Gents,
Hit up the NY AutoShow yesterday. Always enjoyable to see what each automaker brings to the table. At every show, I always feel the same thing, "Do we really need all these options?" The amount of cross overs and sedans makes my head spin. The number of cars targeting enthusiasts gets a lot smaller, and exciting cars below 100K even smaller. I wanted to see two cars at this show...the new Supra and the GT500 (of course).
SUPRA
This car looks like every panel was designed by a different designer. As a huge fan of previous Supra's, I was hoping it would have more of a presence. It doesn't. I'm sure it handles great, is agile, peppy and responsive, but around 60K for 330bhp in 2019 is sort of laughable. A track pack Mustang GT is a much better buy (and better looking car). Car is a total miss.
GT500
I expected FORD to give this car more prominence at the show. It's the most powerful, the fastest, the most capable Mustang EVER and they just plopped it on the floor. Wish the marketing folks would give this car more love as it's the halo car for the brand, after the FORD GT, which they did have up on a mini stage. Marketing aside, what was it like to walk around this beast for the first time. Things I love, things I don't...
Depending on what side you're looking at, my love of the design changes. By far, the most amazing angle to look at this car is front on...it's front end design is AMAZING. Thing looks like a badass cylon weapon that's been designed to kill other cars. Menacing, aggressive, sporty and sexy all at the same time. Just look at this front end.
The rear of the car is cool, but sort of lacks the cohesiveness of the Front End to me. What's not working for me? That spoiler. As someone who LOVES the GT350R rear, Ford really missed an opportunity here to sculpt a track adjustable spoiler that looked more appealing than this. I get that they are going for function over looks, but it just looks after-market tacked on by a teenager. I don't like either spoiler option...the Track Spoiler is too ricer, and the standard spoiler isn't aggressive enough. Sort of wish they would have found a middle ground that looked more GT350R nice. But oh well.
The rest of the rear is nice. The HUGE exhaust tips are awesome and really stand out. Car is going to sound AMAZING.
Here's one way to make the rear spoiler look better, insert jackass me, into the shot looking like Frodo Baggins...
Ok, now the part of the car I like the least, the side. This car is SO menacing from the front, crazy ricer track boy from the rear, and then the side profile is just boring. There's just nothing going on from the side profile that feels special. Even the GT350 had that nice vent behind the front fender that was a really nice design cue. My Type R has the same thing. My Demon has HUGE fender flares. But this car just doesn't have anything. Look it's not horrible, but it's just not special. I didn't take a photo of the side there, but here's an image.
See what I'm saying? It's the area where the Snake emblem on the side is. Just feels plane. It needed something more.
The exposed carbon wheels are also an interesting design decisions. Not sure if I like that look or not. The carbon didn't feel as nicely finished as the carbon on the spoiler. There's also no carbon on the front. I think if you're going to add exposed carbon like this, it should be used tastefully throughout the car. These wheels do feel like they didn't get finished off properly. But again, they are cool, just take some getting used to.
Car was locked, so couldn't sit in. The white accent on the seats, as some have mentioned, are a horrible idea. White picks up ANY color. My dark jeans are dyed that color...they would rub against those seats and leave scuff marks. Not to mention the red wine I chug while driving (kidding).
Overall, Ford has done a great job with this car. Because this mustang body style has been out a very long time, it does feel a bit dated, but I've always loved the new Mustang lines so it works. Would hate to drop 100K on this and have them completely overhaul the Mustang in a year or two, but that's going to happen. Will Ford make another GT500 this badass, who knows.
Lastly...it is lame that Ford has this car and no numbers final. Walk over to Dodge and it's muscleville city with 707, 797, 840...etc. I know Ford is still tweaking, but it begs the question...why did they reveal so early? Not like they are going to have trouble selling every one. Just a piss poor way to launch such an epic car.
Does this car make me want to trade in my Demon for it? We'll see. I have to drive one. I would not pay a penny over sticker for the GT500 though, which means it would have to be a year or two from now to get one at that price. I think the Demon's looks, when you walk around it, are far more cohesive. The GT500 front end is better than the Demon's front end. The Demon from the side looks much better. The rear is a toss up.
Lastly, I do love the comfort of the Challenger. It's a BIG car and while that bigness makes it dumb for the track, it does make the cabin so comfortable to be in. The GT500 did look a bit cramped and claustrophobic inside. Not sure if it will feel that way, but just my observation. Would love a glass roof if it was offered.
