Loading...
Remove Text Formatting

Likes Likes:  17
Results 1 to 9 of 9

Thread: 40,000 Miles with the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 and Its Magical V-8

  1. #1
    Super Moderator Scrape's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    GT-A
    Posts
    9,206

    40,000 Miles with the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 and Its Magical V-8

    https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a23083757/2017-ford-mustang-shelby-gt350-reliability-update-3/

    Say "voodoo" and people tend to think of pins stuck into dolls, animal sacrifice, and other dark rituals. But this ancient religion has a lighter side, a white magic believed to be capable of casting a spell so strong it can bind souls together for eternity.
    We were entranced by our first exposure to the Mustang Shelby GT350's voodoo, both its literal and figurative varieties. The former is Ford's Voodoo V-8, a hand-built, flat-plane-crank 5.2-liter screamer that sets spines a-tingle with its 8250-rpm redline. The latter relates to the Shelby's other*worldly chassis balance and fluidity, the ease with which the GT350 tears up a mountain road or a racetrack, and its ability to then cover a few hundred miles home. It's as though Ford conjured a spell specifically for us.

    We did keep our wits about us for one critical decision when ordering our long-termer. Although we were curious about the durability and performance of the extreme GT350R's carbon-fiber wheels, our acne-riddled roads and the wheels' replacement costs—$4175 apiece for the fronts and $3517 for each of the rears—shook us out of our reverie. We ordered the $57,045 GT350, which includes a $1300 penalty from the Man for consuming too much fuel, and selected only a few extras. We opted for the $3000 Electronics pack, which adds Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, turn-signal mirrors, navigation, and dual-zone climate control. We also chose the no-cost Grabber Blue paint, a head-turning shade of awesomeness, and white over-the-roof racing stripes to pay homage to Shelbys of the past—only $475, but a decision we would later regret. All in, our Ford ran $60,520.

    Obeying the 1000-mile break-in period by not revving the engine sky-high took painful restraint. But once we got past it, the GT350 clicked off a zero-to-60-mph time of 4.2 seconds and ran the quarter-mile in 12.4 at 118 mph. At 40,000 miles, it posted identical numbers for both tests. When our car was new, the 70-to-zero-mph panic stop took 153 feet, but that stretched to 164 feet in the end, likely because the onset of winter made it difficult to get heat into the rubber for our final test session. On the skidpad, the Mustang's lateral adhesion measured 1.02 g's at the start and gained 0.01 g by 40,000 miles.

    Not long after our initial test, we indulged in a little animal sacrifice. The farmlands of southeast Michigan breed not only large humans, but also raccoons the size of grizzly bears, one of which became acquainted with the Shelby at high speed late one night. The incident damaged the bumper cover, splitter, various trim pieces, and a fender-mounted oil cooler, requiring a trip to the shop for repairs and fresh paint. Restoring the stripes and clear protective wrap took another four trips to accomplish. In total, the raccoon set us back $3684, $1508 of which was for the vinyl stripes—more than three times the original cost to have the entire car thus equipped.
    But that wouldn't be the only damage we inflicted on the GT350. As it turns out, this car is not suited for off-road duty. An eight-second, tank-slapping ride on loose gravel left the Mustang high-sided on a local road's shoulder. The failed rally stage required another trip to the body shop, in which the resurfaced passenger door and some more Grabber Blue paint cost us $832. Lesson learned.

    With direct-fitment winter tires unavailable, we sent the GT350 to California to pass the colder months. It was during the 2400-mile trip out west that we registered the first of many complaints about the 16-gallon fuel tank's limited range. Only once over the course of our test did we travel farther than 300 miles on a tank, and then it was only 301. Even when we were stretching it, most of us would pull over after some 250 miles. Then again, while the snug Recaro buckets provide exceptional support for enthusiastic driving, after four hours or so, our bodies welcomed relief from their confines.

    Once settled into the Golden State, we replaced the rear tires before releasing the Mustang onto roads that are somewhat more thrilling than those in Michigan. An afternoon on Angeles Crest Highway through the San Gabriel Mountains is the best way to experience the Shelby voodoo. The car is agile and stable, with immediate turn-in. The steering is surgically precise, and the helm buzzes with useful feedback. Meanwhile, the Brembo brakes remain tireless, corner after corner. Track-focused cars such as this are often a burden to live with daily, but the GT350's magnetorheological dampers do an exceptional job soaking up roughness. Take the usual Angeles Crest runner's break at Newcomb's Ranch? No way! Continue until snow appears or you hit the town of Big Pines, then turn around and repeat. Just beware of the rock slides that the thunderous exhaust note may have left in its wake, and at the bottom of the run, feel your brain flood with livestock-grade adrenal extract.

    Much of the GT350's spectacular handling is attributable to its aggressive wheel alignment, which also contributes to its eagerness to follow every groove in a road's surface. Not too long after we replaced the rear rubber, the right-front tire chewed itself to the cords. With a new set of Michelins up front and an alignment, the tramlining lessened, but it never went away completely. Then again, that tendency of the GT350 to magnetize itself to a road is a constant reminder of the Mustang's track ability, and a very effective analog driver-attention assist. You'll never be tempted to take a hand off the wheel.
    As marvelous as the high-revving V-8 is, its thirst for oil and gas proved insatiable. Run it hard and it will drink premium at an alarming rate. During one of our mountain blasts, the GT350 emptied its tank in 151 miles at an average of 10 mpg. Our 17-mpg test average was 1 mpg better than the EPA's combined rating, but ours includes many miles on the interstates. And then there's the oil-consumption issue: Over 40,000 miles, we added 21.5 quarts of 5W-50. That's in addition to scheduled oil changes. It's the most we've ever added during a long-term test by a long shot. Ford released a supplement to the owner's manual stating that the engine might consume a quart every 500 miles under severe use. "Severe use" pretty accurately sums up our treatment of just about any car, but particularly one with an 8250-rpm redline. And we were lucky; internet forums are rife with horror stories of Shelbys consuming far more.
    In a perverse way, we're thankful this car requires some oil additions; it provides an opportunity to open the hood and admire the engine, something rarely worth doing in modern cars. There's also an audible tick between 2000 and 3000 rpm as the forged pistons slap around in the cylinders. Calamitous as that may sound, Ford swears it has no effect on the engine's longevity.


