FISH22
Well-Known Member
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- #1
Not sure where to start. I've been an avid sports car guy for all of my adult life. In my early years, I was an S2000 fanatic, purchasing my first AP1 in 2005 (big deal for a young junior enlisted dude). After that, it snowballed. Many years of modifications and 3x more S2000s (a 2006, 2008, and 2009). If you've ever talked to a hardcore S2000 owner, you'd think they're crazy for how obsessed they were with the car. Its the most engaging vehicle I have ever owned. However, it was slow as balls and the engine (while incredible) lacked that high-power character.
Fast forward 10+ years. I now start entering the higher power and more advanced genre. Dabbled in a 2014 NISMO 370Z. Boring. Quick car that looked special. But the engine was dull and the shifter was awful. Handling was ok. The search continues. Enter BMW E90 M3. In the 2015 timeframe, I found a local 2011 E90 M3 in great condition. 25k miles, manual, Alpine White over Fox Red. A special vehicle and engine that was intoxicating. I was instantly morphed into an M-fanboi. An extremely connected vehicle that I looked forward to drive every single time. I ended up taking a break from sports cars due to military life. Drove a boring Toyota Tundra for 6 years.
Car guy mode comes full circle. Early 2021 I NEED to be back in an M-car. Found a brand new 2021 G80 M3 Competition. Wasn't fond of the 8-speed auto, but I justified it as it was going to be a daily. Enjoyed that car for 2 years. Dumped A LOT of money into it to make it feel more special, mostly aesthetics. While it was a monster as a back-road carver, and one of the best DD's I've had, it lacked soul. I grew tired of the monotone engine and dull transmission. But I was a hardcore M-car guy, how could I leave this brand? The CT5-V Blackwing, thats how.
Early 2023 I traded the M3 in for a brand new CT5-V Blackwing with a wonderful TR6060 manual. Out of the gate... OMG. Just stupid ridiculous in every way. An incredible daily and an absolute psychopath on backroads and highways. I figured this was it. While I had all the power and torque anyone could ever want in a road-going car, I was still missing something. I realized I was not a big lover of force inducted engines. Even with less power, I realized I needed another N/A V8 in my life, even considered getting back into a mildly used E9x M3.
So here we are. May of 2024, I drove to Northern Virginia with 2 of my oldest for a fun road trip and traded in the 5BW for a 2020 GT350 Heritage Edition. On the way home, I honestly thought I made a mistake. Mind you, I just departed a car that had majority of its torque off of idle and was littered with options. Lets just say, the transition was difficult. Until I started to stretch the GT350's legs and explored its character.
I've summed it up to this: While its a more rewarding vehicle to drive, it demands complete engagement if you're attempting to explore its capabilities. The G80 M3 and Blackwing, believe it or not, were ridiculously easy to push. However, that's never rewarding. Fun at first, but no fulfillment like I've found in the GT350. I haven't even pushed this car to it's limits, but just getting a taste of the event that occurs when you tap into the engine and chassis is just euphoric. I daily this thing; just over 50 miles a day. Its not a great DD, but on the way into work and returning home, it's always something I look forward to.
The only description I can think of is "special". Yeah, it has some pretty crappy interior, build quality is meh, paint is ok... but the GT350 brings something out of me that I have not experienced in any other vehicle. Not that I've owned top tier stuff like a GT3, but I have definitely put many miles on some incredible vehicles. Funny enough, my dream car in my late high school years was the 2000 Cobra R. I still have the 1:18 scale die cast to this day. Possibly never even realized it, even though I never considered myself a "Mustang guy", but I feel this is where I belong. This ownership has given me such an appreciation for an almost bland manufacturer like Ford and its ability to create such an intoxicating machine and the modesty of the Ford name that goes along with it.
I have wrenched on this car many times. So easy to work on and explore. While I have done this on the other cars as well, there's a different type of confidence with the GT350. If there's anything factory that I need, I just visit my BFFs at the local Ford dealer (fluids, parts, etc). I have done the basics on this car: engine oil, trans fluid, rear diff fluid, resonator delete, coolant flush/fill, a full wheels-off decon and detail, R/R passenger creaking door check, and soon will be installing an MGW shifter. It's just easy to work on and beyond rewarding to wind her out through the gears and push her through turns that invoke such an incredible satisfaction.
I guess I'm totally rambling here. But I guess I can't preach enough about how special this car is. Friends that are aware of my car history always ask how I could go from a BMW and Cadillac to a Ford. I honestly don't think they'd understand unless they'd become a GT350 owner. I don't even bother to try and explain the engine or chassis. Lets just say, I have absolutely been a victim of marketing. I'll never say that the BMW M and Cadillac V divisions are crap, but I will say that because of them, I've been missing out on something like the GT350.
