Is Fury 325 The BEST Steel Coaster In The World?

Amusement Today just announced the winners of their 2024 Golden Ticket Awards and they have Carowinds Fury 325 as the BEST Steel Roller Coaster in the world for the 8th straight year!!!
But is Fury 325 really that good? I share my thoughts about it and which coasters I think are better!
KEYWORDS: ACE, American roller coaster enthusiasts, Roller coaster, Roller coaster ranking, Roller Coaster top 25, Theme park recommendations, Carowinds, Fury 325, Best roller coasters, Roller coaster awards
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[@mitchellries256]

For me, Steel Vengeance at Cedar Point is the best steel coaster, but keep in mind that I haven't visited Carowinds yet to know if this is better or not. I guess I'll have to go there soon to find out.

[@lakelover164]

it is

[@PatrickRyan150]

Steel Vengeance is the most action-packed coaster from beginning to end that I've ever ridden.

[@PatrickRyan150]

It's in my top 10 right behind Woodstock Express!

[@lakeerie70]

Congrats to Fury 325, again. Its a great coaster and #1 in my book. I got a chance to ride it 46X Memorial Day Weekend. About Orion- I will still put Superman at SFNE over it. I'll get a chance to hit up several parks in 2025, I know my personal rankings will change.

[@edbrown2998]

I think there’s merit in Fury winning. Personally, I wouldn’t have a single RMC in my top 10 coasters because I simply don’t enjoy those rides, and I know this is a massively unpopular opinion for an enthusiast. I don’t like that ‘best’ has to equate to what most enthusiasts want to ride. Maybe this award looks more at the public and what they’re going to like riding - maybe RMCs are less appealing for Joe Public than a smooth B&M Giga. We have to remember that we all have different opinions, it’s not about any one of us - it’s not even about just us enthusiasts. The Golden Ticket award should be about the most appealing coaster on the planet in general - or at least that’s what I think!

[@alantrotter2077]

As an fyi: way more people are upset about Phoenix topping the wood than fury topping the steel.

[@PatrickRyan150]

Arie Force One is right up there in the top 5 for sure.

[@chadevans1229]

I agree with Fury 325 as #1. Riding front row, last train of the night was one of the most epic rides I've ever experienced.

[@David51295]

Then surely you have to go on more rides

[@chadevans1229]

@@David51295 no argument here. I'm only at 158 credits

[@quinnbostic]

I like Orion more than Fury 325, Montu is my #1 though

[@supremefan]

I agree Orion feels exactly the same just slightly shorter.

[@triplea9209]

There's no objectivity to how good a coaster is. But yeah, I think Fury deserves it.

[@arikthenot-so-redasericthe1838]

My family likes the giga formerly known as I-305 at Kings Dominion better. When we were there, I knew it was forceful and was afraid they wouldn’t like it, so I held it until last. When we got off the ride, both kids said “My vision started going gray!” and “I thought I was going to pass out!” Immediately followed by “THERE’S NO LINE!! LET’S GO AGAIN!!” I love my kids.

[@timk987]

I think what happened with Fury is that it's the complete package. The best of its class, long, tall, fast and floaty. Sure rides like Steel Vengeance or Iron Gwazi might be better, but those 2 similar rides are splitting number one votes. Furthermore, AT "ask that each voter submit a list of their top 10 coasters - wood and steel - in order from one to ten, taking into consideration the overall experience including capacity, operations, reliability and re-rideability." B&M hits on all of those categories with way more frequency than Intamin and RMC.

[@IsaacBohlmann-wr9ni]

Fury is down more than iron gwazi and steel vengeance combined.

[@timk987]

@@IsaacBohlmann-wr9niJust to be clear, I'm no Fury fanboy. Everyone is going to have different experiences. I've encountered early morning downtime on Steel Vengeance and Iron Gwazi. Fury was open all day to my knowledge when I visited, but I'm not a GT voter either.

[@bassjasinski]

Fury ranking cracks me up 😂

[@TheIntimacyGram]

Fury ranks #1 as the best cracked up coaster!

