Quote:
Originally Posted by shaffe
Yes I think they can, IMO the rumored 500 is basically going to be a GT350 with out the Voodoo. Most likely either a supercharged 5.0 or supercharged cross plane crank 5.2 I would have to imagine those engines would cost less or about the same to produce as the Voodoo. Even the 350R with the Electronics package is MSRP 67K, so yes I think they can build a 500 to compete with the ZL1 at a similar price or at least a competitive price to the ZL1. Ford is not stupid, they know whatever car they build next needs to be priced in line and compete with the ZL1.
I don't know how many times we have to tell you that that does NOT matter. The 350 was not built for the 1/4, just like the Z/28 was not built 1/4. Now if they start creeping up on lap times, then I agree with you, that is going to be a problem. But Ford will probably undertire the cars as they have in the past.
Agree and disagree with some points here. GM put the world on notice with a N/A track focused pony car, Ford was not going to let that get away from them. Now GM stepped it up big time again with the ZL1. Ford needs to set their internal bar higher, like GM does. The ZL1 is an amazing GT car, does everything well.
Just answer me this though, lets go into bizarro world. Say the ZL1 doesn't exist, and instead GM Built an N/A track focused car to beat the 350R and succeeds, but then Ford releases a GT500 that soundly beats the hyptothetical GM car in every measurable and beats it around a road course. Are you going to say that GM car is the "worst car you can buy for the money"?
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Well the 500 might not even be made for this current generation. It might, but I'm leading towards the thought that we won't see one. In order for Ford to keep it within a comparable price range they would have to ditch that overpriced Voodoo engine and go with something a little more practical. How much that'll save over a supercharged engine I'm not sure. If it is not a limited production then maybe they can get away with a lower price. But the addition of options like the competition has will put that price right back up there. So they will probably strip it down. But again, this is all IF they make one.
You can say it doesn't matter all you want. But 1/4 mile performance actually does matter when it comes to a performance car that costs over $65K. The Z28 at least kept up with the ZL1 and the pre-13 GT500. And that said something. The GT350R keeps up with nothing in it's class and that says a lot. People can justify whatever they want, but I wouldn't be caught dead in a car as expensive as that and only running a low 12. You'll have bolt-on SS Camaros kicking your tail.
As far as your scenario, if Chevy released a car like the GT350R and at the same price then I would have been very disappointed in them. I would have bought a Hellcat instead. The problem is that Ford built the GT350R to keep up with the times while the Camaro was built IMO to stay ahead of the times. And as such, the Shelby is behind the times and to me is a failure while the ZL1 is ahead and a success. Ford wasted time and money building that engine. And they had to strip down the car to make it worthwhile. And the trend shifted during that time. Because now competitors are offering these cars fully loaded at this price range while the Shelby isn't. And then dealerships made it worse by overcharging for them. I feel that Shelby buyers actually thought their car was better in performance and that made them willing to pay those prices. And look at it. It beats the ZL1 at nothing, it only beats the Hellcat in cornering, it beats the ZR1 (which it gets into the price range of) at nothing. It is no match for the GTR. And I wonder how it would fare against a Z51 C7. So it is literally the bottom of the barrel in cars in it's price range. Again, despite being stripped down. It is the best Ford offering, but against others I think it is pretty much crap.