Killing Time with an Unlikely Race | GT350 Vs. EcoBoost | Torque Matters

Killing Time with an Unlikely Race | GT350 Vs. EcoBoost | Torque Matters

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Torque and acceleration, to me those are the sensations that define what a fun street car is. Sure, there are other things at work as well. However, there's not much a car can do to put a bigger smile on your face than slam you back in your seat from light to light. That's not to say that a tight suspension and the ability to out corner an F-16 aren't impressive. It's just that on a day to day basis, you're more likely to get the opportunity to lean a bit on the skinny pedal than peg the lateral G meter. That's why I believe the Shelby GT350 Mustang from Ford Performance leaves a little to be desired as fun street car. There's no denying it's supreme ability on a road course, but on the street it's not that much more exciting than a Performance Pack GT Mustang.

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Even with street tires and a 2.3L EcoBoost under the hood, an S550 is a fun ride in the turns.


That brings me to the point of this editorial and idea behind it. Prodigious torque at available at low RPMs is just plain fun. Don't believe me? Go for a quick drive in a GT350 and a Terminator back-to-back. On paper, and in nearly every measurable sense, the GT350 is far superior to the now 15+ year old Cobra. However, that positive displacement blower mounted to the old-school iron blocked mill on a Terminator just cranks out the low-end twist that makes your pants tight. While discussing this topic with a GT350 owning friend of mine during a track day we decided to put together a little torque-based test.

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If you haven't gotten some seat time in a GT350 on a track, you need to stop what you're doing right now and grab your helmet. It's just that good.


He got in his 2016 Shelby GT350 and I took the wheel of our 2015 EcoBoost Mustang project car. The GT350 had a 100% stock drivetrain (526 Horsepower & 429 lb. ft Torque), and the 2.3L EB did not. With an Airaid Intake, Livernois Tune, and Kooks Exhaust it was making 340RWHP and 440RWTQ. That is a huge horsepower difference, but the real story is the torque. The GT350 has to wind up to 4,750 RPM to produce max-torque, but the EcoBoost gets there at about 3,200 RPM. So what does that mean? I'll let this video explain:


We had some time to kill during the track worker's lunch break, so we decided to do a single-gear roll race. We go up to about 30MPH in 3rd and both went when we got to a painted line on VIR's back stretch. The results speak for themselves. The EcoBoost starts churning out prodigious amounts of torque almost immediately. The GT350, not so much. In a nutshell, that explains why a boosted car is so damn fun around town. While the Shelby GT350 is amazing on a road track where you can keep it in wound-up in its powerband, it leaves a bit to be desired just putzing around on the streets. I'm not saying everyone needs to run out and trade their GT350 in on a 4-banger Mustang, but if you miss being pinned to your seat from stoplight-to-stoplight you might want to keep an eye on the upcoming 2020 GT500 Mustang. I think it'll bring a smile to your face.

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I like the write up and love the roll race (that’s my shit!).

But some of the statements can be bit misleading. I will elaborate below.

“That's why I believe the Shelby GT350 Mustang from Ford Performance leaves a little to be desired as fun street car. There's no denying it's supreme ability on a road course, but on the street it's not that much more exciting than aPerformance Pack GT Mustang.”

although this is your opinion, I couldn’t disagree more. The 350 is much much more exciting than a GT. From the way it drives to the power delivery.

so many people attempt to “play down” the 350 on the street. 350 is just as strong in the street, if only driven correctly.


“Go for a quick drive in a GT350 and a Terminator back-to-back. On paper, and in nearly every measurable sense, the GT350 is far superior to the now 15+ year old Cobra. However, that positive displacement blower mounted to the old-school iron blocked mill on a Terminator just cranks out the low-end twist that makes your pants tight.”

again, this is your opinion, but I will also contest it. A baun stalk terminator is very underwhelming, especially when compared to a 350. It is not even a contest.

in all measurable data, the terminator gets CRUSHED. Only nostalgia, would make anyone think that the terminator feels better. The truth is it doesn’t.