  2. #2
    Super Moderator Scrape's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    GT-A
    Posts
    9,206
    Other logbook gripes centered on the clutch's unnatural engagement and its soft return stroke not following the driver's foot, but the light effort does ease left-leg pain in traffic. And the Tremec TR-3160 six-speed manual is a marvelous piece of hardware; the short-throw shifter works through the gates with a precision reminiscent of German sports-car gearboxes.
    We did experience a few mechanical gremlins not of our own creation, though. Upon returning from California, we noticed excessive vibrations from the shifter and a clicking sound emanating from the left-rear wheel. A new shifter assembly and bezel remedied the vibration issues, and the dealer discovered a bad wheel bearing and an axle nut that had not been properly torqued. The noise remained even after the dealer replaced the bearing, and during a return visit, the service technician found that the axle's half-shaft had been moving within the bearing, apparently from the improperly torqued nut. And yet, despite another new bearing, plus a half-shaft, and everything tightened to spec, the clicking sound remained. It wasn't until we replaced the rear tires for the second time and decided to swap wheels from side to side that the noise vanished. Why? The mystery remains unsolved, but at least all the repairs were covered under warranty. We also lodged complaints about some low-speed clutch-engagement noises, but the dealer informed us that it's just the nature of the beast. And adding to our stripe woes, the white lines on the decklid bubbled around the spoiler.
    Despite the steady flow of fresh oil entering the valve cover, the Shelby still needed oil changes. Five of them, ordered up by the oil-life monitor, occurred at intervals of around 7500 miles and totaled $838. The engine air filter, exposed under the hood by a cold-air intake, sucks up more dirt than a street sweeper. We replaced the element at 14,000 and 30,000 miles.

    Of course, we are critics, and some staffers felt the need to complain about life with the Shelby. Some thought the aggressive Recaro seats were too heavily bolstered for daily use, requiring one to contort their body to get in or out. Others whined about the seats eating spare change from their pockets. We see it as simply a piggybank; save that change to buy oil, or tires. Also, who carries change anymore? And proving their insincerity, some of our editors' complaints were shortly followed by suggestions that Ford should sell us this now-used GT350 at a steeply discounted rate.
    It's easy to forgive a car's shortcomings when it's this good to drive. Is the GT350 the quickest Mustang ever? Not even close. The grippiest? Nope. The most visceral driving experience of them all? Absolutely. Even in regular Coyote V-8 form, today's Mustang is a special car. But the Shelby GT350 has the Voodoo, and it is magical.


  3. #3
    Club Supporter hammerhead's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2018
    Location
    Melancthon,Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    2,725
    voodoo baby.jpg 83d76bdb8898df291b30c8ae9f819289--cartoons-car-photography[1].jpg

    us old guys think of this when voodoo is mentioned in relation to grunting cars... cant wait to get into my Coyote....lol stop snowing already!!!

    thQJAWW4MG.jpg
    1979 Pace Car 302 4spd
    1981 Cobra t-top option - power to be determined, in the works

  4. #4
    Admin ZR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Toronto, On
    Posts
    36,223
    Really??

    Over 40,000 miles, we added 21.5 quarts of 5W-50.

  5. #5
    Why so serious Hotford's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Pickering
    Posts
    270
    So every 2000 miles 1 quarter of oil........ no biggy.....cost of doing business when your a 8250 screamer.........
    2003 Azure Mach 1.....with some bolt on's.....
    2003 Marauder.....with some bolt on's....
    2011 GT500......with some bolt on's.......
    82 GT, Coyote, build in play.......

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Stephen06GT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    10,845
    It takes 5W50?

  7. #7
    Club Sponsor Parkway Ford Lincoln SVT's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    Waterloo
    Posts
    505
    The GT350, and previous gen GT500 and Boss 302 had a factory spec for Motorcraft synthetic 5W50.
    Parkway Ford Lincoln SVT - Waterloo
    www.parkwayford.ca
    toll free lines:
    sales dept 866-980-6752
    service dept 888-785-4008
    parts direct 844-339-0452
    we're on Instagram: parkwayford

  8. #8
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Calgary
    Posts
    1,125
    Quote Originally Posted by Hotford View Post
    So every 2000 miles 1 quarter of oil........ no biggy.....cost of doing business when your a 8250 screamer.........
    That is rather good compared to a pretty good number of owners that have seen consumption at far higher rates (mentioned in the C&D article), many with engines being replaced by Ford, some more than once. Cooled me off of my buying plans after seeing/reading so many owners that had the issue.

    Yah, it's a very cool car, with a very cool engine....but for me, not interested in the potential ownership of an oil eating monster.....especially if it happens right after the warranty expires.

  9. #9
    Super Moderator Stephen06GT's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Bolton
    Posts
    10,845
    Quote Originally Posted by Parkway Ford Lincoln SVT View Post
    The GT350, and previous gen GT500 and Boss 302 had a factory spec for Motorcraft synthetic 5W50.
    Good thing it wasn’t 5W20 like they put in the Coyotes. You’d have to add oil every time you put gas in it, kinda like a two-stroke.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

SiteUptime Web Site Monitoring Service