It seems like, no matter how mean and powerful other muscle cars are, there is just something special about the Mustang. People stand up and take notice regardless if it’s a GT, a Shelby, a Boss or anything else of that nature.

If the 2015 North American International Auto Show was anything like the Olympics, then Ford would have definitely brought home the gold. They stole the show with the new generation GT as well as the F-150 Raptor and of course the Shelby GT350R, which is an even more capable version of the already track-oriented Mustang GT350.

So the question is, which would you rather have? Well, apparently the answer can be a bit complicated because it will only come down to a few personal preferences as far as equipment levels and basic needs.

The more pertinent question is what can you live without? You can choose to lose things such as air conditioning, rear seats and the audio system (among other things) in favor of a slightly lighter vehicle and so you’d end up opting for the R Package. And you do get to have that awesome rear spoiler and those 19″ carbon fiber wheels. Going for the GT350R basically means you’re giving up on every day usage in order to drive a track car.

Of course, you can compromise and get the Track Package for the basic GT350, which will still land you the MagneRide suspension, the heavy duty front springs, the engine oil, transmission and differential coolers, the selectable drive modes as well as the lightweight metal tower to tower brace. This way you get to cruise your Shelby GT350, armed for the track but chilling with some music and air conditioning.

What you won’t get, performance-wise, are the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Tires, the wheel locking kit, the carbon ceramic brakes, the unique chassis tuning, the chin splitter and the aluminum rear bumper beam – this should make the GT350R not only handle sharper, but also quicker overall, both on a track and in a straight line. You’ll brake later and harder, you’ll have better grip and most of all you’ll be lighter on your feet.

Whichever one you end up choosing, it’s clear that Ford intended you to buy this car and not the Camaro ZL1 – which by the way has Magnetic Ride Control as standard as well as Head-Up Display and a premium sound system. This is why the GT350 is a direct rival only for the Camaro Z/28. It’s track car vs. track car. So you pretty much have to go with the “R” version in order to match up as best you can with the Z/28.

Of course, with a 5.2 liter Flat Plane Crank V8 you’ll be matching up with the Z/28 quite nicely. You’d just have to be willing to live without the rear seats, air con and audio because if you’re committing to the GT350R, there’s no way they’ll let you keep those and also have everything else the R Package offers that the Track Package doesn’t.

As far as performance, the Z/28’s 505 HP and 481 lb-ft sound just up the Mustang‘s alley and even though we still don’t have any confirmed engine specs, some of the GT350R’s features mirror what you get in the Camaro while others make the Z/28 (still has a backseat, though lightweight) seem a little less hardcore.

Something tells us that there’s going to be a lot of people settling for a standard Shelby GT350 and only adding the Technology Pack or the Track Pack as optional extras. The GT350R will probably be more of an acquired taste.

Poll: Which one would you rather own?

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