911 vs GT350 Motortrend: Which is the Better All-Around Sports Car?

[dpAtlanta]

I have owned a '72 911 for over 20 years. Love it. Will never sell it. But I can't envision a scenario where I would pay $143K for a new 911. Never, ever, ever. As others have stated, they really should compare comparably priced cars. The GT350 competes with a base Cayman. The Cayman is great too, but I'd take the GT350 without question. No contest.

After owning a base 718 Cayman and a '19 GT350, I can give feedback from actual experience. Both vehicles sticker for about 70K after taxes.
Owned the 718 for 2 years before getting the Shelby. My last performance car before the 718 was a '03 Cobra. I had been out of the performance cars for 15 years. Starting in 2017, I got used to the 718 handling and performance.
Once I ordered the GT350, I was expecting to be disappointed in the handling and the acceleration of the Shelby since I was used to the 718, and had not been in a performance car in 15 years. I was buying this car for the exhaust sound... I really needed the flat plane crank exhaust note...!!!
I have logged 2700 miles on the Shelby in just 7 weeks... thanks to the drought in the Southeast since I took delivery. I LOVE this car...!!!
I went to put fuel in the 718 after no seat time in the Porsche for many weeks... I was a bit shocked at the 718. The brakes had always felt great (compared to my 2011 GMC Sierra). The first thing I noticed was the difference in the brake feel and performance as compared to the GT350. The Shelby brakes are better than my 718 brakes.... by a long shot!
The handling of the 718 is Porsche perfection... but the GT350 steering and handling seat-O-the pants meter says I like the Shelby better. It might be the seat bolstering, it just feels tighter, and that might be what is the difference that I am feeling.
I NEVER thought I would have said that the Shelby GT350 is a better car than the Porsche 718 Cayman.................. but I think it is & this is my OPINION, not a fact based of scientific A2LA or ISO testing.

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[Hack]

What is better than a Porsche 911? TWO Mustang GT 350's plus some gas money for the same price.

One GT350 plus lots of track days and consumables would be the way to go IMO.

 

[95CobraR]

I'm impressed that the 5 year old GT350, albeit with some updates, can hold its own with the brand spanking new 992 Carrera S. That says a lot!

I think the new 2019 Mustang Shelby GT350 is a really great car. It has the best sounding engine.

My recent 2014 Porsche 991.1 3.4L is also a great car. The interior is nicer with other stuff.

Shit, I couldn't decide so I bought both of them.

The GT350 has a very unique sound and will certainly out-horse power the Porsche.

The Porsche 911 is lighter and more agile in a mountain or a track with short turns.

Obviously, the Shelby is the best bang for the money. It's $70,000 less money

 

[key01]

It’s like Deja-vu all over again.

 

[95CobraR]

It’s like Deja-vu all over again.

They picked a soft field.

 

[ezracer]

At $114 K, I would need to think twice!!

 

[95CobraR]

At $114 K, I would need to think twice!!

That price is really just the base price. They never have a base model. The new 2020 Porsche 911 (called the 992) is easily more than twice as much as a 2020 Mustang Shelby GT350 (my 2019 GT350 is a base model).

The Porsche service is easily three times the service of a GT350 (at a dealer, and DIY is possible and much cheaper on the GT350).

I am now trying to get moved up on the list for a 2020/2021 Shelby GT500. Why pay $200,000 for a turbo Porsche when the GT500 is about ~$80K?

 

[Dave2013M3]

That price is really just the base price. They never have a base model. The new 2020 Porsche 911 (called the 992) is easily more than twice as much as a 2020 Mustang Shelby GT350 (my 2019 GT350 is a base model).

The Porsche service is easily three times the service of a GT350 (at a dealer, and DIY is possible and much cheaper on the GT350).

I am now trying to get moved up on the list for a 2020/2021 Shelby GT500. Why pay $200,000 for a turbo Porsche when the GT500 is about ~$80K?

Good luck finding a GT500 for $80K, after ADMs you are going to be darn near a base 911S, Ill take the 911S.

 

[svttim]

Good luck finding a GT500 for $80K, after ADMs you are going to be darn near a base 911S, Ill take the 911S.

Really? No one ever finds cars for MSRP? Ill pay more for the slower more expensive car

 

[95CobraR]

Good luck finding a GT500 for $80K, after ADMs you are going to be darn near a base 911S, Ill take the 911S.

