Base Model GT350R by year?

[TonyNJ]

My two cents. I have not driven a Base R for the record, but I would imagine having a dozen items deleted from the car including the radio and AC makes a difference. We're talking about around 100 pounds taken off the car. Now you might not notice it all that much on the road, but on a track? Different story. Not only that there is less sound deadening in a Base R. So better sound. And just an overall better experience I would imagine. Would love to drive one to find out for myself lol.

Do you really live in Shelbyville? I was thinking of taking my car to Shelbyfest in Missouri. If you go, you can experience a base R.

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[TonyNJ]

OK Not to beat a dead “Mustang”. ;-)

But I can concur that it 100% is it not only a subjective feel about the driving, as I have both a HEP and a Base 350R

Even the day you drive either one, its the particular moment that your actually in that messes with your head.
I mean one day I’m driving the Base and its so raw with the sounds and road noise inside it takes you to the auditory pinnacle of the overall experience.

Then you drive the HEP and it just feels so right and a touch more refined then the rawness of the Base.

Subjective……

There we have it. It's settled!

 

[Tomster]

There we have it. It's settled!

So from a drivers perspective, there is a difference between the R and the HEP? Or does one get off on the paint color and badges?

Like I said, the HEP folks really think they have something special. Newsflash, it's a 20 R with paint and badging differences.

The true intent of the base R was to deliver the most tack capable version of the car that was legally allowed. The R designation denotes it's intent. That specific intent does not include stereo and air conditioning for your trips to the supermarket of wherever some of these misinformed folks drive it. The purpose of the base was to deliver the essence of what the car was supposed to be.

I guess if you can only have one.........

 

[TonyNJ]

So from a drivers perspective, there is a difference between the R and the HEP? Or does one get off on the paint color and badges?

Like I said, the HEP folks really think they have something special. Newsflash, it's a 20 R with paint and badging differences.

The true intent of the base R was to deliver the most tack capable version of the car that was legally allowed. The R designation denotes it's intent. That specific intent does not include stereo and air conditioning for your trips to the supermarket of wherever some of these misinformed folks drive it. The purpose of the base was to deliver the essence of what the car was supposed to be.

I guess if you can only have one.........

Dude, we just had a peace accord. And here you go pulling the pin on hand grenades.

 

[Tomster]

Dude, we just had a peace accord. And here you go pulling the pin on hand grenades.

Not hand grenades, only fact. The base R is the true representation of what the GT350R stands for and what it is supposed to be. A lot of that seems to get lost in the mix.

Value was suggested in a previous post. Who cares. The base R is the most track capable R model ever produced. If going to the grocery store or soccer practice is your thing, then maybe the HEP is for you.

 

[rush0024]

Do you really live in Shelbyville? I was thinking of taking my car to Shelbyfest in Missouri. If you go, you can experience a base R.

Wrong Shelbyville lol. I'm in Kentucky.

 

[TonyNJ]

Wrong Shelbyville lol. I'm in Kentucky.

I know. I was referring to two different places. I should've been more clear, and offering you a ride as well.

Was just curious if you actually live in Shelbyville.

 

[rush0024]

I know. I was referring to two different places. I should've been more clear, and offering you a ride as well.

Was just curious if you actually live in Shelbyville.

I do. And it's in Shelby County lol. Kinda just meant to be.

 

[NPTR]

Not hand grenades, only fact. The base R is the true representation of what the GT350R stands for and what it is supposed to be. A lot of that seems to get lost in the mix.

Value was suggested in a previous post. Who cares. The base R is the most track capable R model ever produced. If going to the grocery store or soccer practice is your thing, then maybe the HEP is for you.

Wow…this train went off the tracks fast!

To imply that an HEP is a grocery getter because it has a radio is borderline idiotic. Slightly less pure? Fine. But minivan status because of a silly radio? Now we’re no longer having a logical, reasonable debate.

And yes, limited edition heritage color scheme is inherently special. It’s a color with historical significance to the lineage of the car…if you don’t think color matters than I’ll personally pay to wrap your car in matte pink vinyl. No big deal I assume? It’s not a value thing for me…it’s just plain and simple that a heritage color like this one is special to a massive pool of buyers. Maybe not you, that’s fine, but let’s be reasonable here at least. And if value is part of the debate, just look at the massive disparity in valuation of special cars of years past…price difference can be massive off color spec alone. If you don’t appreciate that, you’re out to lunch.

But starting to feel like I’m having a political debate with the opposing party - no sense in trying to convince eachother. You enjoy your base R, and I’ll enjoy my HEP…and let’s both respect the fact that we all own some of the best cars ever made. Color scheme and a high quality radio are simply more important to me than they are to you, and I’ll beat the piss out of my stripped out E36 on the track while enjoying my 350 for heavily spirited weekend drives. To each his own!

 

[EBTAGMOTO]

So from a drivers perspective, there is a difference between the R and the HEP? Or does one get off on the paint color and badges?

Like I said, the HEP folks really think they have something special. Newsflash, it's a 20 R with paint and badging differences.

The true intent of the base R was to deliver the most tack capable version of the car that was legally allowed. The R designation denotes it's intent. That specific intent does not include stereo and air conditioning for your trips to the supermarket of wherever some of these misinformed folks drive it. The purpose of the base was to deliver the essence of what the car was supposed to be.

I guess if you can only have one.........

