GT350R Road & Track's Performance Car of the Year.

[KingOfJericho]

Absolutely. Ingress and egress are hard enough in wide open space - then when you come out of a store and someone parked close to you and you couldn't swing the door wide open? You have to be in cirque du soleil to get in the car. Oh, how about when you're first in line at the traffic light? The low and forward roof line makes it nearly impossible to see the light. I used to just wait for someone to beep at me...

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

Absolutely. Ingress and egress are hard enough in wide open space - then when you come out of a store and someone parked close to you and you couldn't swing the door wide open? You have to be in cirque du soleil to get in the car. Oh, how about when you're first in line at the traffic light? The low and forward roof line makes it nearly impossible to see the light. I used to just wait for someone to beep at me...

http://www.lightinsight.com

Pretty effective in my Miata, should have had one in my M Coupe too.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by okusa

Totally agree. To daily an Exige would be a nightmare. I had an Elise for track duty and would take it for weekend canyon runs. Once you're behind the wheel it's great but noisy as hell (couldn't hear the stereo and forget about cell phone). However, getting in and out is murder on the body.

Because one can't upgrade a stereo.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by Red Bread

http://www.lightinsight.com

Pretty effective in my Miata, should have had one in my M Coupe too.

That's pretty cool. Could use it in my Vette, but I think having that on the windshield would annoy me more.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by BoostedRide

Because one can't upgrade a stereo.

The "stereo" is just that - two speakers. You can upgrade them all you want but you can't change the fact that the engine is about 8" from your head. Add to that the constant road and wind noise and you have a very noisy ride.

[Never_Enough]

Originally Posted by KingOfJericho

The "stereo" is just that - two speakers. You can upgrade them all you want but you can't change the fact that the engine is about 8" from your head. Add to that the constant road and wind noise and you have a very noisy ride.

It's not for everyone, but I didn't say it was. I said you can daily it & you can.

[KingOfJericho]

Originally Posted by BoostedRide

It's not for everyone, but I didn't say it was. I said you can daily it & you can.

[Alfisti]

No idea exactly what variant it was but was behind a Mustang today, clearly brand new with nothing but a big GT badge on the back.

Sounded absolutely EPIC, just epic, what a wonderful noise.

[PLCZ4MC]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

No idea exactly what variant it was but was behind a Mustang today, clearly brand new with nothing but a big GT badge on the back.

Sounded absolutely EPIC, just epic, what a wonderful noise.

Sounds like it was the 5.0 Mustang GT.

The Shelby GT350R sound is just one million times louder and epic. Trust xD ohhh and looks too.

[FriskyDingo]

It's sad that cars like this can no longer be had from BMW. I'll take the Shelby over an M4 anyday.

[fcman]

Originally Posted by FriskyDingo

It's sad that cars like this can no longer be had from BMW. I'll take the Shelby over an M4 anyday.

Chevy and Ford have really stepped up their game in the performance car arena and the germans have gone soft. I think the biggest disappointment for me is the new C63. How did Merc go from that aggressive body and roaring 6.2L V8 to the plush mobile they are putting out now? Where are german sports coupes for men under 50? Seems like the german cars have just been growing fat and comfy to keep up with their original audience. Even the M2 is a bore compared to the (comparably priced) monsters coming out of America

[FriskyDingo]

Originally Posted by fcman

Chevy and Ford have really stepped up their game in the performance car arena and the germans have gone soft. I think the biggest disappointment for me is the new C63. How did Merc go from that aggressive body and roaring 6.2L V8 to the plush mobile they are putting out now? Where are german sports coupes for men under 50? Seems like the german cars have just been growing fat and comfy to keep up with their original audience. Even the M2 is a bore compared to the (comparably priced) monsters coming out of America

The M2 is really the only thing coming from BMW to pique my interest. And it's still way to early for me say I have intentions of buying one. I love the new Shelby, but they'll have markups for a while. I love the Z/28, and have driven one several times, but having to buy another set of rolling stock to drive it on a regular basis is a turn off. Then there's the new Camaro SS, which thus far looks to be a hell of a car, but priced comparable to 5th Gen ZL1's. Then there's the whole bit of ~40K buying a really nice E90/92 M3. Decisions, decisions......

[fcman]

Originally Posted by FriskyDingo

The M2 is really the only thing coming from BMW to pique my interest. And it's still way to early for me say I have intentions of buying one. I love the new Shelby, but they'll have markups for a while. I love the Z/28, and have driven one several times, but having to buy another set of rolling stock to drive it on a regular basis is a turn off. Then there's the new Camaro SS, which thus far looks to be a hell of a car, but priced comparable to 5th Gen ZL1's. Then there's the whole bit of ~40K buying a really nice E90/92 M3. Decisions, decisions......

Yeah, I'm looking at the same set of cars in the $40-55k range for purchase next year and I have no clue where to even start. Even outside of those option you also have the new Focus RS and the Civic Type-R (not that I'm going to buy it, although the performance is killer)

I really think the GT350 (non-R) is going to be the sweet spot for me.

[FriskyDingo]

I am certain on 2 things-

I want RWD.

I want a true manual.

The Focus RS appeals to me a lot, but I'll have one of the family rides paid off in the next few months, so the practicality isn't needed. And I already have a 4wd SUV, so the all-weather ability isn't needed.

That leaves the above list for me as prime candidates. I drove a new standard GT and was underwhelmed. I love the idea of a 5th Gen ZL1, because they're so well-rounded, and something I'd maybe take as a vert. I like the new Camaro SS, but have reservations about buying one new, with the hit in depreciation and all. And then every time I see an E90/92 M3, it's all I can think about for the next 3 days.

[fcman]

Originally Posted by FriskyDingo

I am certain on 2 things-

I want RWD.

I want a true manual.

The Focus RS appeals to me a lot, but I'll have one of the family rides paid off in the next few months, so the practicality isn't needed. And I already have a 4wd SUV, so the all-weather ability isn't needed.

That leaves the above list for me as prime candidates. I drove a new standard GT and was underwhelmed. I love the idea of a 5th Gen ZL1, because they're so well-rounded, and something I'd maybe take as a vert. I like the new Camaro SS, but have reservations about buying one new, with the hit in depreciation and all. And then every time I see an E90/92 M3, it's all I can think about for the next 3 days.

E92/E90 is appealing for sure. Seems pretty difficult to find a stripper E92 6mt though, which is what I want.

[FriskyDingo]

Yeah, they're hard to come by. I personally don't care how it is equipped so long as it has a carbon roof and 6MT. Melbourne Red or Interlagos/LeMans Blue would be my picks on the color, though. Can't do white or black.