“We go up to about 30MPH in 3rd and both went when we got to a painted line on VIR's back stretch. The results speak for themselves. The EcoBoost starts churning out prodigious amounts of torque almost immediately. The GT350, not so much. In a nutshell, that explains why a boosted car is so damn fun around town.”

anyone than knows roll racing will tell you how flawed this race was. It was basically set up against the 350. It handicapped it. While giving the ecobust-mobile a huge advantage.

I understand that this was a “fun” race, but showcasing it as such, may cause some poor souls out there to actually think that the ecobust is and / or “feels” more fun than the 350. When that is actually not the case.

To properly showcase the cars/race, both cars should have been in the meat of each respective power band or a happy medium, instead of totally one-siding the race.

Torque is definitely important, but several other factors can more than make up for it. 350 might not be a torque monster but it MORE than makes up for this with power/gearing/etc.

Just my 2c. ;)
 
That’s really interesting. I am curious what speed the roll was at. I just know it was 3rd gear. And at the same time I’m not surprised at all. Considering GT350s struggle with 6th Gen Camaros at times due to lack of torque. Very cool video..

fake news, sir. Properly driven 350 should not “struggle” with a 6gen mullet. Not even close.

The 350 is a terrible street car IMO, I had the choice to get one vs my FoRS since the used market was roughly the same price and im so glad I didnt get one, they are just gutless in normal driving, nothing like my 500 or even the RS. I do love the looks though, but a 350 needs a blower to be any fun IMO


IMO you are full of excrement. No real basis or data. Just trying to justify that “sweet” Focus. Lol

350, night of heavy drinking + Taco Bell’s diarrheas ALL over that Focus. ALL DAY, son!
 
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IMO you are full of excrement. No real basis or data. Just trying to justify that “sweet” Focus. Lol

350, night of heavy drinking + Taco Bell’s diarrheas ALL over that Focus. ALL DAY, son!

Haha i do really enjoy the RS and yes this was driving feel and no real data.... but there is also the very good possibility that I wasnt driving the 350 correctly with that type of power band that im not used to. I will say the 350s are really growing on me and honestly I think im gonna pick one up this coming year and maybe get rid of the 500, maybe
 
Haha i do really enjoy the RS and yes this was driving feel and no real data.... but there is also the very good possibility that I wasnt driving the 350 correctly with that type of power band that im not used to. I will say the 350s are really growing on me and honestly I think im gonna pick one up this coming year and maybe get rid of the 500, maybe

good stuff.

They really are awesome cars. Definitely not traditional muscle cars, but great cars non the less. They are plenty peppy for what they are. Compare them to the 10-12 GT500’s... both weighting about the same, but 500s making a bit more power and plenty more torque. The 500 get annihilated by the 350 in every metric.

I had ‘14 500 and short of raw power / straight line acceleration, the 350 shit all over it, too.
 
good stuff.

They really are awesome cars. Definitely not traditional muscle cars, but great cars non the less. They are plenty peppy for what they are. Compare them to the 10-12 GT500’s... both weighting about the same, but 500s making a bit more power and plenty more torque. The 500 get annihilated by the 350 in every metric.

I had ‘14 500 and short of raw power / straight line acceleration, the 350 shit all over it, too.

Yeah thats what im starting to think now, my 12 GT500 is around 700 to the wheels in HP and TQ with the 2R setup but honestly its not all that fun on the street anymore since its not really useable power in most situations
 
I have no idea how this thread floated toward the top in the SVT newsletter, but anyway . . .

Anybody foolish enough to start a GT350 in 3rd gear in a roll race from 30 mph deserves to be humiliated. Perhaps on rematch the speed and gear should be chosen to put the EB at rpms down below where any boost is being made.

As to
It's just that on a day to day basis, you're more likely to get the opportunity to lean a bit on the skinny pedal than peg the lateral G meter. That's why I believe the Shelby GT350 Mustang from Ford Performance leaves a little to be desired as fun street car.
driving a car strongly oriented toward the road course on the street involves a different mentality. Unlike this roll race (or any stoplight challenge) where you're working the car to its fullest, there's no need to be pulling your car's full 1+g capability in the corners when only half that simply walks away from most other cars (IOW, neither you nor the car is breaking a sweat). At 75% you run away and hide, and you still aren't trying very hard.


Norm
 

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