2007 Shelby Hertz GT350H Reader Review
August 10, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
Of course the space saver in the boot had never been out! 15 minutes later and with a 50 mph (80km/h) limited wheel on the back right we continued on to Hurst Castle. We stopped the night at Morro Bay with no tyre joints open till the next morning.
In the mean time Brett did a little investigation on the Traction Control button he had read about. There is a little clip that Hertz stick under the switch to stop you disabling the system, for ….obvious reasons. Took the clip out, not that that was much help with a spacer saver on the rear.
Up bright and early to one of the 3 tyre joints in the town to be yet disappointed that no one in town had a tyre like it or even in a similar size. I must say though, Americans in general are a friendly bunch, not too smart but very polite. They did enjoy the close up look of the Shelby, I guess with only 500 around they don’t see that many, got the thumbs up everywhere we went, including the next town down the road, approximately 50 miles away.
We decided to give a local Hertz a go just in case they could swap a tyre from another Stang over to our rim. NOPE! Becoming a little peaved by now, after spending around $600.00 USD for 2 days of assumed fun, it was developing into a nightmare. They did find a similar tyre at yet another joint down the road, so we headed in that direction. Finally, a second hand Pirelli on the rim for $25.00, yep, cheap.
Brett asked how much for the Dunlops 900s that are around $500.00 each here? Set of 4? $675.00. Australia is a rip off!.
So we had more or less done three quarters of our trip on a space saver and were now heading into the outskirts of Los Angeles and running out of time to get to the Airport that night.
80 miles out and the entire population of L.A was sitting on 80 mph and 4 car lengths from each other. Rather nerve racking, I’ve got to say. I know I am a control freak normally but I don’t follow people that close doing 130 clicks, its like driving on a 4 car race track trusting everyone around you can drive and stop as well as you. Just as well there 300 million of them there.
Thankfully we made in time, just. Opps forgot to put that clip back under the Traction Control Switch.
It was an interesting trip, disappointing in the fact we couldn’t thrash it as much as we would have hoped, but it is an icon to them. We found out it’s not even remotely as good as the Falcon GT and I imagine GM will have a great deal of success with the VE clone Pontiacs here.
Interestingly, the Yanks are still reporting Australian cars as badly built, talk about the pot calling the kettle black! Should Ford Australia export even the current BF it would nail the factory stuff that Ford makes in the States currently, let alone when the new Falcon (Orion) comes out.
At the end of the day, the Shelby was great fun, good pose, but made for straight lines ……….still!
Now, if we were allowed import LHD cars as they are, instead of converting them to RHD for compliance down under.
So, once some of the 500 cars reach 16,000 Miles (Roughly 25750 KM), they will be sold off. What about the others? Will they still be available for rental till the next-gen Mustang comes out?
A good effort Lisa. I like this car, there’s some serious pedigree behind the badge. However, with HSV popping out cars as good as the R8 ClubSport doing 4.9’s and looking better than ever, I suspect there would only be a handful of the GT’s sold here to cashed up collectors.
Thanks Tony ,and Alborz thanks for the opportunity I know I swamped you with photos . You have done a great job finishing the story off for me. I now have a better understanding of how busy you all must be daily. I would imagine some one if not already would have one of these in Aus. They are a tough looking car though,still have retained that 60s look if nothing else.
Quote= “I must say when I first came to the States over 12 years ago I thought the Yanks were 10 years behind us in technology and 20 years ahead in violence, not much has changed” Are you kidding?? Where do you think all of our technology comes from ??
Lets have a look for instance Microsoft, Apple,GM, Ford , IBM , Ebay , Google, ?? Yeah and Australia’s way ahead ….
Thanks for the story and pics BM.
There’s no doubt it looks the business, shame that the handling doesn’t match.
If you knew your history the internet wasn’t invented until 1997 so Ebay & google didnt even exist then…
even then the technology that exists in America is from Japan in the first place. GM & FORD ? What you think their advanced and leading the World? I am not getting in an argument about America ,this was a story about the Shelby so stay on track.
I am quite amused the fact by the amount of power the new 6L v8 can output, its quite sad when a car with half the cylinders from a 1.6 can be neck on neck on a race track. GM modern technology hey.
Ohhh … Story on the Shelby ? Sorry i must have missed that it was obviously amoungst the cracks at American fat jokes ?? And just quickly the internet was invented back in 1962 by the Americans who are behind in technology NASA ? Hmmm maybe stick to the car next time……
Like I said not getting into an argument about Americans,but I am sure others will. The modern internet !!! did you use it in 1962? NASA ? That starts all the way back to WW2 when Americans bought GERMAN scientsits back to show them how to make a rocket,so who helped the Yanks get to the MOON ? Germany ! Nasa had the money ! Get over yourself , what Americans arn’t fat?
