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Thứ Sáu, 8 tháng 1, 2016

2016 Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang

The Shelby may have the pace of a 911 GT3 on track but the driving experience is the polar opposite. The Porsche rewards its driver with its buttery tactile feedback and perfect chassis composure, where the Shelby begs for abuse and aggressive inputs.

Think of the GT350R as a well-honed sledgehammer. The electric power steering isn’t overly communicative but it’s accurate and gets the job done. Pedal placement also isn’t fabulous, making heel-and-toe downshifts tricky, you feel that quarter-tonne kerb weight penalty versus the 911 GT3 and you’re always aware of the sizeable exterior dimensions. 

But drive through those issues and the Shelby comes alive. It’s an absolute animal to drive quickly but it’s not remotely intimidating. Select Track mode on the 20-button-busy steering wheel and the helm weights up, the throttle becomes more alert and the exhaust opens up even further. Fully disable the stability control system and the rewards - or mistakes - are yours to savour. You can lean extremely hard on the GT350R and it never complains.

Many so-called performance cars fall flat on their face when properly pushed on a circuit. Not so with the Shelby. You feel like a bit of a hack behind the wheel, knowing you should be smoother but also fully aware that the Shelby loves the mistreatment as it lays down serious track pace.
The Torsen mechanical limited-slip differential helps traction and is wonderfully consistent. When the track-focused Michelins eventually do get a bit hot during an extended run, dialing back your pace for a lap or so allows the rubber to come back into its own. Impressive.

But the Shelby isn’t better than the Porsche around the track; it’s just different. And that’s where we get into the negatives. Certain sacrifices must be made given that the Shelby GT350R undercuts the 911 GT3 on price by some 50% in the US. Fit and finish both inside and out aren't exactly impressive on the Ford, and the plastics are nowhere near Porsche's standards.

There is also the breadth of capability of the Porsche to remember. Purists may complain about the standard PDK dual-clutch automatic gearbox fitted to the latest GT3 but they can’t argue that the Porsche is nearly as capable on the road as it is on the track. Again, it’s an opposite experience with the GT350R.


The ultra-wide tyre hunt and grab for each and every road imperfection, and while the ride wasn’t too bad on smooth Nevada roads in the damper’s softest setting, the extensive exhaust and road noise will always be part of the experience whether you like it or not. 

2016 Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Câu chuyện của tóc

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