The Complicated Calculus - Selling Your Car For The GT500

tones_RS3

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Are you saying the GT350R feels different then the GT350? Arnt the engine, transmission and suspension identical?
I think the engine is the same, as well as the transmission, but I think the suspension is a bit different. Slightly IIRC.
 

Stop&turnFreak

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In my opinion, I would most likely get a GT350, or GT350R. The performance to dollar value seems to be a bit better, and I think they may may hold their value, long-term, better. Again, this assumes they are going to mass produce the new car, and it will eventually become somewhat common. There are things I like about the car, but I just don't know if it is worth 100k+ to get the car in the trim I would want. But, I reserve the right to change my mind after I have the chance to sling one around a road-course.
 

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Are you saying the GT350R feels different then the GT350? Arnt the engine, transmission and suspension identical?
The Transmissions are the same, but everything else is different. It has been confirmed several times that the engine in the GT350R is different than the GT350 due to the higher G loads the car could pull. The Magneride suspension tuning, ABS tuning, shocks/strut valving, and aero make them very different cars.
 

9397SVTs

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I will not be selling anything and I will not be buying the new GT500. Fords' network of dealers (at least the ones I looked at) really stick it to their customers with the ridiculous AMV. This stopped me from buying a GT350R. Typical AMV was $20K. Some dealers were selling them between $100-$125K.

I have no reason to believe that the GT500 will be treated any different, except, maybe worse. I think it's an amazing car and has great looks, but I can't see throwing away "additional money" just to pay MSRP on a depreciating item.
 

DAVESVT2000

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The Transmissions are the same, but everything else is different. It has been confirmed several times that the engine in the GT350R is different than the GT350 due to the higher G loads the car could pull. The Magneride suspension tuning, ABS tuning, shocks/strut valving, and aero make them very different cars.

not true, the motor is the same.

The transmission is the same.

the suspension is tuned different, due to the weight of the carbon fiber wheels.
 

blue 07

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Great writeup by the way. I will not be selling my 13 GT500 for a 2020 GT500. As you mentioned, I think I would get "bored" driving it without a manual, until its an option, I will opt out. I really don't care how fast it will shift, I will not be tracking it. 75 % of new GT500 owners will not either. My fun is at car shows, just cruising around, and the usual stuff we do with our cars. Tough to swallow 100 K when there is a dial where I want a shifter. Not taking anything away from the new car by any means, just didn't wow me after waiting 6 years of waiting. I'd put a blower on a GT 350 and call it a day.
 

7998

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OP Great write up. Thank you for not dropping a one sentence, a picture, & directing me to a video.

Man, the stripe delete cars look so damn good! Base 500, Silver, stripe delete, with Signature wheels will be my route!

That exactly how I'd order mine. I think it came in at $77k. But @ $77K I starting thinking CPO C7Z, GTR, 911TT, etc.

Question. Which would you rather have, a 2020 GT500 or a GT350 with a TT set up? Figuring MSRP on the GT500 they are about the same money.
 

97WHITEVENOM

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There's no doubt that the price point of this car will force many fence sitters to stay on their side of the chain link. At best, you're talking about throwing down $75,000 for this car. What's remarkable is that it didn't seem like that long ago I was a 25 year old kid, walking out of Ford with my 500 after spending less than $50,000. Granted, it's a 12, the 13 specs had just dropped, and they were trying their best (X plan available) to get rid of them. However, you can barely walk out with a GT today for what I got my 500 for.

I understand the 2020 and a 2012 can't be compared beyond the name and snake badges. The 13/14 was a beast of a car, but had way more in common with the previous years and didn't quite Trump (my phone auto corrected the capital T... I'm leaving it ) its predecessors like this one has. But, we are 6 years down the road and only God knows how much R&D ($$$) went into this monster.

That all leads me to here: What about those of us in our 30's (or 40's) who live a modest lifestyle and our experiences with our cars are similar? I have 53,000 miles on my 2012 after taking delivery with 180 in April of 2012. She gets driven as much as possible, often sitting in 465 traffic and then taking the long way home to make a couple pulls on county roads.

Us guys love cars. We love the exhilaration of climbing into the RPM's and the sounds of exhaust and tire screech. We like to hit C&C from time to time to catch up with other car guys. If we're lucky, we take a long weekend road trip somewhere and rack up some miles. But mostly, it just takes us to the office and back home to the family.

However, we have mortgages, 529's, and 401k's. Could my wife and I afford it? Technically, Yes. However, it would be one of the most ill-advised financial decisions we could make. My belief is that the performance and subsequent price of this new car will leave "us" behind. And that's OK by me.

The 500 is now into Elite car ownership status. Kudos to Ford for that accomplishment. Just look at some of the names/brands that are coming up in the comparisons... Porsche, ZR1, ACR, Demon/RE, etc. These aren't all the same type of car. Ford has figured out a way to make the GT500 part of the conversation "trifecta": Strip, Track, Street. That comes with a cost and will leave many historical players of the game in the pits. Again, that's OK by me.

The 07-14 GT500's will be the next generation of "old Mustangs" that guys will be buying/selling/trading/modifying for years like our beloved 03/04 Cobra. They will always have "us" guys' backs for everyday fun. I hope we allow ourselves to enjoy those other guys we see out with their 2020+.

Tl;dr: Can't afford new 500. Convincing myself my 12 is still OK.