Those “stupid” Americans are apparently not so stupid as to spend $500/tyre. If your story is truly only about a Shelby, you should stick to the topic and save the anti-americanism for some other blog.
Other than that, your comments on the vehicle were fair. No one in the USA considers it to be a performance vehicle either. Only a cool vehicle.
Poor form of Alborz and Co to let the article “go to press” with comments such as “Made for fat yanks I guess.”, and calling all Americans “not too smart but very polite”.
I’m not American, couldn’t care less about the USA, and certainly have no interest in going there – but this article should have been edited properly before being published.
2 thumbs down.
Mate it is meant to be in humor ,I know Americans aren’t good at laughing at themselves but the rest of the world is. I guess if they stopped telling us how good they are we wouldn’t be disappointed when we actually find out the truth.
Your right it does look the part, but handle and stop it didn’t that was compared not only to our personal performance made in Australia FORD GT but also a base XT Falcon
Hey Daniel I guess your not too fond of Jeremy Clarkson either or his comments on Americans and their cars?
It was edited before published too.
Can keep some of the people happy some of the time but not all of the people all of the time .
Hmmmmm ! Bavarian Sausage – A quote from your hero Jeremy Clarkson. He is not fond of the US and often pokes fun at them but he has the ability to write humorously without sounding like a uneducated dope and puts little Australia in comparative perspective below.
“Unlike Australia, the natives of America did not spend all day painting zig-zags on cave walls. They had bows and arrows and went about their business with your father’s ears on a necklace.
Still, in just a couple of centuries, the Americans have brought life and neon to the desert, built New York out of the swamp and emerged as the most powerful nation the world has ever seen.
Meanwhile, the Australians were given what they call God’s own country. A land of plenty. A land of gold and magnesium and sheep.
But what have the Australians ever done? What is the name of their prime minister? How much is an Aussie dollar worth? Name five films that they’ve made. Now go round your house and try to find something that was made there. Your computer? Your car? Your trousers? When someone has outgrown their home country, they move to America to become even more successful. Jamie Oliver, Simon Cowell and Graham Norton are following in the footsteps of Anne Robinson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Whereas you never hear anyone say, “Well I’m totally happy. I have lots of friends, an enjoyable career and a great family. So I’m moving to Australia.” No one has ever gone there because of the success they’ve made of themselves somewhere else”.
Un-educated dope ha !So your so different than me resorting to name calling,how grown up! What you dont understand is my humor obviously! Keep going on if it makes you feel better I will even let you have the last word when ever that maybe. What did you think of your drive in the Shelby then……..mmmmmmmmmmm. Never heard that quote from Jeremy before was that from one of his books? Very funny man !
great story lisa pity the mustang is laboured with shit plastics and the back end from an xe falcon…but according the the yanks sophisticated irs isnt useful in the stang due to cost restraints..
any chance we can get back to discussing cars?
I’ve always had a soft spot for the Shelby’s. Sure they may not be the most sophisticated car in the world – but they have raw appeal.
Great article BM!
Real true George,I wish Ford Australia would bring back a Muscle Car Coupe,not like a 2 door Commodore look but a true 2 door GT ! Not Viable ? Would be interested to know if that would be the case,tooling is an expensive opperation not to mention the package that goes under it. It would be a winner though,surely if Holden can do it Ford can?
will you people stop arguing over bs lets face it if the yanks [gm & ford] hadn’t invested to make cars in australia we wouldn’t even have australian made fords or holdens too bad if they don’t stack up to a ba gt a lot of people in our lucky country lol can’t afford a gt let alone go to the u.s.a to have a chance to drive a shelby mustang i think what i have read from bavarian missile is just bragging rites to stir up people reading blogs on this site ignore her prattle & maybe one day she will go away
Grow up,I was there on buisness and thought as we had to drive from San Fran to La {cheaper than flying } we would give our impression of a drive of the Shelby! And you are ? Never heard of you on this site before ! Obviously been here longer than you on the planet also I have worked hard and smart for all my life so dont take away that fact! I hate people that think people that have money have not deserved it !!!!!!!! You have nooooooo idea of what I have had to do to get this far in my life! Mate if you went overseas you would see you live in the luckiest country in the world. Try the US no unemployment benifit,no health care at all!! Guns at schools!!!!!!Everyone knows someone on drugs there! The New York Mayor years ago gave the homeless at the time a bus ticket to California ,and they left ! How is a transfer helping the homeless ? It is a sad state to see these people on the streets ,there is the rich and the poor in the US thats it! Your a lucky man belive me to live in Aus BA GT or not!
Can’t we all just be friends ?
:) :) :) :) :) :)
Sure ………all we need is love.
