Just drove a 2012 GT vert at the dealer. I fit inside and ergonomics were fine. They said I could order the 2013 Shelby as of Monday and would be delivered three months later.

No specifics on options, packages or prices until Monday.

I'd request any input on what are likely "no brainer" options and also any reasons not to get a convertible. I did like the glass roof but not the same.

I don't care about the top speed limiter on the vert but the rumored inability to have the track package oil and transmission cooler option is a problem for me here in south FL.

I do not intend to track the car but it will be my daily drive, FYI.

Please share your opinions from best options, colors and packages, etc... Thanks in advance to everyone who has more recently ordered and has more GT 500 knowledge.

 

This seems like a short timeline. I could see that if you ordered a 2013 GT as some of our 2011 ordered cars for members took longer than that. I wasn't aware they would even start production in 3 months. Or at least about that time frame.

It really comes down to what you want to do with the car. Cruise/toy? Light track? Heavy track? That will tell you what options you want. Whatever you value buddy!

 

Since it will eb a DD I suggest the Electronics package. The nav system is great plus there is a 10GB Hard drive so you can store all sorts of music to the car.

Recaros as well. I sat in a Boss 302 that my neighbors friend had and they are amazing. If I would have waited I would have ordered them in a '13 GT.

 

The convertible is likely to have a speed limiter.

 

The convertible will be limited from the factory to 155 MPH but more than likely there will be solution developed by tuners to over-ride if you want to go faster.

Do you have somewhere you can drive it over 155, that would really tell whether the Vert is limiting to you stock? The vast majority of people like the 200 MPH top end but will never see it, the real driving will be street driving/racing, mostly speeds from 0 to 120. The PP & TP options are available in the Vert, everything is the same as the coupe, sans the 200 MPH top speed.

Also, don't expect the order banks to be open on Monday, it is not going to happen, we are still weeks away from order banks opening up.

FYI - I plan to order a 2013 Vert also!

 

It seemed to jive with an article I read on Motortrend or C&D about May availability. I have a low threshold for believing the saleman at the dealership yesterday was FOS however.

 

There were two things lacking in the vert per the internet article I read, again I think it was from Motortrend, the 155 speed limit and inability to add a track package engine oil, differential and tranny accessory cooler as I recall. I will link the article here or quote it when I run into it again.

I could not care less about the 155 limit functionally but it does "appear" crippled compared to the coupe. I doubt I would ecu flash this car to eliminate it though.

I was thinking performance white with race red stripes but with the cloth black vert top (only one available on the 2012 GT500) perhaps performance white with black strips to integrate the black cloth top?

This seems to contradict what I am certain I read about the track package. (Not a vert deal breaker for me Glenn). http://www.insideline.com/ford/shelb...auto-show.html

Come to think about it, tracking the car and resale aside, thats three more pumps that might break...

 

plenty of cars running around without the coolers in Fl. I wouldn't worry so much about them. Those options are more for a track car or a car that will be towing something heaiver than a jet ski. May help with resale value though

 

https://themustangsource.com/f726/20...rdered-505473/
these people already ordered their 2013's

 

Nice but the GT's not the GT500's...

 

I need to go back and check but I believe an air to water oil cooler is factory on the GT500 but the air to air is on the track pack.

I agree that I wouldn't at all worry about the car unless you really needed it for track use. I don't think the speed limiter on a vert is a bad thing. But that's my opinion. Any vert aside from a targa or the likes should be limited. And 155 is probably a good threshold if you want either top up or down fun since it is a rag top.

 

We won't know for sure until order guides are released but here is a good indication of what we can expect - part of the recent press release from Ford/SVT:

CHICAGO, Feb. 8, 2012 – The official launch of SVT came during the 1992 Chicago Auto Show with the unveiling of the 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra and SVT F-150 Lightning. Now Ford returns to Chicago to celebrate its past and look to the future with the 2013 Shelby GT500 convertible.

In honor of SVT’s anniversary, a commemorative lighted sill plate will be used in the 2013 Shelby GT500 to celebrate the many years of performance vehicles. The 1993 SVT Mustang Cobra offered a 235-horsepower 5.0-liter V8 engine, which demonstrates just how far the products have come in 20 years. The 2013 Shelby GT500 with its 650-horsepower V8 marks the latest offering from one of the oldest and most successful automotive performance groups in the world.

“The Shelby GT500 convertible is every bit the performer that the coupe is,” said Kerry Baldori, SVT Global Performance Vehicles chief engineer. “All of the significant changes we made in the program were instrumental in delivering a convertible that could really shine on the track but can still be driven on a daily basis.”

The 2013 Shelby GT500 convertible with the optional Performance Package is faster around a track than the outgoing model. The new convertible shaved nearly 3.5 seconds off its lap time at Sebring International Raceway compared to the 2011 and 2012 models.

Keys to the improved lap times are the power boost from the new 5.8-liter supercharged V8 producing 650 horsepower, as well as the SVT-designed Bilstein electronic adjustable dampers available on the Performance Package and the all-new chassis tuning.

Accessed on the dash with a simple push of a button, normal mode gives customers a more comfortable ride over road irregularities. Sport mode is all about performance, delivering improved response time on the track and less body roll while cornering with reduced pitch under braking. The upgraded dampers allowed SVT engineers to tune the convertible more aggressively for the track, while still being able to maintain desirable on-road manners.

A new Brembo brake system also is a key enabler in boosting the performance of the convertible. The new brakes offer drivers enhanced stopping power to help keep their car under control, while new six-piston calipers in front along with larger front and rear rotors further improve braking performance. More aggressive brake pads also help the car achieve high deceleration and further robustness for more driver confidence.

Similar to the coupe, the convertible will be offered with a Performance Package that also can be upgraded to a Track Package, complete with an external engine oil cooler, rear differential cooler and transmission cooler for further durability.

 

I think based on what I've read and heard thus far that ordering banks won't open until mid to late march. Prices may be out tomorrow but probably not the order banks.

 

Hey GHIA, you can't order the car today. You may be able to "tell the dealer" what you want, but they cannot "physically" order a GT500 yet. There are no order guides yet and the order banks are not open. Plus, the whole order it today and you'll have it 3 months later? That won't happen either. Job #1 isn't until 4/30 and retail scheduling of GT500s aren't until May 17th. And knowing Ford as I do, after a batch of the 1st ones get built, they will sit at Ramp 51 for weeks until many quality control checks are done. I expect the cars to arrive at dealers by July. June will be a bonus.

 

Thanks Jeff, I suspect they were just trying to hook a sale.

 

heh, I was hoping you or KC might see this thread and respond today

Sucks we still dont have pricing info, but I pretty much am planning on not seeing mine until August at this point anyway. So I can wait for pricing.