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.
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