All I know is that anyone who calls the yanks stupid and yet in the same article expresses her frustration in her own inability to fix a flat in 24 hours in an english speaking country is not proving her statement. Plus no health care “at all” in the USA? No unemployment benefits?? Bla bla bla???
Bavarian Missile, you truly are not the den of global enlightenment you delude yourself into believing you are. I have lived in Asia, Germany (Bavaria!), and the USA. There are fat stupid people everywhere – the yanks don’t have a monopoly on them. There is health care, government paid, in the USA, as well as private health insurance. There are unemployment benefits in every state in the USA, as well as welfare and any number of social programs to help people. Plus there is a high degree of volunteerism to boot. There are also a few bums on the streets (as there is anywhere, including Bavaria), but they are free to help themselves if they wish, or live on the streets with the rats if they wish. That is their choice. There is also a significant, highly competent, and well-to-do middle class in the USA. You simply choose to focus on the negatives in a vain attempt to support your anti-americanism, which really got old a long time ago.
Still, since you think such original commentary as “yanks are fat and stupid” is meant to be humour, you should maybe go on the comedy circuit and prove your comedic prowess. Your act can start with a round of “knock knock” jokes, then go into “yanks are fat and lazy and I’m too incompetent to fix a flat” jokes, and finish it off with a glowing rendition of “this little piggy went to market!” You’ll be sure to bring the house down and impress us all.
As an employee of The Hertz Corp in the (dumb, stupid, fat, violent, backward, technology challenged, healthcare deprived, but friendly) USA, I found this “review” to be interesting and enlighting,when the car was discussed and the “Ugly American” diatribe put aside.
My 23 year old son studied abroad last year in Sydney. He came away w/the impression that the Austalians are friendly, warm people. After reading this “review” he may change that view, but hopefully not, as you do not make judgements of the many based on the comments of the few.
But as Lisa said, the “America” comments were meant to be funny. I must say that they were side splitting. Since Lisa said she was in America on business, I can only assume that she was on tour as a stand-up comedian. Can’t wait to catch her act in person.
Grow up!
i think this stunt clearly proves we should leave the car reviews to the professionals
“Grow up”
That is good advice. Try taking it.
“Grow up.”
An eloquent, well thought out response, Lisa.
We, as Americans, have a lot to learn from you, Lisa, for you are everything we are not. You are smart, thin, a pacifist, a rocket scientist, and an unfriendly sort with loads of health coverage.
Obviously, your business dealings in America are of a charitable nature, to help lift the USA out of the sorid and decadent position you so eloquently put us in.
We can only hope and pray that you continue to grace The States with your benevolence and charity.
More words of sheer genius from one of BM’s responses:
…. “If you knew your history the internet wasn’t
….. invented until 1997 …”
Perhaps, Lisa, that is when you yourself first became aware of the existence of the internet, but I assure you it was aroung a long time before 1997. A very long time.
yes we all know the internet existed before 1997…is this a car review or1 vs 100?
1. I was using the www in ‘96. Thats the www. The ‘net was around for eons before that.
2. The American health care system does have flaws, but they do have one. I do however count myself lucky to live somewhere where 3 months worth of medication costs me $15nzd
3. The car. It looks Horn, Most likely sounds Horn, but it is what it is: a Detroit bruiser with a live rear axle and bad brakes. Both you and clarkson would know this before it was driven (i love clarkson, but lately i find some petty annoyances with him. still, i’ll watch him in two hours just like i always do)
4. This is a globally read blog. If you didn’t realise your comments would upset people, I’d suggest getting off the Internet, and get back to hiring cars. Perhaps you could use a Dictaphone and leave it to the pro’s to translate.
i agree is that the only reply you can come up with lisa & don’t call me mate i’m sure with your attitude you would never be my mate. i too have worked very hard all my working life i have a family & a mortgage to support & i too had a ba falcon an xr6 which i just sold nice car but didn’t get driven because i work in a quarry & drive an old work hack to that dump so you see lisa i have worked long & bloody hard for the things that we have got or don’t have now i would love to use that money for a trip to the u.s.a & i wouldn’t insult the americans if i were there but no the money is going to be paid on our mortgage or did you think i was another dole bludger with nothing to do but harass people on this site no i’m not i’ve posted a few blogs on this site only when i’ve had time to get on & read it the only reason you noticed my blog this time is because i have said something to upset your holy grail i think there are quite a few people on this site are sick of reading your prattle i think i know who needs to grow up & it certainly isn’t me or other people you have tried to belittle on this site how about you look long & hard into the mirror & see who needs to grow up
im guessing my road test of an 01 hyundai wouldnt be appreciated then..
You all finished insulting me ? Feel better ? I am sure a little verbal abuse gets you off !
Cause its water off a ducks back, what your trying to intimidate me into leaving ?
