S550 GT PP vs. GT350

[Hack]

The S550 5.0 is more a capable car than people seem to realize with all the focus on the GT350. You an get a pretty good GT track car for maybe less than the cost of a GT350 overall.

I 100% agree with this. The GT is really more car than I can fully utilize at the track.

I'd just love to see a comparison stock for stock. As another poster has mentioned, I don't think a S550 GT PP is as far off as people might think.
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I would be interested too. I think with a pro driver they would be a few seconds different per lap with all stock equipment. But that neglects the fact that it would be super easy to upgrade the tires on a GT. Just really good wheels and tires would be enough to make the cars quite close, is my guess.

I'm very interested in this too. My original plan was to get a GT350 but finding one at MSRP isn't turning out to be so easy. Now that I'm planning on a 2017 GT PP Premium, the GT350 aren't crazy different in price MSRP wise and the 2017 350 base is setup like I want it would be nice to see a side by side.

I think with a little boost and the 350 tires added to the GT, the 350 might not do that much better but I'd like the more unique car just because but I won't pay above MSRP for any car.

Speaking of cost/value - that's a significant difference between the cars. I believe a GT350 will hold its value a lot better. And if you modify the GT to try to keep up with a GT350, you will lose even more of the money you spent on mods compared to what you spent on the base car.

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[Sasuketr]

If you compare the two at what the GT350 was built for. handling! It's not very close. Straight lines aren't the GT350s forte. A $400 tune will have you running GT350 times in a straight line.

This!

E 85 tune, plus frpp track full handling package, lighter wheels with 305 rears and 285 fronts will make wonders! If you do rear seat delete and other weight saving modes it would help alot also.

 

[NotMarc]

He drove the closest you'll see to that, a members track built GT from here. He has a few comments about the 350 throughout. Essentially says it's very close, but he prefers the Gt350.



You can make a GT PP outperform the 350 at the track, for sure. Youll be sacrificing daily driveability somewhat with coilovers and longtubes (I'm not a fan of superchargers on track cars due to heat and weight) but it should be doable. Just have to ask yourself if you want the specialness of the 350. I could've built a standard 13 GT to out perform my Boss, but I wanted that innate character.

I watched that video the day it came out. I enjoy his one takes, I'd just like to see a timed track comparison. Just to see how the average bolt on car would compare. I'm not lucky enough to have driven a GT350, I've sat in two. Obviously its a more special car, but I'd love to know how close the average modded S550 is to GT350 performance, seeing how its compared to other high end track capable cars.

 

[9secondko]

The 350 Spanish the gt in acceleration even though that's not its selling point.

In handling, just forget about it. The PP isn't much of a handling package as it is.

 

[Todd15Fastback]

In handling, just forget about it. The PP isn't much of a handling package as it is.

Huh? It out runs the Boss 302 on a road course, while heavier and pulls about .97-.99G, that's not much of a handling package?

 

[Optimum Performance]

He drove the closest you'll see to that, a members track built GT from here. He has a few comments about the 350 throughout. Essentially says it's very close, but he prefers the Gt350.



You can make a GT PP outperform the 350 at the track, for sure. Youll be sacrificing daily driveability somewhat with coilovers and longtubes (I'm not a fan of superchargers on track cars due to heat and weight) but it should be doable. Just have to ask yourself if you want the specialness of the 350. I could've built a standard 13 GT to out perform my Boss, but I wanted that innate character.

Nothing against the parties involved but....:frusty: Nice sponsor plugs though.

Take a stock GT PP with GT350 Wheels and Tires, an alignment with a good driver at a track that does not favor the additional 100 HP and pretty sure the "Sloppy" GT PP suspension won't be a whole lot slower on a track. Ask any Driver coach that has been on track with a GT PP. Yes the MASS MARKET GT PP suspension has it's short comings. People that like to drive are not complaining about how "planted" it feels, they want to know what the laptime was, and the lap times in stock form are no joke....and the car is half the money. So not really a challenge to build a Shelby killer with the car it's based off of. At a track I ran in stock form a GT350 was 5 seconds a lap slower which has little to do with the slower car but makes my point that it isn't in a different leaque...:gossip: It's still a Mustang. :cheers:

 

[Optimum Performance]

Huh? It out runs the Boss 302 on a road course, while heavier and pulls about .97-.99G, that's not much of a handling package?

