Quote Of The Day: America, F*** Yeah

Derek Kreindler
by Derek Kreindler

“If you want a world class sports car with the following attributes – an iconic horse on the badge, a high-revving 500+ hp naturally aspirated V8 with a flat plane crank, massive Brembo brakes and a manual transmission, you have to buy a Ford. Not a Ferrari.”

-TTAC contributor David Walton on the new Ford Shelby GT350. Discuss.

Derek Kreindler
Derek Kreindler

More by Derek Kreindler

Comments
Join the conversation
41 of 145 comments
  • Petezeiss Petezeiss on Nov 17, 2014

    I'm definitely telling my HVAC guy on the Low-T jihad about TTAC. He's missing out on a hell of a waterhole hoot. He and Hummer would *have* to hook up. (cue Tchaikovsky ecstasy music)

    • See 13 previous
    • Petezeiss Petezeiss on Nov 18, 2014

      @Ronnie Schreiber You're a little young for such a clichéd preference.

  • Kyree Kyree on Nov 17, 2014

    This is just beautiful, and I bet it's gobs of fun. You know what...maybe I don't need that retirement fund after all..

  • Jdogma Jdogma on Nov 17, 2014

    Nobody has brought up the fact that flat crank V8 have severe vibration problems. What has Ford done to make it work? Balance shaft?

    • See 17 previous
    • Numbers_Matching Numbers_Matching on Nov 18, 2014

      @Ronnie Schreiber "As far as I know, Ferrari has never made a cross-plane V8 and I can’t recall a review complaining that Ferrari V8s shake." Not to be nit-picky, but Ferrari did make a cross-plane V8 out of the 2.9L quattrovalvole for the Lancia Thema 8.32. Nice sounding engine. Because Ferrari braces the engine mid-ship, it is more 'structurally and mass integrated' and therefore less prone to producing excessive amounts of vibration. There is no balance shaft.

  • Chan Chan on Nov 18, 2014

    Serious question: What is the business case of offering a flat plane crank? Wouldn't that involve changes to the block, all for a niche model Mustang? I don't doubt that this will be an impressive car, but I don't see anything that couldn't have been achieved with the standard crank. From the Ring videos, it doesn't even sound that different from a normal DOHC V8 with the cross-plane crank. "Flat-plane crank" suggested it should sound like a Ferrari, but it doesn't. The Lotus Esprit V8 does. Any experts care to chime in on the actual sound?

    • See 4 previous
    • DenverMike DenverMike on Nov 18, 2014

      @Chan It didn't need it, but did it WANT It??? I don't see a down s!de. Especially when entering the world market. It's getting world class sports car, almost. Even if the Europeans turn up the noses at the interior.

Next