[@Balancedpower420]

Golden Ticket, Folden Shmicket. And it ain’t just me, that’s what the culture feeling

[@TylerCroissant]

I can’t trust Amusement Today simply because Apollo’s Chariot still makes the top 25 list when it is a mid at best B&M Hyper let alone coaster. It’s good, but not top 25 good. Goliath at SFOG (rattle and all) is way better as are a few other of its kind. Maybe they’re holding on to the nostalgia of it or something but imo, not a top 25

[@supremefan]

I don't think Goliath is better, especially considering how fun it is to go through the woods versus a parking lot...

[@TylerCroissant]

@@supremefan I agree the setting is better. No one can deny Busch gardens is a beautiful park. I just think of crazy airtime when I think of a B&M hyper and Apollo’s doesn’t have as much. It’s still good though, especially for a prototype

[@supremefan]

@@TylerCroissant I only experienced in the early season when it was running cold and the night ride was very good. I guess I value those experiences more... like The Beast.

[@supremefan]

@@TylerCroissant Also I'd say for airtime it's not even close Diamondback is the best B&M has ever done, followed closely by Mako.

[@EmberMcLain87]

Every year these feel like the same. Just a glorified popularity contest. Glad that thunderhead got a nod though. Easily one of my new favorite wood coasters.

[@TP_Recommendations]

Thunderhead is fantastic

[@OhioFarmstead]

Thunderhead is underrated

[@Cheezbat]

@@OhioFarmsteadheck yes it is. So much fun.

[@TheIntimacyGram]

It's a great coaster! My only credit that I have ridden with you!

[@scottgass6757]

Never rode Iron Gwazi hard to beat Steel vengeance that coaster still amazes me

[@Cap-ku6ok]

I do feel the rankings should change as newer coasters come on line but I understand why Fury is very highly rated. You have to approach this from the eyes of a non enthusiast. If you look at who is riding, you will see a ton of very young and older riders. Those folk typically shy away from the more intense coasters. This is why I-305 is so low on the list, -it's an enthusiast coaster. So yeah, we're tired of the same list each year, but in Fury's case, it actually can be justified if you put your own justifications aside and look at it more broadly.

[@justinchavez9530]

Even though Fury 325 (Carowinds) is an enjoyable, incredible steel coaster, I think that Iron Gwazi (Busch Gardens Tampa) should get the Golden Ticket Award.

[@spentron1]

Fury is probably the best in the front row. Any other row, '305 is better for the forces and sense of speed, I think the B&M seats act too much as an air deflector -- no other row on it even prepares you for how great the front is. But Arie is better than either outside their front rows. It's complicated.

[@KingWill04]

I think fury 325 is elite but it’s not the best in the world. Another coaster I was suprised not to see in the Top 10 was the relentless wildcats revenge. For me it’s up there with Steele Vengance and Iron Gwazi

[@scottyomcbrian]

Golden Ticket awards always seem to favor certain rides for long periods of time. So I agree it's flawed, but I think Fury's ranking is actually well-warranted in this case. B&M hypers are always crowd pleasers, and Fury is a masterpiece of its type. It's huge, fast, long, smooth, and floaty. It's impressive and intense enough that enthusiasts love it but not so much that it turns novices away. Even the line for it isn't that long because it's a capacity machine. So even though I prefer Steel Vengence and it's intensity, I can see why the general public would actually prefer Fury 325 and why it would win what is essentially a popularity contest.

[@thecoasterauthority]

funny enough the top 2 steel coasters (fury 325 and velocicoaster) are my #1 and #2 just in opposite order! 😂

[@alantrotter2077]

A few things you have to remember. 500 voters determine the top steel and wood coasters. I think you have different opinions on what type of coaster those people enjoy. Some may view it as what is the best most reridable coaster, other may want the most aggressive coaster, others the most airtime. There is numerous factors in determining how the votes are coming in. The one thing I'm happy to see is that the new voters really got European coasters higher up the rankings. Prior to this year it was pretty bad. I really think that should be a requirement as too many voters are probably fixed into certain parks in Ohio and a rides like Superman at SFNE. If they travel internationally I think it would open their eyes up and I think you saw some of that this year. With that said I think Fury probably found it's way onto a lot of people's top 10 list that was submitted while a ride like Iron Gwazi or Steel Vengeance may have been ranked very highly by some were excluded if deemed too intense by others. For what it is worth I was a voter and I voted Ride to Happiness as my #1 steel.