1.2G's but who's keeping score

 

[9secondko]

Huh? It out runs the Boss 302 on a road course, while heavier and pulls about .97-.99G, that's not much of a handling package?

This is 2016. Not 2014. There is a crosstown competitor that easily beats it. And that's not even getting into gt350 territory.

The gt should have better than PP as standard. Ford is making money though. So hard to argue their direction so far.

But no. In 2016, it's nothing to write home about.

 

[9secondko]

Nothing against the parties involved but....:frusty: Nice sponsor plugs though.

Take a stock GT PP with GT350 Wheels and Tires, an alignment with a good driver at a track that does not favor the additional 100 HP and pretty sure the "Sloppy" GT PP suspension won't be a whole lot slower on a track. Ask any Driver coach that has been on track with a GT PP. Yes the MASS MARKET GT PP suspension has it's short comings. People that like to drive are not complaining about how "planted" it feels, they want to know what the laptime was, and the lap times in stock form are no joke....and the car is half the money. So not really a challenge to build a Shelby killer with the car it's based off of. At a track I ran in stock form a GT350 was 5 seconds a lap slower which has little to do with the slower car but makes my point that it isn't in a different leaque...:gossip: It's still a Mustang. :cheers:

So.. You don't think spring and damping rates are part of the "sloppy" equation? The dynamics are very interesting with heavy inertia.

 

[Optimum Performance]

So.. You don't think spring and damping rates are part of the "sloppy" equation? The dynamics are very interesting with heavy inertia.

Yes, and as a driver the ability to manage the car is what makes it a drivers car. The cross town competitor doesnt apply when it costs almost as much as a Base GT350. I guess I dont understand what you expect in a 30K everymans car that is this track capable out of the box. This car is so comfortable you can drive it coast to coast without thinking about it. For a standard production vehicle I have a hard time finding any other vehicle made in recent times that even comes close to Mustang.

Have you gotten lapped by many other cars in your run group at a track day? I beat out an entire class of cars at a TT when it was bone stock in my third track day. I ran with cars that had slicks...and it was a Mustang event.

I'm sorry you are disappointed with the best selling pony car on the planet, I know a larger majority that are very.happy with it. :cheers:

 

[9secondko]

Yes, and as a driver the ability to manage the car is what makes it a drivers car. The cross town competitor doesnt apply when it costs almost as much as a Base GT350. I guess I dont understand what you expect in a 30K everymans car that is this track capable out of the box. This car is so comfortable you can drive it coast to coast without thinking about it. For a standard production vehicle I have a hard time finding any other vehicle made in recent times that even comes close to Mustang.

Have you gotten lapped by many other cars in your run group at a track day? I beat out an entire class of cars at a TT when it was bone stock in my third track day. I ran with cars that had slicks...and it was a Mustang event.

I'm sorry you are disappointed with the best selling pony car on the planet, I know a larger majority that are very.happy with it. :cheers:

LOL

You misunderstand me completely.

But so be it.

I do feel that it could and should be more.

But it's by no means "bad."

And I'm a Mustang guy first and foremost. Grateful that many others agree and are makes no it the top dog in the segment with their purchasing power.

However, I'd love to see the 2018s kick it up a couple notches. And leave the competition with nothing Brag about.

I get the whole price point thing.

But looking at the gt350 making the z28 it's whipping boy for tons less cash, I'd bet the gt can do so to the as as well.

The Boss 302 was great for the aging s197 platform.

This is the new hotness s550.

Good enough is ok. But great would be better. I've s feeling it's coming shortly. Just wish it launched that way.

As of today, I'm just calling it as I see it.

I respect you have a differing view. This is mine.

 

[Optimum Performance]

LOL

You misunderstand me completely. I do

But so be it.

I do feel that it could and should be more. It always can be

But it's by no means "bad." That's not what you said "In handling, just forget about it. The PP isn't much of a handling package as it is"

And I'm a Mustang guy first and foremost. Grateful that many others agree and are makes no it the top dog in the segment with their purchasing power.

However, I'd love to see the 2018s kick it up a couple notches. And leave the competition with nothing Brag about.

I get the whole price point thing.

