believe the springs and dampers when I feel them. There have always been a large percent of buyers who do NOT want the harsher ride of the current PPs. I can't see Ford abandoning them.

Anyone know if the base cars have better tires in 2018? The PPs sure as hell do. If the 2018 bases handle a lot better, I suspect its more from tires than springs and shocks.

 

[TomcatDriver]

In my ideal world, the PP2 would be a base GT w/ a tweaked PP suspension, larger rubber, rear brembo's, magneride, recaros, select exhaust, rear seat delete, and a revised tune / GT350 intake/TB.

A bump to 480HP and a weight reduction of 100 pounds... that would be interesting.

The 1LE is $6500 bucks, which seems like a lot but for that you get 20" wheels with 285/305 tires, recaro seats, 4x Brembo, magnaride and a few other nicities such as micro-suede (Alcantara) interior. Mustang PP+magnaride ends up being an $8500 upgrade and you still don't get a lot of that stuff.

The extra $2000 is the mandatory upgrade to 301A, and maybe that is where Ford screwed up the pricing. IMO the 300A base radio just needs to go away. The $2000 base price jump should have included the 301A package. I think that would be much more palatable to most people. There needs to be something more to the PP to justify the $1000 price jump.

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