Here's to many more miles and experiences with this incredible machine.
Fast forward 10+ years. I now start entering the higher power and more advanced genre. Dabbled in a 2014 NISMO 370Z. Boring. Quick car that looked special. But the engine was dull and the shifter was awful. Handling was ok. The search continues. Enter BMW E90 M3. In the 2015 timeframe, I found a local 2011 E90 M3 in great condition. 25k miles, manual, Alpine White over Fox Red. A special vehicle and engine that was intoxicating. I was instantly morphed into an M-fanboi. An extremely connected vehicle that I looked forward to drive every single time. I ended up taking a break from sports cars due to military life. Drove a boring Toyota Tundra for 6 years.
Car guy mode comes full circle. Early 2021 I NEED to be back in an M-car. Found a brand new 2021 G80 M3 Competition. Wasn't fond of the 8-speed auto, but I justified it as it was going to be a daily. Enjoyed that car for 2 years. Dumped A LOT of money into it to make it feel more special, mostly aesthetics. While it was a monster as a back-road carver, and one of the best DD's I've had, it lacked soul. I grew tired of the monotone engine and dull transmission. But I was a hardcore M-car guy, how could I leave this brand? The CT5-V Blackwing, thats how.
Early 2023 I traded the M3 in for a brand new CT5-V Blackwing with a wonderful TR6060 manual. Out of the gate... OMG. Just stupid ridiculous in every way. An incredible daily and an absolute psychopath on backroads and highways. I figured this was it. While I had all the power and torque anyone could ever want in a road-going car, I was still missing something. I realized I was not a big lover of force inducted engines. Even with less power, I realized I needed another N/A V8 in my life, even considered getting back into a mildly used E9x M3.
So here we are. May of 2024, I drove to Northern Virginia with 2 of my oldest for a fun road trip and traded in the 5BW for a 2020 GT350 Heritage Edition. On the way home, I honestly thought I made a mistake. Mind you, I just departed a car that had majority of its torque off of idle and was littered with options. Lets just say, the transition was difficult. Until I started to stretch the GT350's legs and explored its character.
I've summed it up to this: While its a more rewarding vehicle to drive, it demands complete engagement if you're attempting to explore its capabilities. The G80 M3 and Blackwing, believe it or not, were ridiculously easy to push. However, that's never rewarding. Fun at first, but no fulfillment like I've found in the GT350. I haven't even pushed this car to it's limits, but just getting a taste of the event that occurs when you tap into the engine and chassis is just euphoric. I daily this thing; just over 50 miles a day. Its not a great DD, but on the way into work and returning home, it's always something I look forward to.
The only description I can think of is "special". Yeah, it has some pretty crappy interior, build quality is meh, paint is ok... but the GT350 brings something out of me that I have not experienced in any other vehicle. Not that I've owned top tier stuff like a GT3, but I have definitely put many miles on some incredible vehicles. Funny enough, my dream car in my late high school years was the 2000 Cobra R. I still have the 1:18 scale die cast to this day. Possibly never even realized it, even though I never considered myself a "Mustang guy", but I feel this is where I belong. This ownership has given me such an appreciation for an almost bland manufacturer like Ford and its ability to create such an intoxicating machine and the modesty of the Ford name that goes along with it.
I have wrenched on this car many times. So easy to work on and explore. While I have done this on the other cars as well, there's a different type of confidence with the GT350. If there's anything factory that I need, I just visit my BFFs at the local Ford dealer (fluids, parts, etc). I have done the basics on this car: engine oil, trans fluid, rear diff fluid, resonator delete, coolant flush/fill, a full wheels-off decon and detail, R/R passenger creaking door check, and soon will be installing an MGW shifter. It's just easy to work on and beyond rewarding to wind her out through the gears and push her through turns that invoke such an incredible satisfaction.
I guess I'm totally rambling here. But I guess I can't preach enough about how special this car is. Friends that are aware of my car history always ask how I could go from a BMW and Cadillac to a Ford. I honestly don't think they'd understand unless they'd become a GT350 owner. I don't even bother to try and explain the engine or chassis. Lets just say, I have absolutely been a victim of marketing. I'll never say that the BMW M and Cadillac V divisions are crap, but I will say that because of them, I've been missing out on something like the GT350.
Here's to many more miles and experiences with this incredible machine.
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