New GTD coming to NorCal

[19gt3rswes]

My first 3 vehicles that I bought for myself were all Mustangs, but as I got less serious about drag racing and more serious about road course stuff, I moved to a z06, then a GTR, and then a GT3, and finally a GT3RS.

So I put in for the GT... twice, and missed out... twice. Thought the same thing would happen with the GTD, but I had a few competitor vehicles this time and have racing (mostly SCCA stuff and track days at Willow Spings and Buttonwillow) and rallying experience (Gumball, Goldrush, etc) so I hoped maybe I would get lucky and I did. Honestly, I still have a hard time believing that I got the allocation. It won't be real for me until delivery day.

Looking forward to driving the GTD and 991.2 GT3RS back to back on the same tracking. Very different cars for sure, but cornering speed is bigger for me than top speed and both cars should be amazing in this respect.

Im in Northern CA, and am surrounded by amazing roads living on the coast. I have my first drive already picked out! Any others from CA out there? Anyone have an idea how many people got the Congrats email?

 

[Fat Boss]

I'm in Morgan Hill. Last weekend I went on an overnight cruise organized by Emily and Drew at the Cobra Experience. It was a great run up HWY 1 to Mendocino.

I saw a video on Facebook yesterday where Farley said they're going to make 2000 of them.

 

[19gt3rswes]

Im actually just over the hill from you near Pajaro Dunes. A quick trip up Hecker Pass (one of my fav driving roads) and I am right in your backyard practically.

Going to go with The Ford Store Morgan Hill?

I know the owners there and at many stores around the Bay Area (I have a marketing company the sells products primarily to medium to large Frachise Auto Dealerships and Speed shops so I have been doing business with dealers for nearly 20 years).

 

[Fat Boss]

I will go with the FSMH if they're going to be a servicing dealer. I've been in touch with Tim on and off for many years, ever since I got my Boss 302. Any idea if they'll be trained to service the GTD?

 

[19gt3rswes]

From what I am hearing there wasn't much involved in requirements to become a GTD dealer and that usually doesn't bode well for additional training etc. If the dealer wasn't required to buy equipment or get a tech specifically trained, it is unlikely to happen after the fact. The opt in from a dealer side was super simple and required pretty much nada from the dealer, so they could get as many dealers as possible signed up. Unfortunately, it seems to be suggested by Ford that if they can work on a GT500, then they can work on a GTD, so a high level of training and specialization is unlikely unless the store takes it upon themselves to approach GTD servicing at a higher level than Ford requires.

I am going to look for a dealer with a GT specialist. The GT program had way more stringent requirements and if they work on GTs then at least they are used to working with a car worth many many times more than you average Ford. There are so few GTDs that will be produced that most certified stores will probably never see one, so it is tough to get dealers to invest in a seperate service experience and or additional training.

 

[Fat Boss]

OK, thanks for the info! I'll likely get it delivered there in Morgan Hill then.

 

[19gt3rswes]

Glad I could help, will have to meet somewhere when we both have our cars. You definitely will likely be the closest GTD owner and seeing 2 GTDs in 1 place will be nuts for at least a while (until the GTD events begin).

 

[Ponyexp]

Glad I could help, will have to meet somewhere when we both have our cars. You definitely will likely be the closest GTD owner and seeing 2 GTDs in 1 place will be nuts for at least a while (until the GTD events begin).

Makes sense to use GT qualified dealer for servicing, IMO major issue with GTD like the NFGT will be the hydraulics. Allot of piping and seals to leak!!. Suspension similaire as well. Advantage of GTD using local dealer will be for engine and other common issues of Shelby’s. Also local dealer will have parts access ( not true of NF GT , even recommended castrol oil and filter only through GT servicing dealers !)

 

[Fat Boss]

I did a search and on the FordGTForum it showed Fairfield and Salinas as two of the local NFGT service dealers.

 

[FJPIKUL]

Better make sure you confirm that with the dealership service department. The only guaranteed way I know of is to confirm with the Ford concierge. Many places confuse GT with mustang GT.

 

[19gt3rswes]

Fairfield is quite a drive, but it is an Adam Simms store, and I worked for a company that he owned in the past. Amazing operator, but likely too far to make service make sense. I haven't had any experience with Salinas Valley Ford service, but they are one of the few Ford stores around here that do supercharger and other more involved upgrades to in stock cars (they have a speed shop of sorts that operates out of their service dept) and I believe they used to be a Roush distributor as well.

I will probably buy from a different store than I use for service. I want to give business to my local dealer as they are small, but the owner is a great guy and I like their staff.

 

[Fat Boss]

I went down and talked to the GM at Ford Store Morgan Hill and let him know I'd be having my GTD delivered there. He was super excited and said I was the 3rd so far that will go through them.