GT350R vs EVERYTHING

[Egparson202]

There isn't an american car that interests me, at all. As far as competitive performance, most of these cars are probably beyond my capability - I'm going mostly for experience at this point.

Alright, we may be making progress. The experience is top priority. Common sense around cost is another important factor. Let’s use some examples to sharpen the requirements.

ZLI/1LE - Stupid fast and powerful, American made - $74K MSRP

997.2Carrera S manual. You can get like 95% close to a GT3 car with suspension mods, exhaust, and numeric shifter and trans/motor mounts. - Same/similar $ as GT350R

GT3RS - more goodness, more $ - diminishing returns

Where and how do they fall short/exceed your expectations?

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[svttim]

No...im seeing alot of "the R is the only thing worth having....lowly 350s are worthless for value and for performance" . The quotes are not someone's exact words but, definitely the attitude that I'm feeling. I think both are awesome cars. I could have bought an r, but it didn't check my boxes for daily driving, and general comfort on the road. I may eventually add an r to my stable as a strictly track car....not as a collectable.

I'm sorry, you're seeing something that isn't there. Base 350 is a bad azz car

 

[Hack]

one thing to keep in mind is even tho there is a big delta in cost from going to your 2020 GT350R to a porsche GT3/GT4, you will end up recovering when you decide to sell your porsche. Porsche GT road cars have consistently held their resale value past 20 years.

Definitely if you use specifically a 997.2 Carrera S as a car and rack up miles the resale will drop precipitously. I just did a search and there's a big difference in prices depending on the miles. And most of the cars have low, low miles like they are rarely driven. I do agree that if it mostly sits in the garage and it's kept nice enough you won't lose much resale value.

Are we looking for a car to drive or something that mostly sits? I'd rather buy something more modest like a GR86 and drive it every day versus a 911 that sits in the garage while I drive a Camry to work.

 

[Hack]

There isn't an american car that interests me, at all. As far as competitive performance, most of these cars are probably beyond my capability - I'm going mostly for experience at this point.

So I should assume you've driven Hellcats and ZL1 1LE and you didn't enjoy them? I haven't, so I really don't know what they are like first hand. And I have my reasons why I'm not that interested in either of them. But I'm curious as to your thoughts.

 

[Whopperman]

For me, it's porsche that has my heart, but I won't let it get my wallet.. yet. I need manual and a car with character that doesn't break the bank. I really want a GT4 RS, but the cost is a bit high now and was aiming for a GT4, but couldn't justify the 100k price tag on a car with that low HP (yes I know it's super light). I've been in the ZL1 and wasn't the biggest fan of it or the build quality with camaros over the years as a daily. An old friend has a hellcat, but just didn't do it for me and all that weight around corners isn't the most fun. I ended up going with a Viper and love every second of it, but I haven't taken delivery of my R yet so once I do I'll let you know what the comparison is like and if its an actual step up or just a lateral step. From what I gather, the R is just behind in corners and when you punch it in the Viper it feels like you're teleporting and you get a portion of that in the GT350 (Only test drove one) after 7,500 RPM. Also, both leave a huge smile on my face and get a lot of attention

 

[460Fred]

Whopperman
You said you love the Viper, I’ve never driven one or ridden in one.
I understand they are a handful on the street and on the track.
I believe you’ll discover the GT350/R will not give you the feeling your car is trying to kill you. It’s my first real high performance car and I feel comfortable knowing I can handle it…Great on the street and a monster on track if you want.
I’m looking forward to what your impression of your GT350R is, initially and a month from now.

 

[Whopperman]

Whopperman
You said you live the Viper, I’ve never driven one or ridden in one.
I understand they are a handful on the street and on the track.
I believe you’ll discover the GT350/R will not give you the feeling your car is trying to kill you. It’s my first real high performance car and I feel comfortable knowing I can handle it…Great on the street and a monster on track if you want.
I’m looking forward to what your impression of your GT350R is, initially and a month from now.