This site I thought was about peoples own views and experiences ?
Your all so politically correct and boring. What gives you the right to tell me how I should think?
The story was purely an experience with some mild humor thrown in that has all been said before.
I guess I am have just been lucky in life for what I have recived,funny though the harder I work the luckier I get ? Whats with that you think ?
>> Bavarian Missile said
>> Hey Daniel I guess your not too fond of Jeremy Clarkson either or his comments on Americans and their cars?
Jeremy Clarkson is a bloody legend, and a downright funny bastard, but as 280zx put it (couldn’t have said it better myself) “He is not fond of the US and often pokes fun at them but he has the ability to write humorously without sounding like a uneducated dope”
In what way do I sound like an uneducated dope ? I am interested to know please? My female sarcasium maybe ???
Ahhhh I get it now ,so I guess unless your Jeremy Clarkson or any other educated person it is ok say what you like about the Americans ? Talk about splitting straws!
LOL
BM, the fact that you insisted on mentioning how much the car cost you for a couple of days questions your motives. It does seem to me that you think you are better than other people, both through this article and other comments on this site. It was not a funny article, interesting car though, but I think you should leave the reviews to Alborz and Co (who do a wonderful job in my opinion).
Comeon guys let this be
Get back to the car,
we obviously thought the review was good enough, thats why its here!
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and we really don’t want to delete comments but no more personal attacks please.
Insisted on mentioning how much it cost ? HOW!!!
I would have thought that would be one thing that people would want to know?
Don’t we want to know what what a car costs when we read a review ,or does that depend on if you can afford it or not ? Ok so it cost $10.00 to rent you feel better now ?
I am trying to work ,what about you?
gees guys what does it matter??? really???
yeah maybe the article was a bit un professional but even some of the other articles have a touch of that too sometimes.
yes the terms used in the articles are stereotypes of americans in the same way americans view australians as…..
1.talk out the side of the mouth
2.have phones that are made of tin cans
3.live in the bush with no technology
4.we are all convicts
5.and we all have pet kangaroos
americans stereotype us too.
no matter who you are or where you are from everyone percieves or stereotypes people from somewhere they themselves are not.
im not saying stereotypes are a good thing or not, im just highlighting that everyone uses stereotypes in one way or another. (if you say you dont then you are lying)
summing up, yes maybe a bit unprofessional (but lucky this isnt BM’s profession) but i cant believe that this gets more responces than the average car review!!!
people need to get over it. its a shame that people only like and look for the negatives in life.
i wasnt going to comment but i couldnt believe how long this was going on for
I have one last comment.
I have never heard any of these stereotypical comments made of Australians. If they are, they are infrequent and incorrect, and if they are made, those making the comments are called to task they way Lisa was called to task for her “comments” here.
There are many Australians than contribute to American culture and they are admired. If any of these people have faults, they are viewed as individuals, not Australians.
True, everyone uses stereotypes in one way or another, but that does not mean it is the right thing to do, nor does it mean that that person shouldn’t be called to task. Why should these types of comments be ignored? They are hurtful as sterotypes can often be.
Lisa intent may have been to be funny or humorous, but her observations came off as mean spirited. I do believe that was the majority view point.
Professional comedians will often satirize their own cultural group before they comment on others. Lisa did not do this.
Perhaps Lisa will learn from her experience here. While she is obviously not going to say that she might have been a bit strong in her comments, hopefully she will realize that some comments (even though they might be “humorous”) can hurt.
As Lisa herself said’ “You all finished insulting me? Feel better ? I am sure a little verbal abuse gets you off!” It is a bit ironic that Lisa is feeling this way. In America, there is a saying (probably in Australia too), “You can dish it out, but you sure can’t take it.”
You don’t have pet kangaroos?
Ricardo,
Nah, we throw them on the barbie.
They taste just like chicken. :>)
I’ve read with great interest all of the posts regarding the Negative American comments.
Yes there are some comments I might not agree with,
I think the basic story is quite good. Lisa list the good & the bad poinyts on the car & no one seeems to be interested in the article only the 4 or five lines on negative American comments.
I had to go back to the story several times, I’m sure I have missed something.
Sorry hit a key buy mistake & my post went before being finished.
Any way
I think you guys need to focus on the story , not if Americans are too fat ,let face it every race is getting bigger, but have you how big a coke do you need with your hamburger?
Or if the car is expensive to hire, I for one would want to know how much to Hire, I am sorry if the price may offend some people. I thought the Shelby Mustang would be the ultimate hire car, but after reading this may be not.
Maybe the Roush would make a better rental option next time,if you can ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGd1UBUDvZY
Now I can’t wait to go over there! I saw the Mustang, then as I read it, it said ‘Bavarian Missile’ AHHH that’s right, that person did go over to the US.