FINALLY test drove a SHELBY GT350 and.....was totally unimpressed

formoutofchaos · 11-14-2016, 06:51 PM

background : Well I have been thinking about the Shelby Gt350 for a long time , i ended up giving up on it because of the ADM and Bought the z51 c7 instead, its has always sat in my head though. I ended up letting go of the c7 and ordered a 1le because I needed the backseats.

I found a way to have one transferred to my local Carmax it was 149 I wanted to give it one try before I gave up on it. I managed to find two dealers and MSRP prices out of state if i decided I wanted it so this was a serious test drive.

Walking up to it its striking , the paint looks a bit higher quality than the chevy, sitting inside it felt nice but a bit bulky to me. I wasn't as moved on the interior as the vette

We popped it in to sport mode the salesman let me do whatever I wanted he was equally excited to hear and see how it drives.

I really enjoyed the start up, it initially grumbles a bit deeper than other cars, we found some back roads and I dug into it hard 1st through second and took it deep into turns, it cornered well but in a bulky way. I found the shifter felt light and kind of cheap a kind of tall shift throw a bit loose.

I thought to myself IS THAT IT? ? ? ? IS THAT IT??? I felt no visceral response from the sound of the car or the torque and I took it all the way up to 8500 RPM 1st 2nd and almost to 3rd gears. I thought well maybe it needs more time, maybe I'm missing something?? so we headed towards the freeway and every stop light I dug in hard and felt no emotional response in my heart or adrenaline it felt like a supped up mustang with extra parts thrown onto it.

The sound of the engine was very twangy twweeeeeee tweeeeeee vas the c7 grumble grumble * i know FPC etc etc and it was a bit fun revving it up high RPM into a turn but it didn't feel like anything special to me.

I WANTED TO LOVE IT , I actually felt nothing. I think i almost hated it.

the c7 felt so much more throaty , torque and fun, I have driven the SS and it felt about 90% of a c7 I think chevy makes superior cars

I gave it one last jolt down the freeway , thinking to myself thats it?

Like a girl you always wanted to sleep with finally get to and left going Ehhhh

*Mr. Wyndham* · 11-14-2016, 07:08 PM

Thanks for your thoughts!

Frank237 · 11-14-2016, 07:41 PM

At least now it's out of your head...Wont bother You with that nagging; "What if".

formoutofchaos · 11-14-2016, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank237

At least now it's out of your head...Wont bother You with that nagging; "What if".

I just really wanted to experience all the hype ! Yes exactly

Richard0nee · 11-14-2016, 07:48 PM

Gotta understand the Shelby has long gears for tracking and makes most of it's power in the upper rpm band. Once you drive a C7 or SS, you will always have the "that's it?" type of reaction since the LT1 starts pulling from 2k to redline vs 3500-3800 to redline.

I like the Shelby of course but that LT1.. Instant torque all over the damn rpm range.

dmj25 · 11-14-2016, 07:50 PM

That's interesting. Pretty much every car reviewer praised the GT350. I would like to test drive one to fulfill my curiosity.

Megahurtz · 11-14-2016, 07:51 PM

A C7 Z51 is an all around better car in all aspects, especially performance. I'm not surprised you're underwhelmed with it.

formoutofchaos · 11-14-2016, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Husker67

Frankly, I can't believe the salesman let you rev

a car you didn't own to 8500 RPM thru three gears without hitting you in the head.

We were both interested , it's used . We were on back roads .

formoutofchaos · 11-14-2016, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megahurtz

A C7 Z51 is an all around better car in all aspects, especially performance. I'm not surprised you're underwhelmed with it.

I really see that now how special it is for the money

Genesis7 · 11-14-2016, 08:08 PM

Why would you even think the GT 350 was going to be amazing in the first place... the only exciting car Shit Ford makes the the new GT, the rest is pure crap.

lt4camaro · 11-14-2016, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard0nee

Gotta understand the Shelby has long gears for tracking and makes most of it's power in the upper rpm band. Once you drive a C7 or SS, you will always have the "that's it?" type of reaction since the LT1 starts pulling from 2k to redline vs 3500-3800 to redline.

I like the Shelby of course but that LT1.. Instant torque all over the damn rpm range.

Not sure on the Shelby long gears, thought they were all 3.73. The GT350 is low on torque and gutless till 4000 rpm

formoutofchaos · 11-14-2016, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Genesis7

Why would you even think the GT 350 was going to be amazing in the first place... the only exciting car Shit Ford makes the the new GT, the rest is pure crap.

I guess I believed all the reviewers, and people drooling and 10K ADM, and amazing exhaust and ferrari flat plane crank ! lol yup it felt like a glorified mustang like all mustangs should just drive this way to be normal.

Raven87 · 11-15-2016, 06:38 AM

The torque of GMs LT1 is other-worldly compared to the Ford motors. I drove a new '17 5.0 GT Premium with the Performance Package back to back with a new '17 2SS (both were manuals) and the 'feeling' between both was night and day.