[@Anxietyismymiddlename]

I rode it fifty times this year before the school year started

[@Da_knee7]

I'm going to have to book a trip to 325 now.

[@SlimFury]

Fury 325 is my number 1 coaster. It does everything so well. I rode it 27 times in one day.

[@TheDrizzle412]

I305 needs some love now come on

[@Cheezbat]

I don’t give a flying fish what Amusement Today says. They rate the same things over and over….they show their bias. Always Fury, always Wildebeest, always Dollywood, always Schlitterbahn. I loved Fury, but my friend with me loved Thunder Striker and Copperhead Strike more in Carowinds. My top 5 have Iron Gwazi, Velocicoaster, and Pantheon over it. Fury ranks number 4, and Maverick ranks number 5.

[@ItsDannyRobbins]

Voting is intensely skewed by the staff of each park. As soon as voting begins parks encourage their staff to vote multiple times a day in every category. It's a "park spirit" contest.

[@xkovacsx09]

It'll be #1 until the next giga is built.

[@michaelcarter8020]

I experienced Fury325 for the first time back in June... I rode it about 6 times, and I wasn't that impressed. The treble clef turn around is fantastic, but the rest is just kinda meh. I honestly prefer Leviathan, even though it is much shorter, because I prefer the airtime it provides.

[@ryanmcdonnell5988]

Fury 325 is my #9 steel coaster

[@Cap-ku6ok]

Question for the board, if Fury is so perfect, why haven't others hired B&M to create a Fury-like coaster? In the past when there is a hit ride, everybody jumped on board to replicate it. I don't understand why Kings Island did not do a near Fury clone instead of Orion.

[@timk987]

$$$

[@joshfreund6008]

I would guess, the price tag and Fury at K.I. would likely make it better than CP and Cedar Fare wouldnt be having any if that

[@TylerCoolGuy88]

While talking on the wooden side, I heard the Voyage is very good. And I think Thunderhead and El Toro as the real beat wooden coaster. I am not saying the Phoenix is a terrible ride, it’s a good ride, but I think it very overrated. I think the nostalgic feeling and many of the older members on amusement today is why some many rides from 2000s & 1990s rank higher than so many new coasters (like Apollo’s Chariot that is consider the weaken B&M hyper but ranked almost as high as all of them).

[@ramonortiz1327]

It depends on if you count steel vengeance as a steel coaster if that’s the case I’ll take Steve if not I’ll take top thrill 2 lmao i pray it reopens next year

[@supremefan]

It is a steel coaster, wood supports doesn't qualify it as a wood coaster. Just like Gemini.

[@ItsDannyRobbins]

​@@supremefanThose are both hybrids. Steel track and wood supports, or steel supports and wooden track configurations are both classed as hybrids.

[@thecoasterauthority]

@@ramonortiz1327 it’s a hybrid, but since the track is steel it is being classified as a steel coaster for golden ticket awards

[@constable012]

It's definitely not the best steel coaster in my opinion (not in my top 10), but it is still a great ride. I don't feel like the Golden Ticket Awards really matter though. Like you said, it's basically just the same winner every year for most awards. Obviously something has to be good to win in the first place, but it's absurd how long it stays there.

[@PRC2019]

ROTFLMAO...That Orion comment feels like a direct burn towards me 🤐

[@dashkataey1740]

Ahh yes, the awards that are based on a small selection of people who primarily all live in the US. If the sample size was bigger and it was preferred voting, the results would probably be a lot different and more accurate.

[@billchief397]

Please the wacky worm should have received it

[@thecoasterman682]

Yes! She definitely is! I wish i was born in the us but unfortunately i live in the Netherlands.

