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http://www.detnews.com/2003/autosins.../b02-70641.htm


"When the guy in the exotic brand pulls up next to you at the stoplight, you can say, 'Mine goes faster, and I didn't get ripped off,' " Theodore said.

"I don't want to say it's a blue-collar snob car, but it has the potential to have a broader base than the Ferrari."


I don't think anyone thats driving a Ferrari, Lambo, or whatnot would really care..

following that mentalitiy, then there's of course a Viper thats cheaper and probably just as fast..


Still, i think its cool that they are building it..

 

Yah, and if the rumblings around new Corvettes are true, the 'vette will be right up there and even cheaper...

 

Well, the thing that'll give the GT the edge over the just as powerful viper is the weight and hieght advantage. It's supposed to weigh under 3,000lbs and come in at 43" to the vipers 3300+lbs and 47".

I don't see how one with a $125,000 car like the GT couldn't be snooty. The guys with the lesser $45,000 c5's and m3's are so what make the GT the exception?

 

It's a Ford.

 

An expensive, exotic, and exclusive Ford. I personally don't look at the z06 or GTS as nothing more then Chevy's and Dodge's. The line has to be drawn somewhere since all 3 are far from their conventional offerings.

 

What difference does that make? Isn't a Corvette a Chevy? Not saying all Vette owners are snobs, it's actually far from the truth, but you will see some who are. People who buy a car with a 6-figure price tag are going to think their poop doesn't stink, I don't care what it is. Calling the GT the "anti-snob exotic" is quite the oxymoron.

 

The difference is that you can't go out and buy a $14,000 BMW. As a Ford, it will never have the cache of the exotics and semi-exotics, but that just makes beating them that much more fun.

 

I hope it has quality fit for a $125,000 car as well. I can see the logic though, the "working man's" six-figure car. Really, do they need to work a marketing spin on the car to sell it? Just build them; the buyers will be there, snob or whatever you want to call them.

 

The only way I can see someone not getting ripped off with a GT is to buy the Matchbox version. Unless I missed something, it's a roughly $150K Ford.. how exactly does that jive with "didn't get ripped off" ? If I had to choose, I'd rather pay twice the sticker on a Z06 all day long before I throw any money away on the GT

 

It's a mid engine, 500hp/500lb-ft, 200mph, exotic with an aluminum spaceframe body and 15" 4 wheel disc brakes. Did you really expect a z06 matching $50k sticker or anything less then 125k? Just for comparison, how many cars offer all those from the factory for less? For it's class, the GT isn't a ripoff.

 

What I would find interesting is if GM stepped up and built the Cadillac Cien...

Cien was expected to be in the same price range as the Ford GT (I still laugh at how they can't use the GT40 name Sounds similar to the Camaro problem... ) ... anyway, I think Cien would have more 'perceived American Prestiege' etc etc etc...

Of course, Cien is not being built, at least as of now, so the point is moot... but you get the idea.

 

If there's going to be at least 1 GM product pushing $100,000 in a few years (Cadillac), I suppose there can also be a Ford.

At least it will be one of the fastest cars in the world.

 

At least it will be one of the fastest cars in the world...
with a HERITAGE.
and linked to it well!

 

As opposed to other exotics without heritage??

I don't think Lamborghini needs to reissue the Miura or Ferrari the GTO to put their heritage out there in front of everyone. I think their products speak for themselves and distinctly portray the character and lineage of their automakers.

 

OK - good point.

I didn't mean it that way, but I agree it sounds that way.
What I mean is that Ford has INTENTIONALLY designed this car to be produced as close as possible to the actual GT-40 cars that were camapigned in the '60s. The cars that Ford designed and built to beat Ferrari and Porsche in their own house, at their own game. And they did. The car is not a "likeness", or "similar in appearance to" the originals... it's almost dead-on, save for the drivetrain. Same shape, same colors and stripes even! A fitting tribute to the original IMO.

But this is a street-legal car, whereas the racecars weren't. And it's not gonna cost $200k plus like the Lambos, but will garner the driver the utmost in attention and respect from those who followed racing in the 60's, or just "know their cars". That's what I meant with the "heritage" thing. Didn't mean it as a slam that other high-end exotics don't have heritage too.

Maybe I should say "heritage" to the GT, as opposed to Ford offering a car that performs equally and at the same price, but is an all-new body and driveline, looks like nothing ever made before, and is completely new from ground-up... such a "new" car would have NO HERITAGE AT ALL.
I hope this makes sense.