I really liked the Mustang and there were some things I even liked better than the Camaro (mostly ergonomics and aesthetics) but the LT1 is undeniably MUCH more fun to drive.

Torque and where it comes in is all the difference in the world to being impressed by a seat of the pants feel.

R3DLT1 · 11-15-2016, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by formoutofchaos

background

Like a girl you always wanted to sleep with finally get to and left going Ehhhh

11-14-2016, 06:51 PM	#1
formoutofchaos Drives: Camaro 2017 1LE Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,154	FINALLY test drove a SHELBY GT350 and.....was totally unimpressed background : Well I have been thinking about the Shelby Gt350 for a long time , i ended up giving up on it because of the ADM and Bought the z51 c7 instead, its has always sat in my head though. I ended up letting go of the c7 and ordered a 1le because I needed the backseats. I found a way to have one transferred to my local Carmax it was 149 I wanted to give it one try before I gave up on it. I managed to find two dealers and MSRP prices out of state if i decided I wanted it so this was a serious test drive. Walking up to it its striking , the paint looks a bit higher quality than the chevy, sitting inside it felt nice but a bit bulky to me. I wasn't as moved on the interior as the vette We popped it in to sport mode the salesman let me do whatever I wanted he was equally excited to hear and see how it drives. I really enjoyed the start up, it initially grumbles a bit deeper than other cars, we found some back roads and I dug into it hard 1st through second and took it deep into turns, it cornered well but in a bulky way. I found the shifter felt light and kind of cheap a kind of tall shift throw a bit loose. I thought to myself IS THAT IT? ? ? ? IS THAT IT??? I felt no visceral response from the sound of the car or the torque and I took it all the way up to 8500 RPM 1st 2nd and almost to 3rd gears. I thought well maybe it needs more time, maybe I'm missing something?? so we headed towards the freeway and every stop light I dug in hard and felt no emotional response in my heart or adrenaline it felt like a supped up mustang with extra parts thrown onto it. The sound of the engine was very twangy twweeeeeee tweeeeeee vas the c7 grumble grumble * i know FPC etc etc and it was a bit fun revving it up high RPM into a turn but it didn't feel like anything special to me. I WANTED TO LOVE IT , I actually felt nothing. I think i almost hated it. the c7 felt so much more throaty , torque and fun, I have driven the SS and it felt about 90% of a c7 I think chevy makes superior cars I gave it one last jolt down the freeway , thinking to myself thats it? Like a girl you always wanted to sleep with finally get to and left going Ehhhh Last edited by formoutofchaos; 11-14-2016 at 07:08 PM.

11-14-2016, 07:08 PM	#2
Mr. Wyndham I used to be Dragoneye... Drives: 2018 ZL1 1LE Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 31,873 View My Garage	Thanks for your thoughts! __________________ *"Keep the faith."* - Fbodfather

11-15-2016, 06:38 AM	#13
Raven87 C'mon- really? Drives: Looking for a ZL1 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Nortwestern Ohio Posts: 1,966 View My Garage	The torque of GMs LT1 is other-worldly compared to the Ford motors. I drove a new '17 5.0 GT Premium with the Performance Package back to back with a new '17 2SS (both were manuals) and the 'feeling' between both was night and day. I really liked the Mustang and there were some things I even liked better than the Camaro (mostly ergonomics and aesthetics) but the LT1 is undeniably MUCH more fun to drive. Torque and where it comes in is all the difference in the world to being impressed by a seat of the pants feel. __________________ Steve 2018 Camaro 2SS 1LE Black #3805 - SOLD

11-14-2016, 07:41 PM	#3
Frank237 Drives: Kubota 2640, 83 BMW R-65, 2017 1 SS Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Craig, MT Posts: 643	At least now it's out of your head...Wont bother You with that nagging; "What if".

11-14-2016, 07:48 PM	#5
Richard0nee Drives: 2016 SS M6, NPP Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Hawthorne, CA Posts: 1,957	Gotta understand the Shelby has long gears for tracking and makes most of it's power in the upper rpm band. Once you drive a C7 or SS, you will always have the "that's it?" type of reaction since the LT1 starts pulling from 2k to redline vs 3500-3800 to redline. I like the Shelby of course but that LT1.. Instant torque all over the damn rpm range.

11-14-2016, 07:50 PM	#6
dmj25 Drives: 2016 Camaro SS A8 Red Garnet NPP Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Odessa Posts: 223	That's interesting. Pretty much every car reviewer praised the GT350. I would like to test drive one to fulfill my curiosity.

11-14-2016, 07:51 PM	#7
Megahurtz Snackbar Tuning Drives: 2023 SGM ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Florida Posts: 1,521	A C7 Z51 is an all around better car in all aspects, especially performance. I'm not surprised you're underwhelmed with it.

11-14-2016, 08:08 PM	#10
Genesis7 Account Suspended Drives: 2SS Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Florida Posts: 320	Why would you even think the GT 350 was going to be amazing in the first place... the only exciting car Shit Ford makes the the new GT, the rest is pure crap.

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