That's it...enjoy this. Flame on. On D Bit, feel free to use any of these photos as your Avatar Photo since we know you won't be getting a GT500
Hit up the NY AutoShow yesterday. Always enjoyable to see what each automaker brings to the table. At every show, I always feel the same thing, "Do we really need all these options?" The amount of cross overs and sedans makes my head spin. The number of cars targeting enthusiasts gets a lot smaller, and exciting cars below 100K even smaller. I wanted to see two cars at this show...the new Supra and the GT500 (of course).
SUPRA
This car looks like every panel was designed by a different designer. As a huge fan of previous Supra's, I was hoping it would have more of a presence. It doesn't. I'm sure it handles great, is agile, peppy and responsive, but around 60K for 330bhp in 2019 is sort of laughable. A track pack Mustang GT is a much better buy (and better looking car). Car is a total miss.
GT500
I expected FORD to give this car more prominence at the show. It's the most powerful, the fastest, the most capable Mustang EVER and they just plopped it on the floor. Wish the marketing folks would give this car more love as it's the halo car for the brand, after the FORD GT, which they did have up on a mini stage. Marketing aside, what was it like to walk around this beast for the first time. Things I love, things I don't...
Depending on what side you're looking at, my love of the design changes. By far, the most amazing angle to look at this car is front on...it's front end design is AMAZING. Thing looks like a badass cylon weapon that's been designed to kill other cars. Menacing, aggressive, sporty and sexy all at the same time. Just look at this front end.
The rear of the car is cool, but sort of lacks the cohesiveness of the Front End to me. What's not working for me? That spoiler. As someone who LOVES the GT350R rear, Ford really missed an opportunity here to sculpt a track adjustable spoiler that looked more appealing than this. I get that they are going for function over looks, but it just looks after-market tacked on by a teenager. I don't like either spoiler option...the Track Spoiler is too ricer, and the standard spoiler isn't aggressive enough. Sort of wish they would have found a middle ground that looked more GT350R nice. But oh well.
The rest of the rear is nice. The HUGE exhaust tips are awesome and really stand out. Car is going to sound AMAZING.
Here's one way to make the rear spoiler look better, insert jackass me, into the shot looking like Frodo Baggins...
Ok, now the part of the car I like the least, the side. This car is SO menacing from the front, crazy ricer track boy from the rear, and then the side profile is just boring. There's just nothing going on from the side profile that feels special. Even the GT350 had that nice vent behind the front fender that was a really nice design cue. My Type R has the same thing. My Demon has HUGE fender flares. But this car just doesn't have anything. Look it's not horrible, but it's just not special. I didn't take a photo of the side there, but here's an image.
See what I'm saying? It's the area where the Snake emblem on the side is. Just feels plane. It needed something more.
The exposed carbon wheels are also an interesting design decisions. Not sure if I like that look or not. The carbon didn't feel as nicely finished as the carbon on the spoiler. There's also no carbon on the front. I think if you're going to add exposed carbon like this, it should be used tastefully throughout the car. These wheels do feel like they didn't get finished off properly. But again, they are cool, just take some getting used to.
Car was locked, so couldn't sit in. The white accent on the seats, as some have mentioned, are a horrible idea. White picks up ANY color. My dark jeans are dyed that color...they would rub against those seats and leave scuff marks. Not to mention the red wine I chug while driving (kidding).
Overall, Ford has done a great job with this car. Because this mustang body style has been out a very long time, it does feel a bit dated, but I've always loved the new Mustang lines so it works. Would hate to drop 100K on this and have them completely overhaul the Mustang in a year or two, but that's going to happen. Will Ford make another GT500 this badass, who knows.
Lastly...it is lame that Ford has this car and no numbers final. Walk over to Dodge and it's muscleville city with 707, 797, 840...etc. I know Ford is still tweaking, but it begs the question...why did they reveal so early? Not like they are going to have trouble selling every one. Just a piss poor way to launch such an epic car.
Does this car make me want to trade in my Demon for it? We'll see. I have to drive one. I would not pay a penny over sticker for the GT500 though, which means it would have to be a year or two from now to get one at that price. I think the Demon's looks, when you walk around it, are far more cohesive. The GT500 front end is better than the Demon's front end. The Demon from the side looks much better. The rear is a toss up.
Lastly, I do love the comfort of the Challenger. It's a BIG car and while that bigness makes it dumb for the track, it does make the cabin so comfortable to be in. The GT500 did look a bit cramped and claustrophobic inside. Not sure if it will feel that way, but just my observation. Would love a glass roof if it was offered.
That's it...enjoy this. Flame on. On D Bit, feel free to use any of these photos as your Avatar Photo since we know you won't be getting a GT500
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