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Does a R feel much different from a 2019+ GT350?

Mr. Maboomba

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How similar are a 2019+ GT350 and GT350R in feel and capability? Is the R worth the $20K premium in the used market if you aren’t buying for prestige and potential collector value?

I have read Ford made a lot of updates to the base GT350 in 2019 that brought it very close to the GT350R in lap times (though tires were probably the main thing). I am wondering if the driving feel and experience varies much between the two.

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Carbide

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It will feel different (faster) on a track for sure with the lower unsprung weight of the CF wheels. Plus wider tires.
The engine itself won't "feel" different.
 

pilotgore

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How similar are a 2019+ GT350 and GT350R in feel and capability? Is the R worth the $20K premium in the used market if you aren’t buying for prestige and potential collector value?

I have read Ford made a lot of updates to the base GT350 in 2019 that brought it very close to the GT350R in lap times (though tires were probably the main thing). I am wondering if the driving feel and experience varies much between the two.

PFA
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I’ve driven both on track, my 2019 non-R extensively, and a 2018 and 2019R for a 30 min session each. In my opinion, it’s not worth the extra $20k.

Take a non-R and add the FP springs and Sway bars, camber plates that come with the handling package, resonator delete for sound, and the R compound cup 2’s that come on the R, and the only difference I noticed was the steering felt a little lighter in the R when changing directions (which was probably caused by less rotating mass.). Other than that, it felt and sounded like the same car.

Unless you’re a massive fan of the aesthetics of the R wheels and rear wing, everything else can be added to a base relatively cheap.
 

tobaccokid

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I’ve driven both on track, my 2019 non-R extensively, and a 2018 and 2019R for a 30 min session each. In my opinion, it’s not worth the extra $20k.

Take a non-R and add the FP springs and Sway bars, camber plates that come with the handling package, resonator delete for sound, and the R compound cup 2’s that come on the R, and the only difference I noticed was the steering felt a little lighter in the R when changing directions (which was probably caused by less rotating mass.). Other than that, it felt and sounded like the same car.

Unless you’re a massive fan of the aesthetics of the R wheels and rear wing, everything else can be added to a base relatively cheap.
Correct. it's been said by reviewers and by Ford. Miniscule difference almost indistinguishable for us average drivers in average usage, irrespective of the average user imagining in their dreams that they are Lewis Hamilton.,
 

jmn444

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I've not driven an R, but can attest that the R spec cup 2's are WAY stickier than the non R 19+ cup 2's so IMO quite a bit of the lap time difference is still tires.

I'd also be afraid to run the carbon wheels on track, so that benefit of needing less static camber to work well due to wheel rigidity is not applicable to me.

Not sure if it's still an issue, but finding a place to mount tires on the carbon wheels used to be tough for some people based on reading on these forums.

I don't regret NOT getting an R at all, but might when it's time to sell haha
 

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tobaccokid

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I must add that I seriously considered updating my 2019 GT350 with R components. Given the overall cost and the fragility of the carbon fiber wheels, along with the overall closeness of the two versions, I decided that for pure road usage it's not worth it. The CR wheels would be very nice,
but ..........
 

UpACurb

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I was looking for a GT350 but only got the R because I got an incredible price ... I paid in the high 60s for my 2019 R a 4 to 5 months ago ... if I remember correctly had around 8k miles so mileage was a little higher than the non Rs I was looking at but considering all the other Rs were in the high 70s to 80s minimum and that the car was at a Ford dealer... decided to go for it ......

I probably wouldn't have paid 20k more for an R but given the mileage I figured I probably paid 6k to 7k more which I'm good with ...
 

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Almost forgot to add... outside of the steering which is due to the lighter wheel/tire package ... on the street I can't really feel a difference between the gt350 and the R ... I test drove about 6 or 7 GT350s before I bought my R.

3 of the times I drove a gt350 and gt500 back to back and while the 500 was MUCH faster acceleration wise.. I could feel the extra weight when I drove it... felt bigger/heavier but faster... so outside of acceleration.... the gt350/R felt pretty damn close to each other while the 500 felt much different
 

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I was looking for a GT350 but only got the R because I got an incredible price ... I paid in the high 60s for my 2019 R a 4 to 5 months ago ... if I remember correctly had around 8k miles so mileage was a little higher than the non Rs I was looking at but considering all the other Rs were in the high 70s to 80s minimum and that the car was at a Ford dealer... decided to go for it ......

