froggy47

I instructed autox last Sunday in one of these.

CF wheels, Ford VooDoo v8 flat plane motor (no turbo/supercharger - all motor) 526hp/tq over 400, revs to 8500 rpm, big Brembos, back seat delete etc. Serious track seats. IRS. About 3800#'s wgt. Magnetic shocks.

Owner had set the neg. camber to a goodly amount so you could throw it around tight autox corners.

It was pretty sweet. I might pick one up, but they are scarce. I am guessing maybe 500/yr 16/17/18

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...0r-test-review

brkntrxn

The weight (Curb weight (GT350/GT350R): 3796/3710 lb) is exactly what is wrong with the new batch of muscle cars and sports cars in America. 3800lbs WITHOUT driver is just too darn heavy for me to be interested in spending $50k on it.

Trust me, I have the same exact opinion of the C7Z06/Z07 at twice the sticker price. Modern cars are VERY capable, but they are simply too heavy for regular track use.

Now if I were buying it for a weekend fun car with occasional track events, then yes, it is right in line with what I want. But I have my wife's daily driven '12 GS if I want to take a street-legal car to a track weekend and her car is much lighter than anything produced in the last three years.


My .02, the previous POTUS can give you change.

-Kevin

sunsalem

The only interesting thing about this car is the engine.
It's not a real Sportscar and is too underpowered to compete with top muscle cars from Chevy and Dodge.
Should Ford drop it into a lightweight 2-seater similar to the Vette...then we would have something interesting.

CaddyRacer

LOL $50k....funny guy
Greedy Ford dealers want $30k ADM over $64k MSRP for GT350R, apparently the GT350R is such a great track car it went beyond the track and straight to investors

sunsalem

A local dealer wants $100k for a....USED one.

I hope said investors realize not all investments will payoff.

Ludeaem

I agree the weight is something that makes those cars not so alluring but as many of us can attest, some cars have the 'x factor' and just have personality. Give me a v8 that rev's to 8K+ (ex honda guy here) and I'm in heaven.

topmover

Moto One

If you ever get a chance, check out all the different vibrations damping use in the motor mounts, drive line, as compared to the normal 5.0s. Still a good drive though.

Mark.

BrianCunningham

Should have put that engine in the GT

froggy47

The owner said he paid about $75 new in CA.

froggy47

Not sure on that, it felt pretty normal.



Link?

froggy47

This car had that "personality". Not like the big motor big s/c straight line Mustangs. I could see owning one.



It reminded me a lot of the original 1965 Shelby GT350

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...ed-test-review

For those not old enough to remember.

mgarfias

For those of that don't remember, in 2000 when I bought my Z06 the bay area dealers were asking (and getting) 80k for them.

Too bad ford never ramps up the production on the interesting stuff so normal people can get one.

sunsalem

The turbo that is being used in the new GT was developed originally for Ford's Daytona Prototypes in Grand Am.
Proven on the racetrack in the harshest conditions, it is the wisest choice for the exotic GT IMO.
The current Mustang motor doesn't have that kind of development/background and it doesn't have anywhere near the power to weight ratio of the little turbo.

myles930

Good points on here, and of course people will always find something to be critical about... BUT the thing is this: what is out there at this price point that is already hard-leaning track ready from the showroom?

While all of the competitors are concerned about the 1/4 (Demon anyone???), Ford is trying to get into the fray with a track oriented offerings like the GT3...

Although I have not driven one, I have heard good things about the 350r, and anyone that thinks that a regular road going corvette can compete with one out of the box on the track, might be mistaken.

Personally, my hats off to them. Good car, good concept, good swing. I am sure they will continue to refine the offering as long as there is demand.

brkntrxn

I completely agree., so don't take my opinions as unwarranted complaints, although they are indeed complaints. And keep in mind that I am a LOOOONG time Mustang owner... a base, a GT, and two Cobra's over the past 30 years. The two Vettes we currently own are the only two Chevrolet's I have ever owned. Hell, I just bought another F250 (sixth Ford truck), so I guess my blood runs blue...I have been (re)smitten with the Mustangs since the 2012 variants. Gimme a newer Mustang GT with a set of coilovers, a shifter, an exhaust, and maybe a sway bar and I am back in redneck heaven on the street.

My issue with ALL of the current manufacturers is that they are NOT giving us a true track ready car. I am of the mindset that a Mustang along the lines of the Foxbody LX 5.0s with a flair to the road course duty would sell massively in today's world with all of the interest on open tracking and whatnot. Gimme the power and none of the complication and weight. The Vette's have never had this option, but the Chevy Camaros and Chrysler variations definitely had it. I am not asking for a mid-60s Muscle car... rather a modernized late 80s sleeper that can do everything without all the nannies, complications, and weight.

And to the OP,

sunsalem

Camaro ZL1 = $61,140
350R = $63,645

I haven't seen any numbers that suggest the 350R can track faster than the ZL1.

jaredtxrx

The ZL1 beat the GT350R by 2.6 seconds on the Nurburgring. On a track that takes 7 1/5 minutes to lap that is very close company. You are looking at track conditions, tires, and driver at this point. The two cars match up very well.

You can also go here and see examples of the GT350R beating the ZL1 at numerous tracks.
http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/laguna-seca-post-1988

A frined of mine has a GT350 (not R). He let me do a few hot laps in it, needless to say it was a blast and can seriously move. Plus he has a back seat, but he doesn't have a Corvette.

sunsalem

According to the link, it was the previous gen of ZL1.

conradb

It's definitely a step in the right direction for Ford, but they're artificially restricting access. That's the most frustrating part. That's why Corvettes are so godly. The average Joe can go and buy a car that can rival many of the best from Europe at a fraction of the price, and often can be had under MSRP! The aftermarket support is unrivaled as well.

The new GT350R is certainly a neat car, and if given one I'd take it and drive it all the time. However, I wouldn't go out of my way to buy something like that for such a price when I have my C5Z with tons of mods at less than half the cost that could destroy it on the circuit.