Pulled trigger on GT350 - Honest thoughts

[JamesGames]

Originally Posted by solstice

I have to disagree with you here, I think the focus on the regs. is to blame for the few gripes I have with it vs earlier iterations

If the regs weren't there and they had continued down the same evolution path that ended with the E90 we would likely have seen a 500 hp 9k rpm 4.5 liter NA V8 or maybe even a little V10 and definately HPS. That would have solved my only issues. I never understood the suspension or traction complaints I think the car is superb in those areas. Maybe because I elected the passive suspension and MT?

Yea, if it weren't for regulations I'm pretty sure the evolution of M motors (high revving lower displacement) would've continued after the S65 / S85. which is why I'm surprised ford was able to drop that beast of a motor..

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by JamesGames

Yea, if it weren't for regulations I'm pretty sure the evolution of M motors (high revving lower displacement) would've continued after the S65 / S85. which is why I'm surprised ford was able to drop that beast of a motor..

Ford does not offer the Voodoo Europe either...

[minn19]

Originally Posted by solstice

I have to disagree with you here, I think the focus on the regs. is to blame for the few gripes I have with it vs earlier iterations

If the regs weren't there and they had continued down the same evolution path that ended with the E90 we would likely have seen a 500 hp 9k rpm 4.5 liter NA V8 or maybe even a little V10 and definately HPS. That would have solved my only issues. I never understood the suspension or traction complaints I think the car is superb in those areas. Maybe because I elected the passive suspension and MT?

I had both passive and adaptive on 18s and 19s. Like I said, I really didn't mind them until I drove other cars with different setups. I liked both for the most part on the track, but found them tedious during DD. I never had a MT in the car so maybe that would've helped/change my mind in the traction department. First gear was virtually useless with the DCT in a lot of situations unless you had TC off.

Those would've been cool motors, but I really had no issue with the S55. I think BMW could've smoothed out the power delivery a bit in a variety of ways to make it act more like an N/A motor, but they chose not to. And they still choose not to in the different editions that have come out.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by minn19

Those would've been cool motors, but I really had no issue with the S55. I think BMW could've smoothed out the power delivery a bit in a variety of ways to make it act more like an N/A motor, but they chose not to. And they still choose not to in the different editions that have come out.

They actually did with the CS. It makes less torque below 2400 RPM than the base S55.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

They actually did with the CS. It makes less torque below 2400 RPM than the base S55.

Nice, just need to spend about 20-30k more to get the good stuff.

I mostly kid, but that is cool.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by minn19

I never had a MT in the car so maybe that would've helped/change my mind in the traction department. First gear was virtually useless with the DCT in a lot of situations unless you had TC off.
.

what were your tires?

traction problems in a RWD car with a lot of low end torque?! news flash right here guys

why complain, just add more rubber or TC off and go for it!

That said, I love the noise of the GT350 and E9X M3 also when I see them on the streets. It makes it a lot more exciting of a commute when you have the noise going in the background

[minn19]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

what were your tires?

traction problems in a RWD car with a lot of low end torque?! news flash right here guys

why complain, just add more rubber or TC off and go for it!

That said, I love the noise of the GT350 and E9X M3 also when I see them on the streets. It makes it a lot more exciting of a commute when you have the noise going in the background

I did, I added 275/18 and 295/18s PSS on my M4. It helped a bit, but not that much. I still would see the dreaded orange lights flashing on the dash coupled with the car cutting power so fast it pressed me into a locked seat belt multiple times. I guess I just suck as a driver.

I didn't and still don't feel comfortable being on the track with everything off. That is another thing I love about the GT350 is that it has a track mode on top of sport mode. Sport mode is already better than MDM as far as letting you get some slip angle without completely cutting off the power like MDM does. And track mode really lets you get it out there while still having some protection. I've had track mode intervene twice, once on purpose in the rain at an autox to see how far it would let me go. And once when I made a mistake on an off camber corner. I think it saved my car and me from having a big headache to deal with. I'm not afraid to admit I'm not good enough yet to run on a track with everything disabled. Someday I hope I will be as I learn every time I get the chance to get out there.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

what were your tires?

traction problems in a RWD car with a lot of low end torque?! news flash right here guys

why complain, just add more rubber or TC off and go for it!