[@WFinke]

Im happy i was born and live in the Netherlands, we have way more good rides nearby then in other parts of the world. When you can get to Efteling, Walibi Holland, Walibi Belgium, Toverland, Phantasialand, Plopsaland de Panne and also a lot of smaller parks with a decent line up within 3 hours driving. For my Project 305 is my #1 steel coaster in the world. I'm ok with Fury 325 still being ranked #1, it's very re-ridable but still packs a punch but with a little more comfort than it's counterparts.

[@TheCoasterSerpent]

Diamondback is better than Fury. Diamondback is my #1 and Fury I think I ranked as #27. There are plenty of reasons for this. Better airtime is probably the biggest factor. Then there are the ops, Diamondback never stacks a train, I don't often get stapled, and most importantly of all, they accept row requests that are kindly made. The op on Diamondback doesn't stand there and berate you when an empty train is sitting in front of you and you request the back.

[@triplea9209]

Diamondback is great and all but I even prefer Orion to it, much less Fury 325.

[@TylerLevi25]

DB is too inconsistent, i feel like it's to affected by temps wind rider distribution and takes forever to warm up. 7 o'clock on a 95 degree day I could see the argument for #1

[@Hangtime_Davi64]

Fury is the best steel coaster I've ridden. I have a hard time believing it is the best in the US, though, much less the world.

[@thecoasterauthority]

@@Hangtime_Davi64 have you ridden velocicoaster?

[@Hangtime_Davi64]

@thecoasterauthority Nope. It's definitely on my bucket list.

[@stevejones3774]

Here's how I would sum this up. Having ridden all mentioned. Mako is my favorite coaster, however it is no Airieforce, Airieforce is amazing with such incredible elements but it is no velocicoaster, velocicoaster is maybe the best themed most enjoyable coaster ever but it's no Fury 325. Golden ticket goes to Fury.

[@CoasterBroCam]

Yes.

[@tottenhamhotspurfanplaying8776]

Can’t believe Voltron didn’t make top 10

[@BansheeEst]

Velocicoaster?

[@triplea9209]

I love how Google translates your comment to "rollercoaster?"

[@TheBatwave]

Yes

[@jatavious87]

It sounds like yall only mad because it a B&M

[@triplea9209]

Exactly this. Well said. 👏🏻

[@OhioFarmstead]

No. velocicoaster is the greatest thrill ride ever

[@DanJonesShow]

It's difficult for me to swallow the pill that SteVe is #3 if the same coaster can keep topping the same list and it Not be SteVe.

[@lbis4123]

Fury is good but no way is it #1. Iron gwazi and velocicoaster are better.

[@triplea9209]

I disagree.

[@supremefan]

Fury is fun an all but just because it's tall and fast doesn't mean it comes close to qualifying it as the best coaster. I'd take VC hands down any day of the week.. or literally any RMC over it.

[@triplea9209]

Pantheon and I305 put up a better fight than VelociCoaster but I still take Fury. RMCs are too repetitive for my liking.

[@supremefan]

@@triplea9209 Pantheon is fun, but VC is much better overall in my opinion. I wasn't that impressed with i305, but I think that was due to the large hype, I'd take Maverick over it, but I agree Intamins are the best. I was also disappointed by Shivering Timbers and El toro, but I think that was mostly due to their roughness. I could see them being much better in their first few years or if Six Flags starts maintaining them as well as Dollywood does for it's woody.

[@tygrysm2]

Golden Ticket Awards is too American-centric to call things "best in the World". The best new theme is Good Gravy when the best new coaster is Voltron with its theming? Come on.

[@IsaacBohlmann-wr9ni]

That’s exactly what I was thinking when I was reading the results.

[@ItsDannyRobbins]

The Golden Ticket Awards are skewed by the parks in the running. They encourage their staff to vote daily once the voting begins, and the GP doesnt even know voting is happening. The Golden Ticket Awards are a "park spirit" contest. After the trebel cleff the layout is painfully simple and plain. It's fast and fun, but the best steel coaster (not hybrid) in the world? Nope.

[@triplea9209]

To me it is.