I have a good friend that owns a Ford dealership. I have bought many Fords from him.

I have also said that I used the Porsche site to price a 2020 Carrera 911 S (no friend here). The new stripped version of a 2020 Porsche 911 S (with proper options) is at least $130K.

I will always keep my 2014 Porsche 911 3.4L car. It was the last of the non-turbo 911's (which is a sad fact). The car is good:

 

[Dave2013M3]

I have a good friend that owns a Ford dealership. I have bought many Fords from him.

I have also said that I used the Porsche site to price a 2020 Carrera 911 S (no friend here). The new stripped version of a 2020 Porsche 911 S (with proper options) is at least $130K.

I will always keep my 2014 Porsche 911 3.4L car. It was the last of the non-turbo 911's (which is a sad fact). The car is good:

A base 911S starts at $113k, the only other option it really needs or I would get is the sport PASM and sport seats. My build came out to $116,100, give it a year and you will be able to knock 7-8% off of MSRP. I would still take the Porsche.

Here is my 07 997S when she was new....wish I never sold her.

 

[1mic]

This is a no brainer for me, only 911 i would consider is a GT3. RIght now I believe thats the cheapest rare/performance 911 (turbo, gt2).

This comparison I would get a GT350R loaded (probably $75k). Spend the rest on a used truck and trailer.
$143k is crazy for a regular 911.
Dont care if its a GTS or carrera or carrera S or whatever models they have, there is so many that is the turn off for me. There are 3x as many 911 models compared to the mustang.


After a quick search the base 911 doesnt have an option in manual. I think the next model up to have it is the GTS, which starts at 120.

 

[Hack]

A base 911S starts at $113k, the only other option it really needs or I would get is the sport PASM and sport seats. My build came out to $116,100, give it a year and you will be able to knock 7-8% off of MSRP. I would still take the Porsche.

Here is my 07 997S when she was new....wish I never sold her.

Have you found that any modifications are needed for track durability? Do you have harnesses in it? How do the tires and brakes hold up to track use?

Or are you just saying in theory you would take a 911 but you don't own one? I'm not 100% clear from your post.

For me, it's just way too much money. I would prefer not to spend even $65K for a GT350. If I could get a base GT with PP2 that included rear diff cooling I would probably go that route rather than a GT350. It's not as good, but it's a LOT cheaper. And I wish they hadn't gone to Cup 2 tires on either car. IMO they are too expensive and have to be replaced too often. I think the Pilot SS tires with ~16,000-20,000 mile life including the occasional track day is a lot better choice for the money.

 

[Dave2013M3]

Have you found that any modifications are needed for track durability? Do you have harnesses in it? How do the tires and brakes hold up to track use?

Or are you just saying in theory you would take a 911 but you don't own one? I'm not 100% clear from your post.

For me, it's just way too much money. I would prefer not to spend even $65K for a GT350. If I could get a base GT with PP2 that included rear diff cooling I would probably go that route rather than a GT350. It's not as good, but it's a LOT cheaper. And I wish they hadn't gone to Cup 2 tires on either car. IMO they are too expensive and have to be replaced too often. I think the Pilot SS tires with ~16,000-20,000 mile life including the occasional track day is a lot better choice for the money.

 

[Dave2013M3]

Have you found that any modifications are needed for track durability? Do you have harnesses in it? How do the tires and brakes hold up to track use?

Or are you just saying in theory you would take a 911 but you don't own one? I'm not 100% clear from your post.

For me, it's just way too much money. I would prefer not to spend even $65K for a GT350. If I could get a base GT with PP2 that included rear diff cooling I would probably go that route rather than a GT350. It's not as good, but it's a LOT cheaper. And I wish they hadn't gone to Cup 2 tires on either car. IMO they are too expensive and have to be replaced too often. I think the Pilot SS tires with ~16,000-20,000 mile life including the occasional track day is a lot better choice for the money.

I am saying in theory I would take the 992 if I am approaching a $100k car. My response was when comparing the 911 to a GT500 which is going to be more than $100k if fully outfitted and with ADM. I agree with you on the GT PP2, but Ford didn't fit it with a tranny and diff cooling as it would be competing directly with the GT350.

To the post above yours regarding the lack of a manual tranny, the 7spd manual will be coming at a later date.

Dave

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