Waxer

CJ: Bits and peices. I was at the race track myself here in Joisey with NASA all weekend trying to keep all 4 wheels on track. Hot!!!. Corded my Toyo RR's.

Seems clear to me the future is TT. My son was coaching a student in NASA with a TT 4 cyl. "15 Mutang. He was shocked at the power and pace a little 4 TT was able to make. Not too far off from his cammed 4.6.

My gut tells me the next RS will be TT. Ford is now TT. Aren't the Macs TT? Ferrari even bit the bullet and is TT. The dominos are falling.

The '16 RS may be the last of teh Mohichans. Love that movie BTW!

Snakebit10

The V6 thing bugs me a bit too. The last FGT was a lovely sounding V8. Even with TT the new V6 version just feel like a step back when it rolls off your tongue...


Imagine if the 911 went to a 4 cylinder for the next model? Yes Im sure they would tune it to be faster than the outgoing flat 6 but it would just sound strange and some would feel letdown by that move regardless of power or performance overall.

JCtx

One thing is a $160K Ford, and with a V8. But a $400K+ Ford, and with the same name/size V6TT as in their trucks? At that price level is all about name recognition, motorsports heritage, and SOUND IMO. The Shelby 350R is pretty close in performance to a 458, but priced at a small fraction of the price... and it also has a flat-crank V8. Putting the GT head to head with iconic brands, and with a freaking V6 just doesn't add up in my head, but maybe I'm wrong. Am I making sense now? We'll find out soon enough.

Waxer

At GT2 has a TT 6 does it not?

However, I do understand that with the Ford GT/GT40 and the Americana aspect and history the V6 will always be viewed as the "Can of worms" to use a Chris Harris phrase a' la' the PDK conundrum with Porsche. The V8 is to the GT40 was the third peddle is to the GT3. Perhaps both take time to marinate.

Honestly, based on history I have a hard time with the TT V6 also to a point. With Porsche, the boxer 6 is part of its history and the essence of a Porsche. With the GT its almost unnatural. I get both sides of the debate.

Waxer

The GT350R is not in the same universe of performance as a 458. What planet are you from? Seriously?

Let me put some 305 R compounds on my Boss 302 and I'll fill the rear view mirrors of a 350R all day long and maybe even let him see me in his mirrors..

TRAKCAR

Exactly.
Hense no .2 GT3RS but straight to GT2RS.

Guest89

Well, they've sold the entire production run many times over, so I guess things have gone ok on the marketing front?

Ford is much more concerned with the Ford GT owner's landscaper or whatever telling all his buddies: "I've got this rich client that has one of those fancy Fords that whooped Ferrari's *** at Le Mans, and I have the exact same engine in my F150!"

... than they are with any (non-) GT customers whining about the prosaic origins of the engine (which has already raced in a Daytona prototype anyway).

I don't like their methods, but they've done a rather skillful job of marketing the car, and the Ford brand.

I bet it's pretty close on a control tire between 458 and 350R. 458 is old tech now.

Waxer

Well when you are producing 1000 unit's ww it's not hard to sell out production.

I respectfully disagree on the R. It's not in the 458's league. Imno Ferrari fanboy that's for sure and I bleed blue but fair is fair.
The R has been way over hyped.
Some basics.
560 hp vs 525 hp
3450 lbs vs 3750
9000 rpm redline vs. 8200
F1 gear box vs. Manual row your own
3.4 0-60 vs. 3.9
10.8 1/4 mi vs. 11.8
Mid engine vs. Front engined.
Aero advantage Ferrari.

Now if you are talking bang for the buck that's a different discussion.

Guest89

I'll admit I applied the transitive property in my assessment:

GT3 > 458 on track (have driven 458 on track recently)
350R said to be on par w/ GT3 on a track (by Ford - of course - and some in the know)

I seriously doubt a customer spec 458 (non-Speciale) has ever done a 10.8

qbix

Ford is going to choose who is going to buy their car.
What a privilege! IT IS FORD GOD DAMN IT!

World is going in the wrong direction.

Waxer

The GT350/R is a great car. The R is way over hyped imo. Same drive train as the tp and tech pack. Main difference are the cf wheels and huge shoes. Take those off and u have a track pack car basically. Some other minor differences like aero and suspension tuning.

For track use most would take the cf wheels off first thing.

With the dealer adms on the R if you are really going to track it the track pack is the better buy right now. Wheels and tires and you are in R territory.

MerlinsGarage

D.......

CAlexio

Why not use the carbon wheels at track?

Guest89

I don't imagine Ford would generously warranty a set of wheels with a retail cost that is a substantial fraction of the invoice on the car.

Waxer

They are said to cost over $2000.00 per wheel to replace. Can't repair CF very easily nor with a stessed element like a wheel would I trust a repair.