[@garywillis7253]

That list is a joke,they had beast at #3 with Phoenix at 1 fir best wooden coaster. I can think of 5 better than Phoenix.Beast beating voyage is icing in the. cake

[@RaiderNation84]

#1 steel coaster with a crack

[@supremefan]

Diamondback is better then any Giga sadly...

[@airtimemyke8164]

Not even my favorite Giga. That title belongs to 305. All the B&M Gigas have a similar feel. Fury is the best of those with execution. No Coaster can mimick or do what 305 does. It's 1 of a kind. As far as top steel coasters outside of Fury and 305 .. no order - Gwazi, Velocicoaster, Wildcat Revenge, Phantom's, AF1.. Steel can be disputed... Fury is worthy.. but the best wood? Phoenix has no business being voted best wooden coaster. That's flagrantly false.

[@OklahomaCoasterFan]

The golden ticket awards have become a laughing stock for me. They have lost all credibility, especially with how they just keep putting Fury 325 & Phoenix at the top. It's ridiculous. I think Fury 325 is excellent, but to me, it's just outside my top 10 steel coasters. For me, I think i-305 is the best giga. Phoenix is far more ridiculous. It's not even the best wood coaster in that park, and I don't think it's even a top 30 wood coaster.

[@BigDCoasterFam]

How can a coaster that literally broke be the best coaster this year?

[@scottie22slick]

One of the best drops... but the list is junk, no doubt.

[@dreams2reality410]

The golden ticket awards are a joke. Fury is an unbelievable coaster, but winning 8 years in a row? There are so many coasters that are arguably better. Give me Iron Gwazi, Steel Vengeance, Velocicoaster, and Arie Force One without the ball busting ending any day of the week.

[@frankthecat1660]

3 out of the 4 you mentioned are hybrids, and wouldn't fall in the steel coaster category.

[@coasternews-305]

Steel Vengeance is literally number 3

[@Anxietyismymiddlename]

@@coasternews-305how is iron quazi number 5😂😂 I hadn’t ridden it yet.

[@IClickYT]

@@Anxietyismymiddlenamej actually thought Iron gwazi was pretty mid fury is the full package was everything for me

[@TheDrizzle412]

VC nah wasn’t memorable the theme and the cue yea the ride over hyped IMO

[@Spike-sk7ql]

Fury is a great ride, but it is by far NOT the best coaster. I can even see top 5 for Fury, but BS that it wins every year. Just like when Millie was winning it 10 years later.

[@triplea9209]

I think it is.

[@Spike-sk7ql]

@@triplea9209 for me, Fury isn't even the best giga. Fury is great, but not the best.

[@triplea9209]

@@Spike-sk7ql Well I could see the argument for Project 305 (God that name)

[@Spike-sk7ql]

@@triplea9209 Intimidator 305. I can not bring myself to call it that (hopefully) temporary name. Hopefully it's rethemed as something to do with a cheetah since it's kind of in jungle expedition. But yes.... I-305 is my pick for the #1 giga. Still not best steel coaster though. Velocicoaster is freaking awesome. I don't know if it was just because of the theming, but I don't think so. The ride is awesome. I haven't been overseas, but I would imagine Ride to Happiness is a strong contender for #1, then there's Voltron that just opened this year. There is NO WAY that Fury 325 is still objectively better than any of the coasters I just mentioned, and that's ok! It doesn't take anything away from Fury to say that newer coasters are better (and 1 older one). The golden ticket is always wrong. Pheonix is NOT the best wooden coaster either! How can you say that when Mystic Timbers, Ghostrider, Shivering Timbers, and El Toro exist???????? I'm sorry, but the golden ticket award is useless when it comes to actually ranking things.

[@triplea9209]

@@Spike-sk7ql I mean, it's a bit much to bring in objectivity as coaster rankings are entirely subjective, but I completely understand the points you're making. For example, however, if someone just loves pure speed, they'll take Fury over the rest you just mentioned as Fury's way faster than any of them besides I305 as they're near identical. Someone's favorite coaster varies depending on what they value most in a coaster. I've heard of people who have Mako as their #1 cause they love floater airtime.