EVO Mag Group Test: BMW M3 vs RS5 vs C63 AMG vs Boss 302 Mustang

[dawei213]

Thanks for posting this! A great read.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by gblansten

I agree with that and even an LSD isn't going to substantively change that. The rear tires are too damn skinny.

Originally Posted by gblansten

I got a C63 before the LSD became a solitary option. It really, really needed one.

Test driven one. Felt a bit more planted, but the TC light would still turn on anytime I went near the throttle. It gets old after awhile but 481 HP at the disposal of my right foot was awesome.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by FStop7

Only 3 stars for the RS5 is rough.

The M3 staying still being on top shows how much better BMW's chassis engineers are than the competition.

Every review I've read says the same thing. The steering isn't as direct.

[LeifW]

Nice article. Thanks for sharing.

Leif W.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Nice ... thanks for sharing this with us

[kyleb350]

Wow, the Boss is lighter, has more power and torque, yet still loses to the M3 in the quarter? That DCT must be nice.

[Hedoniste]

Congrats to Motorsport's engineers !

M3 FTW !

[jqsmooth]

I love reading articles like this. Just makes my decision to jump on the M3 that much more satisfying. At the end of the day, it's not all about numbers. M3 has less HP than the rest, but still flies. I think so much of the goodness the M3 has to offer eludes me because I'm just an average driver. I don't track or do crazy stuff on the road. I'm sure I'd have been just as happy with the Benz or the Audi. However, I feel like I got a winner.

Someone on the forum told me to be careful. Saying there's a lot of power at my disposal. The other day, I found out what he meant. I was scared out of my mind. What a car!

[GMW]

I totally have to send this to 5 of my red neck Ford friends here in Halifax. I'm sure they'll see some way of twisting the results in their favor.

M3 or bust!

[Genericuser1]

They will just remind you that there is a $20,000 difference between the M3 and the Boss 302. I didn't expect the Ford to beat the M3, it's a nice alternative for those that $60k+ is beyond reach.

I had hoped the RS5 would have faired better.

[Richbot]

There are a few people in the low 12's and high 11's at 117+ in Boss 302's, completely stock. It's just a much better tool for the job of going fast. Not sure what's going on there, probably just a really low traction surface considering how slow the ET on the Benz was. The only place an M3 is faster than a Boss 302 in the real world is probably at 160+ where the tall gearing and less top-end oriented powerband on the stang will start to suck the wind out of its sails, and maybe not even there.

Ford needs to make a 'Vette fighter with that motor in it. The Mustang is too big crude and awkward from behind the wheel for me to want one in a world where there are M3's. If you think the steering in the E9x M3 is too light and uncommunicative compared to M3's gone by, try a Mustang. Fantastically high performing vehicle and the value proposition is compelling but compared to the M3 it's just not as polished. And that makes perfect sense given the huge difference in price between a stripper M3 and a top-line Boss 302 Laguna Seca. Kindof like the Corvette, really. Smokes just about everything up to 4 times its price point but once the story the test equipment tells is over, there's nothing left.

In a world without M3's I'd be more inclined to own one.

[GeoXP]

It's a real shame about the RS5. To me, that car is just gorgeous. If they offered it in the U.S. I might have seriously considered it, in spite of its performance shortcomings. But, I'm also VERY happy to have the M now. Just can't wait for it to make the journey across the ocean.

[zapingosays]

bmw ftw!

[EL_Greco]

show!!

[G2G]

The beast still beats all of them!!!

[MDSKIER]

Guess I made the right choice!!!!!

[BMWBoss]

Amazing the M3 is still on top! Just goes to show how ingenious BMW engineering is. I can't wait for the next generation to come out!!!! I'm sure they'll continue to walk over the competition.

[stefan]

M-power FTMFW

[Buschy]

So why didn't they use the Shelby 500. Isn't that closer in costs? How does it compare to the others?

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by blipit

Autocar said the C63 coupe had better steering feel and turn-in.

They would now take the C63 coupe over the M3.

You can't definitively say that the C63 has better feel without testing them back to back so you have a fresh feel of the car. Also notice how he says he "reckon's" it has better turn in and feel. The C63 AMG has improved, but 2 German Magazines and now 1 British Magazine have put the M3 up on top. Autocar is outnumbered 3 to 1. They all can't be wrong.

[phish_100]

The two cars are obviously so close for the average driver that it comes down to things like which one you prefer the look or sound of. They are both outstanding ownership propositions. I wish I had either!!

[M3_WC]

Hmmmm.... no performance package on the C63?

If I were to buy a new car tomorrow, I would choose the C63 Coupe.