That said, I love the noise of the GT350 and E9X M3 also when I see them on the streets. It makes it a lot more exciting of a commute when you have the noise going in the background

Doesn't help much.

I went with RE-71r and still had traction issues and MDM interferences.

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by basscadet

That's funny you talk about resale value, as out of all of the cars I have owned, my F80 lost the most in the 13 month-36 month used car sweet-spot that I usually shop within. The GT-Rs were easily the strongest and even the Evo X held on better than my M3. But this is just my experience on the market and might not be indicative of trends as a whole.

I bought by old EvoX used right before they announced that they were going to stop making them in two years. I sold my EvoX about 6 months later for $5k more than I paid for it.

Miss the car.

[dkhm3]

Originally Posted by JamesGames

I always thought the GT350 is the modern day e92m3. If the F8X chassis had the 5.2 Flat plane crank v8, the car would pretty much be flawless IMO. My biggest gripe from day 1 was the 3.0 TT.. although the S55 is magnificent in it's own right.. (cooling system, MPG, good for daily driver yet a beast when unleashed).. Just for car lovers, it's hard to beat a high revving v8.

bmw does not make large displacement i6 or v8's relative to domestic makers.

Even the V10 in the old M5 was a relatively small 5.0 liter.

M division makes high rev'ing smaller displacement engines, the S55 rev's 7.6k rpms FI in 2015... considered a rare feat at the time and rare even now.

If you look at history, amg made large displacement v8's, M makes high rev'ving smaller displacement i4 i6's, and RS makes great AWD.

[JamesGames]

Originally Posted by dkhm3

bmw does not make large displacement i6 or v8's relative to domestic makers.

Even the V10 in the old M5 was a relatively small 5.0 liter.

M division makes high rev'ing smaller displacement engines, the S55 rev's 7.6k rpms FI in 2015... considered a rare feat at the time and rare even now.

If you look at history, amg made large displacement v8's, M makes high rev'ving smaller displacement i4 i6's, and RS makes great AWD.

I understand bmw never made a big displacement vs the domestics, but I was talking more about the high strung / high revving v8 that makes power up top more so than down low - in that respect it's similar to the S65. I wish BMW carried on those style of motors but I can honestly say there are a lot of pros for this motor as well as I previously mentioned, such as the MPG, the great cooling system, the dual natured beast.

And I'm not ragging on the S55 - I know how marvelous the motor is in it's own right as I previously stated; I just wish it had more of the S65 sound / character. Had it been that way, this car would've been flawless.. or until someone else finds something else to dislike. lol

[dkhm3]

Originally Posted by JamesGames

I understand bmw never made a big displacement vs the domestics, but I was talking more about the high strung / high revving v8 that makes power up top more so than down low - in that respect it's similar to the S65. I wish BMW carried on those style of motors but I can honestly say there are a lot of pros for this motor as well as I previously mentioned, such as the MPG, the great cooling system, the dual natured beast.

And I'm not ragging on the S55 - I know how marvelous the motor is in it's own right as I previously stated; I just wish it had more of the S65 sound / character. Had it been that way, this car would've been flawless.. or until someone else finds something else to dislike. lol

Even with Ford, their newest high performance vehicles are switching to turbos.

Ford GT- 3.5 liter V6
RAPTOR- 3.5 liter V6 replaces the 6.2L v8

The large displacement model is going away. unfortunately. bmw was an earlier adoptee and has gotten a lot of flack from enthusiasts. Porsche, Ferrari, etc are all following suit.

[JamesGames]

Originally Posted by dkhm3

Even with Ford, their newest high performance vehicles are switching to turbos.

