Congrats to all who were chosen. I was denied, but I have a 2017 GT350R on order for a consolation prize.
I owned two 2014 GT500's. (The first one I bought had everything except the glass roof so I traded it after 6 months for another new one that had the glass roof and all of the other options.) That car was pretty great. The new GT350 is amazing. I was able to get one of the 50 2015 GT350 Track Pack cars. I've put about 700 miles on it but I also never had the dealer prep done so it still has all of the factory markings, plastic and stickers on it. The sound of that flat plane crank 5.2 is incredible and it revs forever! If you are used to driving and shifting your GT500 based on the feel, you will catch yourself shifting 2000 RPM sooner than you have to. Everything above 6000 RPM is just...it's pretty surreal.
I had a 2014 Raptor that I drove across country to the desert outside of Las Vegas. That was quite an experience. I put 40,000 miles on that truck in a year. I still own 7 current Ford vehicles as well as a BMW i8. The top three vehicles that I enjoy the most at this time are, in this order:
- BMW i8 - I mainly bought this car because it's body is mainly carbon fiber and I love the doors. I figured it would be a baby preview of what I would enjoy with the Ford GT if I were lucky enough to get chosen. It looks like it's from the future. My fuel economy ranges from 99.9 MPG to 8 MPG (Depending on how I'm driving it! :biggrin) People surround it everywhere I go. I went to eat at a restaurant in New Orleans this past weekend and when I came out they had a group of people around it. The valet kept telling people to stop touching it. When he saw me he asked if I was ready to leave and I said, "Yeah, but this Corvette is in my way." He said, "I'll have it moved" and three guys came up to me to apologize for touching my car. They said they didn't think it was an actual person's car, they thought it was a concept car and the valet was just being a stick in the mud. I showed them all of the highlights of the car and they were amazed. Aside from the attention it brings, the car is so wide but it is incredibly nimble and comfortable. Although it has probably half the HP of the new GT, the Carbon Fiber body and electric motors really make it feel powerful.
If this is half the car the new GT will be, a very small, competitive, evil, greedy part of me hates every person chosen to get a new GT and Raj. (This is a very small part of me however and is not indicative of my true feelings of respect and appreciation for all 500 of you...and I guess Raj too...even though he had the power to make my lifetime car dreams and he chose not to...even if he didn't choose the new owners personally, I feel he had the power to.
It's OK though Raj...)
- 2014 Ford F-150 Tuscany Tonka Truck - Mine is #80 of 500. (Apparently it's an officially licensed product from Hasbro with badges, the official Tonka paint code, and lots of small Tonka touches.) It's enormous. People stare at it everywhere...and smile. (Mostly men and little boys.) My nephews completely love it! The Raptor was amazing and I do miss it, but this truck does make me feel like a 5 year old again, which I didn't think would be something I would ever want, but if I'm having a high stress or bad day, this thing makes me smile immediately. It's not for everyone and every time I think about how ridiculous it looks, I get in it and it puts a smile on my face.
- 2015 GT350 Track Pack - If I were to rate this car solely based performance, it would be number 1. I feel like it is more smooth riding than my GT500's were. The backup camera, which is a VERY WELCOME addition compared to the GT500, is really tiny in the Track Pack car. I wish I could have gotten an R, but for 2015 that was less of an option than the new Ford GT. I did choose every option I could with my car, but I am positive you will enjoy your 2017 GT350R. If you don't, check your pulse, because you are probably dead... (That or you should get to a doctor ASAP because your senses have just been destroyed by the car...I'm not sure if they cover that under warranty however... :wink)
In any event, I have almost purchased an 05/06 GT several times. Every time I am about to do it, they seem to jump higher in price and I decide not to. I was in my 20's and just starting my business when they were first released. After years of hard work, I have put myself in a position to get one, but it looks like the demand was just too great.
I am confident that each and every person chosen is very deserving of the privilege to own this amazing car. I congratulate each and every one of you. Please be careful with the precious monsters. Too many of the 05/06's have been destroyed. Run these hard and run them good, but keep them and yourselves alive! I hope to see one someday in person.
Best Wishes to the NFGT Family!
