Is the New Ford Mustang Better Than A BMW M3?

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

The specs are nice but the engine isn't anything huge. 390 ft lbs of torque and 412 HP.

It has A LOT more torque then the M3 does but still gets to 60 at the same time. Anyone get build big engines and up the HP, BMW managed to squeeze 414 HP out of a 4.0L engine, not a 5.0L. That 1 liter does make a HUGE difference. Also that car doesn't sing to 8,300/8,400 RPM.

That being said, Ford is doing very nicely. That stang is nice.

I know its not a performance number, but remember the Mustang also gets 17 city and 26 hwy while the M3 is rated at 14 city and 20 hwy. I got to say, I am getting ready to order a new 2011 E92 M3 to replace my 997 but the new Stang makes a compelling argument. The guys at Evolution Motorsports took one to the track with an offroad hpipe a tune and some D/R's and she ran 12.0s @115mph, with slicks it broke into the 11's @117mph. Granted this car setup like this is more for the quarter mile than a Laguna but even in OEM form the handling is pretty good with these cars. BMW and Ford have been going back and forth in GrandAM.

Dave

[AMJ_77]

Good numbers but would I ever be caught driving one? Never in my life. Hated them since I was young. Good for Ford though.

[Irb Digital]

I plan on getting something within the next 6 months, and I can't help but be drawn to the 2011 GT and GT500. The numbers out of the 5.0 are already making modded S65's blush. I also like the new aluminum block in the GT500 and taking 120lbs out of the front of the stang. I'll be test driving them for sure when I get back from the desert. Money is also a big factor in the draw to the Mustangs. I know they don't have the fit n finish of the M3 or the prestige (the shelby does have some swag though), but I'm really trying to get into HPDE and track days, and when you look at the cost of modding and fixing the M3, the BMW tax is absurd. To think that I'm going to end up spending $5k for an xpipe and mufflers, is hard for me to swallow, when I look in the MM&FF and can do the same for under $1k, with proven companies that build great products. For what I want to do with my car, I just feel like it is silly to pay that much more for the "luxury" of the M3 when I just want to dog the shit out of it. I go back and forth with this daily, but right now I'm leaning towards the stang.

[bobbyd1961]

mustang better than bmw M3? no rediculous question.
mustang better than 335? No
Mustang better than 328? No

[Frozen Black Panther]

what kind of question is this? its a ford, its gonna be a rattle box in 3 years

[Dave07997S]

Originally Posted by bobbyd1961

mustang better than bmw M3? no rediculous question.
mustang better than 335? No
Mustang better than 328? No

What's "ridiculous" is your spelling..

[Voltigeur]

No.

[Moo]

Look at it from a different angle: which one will get you laid more often?

[Frozen Black Panther]

Originally Posted by Moo

Look at it from a different angle: which one will get you laid more often?

depends on where you are

[M3Fool]

I was on the fence between a 2011 GT500 and the M3.............. went for the M3. The Mustang/ Like my Challenger has TONS of power and Torque, but it is so un refined that you really need to be paying attention when you decide to let the ponies run!!!

[CantDrv55]

Originally Posted by richardbb85

http://forums.clubrsx.com/showthread.php?t=713128

check it out if you are bored, quite a lot of people bash on the bmw

lol

At least one person there seems to have a brain. Mainly the last line. Poor croo cannot afford iPod, only Ipod Mini.

[STIto335]

Hell yea it is

[Doctor J]

I've been driving a 2011 Mustang GT for the last two days (rental)

NO COMPARISON.

It's pretty fast yes-- but the handling is shite -- at 80 mph on full throttle you feel like you could hurtle off the road at any minute as the rear struggles to find traction. Brakes are shite. Steering is numb. The car feels very ponderous. Ride quality is ok - but the rear gets unsettled very easily over rough road esp under throttle. Interior is really nice considering the price -- much improved over previous generations.

