Ford GT vs 430

[petestorey]

Ola,
not really a fair comparison but thinking about a Ford GT to replace my Lambo, has anyone had one and if so what did you/do you think of it? Am thinking of that or a 430 coupe probably to run a bit more often.
I'm working on the assumption that the rarity of the GT will hold values a bit better than that of the 430, but then equally there are some great value 430's to be had, and putting miles on a GT might spoil the collector's appeal.

This is the first one I've seen advertisied sensibly in a while: http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/854786.htm

The only thing I worry about is would it be very annoying to go anywhere in because of lack of storage and serious lack of range?
cheers
Pete

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

petestorey said:

...serious lack of range?

When I've got a bit more time today I'll post more, but as for range I can get something like 20-25mpg on the motorway making good progress (if you see what I mean). 250 miles between fill ups is easy and you could probably do 300 being a bit more careful.

[Bebs]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

making good progress (if you see what I mean)

[Try5t]

I thought it was generally recognised that the GT was plagued with problems ? I seem to remember Jeremy Clarkson getting shot of his in favour of a Gallardo spyder because of the problems?

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Try5t said:

I thought it was generally recognised that the GT was plagued with problems ? I seem to remember Jeremy Clarkson getting shot of his in favour of a Gallardo spyder because of the problems?

[Daisy Duke]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Try5t said:

I thought it was generally recognised that the GT was plagued with problems ? I seem to remember Jeremy Clarkson getting shot of his in favour of a Gallardo spyder because of the problems?

You'll never be free of the idiots who can't use the search facility!

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Daisy Duke said:

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Try5t said:

I thought it was generally recognised that the GT was plagued with problems ? I seem to remember Jeremy Clarkson getting shot of his in favour of a Gallardo spyder because of the problems?

You'll never be free of the idiots who can't use the search facility!

To be fair, I can't even find my last rant on the subject

So in summary, Clarkson is an idiot, can't use alarms and melted some wiring trying to charge a totally dead battery with the wrong trickle charger. I've done double the miles he did and it's been faultless.

[AndrewD]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Clarkson is an idiot

Entertaining, but an idiot agreed. In the Top Gear best driving roads programme he couldn't get the Superleggera's fuel filler cap to open (after running out of fuel FFS) and proceeded to rant about the useless Italians that built it. I guess he then put the ignition key in and realised it opens perfectly...

[dealmaker]

I think a 430 is a more practical everday proposition (though why you'd even consider one after a "proper" supercar is a concern )

The GT is more of a high days and holidays sort of car - I'd suspect with more sense of ocassion and some limitations (range, access, finding suitable parking space etc etc)

I've also been on the look out for one - the one in your post is already sold - and I missed two other similar ones - one at £90k (3000 miles and one at £95k (1800) miles - so they do come up now and again.

[PhantomPH]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

petestorey said:

...serious lack of range?

When I've got a bit more time today I'll post more, but as for range I can get something like 20-25mpg on the motorway making good progress (if you see what I mean). 250 miles between fill ups is easy and you could probably do 300 being a bit more careful.

It's way out of my league, but worth noting that I have had an RX8 230 and currently have a 6MPS - and they are the same or worse than the figure quoted above. RX8 got 225 miles per tank. MPS gets about 275.

If you can genuinely get 250 miles per fill up, then range is not an issue.

I assume most people heard Clarkson say that based on the consumption at the track, he would get 75 miles per tank...and took that to mean that was the range.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

PhantomPH said:

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

petestorey said:

...serious lack of range?

When I've got a bit more time today I'll post more, but as for range I can get something like 20-25mpg on the motorway making good progress (if you see what I mean). 250 miles between fill ups is easy and you could probably do 300 being a bit more careful.

It's way out of my league, but worth noting that I have had an RX8 230 and currently have a 6MPS - and they are the same or worse than the figure quoted above. RX8 got 225 miles per tank. MPS gets about 275.

If you can genuinely get 250 miles per fill up, then range is not an issue.

I assume most people heard Clarkson say that based on the consumption at the track, he would get 75 miles per tank...and took that to mean that was the range.

The GT has a 14.5 gallon tank. Let's assume you can use 12 gallons of it before your bravery runs out and you pull into a garage.

Now, when we went filming with TopGear mag on the Isle of Man we got caught in traffic from the M1 being shut for hours, had to go cross country and really pressed on as we'd only got to the M6 toll start, at the time we were supposed to meet at the ferry. We made the ferry

Then we did the IoM properly for 3 days as you have to.

Drive home was with the TopGear boys so we might have slipped over 70mph a couple of times....

From fuel receipts including filling up a mile from home (so about a accurate as you can be) it worked out as something like 19.9mpg. With the 12 gallon safety limit that's 239 miles between filling.

70mph is 1750rpm in 6th which helps a lot.....

[PhantomPH]

ThatPhilBrettGuy][the mpg said:

worked out as something like 19.9mpg. With the 12 gallon safety limit that's 239 miles between filling.

Which IMHO is a little better than I would expect from a big bruiser like the GT! I would guess it's no real difference to any other supercars fuel consumption or range.

