- Thread starter
- #21
Nice. How did the 500 compare to your R?
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GT500 Reviews
- Thread starterVoodooBoss
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It accelerated much harder than my R and I’d say the brakes are even better . I really expected the extra weight to be much more noticeable. I drove it in the paddle shift mode to experience it and it worked just fine. To tell you truth I kind of missed the engagement of having a manual transmission though.
Whole season? I'd wager you'd be lucky if they lasted two weekends.
TymeSlayer
Tramps like us, Baby we were born to run...
Not a review but YouTuber StangMode got a ride along with Billy Johnson and did some filming of the hot laps. Fun stuff. Especially to see a drag guy get a taste of the road course driven with some hustle.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Four days of driving? That sounds about right. I got five out of a set of Cup2s on a Boss 302.
- 6,396
- 8,276
you guys are talking about spending north of $70K for a Mustang, if you track it, you'd better be prepared to come off the hip for some rubber....a lot of rubber
- 6,396
- 8,276
all of the fast guys drive that way, very light on the wheel, I've seen in car of John Hienricy, he looks like he's out for a Sunday drive.
Bill Pemberton
0ld Ford Automotive Racing Terror
Bet Andrew Aquilante is light on the wheel too!!??!!
50Deep
Jockin' GT350's
The Complicated Calculus - Selling Your Car For The GT500
After my 4 hours of fun at the GT500 Track tour I was planning to put pen to paper, or finger to keyboard, about the technical aspects of the GT500. After reading a few of the magazine reviews about the car I realized there are others with far more automotive experience that can accomplish that task better. The essential question we are all asking ourselves is will you sell you current Ford to obtain one? Having owned a GT350, GT350R, and Whippled Terminator I want to present to you my thoughts on the matter. These are my angles, and many things are left to consider. Please share your thoughts when you finish reading this, as it may help others.
The GT500 is many things. One thing I can confidently say that it wont be, is a disappointment. There is a concert of systems working in harmony to make that car exquisite to drive. Anyone that currently owns a GT350 will have that same special feeling and shiznit eating grin when you get inside of it. On track the CFTP manages weight, body roll, turn in, grip, throttle application, shifts and everything else without you thinking about it. On the drag strip it makes launching a simple process without you thinking about it. Set a lap record without breaking a sweat then go enjoy a nice charcuterie board in between sessions.... Remember that thought until later...
When you think about combat effectiveness, or picking the right tool for the job, the A7 from Tremec makes complete and total sense. With contenders like the Hellcat and ZL1 LE there would be too much margin for error with a manual if your ultimate goal is to demolish everything else currently on the street. Not only to demolish, but to give customers of all skill levels the ability to harness the power on tap no matter what performance situation they enter into. I spoke with a Tremec engineer at the event and quickly mentioned the epitome of manually shifting automatic transmissions, the Porsche PDK. It was made clear that much effort was put into benchmarking against that transmission, and making this one even better. They did it, although experience with the transmission on the street in traffic is an unknown. If anyone here has been in a high horsepower manual car you know with great power, comes great responsibility. Power management out of an apex or off the line is a constant battle, and often costs you time. I did not think the automatic transmission would be rewarding, but it definitely was. The Whippled Terminator I had was an absolute beast, but really took a skilled driver to extract the most from. The car was either roasting the tires or roasting the tires anytime I put that foot to the floor. I do not foresee that being the case here, and that is a benefit for everyone driving it. The A7 is not only a win for the car, but a win for all of us that want to see the GT500 on the top of the food chain.
HOWEVER, there are many factors about performance car ownership that many never discuss. The ability to fit your kids and wife inside for a trip to cars and coffee. The point of diminishing returns with modifications. Dreading a trip because being caught in traffic will give your left knee atrophy. Tossing the keys to your wife so she can take the car to work and not be in fear of stalling out on the driveway into the office. New enthusiasts that would be too timid to push the car because a stick shift is intimidating. Enthusiasts with a little more mileage on their bodies and cant manage a stick shift anymore. This level of accessibility and versatility makes the GT500 a big win, but will also bring many more buyers into the pool.