But looking at the gt350 making the z28 it's whipping boy for tons less cash, I'd bet the gt can do so to the as as well. I couldn't disagree more, M/T found about 1 second difference a lap with a pro driver and as far as cost goes they are the same price in the real world, more likely that the Z28 is less to actually purchase. To add to that the Z28 is built on what would be considered an outdated chassis refined to the point of the S197's with performance as the only goal, ride and handling were not a major concern for the target market

The Boss 302 was great for the aging s197 platform. Because it was the most refined chassis over years of development that took place incrementally

This is the new hotness s550. For a $20-30K minimum price increase on a $30K car.

Good enough is ok. But great would be better. I've s feeling it's coming shortly. Just wish it launched that way. It did launch that way as the GT350 R, the GT is the first version of a brand new car that saw no price increase ($600 differnence) from the S197 while delivering much better content and performance at a price point no other competitor has come close to matching.

As of today, I'm just calling it as I see it. My laptimes causes me to see it very differently when I see how little I paid for it :ford:

I respect you have a differing view. This is mine.

No disrespect taken or implied :cheers:

 

[Hack]

Take a stock GT PP with GT350 Wheels and Tires, an alignment with a good driver at a track that does not favor the additional 100 HP and pretty sure the "Sloppy" GT PP suspension won't be a whole lot slower on a track.

I agree with this.
However, you can upgrade the wheels and tires on the GT350 as well. There may be less gain available on the GT350, but I believe the suspension and brake performance will also favor the GT350.

 

[Optimum Performance]

I agree with this.
However, you can upgrade the wheels and tires on the GT350 as well. There may be less gain available on the GT350, but I believe the suspension and brake performance will also favor the GT350.

My main point was the PP is not a 1LE package that is only orderable in the summer months so they only build a handful of cars. The PP as a mass market package has the staggered set up which induces understeer so the normal Joe will do the least damage when he crashes on the street. Just bolting on a 285 square set up on the PP and adding a little camber to the front transforms the car. Balance is predictable and fun. The PP will launch out of a corner harder than most cars on the market save for the Shelby. So adding a tire package I feel, based on experience shortens the gap significantly. Yes the dampening is not enough for a sticky tire but my point is they are not as far away as some say. For $5000 you could close the gap handling wise on a $55k Shelby. All in $40k is less than $55k and Camaro 6 isnt holding out much hope that the 1LE will come in under 45k and I would put my car up against an SS anyday on track...besides Camaro owners cant drive ;)

 

[Todd15Fastback]

My main point was the PP is not a 1LE package that is only orderable in the summer months so they only build a handful of cars. The PP as a mass market package has the staggered set up which induces understeer so the normal Joe will do the least damage when he crashes on the street. Just bolting on a 285 square set up on the PP and adding a little camber to the front transforms the car. Balance is predictable and fun. The PP will launch out of a corner harder than most cars on the market save for the Shelby. So adding a tire package I feel, based on experience shortens the gap significantly. Yes the dampening is not enough for a sticky tire but my point is they are not as far away as some say. For $5000 you could close the gap handling wise on a $55k Shelby. All in $40k is less than $55k and Camaro 6 isnt holding out much hope that the 1LE will come in under 45k and I would put my car up against an SS anyday on track...besides Camaro owners cant drive ;)

I went on a mountain run yesterday up in N. GA to Blood Mountain. Blood Mtn. is about 4500' elevation and has some killer turns and esses.

This was the first time I have pushed my car hard, very hard on the new linear springs, koni's (still only at 1.25 turns, too), alignment and my 285/305 sticky ass goodyears.

WOW is all I have to say. The car has so much more potential that I cannot tap into yet but it was scary fast. Not to mention the fact of my new found power and running E85, This thing was just beastly, I swear. Running between 4-7k and always just accelerating like a fool up the straights, throught the turns, etc. The brakes are freaking ass amazing, too. Slowed down, so true and so straight. No fade, no light pedal feeling. Confidence, turn after turn and I would romp on the brakes too, in really tight turns, almost like setting the car for entry.

Coming out of turns and being able to apply the power so soon and it just flat ass hook, WOW. I am still shaking and smiling from that run yesterday.


Given the caliber of driver you are, T, I would love for you to drive this thing one time and give your feedback vs. your setup. You need to get a tune on your and find some new found power and longer RPM range

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