Honestly it's not that bad, I drove it from early October to December 26th (they put salt down on the 27th) everyday putting on a couple thousand miles and it's surprisingly nice and tame. The caveat with it is that when you punch it in 1st gear just prepare yourself for the rear to step out a bit (low speeds), heavy hand brake, and if you're in it for a while I suggest getting a little pillow for your lower back. It's blown out of proportion a lot with the negatives, there are definitely some, but like most cars it can be fixed or isn't that bad to live with. The one thing that is weird is getting in and out of the car, the side pipes aren't bad and won't burn you unless you press your hand on it for about 30 seconds, but will notice that if you rest your leg on it for a bit in shorts for about 5-10 seconds you'll notice it's warm. The thing that is most weird is that you can get in just fine, but getting out my shoe almost always touches either the steering wheel or seat.. it's not bad, but it's just weird. Lastly, I for the street being tame, you can drive aggressively and spiritedly, jut be consensus about the road if it divots down and your pushing it, you may scrape (happened to me twice because of the low hanging diffuser (Not factory) and adjusting the suspension to the firmer setting will make you aware of the little bumps/potholes in the roads. Since you're from Cali you probably won't really notice, but unless you love a raw car that's slightly refined, I wouldn't suggest it as a daily

 

[DaveB]

Maybe you're just a little phobic. Regardless, that's not what this is about. For this bench-racing thread, it's about what is after the R. It's not a non-r, ok? I really don't care what peoples reasons are for buying what they did, that's their choice. The R is the most extreme model offered in this genre of Mustang (manual, NA...) - I usually don't participate, let alone start a thread about "how awesome is this car" but here it is. Thread was sparked by a recent drive that I really enjoyed and thought to myself, "Where to from here"...like, what would I realistically replace it with considering normal working person wages (money and common sense are both real consdierations).. Anyone who started in about how the 350 is so close to the R, based on this thread must just have a complex about it (and many do).

I totally get it. And I agree with the "what would I replace it with". I don't care what anyone has as long as the get their enjoyment from it. My comments are just based on what I'm reading from responses.

 

[brokenblinker]

Have you considered a Supra? Significantly lighter and with very small mods can make >600whp.

 

[stanglife]

Have you considered a Supra? Significantly lighter and with very small mods can make >600whp.

Keep in mind, just bench racing potential options - and basically solidifying my emotion that I wouldn't sell my R for anything right now.

But - I do like the Supra. I had an RS3 - I know it's a different animal but I modified it and it certianly was fast but really boring. I'd say it was an incredible DD though.

 

[brokenblinker]

If it's your thing, the manual supra is supposedly right around the corner and I don't think the B58, or a future S58 is boring by any means.

 

[Strokerswild]

Yes, true. I tried, at first, to keep it as what else could you really get vs an R for the money... Someone menttioned a 350, Mach and even a GT. Those are all downgrades but great values in their own right. How many 350 owners upgraded to Rs - many. How many R owners "upgraded" to a 350? I'll say none.

If this thread was about how to get the most track value for the money, we'd be discussing MX5 right now. Ecoboost is arguably the best deal in the Mustang lineup as well.

Funny, but I've thought for a while that the EB HPP is the vastly overlooked gem in the lineup....

 

[PA_R_DUDE]

If it's your thing, the manual supra is supposedly right around the corner and I don't think the B58, or a future S58 is boring by any means.

I kind of already have this setup. A manual 6 speed BMW M240i (B58) that is tuned to around 500whp. It's really fun because all the power is mid-range and kicks in like a freight train, feels like 2x faster than the GT350 because of all that torque. It's a really nice compliment to the way the Voodoo delivers power.

 

[svttim]

I kind of already have this setup. A manual 6 speed BMW M240i (B58) that is tuned to around 500whp. It's really fun because all the power is mid-range and kicks in like a freight train, feels like 2x faster than the GT350 because of all that torque. It's a really nice compliment to the way the Voodoo delivers power.

BMW was one of the alternatives I continue to look at. Although the new styling is fugly

 

[Black]

I had a 2016 GT manual that I sold for stupid reasons. I loved that car. I swore that the GT350 would be next. I waited and waited for almost 3 years to buy one but was never able to. Got a 2021 BMW M340i instead. That car is really fast but guess what? I sold it in less than 2 months. Yes, the car was fast and a decent handler but I was missing something. The manual transmission, raw power wasn't there.

I have 3 deposits for a C8 at different dealerships but I am still stalking a GT350. Am I doing the right thing?

I haven't driven the C8 but got sold purely because of the looks. yes, the mid-engine is great but I care a rat's ass about engine location.
The GT350 engine revs higher and sounds better.
Interior in the C8 is better
GT350 is slower but I wish the C8 had a manual transmission with a high revving engine.
Yes, I am a confused duck.

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