Here is the thing tho - I have seen a GT on the road and it looked like a real boat. VERY wide. In terms of the 430 or the GT, I would imagine the real choice has to be which is that little bit more usable on our roads and in our traffic. The RHD 430 or the wide, low LHD GT.

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

PhantomPH said:

Here is the thing tho - I have seen a GT on the road and it looked like a real boat. VERY wide. In terms of the 430 or the GT, I would imagine the real choice has to be which is that little bit more usable on our roads and in our traffic. The RHD 430 or the wide, low LHD GT.

Some car widths to compare

430	1922mm
Porsche Carrera GT	1930mm
FGT	1953mm
Murcielago	2058mm

So GT looks really wide but isn't that big in reality. Doors are a bit of a pain though. One thing Clarkson was right about.

[Baxter 69]

If I was faced with this decision, I think I would take the Ford GT due to it's presence and exclusivity.
Take London for example, I am always spotting F430's. I have only ever seen one Ford GT on the road and I only saw the rear as it went round a bend.
Judging by what I see at car shows etc... It is incredibly wide and impractical but for me, that is part of the appeal!

As much as I love F430's, the Ford GT would be my choice!

[jonny5]

Hi Pete.

Would love a FGT . Did you out the Clarkson Gallardo ?

[CJ.OK]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Try5t said:

I thought it was generally recognised that the GT was plagued with problems ? I seem to remember Jeremy Clarkson getting shot of his in favour of a Gallardo spyder because of the problems?

Phil,

Never made the connection before, until this topic..... (ie. didn't know this was your car)

I think we met briefly at the 'Cholmondeley Pageant of Power' last year..... are you going again this year? I believe the entry forms are out and the plans are well advanced - should be a good event - weather wasn't too good in 2008 if i remember correctly!

Craig

Edited by CJ.OK on Wednesday 21st January 17:03

[evil_dr_fish]

Get the GT!!! Get the GT!!! Get the GT!!!



The 430 is a really nice car and all props to it...

...but get the GT!!!!

Way more of a rarity

I think it's remarkable that one of the few cars thta can make me react in the same way as a Lambo or Pagani is form (of all people) Ford!

I don't think any other mainstream / high volume manufacturer has managed to make a supercar that was genuinely accepted by most as a 'real' supercar!


The Honda NSX was always plagued by being 'just a Honda' (despite being way ahead of its time!)...

The Audi R8 is constantly being debated as whether it 'counts' as a real car or if it is indeed 'just a t1TTy on steroids' etc etc...

Corvettes and Vipers are blisteringly quick but still considered to be 'muscle cars'...

The Supra TT, GTR35, FQ430 etc etc - all have unbelievable performance but will never be received in the same way as a Lambo or Ferrari...


Yet I've never really hear people (in any meaningful quantity) question the supercar hall of fame 'elligibilty' of the otherwise lowly Ford!




Love 'em! (Did you guess that?! lol)

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

CJ.OK said:

Phil,

Never made the connection before until this topic..... (ie. didn't know this was your car)

I think we met briefly at the 'Cholmondeley Pageant of Power' last year..... are you going again this year? I believe the entry forms are out and the plans are well advanced - should be a good event - weather wasn't too good in 2007 if i remember correctly!

Craig

Well I've got the GT and Noble in as entries but I've no idea if I'll be picked for either. When I chatted to them before Christmas they were saying that it's going to be much bigger this year. What exactly that means I don't know!

I was probably a bit preoccupied after watching that 917 stuff it into the barriers when we chatted last year
I'll let you know if I'm there again. Pop over for a proper chat.

[Podie]

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Daisy Duke said:

ThatPhilBrettGuy said:

Try5t said:

I thought it was generally recognised that the GT was plagued with problems ? I seem to remember Jeremy Clarkson getting shot of his in favour of a Gallardo spyder because of the problems?

You'll never be free of the idiots who can't use the search facility!

To be fair, I can't even find my last rant on the subject

So in summary, Clarkson is an idiot, can't use alarms and melted some wiring trying to charge a totally dead battery with the wrong trickle charger. I've done double the miles he did and it's been faultless.

Next someone will inform us who "The Stig" is...

[Daisy Duke]

dealmaker said:

The GT is more of a high days and holidays sort of car - I'd suspect with more sense of ocassion and some limitations (range, access, finding suitable parking space etc etc)

You certainly get a lot of attention in it. As for practicality:-

Range - as has already been covered, this is pretty reasonable for a supercar.
Access - not too bad to get in and out of - you only bump your head on the door once!
Parking - yes this is an issue, but then you don't tend to take it shopping.
Clearance - I think this is less than the 430 so you might struggle with some speed humps/ramps.
LHD - you get used to it, but will be a pain if you have to go through parking barriers or toll booths regularly.
Storage - Almost non-existent if you have long legs as most of it is behind the seats. The area at the front is an awkward shape so only good for squashy bags and it gets very hot (don't put suntan cream or drinks in it)!

dealmaker said:

I've also been on the look out for one - the one in your post is already sold - and I missed two other similar ones - one at £90k (3000 miles and one at £95k (1800) miles - so they do come up now and again.

Have you chosen a colour then? http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...