As I took the 600 mile drive back home from Vegas I didn’t feel as though I was missing anything in my GT350R. Several other vehicles pulled out cameras and the driver of a Dodge truck chased me down to get a closer look. Downshifts with a quick rev match to pass big rigs was satisfying at my core. The looks, rarity, and balance of the GT350R made me happy with the woman I married. Knowing that when GT500 production gets fully underway there will be plenty of them in production and at dealerships. Aside from the CFTP, exclusivity and ADM wont be the name of the game for long.
My brief time in the GT500 was amazing. What stuck in my mind the most was my feeling of detachment while on track. That previous thought about exquisite management of all the systems, it also was what made me feel a little disconnected from the whole experience. Kind of like when your wife tells you to lay back and let her do all the work. Undoubtedly fun, but I still want to put in a little work.....sometimes. It’s my only criticism, but its not the GT500’s fault. My brain and testosterone filled need to feel like I am the one controlling the car is what holds me back. That will be the basic question you need to ask yourself before you make the move. Are you ready to fundamentally change your mind about what performance driving is like without a manual. Those that are ready will not be disappointed. Those that are not ready, still wont be disappointed, but you may want to keep 6 gears nearby for that occasional fix.
This closing statement is not made to knock any other variant of Mustang on the road, or to seem elitist about the GT350R. It just happens to be the top dog Mustang at the moment. Anyone who has switched from the GT350 to the R knows the cars are different, and even modifications to a GT350 wont necessarily get you there without some financial investment. The limited production, factory aero, and magazine reviews make the R a car of obsession and desire. It’s performance is renowned and envied by other car enthusiasts across the board. If you have a GT350R because you enjoy analog driving input from a manual I do not think selling your current car for the GT500 is the best move. The 500 is amazing, but not such a different feeling than what you have. The control and linear power application built into the GT500 because of the A7 still makes it feel similar to what the GT350R does with the manual. Words do not quite describe the satisfaction of when you heel-toe downshift into the apex, but also wont be enough to wash away the feeling of getting passed by a GT500 right after you hit the straightaway. Getting a slightly used base GT500 to mod how you want would be my advice for R owners. Buying both would be ideal if you got it like that, or if you are mentally ready to let the third pedal go.
If you have a GT350 or other built Mustang though......This GT500 is hella hella fast like VTEC duuu, and you probably wont beat it. Try to build your own and it will likely cost you more with little to be gained in resale. The GT500 is hungry, and equipped with a proper driver and sticky tire it will eat most cars at any event. I can almost guarantee if you best the GT500 in any arena with equal tire compound you probably beat the driver, and not the car. If you did beat the car, chances are you had to give up so much utility in every other arena that the GT500 still wins at being more versatile. Built or bought. Driver skill or the car. Perhaps none of it matters if you are winning. If you own any other variant of performance Mustang short of the R and have the financial ability to afford a GT500, I would be selling my baseball card collection, cancelling the built motor, selling all my spare parts, and calling MSRP dealerships until my fingers bled. First startup and WOT pull will leave you with no regrets.
The GT500 is many things. One thing I can confidently say that it wont be, is a disappointment. There is a concert of systems working in harmony to make that car exquisite to drive. Anyone that currently owns a GT350 will have that same special feeling and shiznit eating grin when you get inside of it. On track the CFTP manages weight, body roll, turn in, grip, throttle application, shifts and everything else without you thinking about it. On the drag strip it makes launching a simple process without you thinking about it. Set a lap record without breaking a sweat then go enjoy a nice charcuterie board in between sessions.... Remember that thought until later...
When you think about combat effectiveness, or picking the right tool for the job, the A7 from Tremec makes complete and total sense. With contenders like the Hellcat and ZL1 LE there would be too much margin for error with a manual if your ultimate goal is to demolish everything else currently on the street. Not only to demolish, but to give customers of all skill levels the ability to harness the power on tap no matter what performance situation they enter into. I spoke with a Tremec engineer at the event and quickly mentioned the epitome of manually shifting automatic transmissions, the Porsche PDK. It was made clear that much effort was put into benchmarking against that transmission, and making this one even better. They did it, although experience with the transmission on the street in traffic is an unknown. If anyone here has been in a high horsepower manual car you know with great power, comes great responsibility. Power management out of an apex or off the line is a constant battle, and often costs you time. I did not think the automatic transmission would be rewarding, but it definitely was. The Whippled Terminator I had was an absolute beast, but really took a skilled driver to extract the most from. The car was either roasting the tires or roasting the tires anytime I put that foot to the floor. I do not foresee that being the case here, and that is a benefit for everyone driving it. The A7 is not only a win for the car, but a win for all of us that want to see the GT500 on the top of the food chain.
