Gt-p Review From Drive.com.au

[plonky]

HSE2...again a well written critique

The two handed operation of the starter button CAN be refined into a one handed operation but what have Ford and FPV done about it...Nothing.

The dual exhaust set up can be done and the vehicle it was done on (XR8 painted in PPG paint owned by a good mate who is the PPG rep) has completed the modification and taken the car to FPV for their designers to look at and implement.

The thing is, why does it have to wait for enthusiasts from 'outside' to do the work for FPV before it gets done.

The stripe package (of which I am a very vocal critic) was an afterthought and the one I had done for the Mustang has been presented (with great reception) but again I ask the question..why isn't this being done first up?

The answer is that there are too many people employed by Ford and FPV who have no passion for the brand, don;t have an understanding of what the Australian mindset is for high level performance cars with a bit of nostalgia and only look at things form a design school perspective not an enthusiasts perspective.

I make my judgement on the basis that if the people attached to a marketing and design studio of a car company (Ford) wree asked what their ultimate car was, the it should be a car/product made and designed by the company they work for!

Therefore, if a Ford marketing exec wants a dream car then he should aim for the best of available technology and styling and put it together so that it has the Ford brand name! They shouldn't be wanting a BMW/Mercedes/Porsche etc because if they were doing tbeir job right then they would make a Ford version of that!

[fordfan]

I think too many people are confusing the new GT and GT-P with the old GT-HOs pure performance. The GT should is more about handling than horses under the bonnet. I think the the only car a GT could be mistaken as is a GT-P, but the XR8 is closer to the XR6 and turbo. As for the starter button, at least Ford has done something new, which rarely occurs in Australia.

[HSE2]

Has any auto mag done a poll on GT owners if they like the button or not?

From the posts I have read the majority love it. A positive!

Also a poll of GT owners concerning the vibrating at idle, another +

Rather than focus on the negatives and push them as a negative, try pushing the questionable items you find in a positive light.... aim the comments at the prospective buyer of this car, not give justification or feed the egos of the lovers of the 'dark side' :lol:

Fuel consumption is pretty good for highway or long country trips, therefore the range would be acceptable, and not a concern, unless your heading up from Kal to Mt Newman. :lol:

The only poll I am aware of existed on the net, and I believe the response went along the lines of retain but improve.

The action of inserting a standard ignition key and the turning it is the part I find most comment on. Although not really a first as such there are some great cars in the world that have just been released that use a similar feature. In years gone by many desirable Ford traits have been denied to enthusiasts for no other reason that functionality. These "features" couldn't be made to serve a purpose from people that refer to themselves as engineers. My objection is on this level. Had the same criteria been employed you would have an ignition system where a plug is inserted and the button illuminates. That costs, keyless ignition from Mercedes cost about $3000 but is far more advanced then the once mentioned here so rightly, a feature that was keeping with the racecar theme with a short cut, has to be a good thing- right?

Yes and no. It not about putting a positive spin on a negative comment, it’s about realising that people will view things differently. It about reading or hearing a comment and being able to say yes ok. In this case this particular feature is nice but admittedly flawed. I can understand people saying they love it and I can understand others being less then impressed.

Like CDAA has said negativity is only bad if improvement isn't the objective or its aim.

I am not sure any journo has the impact they once held. To be honest I believe people are login on to forums and reading what real people, under real conditions have to say about the products of interest. Its what makes these conversations so important. Great conversations from enthusiasts that aren't afraid to say and call things as they see it. These types of threads don't happen as much as they should. Great conversations with great personalities - people that are willing to stop, think and contribute.

More importantly people that are passionate about the blue oval and the products they create.

[Redhawk]

Good comments Ian,

And spot on with regards to forums like this one (yeah, Ken included).

I have learnt so much about the T and GT from the people on this forum that I could never have learnt from all car mags combined.

Keep up the good work people!!

[Falchoon]

I agree 200% about the dual exhaust bit (one either side of the car). Should be mandantory on XR8 and GTs.

I think the starter button idea was 'borrowed' from Aston Martin, where David Flint used to work before Ford. I'm not a big fan of it myself, seems a wank and the money it costs could be better spent elsewhere on the car...say on a dual exhaust or better stripes. Buit I don't own a GT and probably never will (said that about an XR6T...) so my opinion probably doesn't count for much.

[plonky]

The dual exhaust modification is very simple. I have seen first hand how it was done and it looks incredibly factory. I think Tony's car was featured in a recent Performance Ford's magazine (he is the PPG rep and the car has been painted in a new style Harlequin paint)

The GT brand mandates that a dual exhaust (twin outlets either side) should be fitted.

It also mandates that an integrated (read original style not an afterthought) stripe package should be standard (with option delete for those that don't want it)

I really don't think there as too much to achieve by increasing power output significantly where there is more to achieve by remodelling the model lineup:

The GT should be the pinnacle of the model lineup but at the moment it is the GT-P. Big mistake, as it devalues the GT brand. The GT-P should be speared off and the model lineup replaced as follows:

Entry level FPV should be GS or ESP. 290kW, auto/manual, current FPV equipment with all the options of the current GT-P available on the entry level model.

The performance peak for FPV should be the GT. Same engine with a few more tweaks such as real dual exhaust with twin outlets one each side, fresh air vents at the rear of the bonnet bulge, Brembo brakes, firmer suspension, integrated stripe package as standard (NCO to delete) and any weight saving gains such as lighter seats, aluminium hood and trunk lid etc.

FPV have tried to mirror HSV in their model lineup and as such have lost their initiative.

By remodelling their lineup they can deliver more car for the dollar. BMW have been doing it for years with the amount of options added to the base price of their vehicles. This way the customer has more input in how he wants the 'feel' of the car to be e.g: Sports orientated or luxury orientated.