Over the past few years I have owned quite a few 350R's as well as a couple of Heritage GT500's. I had (2) 2020 R's including a HEP R which I recently sold. I loved the Heritage R and the 20 R's were without question the most refined ride out of all of them. I have to say though that my favorite car out of all of them is my 16 Base R (GR302). I track this car a few times a year if I'm lucky and also enjoy it on some cruises. I loved the HEP R, My Grabber Blue R, and love my Heritage 500 but the car I always look forward to jump into is my Base R. Cup2's , tramlining and all it is just an exhilarating drive. You can't really put your finger on it but it is just so fun to drive. The Heritage 500 is fun in a different way and really the only one my wife will take a ride in with me as it has the comfort seats. I actually put my Base R up for sale a while ago with no takers. The only reason I did that was to buy a different one. As a matter of fact I still may buy the other one. You can never have enough..... Whatever your choice they are awesome cars. Sometimes I think some of us get hung up on the numbers, values, etc. like these are 65/66/67 Shelby's when we should just be out there enjoying them.

 

[Pistol_91]

Just because something is rare doesn’t make it inherently more special or valuable.

Very true. For example, 2004 cobra, rarest color- competition orange. Most valuable- mystic chrome

 

[TonyNJ]

Wow…this train went off the tracks fast!

To imply that an HEP is a grocery getter because it has a radio is borderline idiotic. Slightly less pure? Fine. But minivan status because of a silly radio? Now we’re no longer having a logical, reasonable debate.

Grocery getter!!!

 

[TonyNJ]

Over the past few years I have owned quite a few 350R's as well as a couple of Heritage GT500's. I had (2) 2020 R's including a HEP R which I recently sold. I loved the Heritage R and the 20 R's were without question the most refined ride out of all of them. I have to say though that my favorite car out of all of them is my 16 Base R (GR302). I track this car a few times a year if I'm lucky and also enjoy it on some cruises. I loved the HEP R, My Grabber Blue R, and love my Heritage 500 but the car I always look forward to jump into is my Base R. Cup2's , tramlining and all it is just an exhilarating drive. You can't really put your finger on it but it is just so fun to drive. The Heritage 500 is fun in a different way and really the only one my wife will take a ride in with me as it has the comfort seats. I actually put my Base R up for sale a while ago with no takers. The only reason I did that was to buy a different one. As a matter of fact I still may buy the other one. You can never have enough..... Whatever your choice they are awesome cars. Sometimes I think some of us get hung up on the numbers, values, etc. like these are 65/66/67 Shelby's when we should just be out there enjoying them.

I see you ended up splitting up the HE set. You're left with the base, the PP500, and the Grabber? Which new base car are you looking at? I enjoy my base more than the others as well. It's rowdy.

 

[NPTR]

Funny thing is, we’re all splitting hairs here…all these cars are incredible, and the various spec/options combos is just different flavors for different palates. I agree, we should all be enjoying these magical machines as we currently are…going after eachother in some silly spec superiority debate is friendly fire!!! Let’s go back to making fun of Camaro / Challenger guys together, unify!!!

 

[PP0001]

I hear you, and we are largely debating a very subjective point - driving experience. I personally don’t see how elimination of a radio changes the driving experience that much…just turn the screen off, no? Feels to me like such a minor ingredient in such an awesome package, that the impact is so minimal…like judging a restaurant off the free bread and not the main course. Cool factor? Yes. Weight reduction? Yes. But driving experience, I just don’t see it…but just my two cents and I totally respect your personal opinion.

If we’re debating future value, I honestly think it’s a coin toss on HE vs base R. My gut is HE, given the heritage homage / color combo, last model year, etc. But this is all highly speculative. Either way, all Rs are special cars and limited runs, so value will likely hang in better vs others…I’m also not buying cars and tucking them away in a museum…I’m enjoying them. If they appreciate, awesome. Generally, the special cars I pick just depreciate less (or not at all). Perfect combo for us both then since for me, that’s the HE and you a base R - splitting hairs in my mind on what will fetch a higher premium 20 years from now. I say just buy the S&P 500 for a return and drive the piss out of that sweet car

Also, I think Jim Farley now owns an HE R, with the only mod being painted stripes (jealous haha).

Please don't get me wrong as I love the 2020 GT350R (especially the HEP) but until you have had some seat time in a Base R model it is difficult to describe some of the intangible feelings that come into play when driving a Base R on a regular basis at least for me.

Immediately after taking delivery of LR041, I drove it back-to-back with my Shadow Black 2018 Base R and was very impressed with LR041 with respect to how much of the tramlining was removed compared to JR157 which was due to the revised steering rack that was only implemented on the 2020 GT350R and of course the new GT500 model.

Keep in mind that there are many other delete items (14) that come into play on a Base R versus an Electronics Package R some of which are significant such as coming with no radio, AC, sound deadener, speakers, floors mats, trunk tray, tire inflator kit, trunk liner, etc. whereas other small deleted items such as NAV, back up camera, USB ports, GPS roof antenna are not a big deal.

Just after taking delivery of LR041 I weighed JR157 and LR041 (No Tech Package) both with pretty much full tanks fuel with the difference in weight being exactly 80 pounds with JR157 coming in with a curb weight of 3,620#.

With respect to future values, I agree that it will be a toss-up between the Heritage Edition Package R and a Base R as to which model does better in the long run, but there is no question that any of the 2015 GT350R's (Tech or Base) will and have already taken those examples to another price level.

Regarding the only 2020 HEP R coming with painted Guardsman Blue OTT/side stripes along with painted Blue brake calipers, Blue stitching and R seat logos, I suggest that you are speaking of LR280 which belongs to Bill Ford and in my opinion would be the 2nd most valuable GT350R from this last generation of GT350/R's and only second to F0001.

Congratulations on owning a 2020 HEP R and what is your chassis number?

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