Ford GT- 3.5 liter V6
RAPTOR- 3.5 liter V6 replaces the 6.2L v8

The large displacement model is going away. unfortunately. bmw was an earlier adoptee and has gotten a lot of flack from enthusiasts. Porsche, Ferrari, etc are all following suit.

I totally get it, I'm not disputing the fact and the trend of where / why things are going. At the same time, the GT350 dropped in 2016, which is a year later than the M4, and the early adoption or not for BMW is met with competition like the GT350, so the valid comparison exists.

I drive an M4 at the end of the day, and just stating what I believe would be the perfect M...

Few more years later, we will all probably be talking about how much we miss the S55, because the S4520TTTT inline 4 - quad turbo dual hybrid 0.00001 liters of CO / CO2 pumping M car will be out by then.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by JamesGames

I totally get it, I'm not disputing the fact and the trend of where / why things are going. At the same time, the GT350 dropped in 2016, which is a year later than the M4, and the early adoption or not for BMW is met with competition like the GT350, so the valid comparison exists.

I drive an M4 at the end of the day, and just stating what I believe would be the perfect M...

Few more years later, we will all probably be talking about how much we miss the S55, because the S4520TTTT inline 4 - quad turbo dual hybrid 0.00001 liters of CO / CO2 pumping M car will be out by then.

The GT350 is not an "global market" vehicle like the M3/4 are. It is not officially imported by Ford Europe for instance, so it does not need to meet the broader emissions restrictions the M3/4 do.

[evanescent03]

Well written post, OP. That was an entertaining read. I was close to getting a GT350 myself but was looking for a track car and the markup was putting all the GT350s at/over $60k so I got a Camaro SS 1LE. It's a really fun car to drive with an impressive suspension, seats, torquey, and hustles around the track very well. Standard PDR, head up display, and a sticky set of tires all for $44k made sense for me since I'm mostly using it as a track car ... but I do long for the GT350 when I see/hear one.

Of course Mustangs are common but the GT350 is special and if people can't see that, they're likely just a fanboy of something else lol. There's a guy I've met at the track who has a ton of Ferraris (FXXK, La Ferrari x2, TDF, etc) and other exotics, but he has a GT350R also. Sure it's the R but still shows that some people can get past the "it's just a Mustang" and "it's based on a $25k car" BS. Just like a GTR is just a Nissan, an R8 is a VW, etc etc ...

Anyway... Good taste in cars. Enjoy he new ride!

[kdphan]

congrats on the GT350

I've been thinking about it as well to replace the GTR.

[basscadet]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

I bought by old EvoX used right before they announced that they were going to stop making them in two years. I sold my EvoX about 6 months later for $5k more than I paid for it.

Miss the car.

I miss mine too. I too sold my Evo X for more than I paid for it.

Honestly, for all the negative things about the Mitsubishi, it was a very special car that had the most telepathic steering I've ever felt. The seating position and that glorious 5 speed manual. What an incredible, under-appreciated car.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

Doesn't help much.

I went with RE-71r and still had traction issues and MDM interferences.

thats such a win a stock f8x can spin re71r easily

[BoxKing]

I don't think anyone's like or dislike for the GT350 makes them an enthusiast or not.... I feel most of us on this forum are what we say we are, but have different opinions. I can appreciate all cars, I can spot out pretty much anything tuned or built special and I give the props deserved... that doesn't mean it's on my list of cars to own.

[TRZ06]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

thats such a win a stock f8x can spin re71r easily

Depends on your POV.

I think balanced power that meshes well with everything else seamlessly would be a win.

A muscle car that just spins the tires for wasted HP and TQ is not a win for me.

[dkhm3]

Originally Posted by TRZ06

Depends on your POV.

I think balanced power that meshes well with everything else seamlessly would be a win.

A muscle car that just spins the tires for wasted HP and TQ is not a win for me.

Stock car with Euro MDM coded, 295 MPSS rears for me. I rarely see TC on 2nd or 3rd, WOT, unless 1st gear launches, which throttle needs to be modulated.

[SunnyD]

Congrats on the GT350!