I probably wouldn't have paid 20k more for an R but given the mileage I figured I probably paid 6k to 7k more which I'm good with ...
You lucky devil!
 

Egparson202

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How similar are a 2019+ GT350 and GT350R in feel and capability? Is the R worth the $20K premium in the used market if you aren’t buying for prestige and potential collector value?

I have read Ford made a lot of updates to the base GT350 in 2019 that brought it very close to the GT350R in lap times (though tires were probably the main thing). I am wondering if the driving feel and experience varies much between the two.

PFA
DE3E4A73-B267-45FA-BF89-0CDFA4709121.jpeg

Street:
That’s right. As you’ve read and others have stated, the gap narrowed considerably in terms of performance. Most of the differences can be easily eliminated or minimized through Ford Performance or aftermarket mods. IMO for the street, the difference is not worth the money.

Track:
I can confirm through experience that the GT350R-spec Cup2’s are substantially better for track use. Someone else might be better able to comment on aero differences, but the 19+ swing with Gurney flap seems to do a nice job balancing the front splitter and slightly more closed grille opening adopted from the R. Taking some weight out (e.g. wheels, rear seat delete), resonator delete, and some suspension mods makes the differences negligible.

Style/exclusivity:
R (obviously)

Conclusion:
So as always, the answer is: It depends.

I went down the non-R path because I couldn’t get the kind of great deal @UpACurb got on an R and because I don’t mind doing some mods. I’m also prioritizing track use over resale/collector value.

In either case, you’re right that the gap has narrowed enough to make it even harder to justify a big price difference.
 

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Mr. Maboomba

Mr. Maboomba

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I was looking for a GT350 but only got the R because I got an incredible price ... I paid in the high 60s for my 2019 R a 4 to 5 months ago ... if I remember correctly had around 8k miles so mileage was a little higher than the non Rs I was looking at but considering all the other Rs were in the high 70s to 80s minimum and that the car was at a Ford dealer... decided to go for it ......

I probably wouldn't have paid 20k more for an R but given the mileage I figured I probably paid 6k to 7k more which I'm good with ...
That's a great deal. I paid $62K for a 2019 GT350 with 15k miles in August 2021, which was the one of lowest priced GT350s in the country at the time, though I won't claim it was any sort of great bargain.
 

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I can tell the difference. I had a '16 track pack and subsequently I tracked a 17 R quite a bit. I think it depends on what you pay for the car. If you get a good deal on the R, I'd go that route. Its long term value will hold better. Look at the crazy prices that Rs are bringing in these days...... Again, if you can get a deal on one, grab it.
 

UpACurb

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That's a great deal. I paid $62K for a 2019 GT350 with 15k miles in August 2021, which was the one of lowest priced GT350s in the country at the time, though I won't claim it was any sort of great bargain.

I was looking at a 19 GT350 with 12K miles for 66K - had paid 900 for it to be shipped to me via Car Max- I think you got a good deal at 62K - I thought the one at 66K was high but was the right color/ had all the right options I wanted

I lost some money paying for the car to be shipped and then not buying it
 

BuckeyeGT350

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I paid $62,720 for a 2020 GT350 new from Weakley Ford in Martin, Tennessee January of last year. It had 10 miles on it.

Drove from Cincy to get it. I love those mission drives to pick up the car you've lusted after for years. My wife was 9 months pregnant with our first, so I knew if I didn't get it soon I probably wasn't going to pick one up for a while. Our son was born 3 days later. For the record he came 2 weeks early.
 

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When I was looking into getting a GT350 in 2018, it was to replace my modified 911 Turbo for a dual purpose street/track car. The mods I made to my 911 Turbo was to remove the back seats and install rollbar, install 5 pt harness friendly seat, lower the suspension with coil overs, add aftermarket exhaust for more noise, and buy set of dedicated track wheels/tires. For me, the GT350R has all of this from the factory versus the GT350 so that’s why I went that route (I bought Forgeline wheels for the street) Also, I felt that the price premium I paid will be retained in resale value in the future.

So, if you intend on ditching the back seats in your GT350, making other suspension mods, and will be tracking more often than now, may make sense to upgrade to a GT350R.
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