That's my $0.02

[Its_Canuck]

Originally Posted by Irb Digital

I plan on getting something within the next 6 months, and I can't help but be drawn to the 2011 GT and GT500. The numbers out of the 5.0 are already making modded S65's blush. I also like the new aluminum block in the GT500 and taking 120lbs out of the front of the stang. I'll be test driving them for sure when I get back from the desert. Money is also a big factor in the draw to the Mustangs. I know they don't have the fit n finish of the M3 or the prestige (the shelby does have some swag though), but I'm really trying to get into HPDE and track days, and when you look at the cost of modding and fixing the M3, the BMW tax is absurd. To think that I'm going to end up spending $5k for an xpipe and mufflers, is hard for me to swallow, when I look in the MM&FF and can do the same for under $1k, with proven companies that build great products. For what I want to do with my car, I just feel like it is silly to pay that much more for the "luxury" of the M3 when I just want to dog the shit out of it. I go back and forth with this daily, but right now I'm leaning towards the stang.

I'm in the same boat as you. It's really a hard decision, when you are a car/motorcycle enthusiast and know that both cars are great in their own ways. The back seats are more useable in the M3 than in the Shelby. That's a big factor for a family man like myself. Good thing I have a year to make a decision, when my R32 lease is up.

[Scoobe]

I own a GT500 and have an M3 on order. The Mustang is a muscle car. Its got tons of torque and HP and bucks like crazy. Its really hard to hold the rear tires down all the way to 80mph. Its a crazy type fun of brute force. It's suspension is stiff, but not track worthy unless you send it off to Shelby for the supersnake package, which I'm not going to do. I don't want a rough ride all the time.

The M3 that I test drove is refined power. Its a luxery sports car and with EDC and M drive, it lets you set options. Also the DTC is an outstanding option not available on the mustang. However the 6 speed manual in the GT500 is outstanding, especially with a shelbly short throw shifter I installed aftermarket.

But the cars serve totally different purposes. If performance is all you care about, they are comparable. But if you want options to tune your car on the fly with EDC/M sport boost and experience a very well designed DCT, the M3 is a far better car.

Where the GT500 is going to pull away from the M3 is at high speeds, off the line the Mustang just can't get any traction. If I could get a bite off the line in the Shelby, I'd be ripping most cars doors off. But thats not going to happen. I'm not going to mod to a stiff suspension and replace the tires.

I will soon own both. And I will use both differently. Most importantly, I'm getting the sedan cause I have a 4 month old daughter. Second important factor is I wanted to be able to have a good ride when shes in the car, and when out, be able to dial it up for some fun.

So my point is the performance will be comparable, but the versatility will be totally different. The M3 is an engineering masterpeice. The mustang is a muscle car, designed to be an affordable sports car.

[mvagusta]

No one should compare a m3 to a Ford. Diffrent animal, compare a farrari to a zo6? Look underneath a m3 and see the art? Look underneath a Ford Mustang see a prouction line? Stop, a couple of people that see something on paper, but can not grasp refinement. Is this a campaign to buy American? Because true American's have a consitutional right to be able to choose freely and not to discriminate. I noticed on every paper or article thier is a bashing of Toyota,Lexus,Bmw,Merc's we all should buy American cars. The nerve of any magazine to compare a m3 to a ford. The Ford has the camero and the challenger. Put the Mustang on a track! Or put it against Engineering or relibilty? To much Trash no production..

[mrkbbd]

Has anyone driven the new Shelby that C&D gave such raving reviews about?

[Scoobe]

Don't think new aluminum block shelby is out on the market yet, probably be August. From what I hear, the weight drop off the nose drastically improved track times.

[Genericuser1]

A bit unrelated but I wish Ford would put the 5.0 in a small or mid-sized sedan/hatch. Maybe a better looking, hotted-up AWD Fusion. I know they will probably bring over a hot Focus but I love the sound of a V-8 and it would be nice to have something practical and as fast as a 2011 Mustang GT without having to look at the luxury marquees.

If they every do a Fusion SHO I’m sure it will be an Ecoboost 6 but I’d still hope for the 5.0.

[Dntlvet]

I'd test drive it, but drive home in my M3.

[donovan]

lol
..

[M3Fool]

Originally Posted by GhostRideTheWhip

The specs are nice but the engine isn't anything huge. 390 ft lbs of torque and 412 HP.

It has A LOT more torque then the M3 does but still gets to 60 at the same time. Anyone get build big engines and up the HP, BMW managed to squeeze 414 HP out of a 4.0L engine, not a 5.0L. That 1 liter does make a HUGE difference. Also that car doesn't sing to 8,300/8,400 RPM.

That being said, Ford is doing very nicely. That stang is nice.

Imagine how I feel driving a 5.7 with 379 HP... Dodge lost the HP war with that mess.