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This is one of the better posts I have seen on this sight in quite sometime.
When I just got out of college and was starting a job I was looking at a new GTO, but it was juuuuust out of my reach. I could have afforded it but it would have been a bad decision. Fast forward 12 years and I would love a new ZL1/GT500/Hellcat... making much more money now... but again with 2 kids and a mortgage, they are juuuuuust out of reach. In 7 years or so once my mortgage is paid off I will splurge on something really nice/cool, but until then I will just keep modding my Monte.
 

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not true, the motor is the same.

The transmission is the same.

the suspension is tuned different, due to the weight of the carbon fiber wheels.
Spoke to more than one Ford engineer on the matter. Internally the motor in the R and the GT350 are different
 

Goose17

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Great review OP. I can confirm this car is an all-out monster on both the strip and the track.

I have owned nothing but manual Mustangs and have a garage full of them. I thought it would be weird piloting this car around without the 3rd pedal or a stick in my right hand. It was not weird whatsoever. In fact, it was fantastic! I did the road course in manual mode using the paddles the whole time on the track... I loved it! It was very engaging and allowed me to keep both hands firmly in control of the steering wheel. It also keeps total focus out the front window. On the strip, I ran both of my runs in auto drag-mode. It was a point and shoot experience focusing on keeping the steering wheel centered for the hardest shifts.

@nickf2005 makes valid points. This is a pricy car. The good news is Ford offers a wide variety of performance Mustangs at a range of prices. I’m just tickled pink Ford is making beasts like this.

It’s like the Ford GT. It’s much higher than I am willing to spend on a car, but happy that Ford produces that beautiful machine.
 

jsd512

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Front end is terrible looking. Rest of the car is amazing. A lot going for it. Those wheels belong on a McLaren, so does the transmission. MAs are going to be insane. I prefer the 350 though. Would be nice to see that DCT end up in the 350.
 

Goose17

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Would be nice to see that DCT end up in the 350.
Won’t happen. Jim Owens from Ford Performance said more than once that if you want a performance Mustang with a manual, the GT350 is your car. If you want the best performance Mustang of all time, the DCT equipped GT500 is the ticket.

It will be interesting to see how long Ford keeps offering the GT350. I have zero inside knowledge on the subject, but I have a hunch it will be going away sooner vs. later. I’m sure sales will have a lot to do with it. The 350 has been out for quite awhile now. If buyers keep the sales numbers high, Ford will most likely make them a bit longer. If sales dwindle with the new 500 available, I see the 350 on the chopping block with the 2020 possibly being the last.
 

biminiLX

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When we did the Niche line tour at Romeo, they said the Predator and Voodoo motors are both on contract thru the same year, MY2021.
I haven’t heard rumors or looked in a while, but I thought the next Mustang S650 is delayed, so as long as they have S550 Mustangs I’d assume they’d continue both cars as the development costs are paid for and to continue, as long as demand remains, means profit.
Jim Owens also said he is shocked that the 2015 GT350 he helped debuted was still being made in 2020. In the same conversation he also said demand for the 350/350R is actually higher than ever!
Great for Mustang fans!
Long live the 350/500 together in showrooms. :)
-J
 

nickf2005

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This is one of the better posts I have seen on this sight in quite sometime.
When I just got out of college and was starting a job I was looking at a new GTO, but it was juuuuust out of my reach. I could have afforded it but it would have been a bad decision. Fast forward 12 years and I would love a new ZL1/GT500/Hellcat... making much more money now... but again with 2 kids and a mortgage, they are juuuuuust out of reach. In 7 years or so once my mortgage is paid off I will splurge on something really nice/cool, but until then I will just keep modding my Monte.
I appreciate it. I've been struggling with the concept of what the 2020 is. At worst, it's a Mustang that most guys won't be able to financially swing. At best, it's a Ford playing in the field of, as I said above, some elite status type cars. That's pretty cool.

It's drawn a lot of criticism, and I think a lot of that is due to how Ford rolled it out. They dragged us all along for what seemed forever. They're doing the same thing with the Bronco... Seriously, a sSpring 2020 reveal after years of teasing? I believe they think that the anticipation builds suspense and ultimately sales. Time will tell if they're right.

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04sleeper

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Great write up. Price point is higher than I would spend, but I am glad to see Ford producing cars like this. Now if it were in the $60K range I might reconsider.

Guess I'll have to stick to my 1,000+ RWHP GT/CS.

I'm sure I'll see a few at SEMA this week.
 

biminiLX

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Great write up. Price point is higher than I would spend, but I am glad to see Ford producing cars like this. Now if it were in the $60K range I might reconsider.

Guess I'll have to stick to my 1,000+ RWHP GT/CS.

I'm sure I'll see a few at SEMA this week.
I’d say you have a nice consolation prize!
While this new GT500 is expensive, it is competitive pricing for a package that outperforms the competition.
You can enjoy your Boss and I’ll enjoy my 1054/951 to the tire ‘14 GT500 while we wait for the hype machine and ADMs to die down.
-J
 

coposrv

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I love the new gt500. But I feel like the days of relatively inexpensive performance mustangs are long gone. 100k toys are for guys making high six figures.


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biminiLX

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I love the new gt500. But I feel like the days of relatively inexpensive performance mustangs are long gone. 100k toys are for guys making high six figures.


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Define high six figures :)
To be fair, there are very capable Mustangs at the lower end of the spectrum, especially when a boosted base GT will run with or past the GT500 for less than $50k.
It’s all relative.
No the average working guy isn’t capable of affording the highest performance Mustang, but never has in relatity.
Like everything in life, make the mostwith what you've got and rock out.
-J
 

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