HOWEVER, there are many factors about performance car ownership that many never discuss. The ability to fit your kids and wife inside for a trip to cars and coffee. The point of diminishing returns with modifications. Dreading a trip because being caught in traffic will give your left knee atrophy. Tossing the keys to your wife so she can take the car to work and not be in fear of stalling out on the driveway into the office. New enthusiasts that would be too timid to push the car because a stick shift is intimidating. Enthusiasts with a little more mileage on their bodies and cant manage a stick shift anymore. This level of accessibility and versatility makes the GT500 a big win, but will also bring many more buyers into the pool.
As I took the 600 mile drive back home from Vegas I didn’t feel as though I was missing anything in my GT350R. Several other vehicles pulled out cameras and the driver of a Dodge truck chased me down to get a closer look. Downshifts with a quick rev match to pass big rigs was satisfying at my core. The looks, rarity, and balance of the GT350R made me happy with the woman I married. Knowing that when GT500 production gets fully underway there will be plenty of them in production and at dealerships. Aside from the CFTP, exclusivity and ADM wont be the name of the game for long.
My brief time in the GT500 was amazing. What stuck in my mind the most was my feeling of detachment while on track. That previous thought about exquisite management of all the systems, it also was what made me feel a little disconnected from the whole experience. Kind of like when your wife tells you to lay back and let her do all the work. Undoubtedly fun, but I still want to put in a little work.....sometimes. It’s my only criticism, but its not the GT500’s fault. My brain and testosterone filled need to feel like I am the one controlling the car is what holds me back. That will be the basic question you need to ask yourself before you make the move. Are you ready to fundamentally change your mind about what performance driving is like without a manual. Those that are ready will not be disappointed. Those that are not ready, still wont be disappointed, but you may want to keep 6 gears nearby for that occasional fix.
This closing statement is not made to knock any other variant of Mustang on the road, or to seem elitist about the GT350R. It just happens to be the top dog Mustang at the moment. Anyone who has switched from the GT350 to the R knows the cars are different, and even modifications to a GT350 wont necessarily get you there without some financial investment. The limited production, factory aero, and magazine reviews make the R a car of obsession and desire. It’s performance is renowned and envied by other car enthusiasts across the board. If you have a GT350R because you enjoy analog driving input from a manual I do not think selling your current car for the GT500 is the best move. The 500 is amazing, but not such a different feeling than what you have. The control and linear power application built into the GT500 because of the A7 still makes it feel similar to what the GT350R does with the manual. Words do not quite describe the satisfaction of when you heel-toe downshift into the apex, but also wont be enough to wash away the feeling of getting passed by a GT500 right after you hit the straightaway. Getting a slightly used base GT500 to mod how you want would be my advice for R owners. Buying both would be ideal if you got it like that, or if you are mentally ready to let the third pedal go.
If you have a GT350 or other built Mustang though......This GT500 is hella hella fast like VTEC duuu, and you probably wont beat it. Try to build your own and it will likely cost you more with little to be gained in resale. The GT500 is hungry, and equipped with a proper driver and sticky tire it will eat most cars at any event. I can almost guarantee if you best the GT500 in any arena with equal tire compound you probably beat the driver, and not the car. If you did beat the car, chances are you had to give up so much utility in every other arena that the GT500 still wins at being more versatile. Built or bought. Driver skill or the car. Perhaps none of it matters if you are winning. If you own any other variant of performance Mustang short of the R and have the financial ability to afford a GT500, I would be selling my baseball card collection, cancelling the built motor, selling all my spare parts, and calling MSRP dealerships until my fingers bled. First startup and WOT pull will leave you with no regrets.
Bill Pemberton
0ld Ford Automotive Racing Terror
So driving a GT 500 is like your wife telling you to lay back and let her do all the work???? That may be the best sales tag line ever ---------I think you may cause a bigger ADM at some places with that statement, ha,ha.
Great write up and better than many others I have already read!
Great write up and better than many others I have already read!
50Deep, that was quite a write up and review, indeed!...Great Pics ,also!! I bought my Boss for the performance and the manual, 8 yrs ago (HOLY COW!!) and my Boss has served me well so far.I'm sure that auto trans gets the job done better than I could, shifting, but I'll stick with what I have, since I'm not a racer, but a driving enthusiast.....
- Thread starter
- #35
T nice write up. For those that attended the Mustang Roundup this year we got to see a GT500 perform on track all day long and I'm confident that it will hold up well for a typical HPDE track day regardless of how hot out it is. We were given a thorough description of the changes between the GT350 and GT500. One change that stuck out to me was the lack of vents in the front fenders. Due to the changes to the aero up front we were told the aero on the GT500 was cleaner without the vents. While I like the fender vents the lack of them is testament that Ford spend plenty of time in the wind tunnel maximizing the downforce on the GT500. It was made clear to us that Ford expects true track day enthusiast to stick with the GT350. Now what I want is a GT350 with the Tremec DCT. Anyway I look forward to driving your GT500 when it arrives.
Anyway I look forward to driving your GT500 when it arrives.
Nice write-up and pics Terrance!
I put my name on the list at my dealer almost 3 years ago to get a GT500 with no ADM and at the time I hadn’t decided that selling my track prepped supercharged S197 (‘13GT) was going to be the right thing for me. Years ago I thought the GT500 would follow in the footsteps of years past and be a great street machine but track performance wouldn’t be nearly as strong as it has shown to be. My plan was turn the S197 into a dedicated track only car and keep the 500 for the street. I was driving my 197 less and less on the street as it got more and more and more done to it to increase track capability and as I got older (40 this month). It’s a beast on track, can embarrass lots of nicer cars but it became very clear that this 500 was going to be special.
Everything changed when it became clear Ford had hit it out of the park with the 500. If I kept it for the street, I would yearn to experience it on the track.
I made the decision in August to sell my GT and make the new 500 my only Mustang (for now).
I have full intentions of tracking my 500, keeping the back seat in and using it on the street and driving the heck out of it. Second set of wheels on the way to wrap in cup 2s (thanks Terrance) and some light mods or suspension tuning should mean my base will be very capable with the CFTP and still keep her street manners.
If I miss the manual experience and things keep trending the right way for me perhaps I’ll pickup an used R or a dedicated track only S550 in the future. But the now means I’ll have my GT500 and only my 500 and won’t look back.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I put my name on the list at my dealer almost 3 years ago to get a GT500 with no ADM and at the time I hadn’t decided that selling my track prepped supercharged S197 (‘13GT) was going to be the right thing for me. Years ago I thought the GT500 would follow in the footsteps of years past and be a great street machine but track performance wouldn’t be nearly as strong as it has shown to be. My plan was turn the S197 into a dedicated track only car and keep the 500 for the street. I was driving my 197 less and less on the street as it got more and more and more done to it to increase track capability and as I got older (40 this month). It’s a beast on track, can embarrass lots of nicer cars but it became very clear that this 500 was going to be special.
Everything changed when it became clear Ford had hit it out of the park with the 500. If I kept it for the street, I would yearn to experience it on the track.
I made the decision in August to sell my GT and make the new 500 my only Mustang (for now).
I have full intentions of tracking my 500, keeping the back seat in and using it on the street and driving the heck out of it. Second set of wheels on the way to wrap in cup 2s (thanks Terrance) and some light mods or suspension tuning should mean my base will be very capable with the CFTP and still keep her street manners.
If I miss the manual experience and things keep trending the right way for me perhaps I’ll pickup an used R or a dedicated track only S550 in the future. But the now means I’ll have my GT500 and only my 500 and won’t look back.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
- Thread starter
- #37
Here's my tip for driving a DCT and keeping the experience close but still not the same as a manual. I drive my car in manual mode all the time while on the street and control all shift points. When I hit the fwy I move into auto and cruise. The paddles are still there to downshift immediately when needed even in auto mode.
The new GT500 may be a great car to drive and own and race, but I'm just wondering how many folks will be be able to swing one?...I know, if there's a will, there's a way....worked for me buying my Boss......................
This just in....GT500's for Sticker at.......you fill in the blank............I've heard of at least one dealer on this forum........praise his soul..................
Hate the new GT500 will only come a auto trans, but I'm sure everyone getting one will adapt very quickly.......
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