M3 vs 2011 Mustang GT

[ThisBlood147]

2011 BMW M3 Coupe vs. 2011 Ford Mustang GT Comparison - Motor Trend


Wonder how the new Boss will do against the BMW...

[whiteballz]

Interesting comparo, Looks like a fun track too.

Nicely done for the mustang to do what it did.

[wwgkd]

I don't normally like these wildly different comparisons, but that's actually pretty cool. Congrats to the Mustang.

[digitalcraft]

Ahhh Top Gear has ruined me. Any time I read anything about autos it comes out in my head with a british accent.

[f6fhellcat13]

I think what this shows most of all is that the M3 should cost less. If enough manufacturers can beat the Germans at their own game, maybe they will get off their badge-snobbery horse and price the cars more reasonably.

However if I was in the market for an M3, which has basically designed its market segment, I think I would buy an M3. Though if I was in the market for a sports coupe, I would have to take the tire-shredding slice of apple pie.

Also, this makes me so very excited to see what the Boss can do.

[Ferrer]

Nevermind lap times, the Mustang must quite a lot more fun. And that's all that matters.

[DesmoRob]

gotta say I'm quite blown away at how well that new 5.0 performs. I doubt it'll change anyone's opinion/mind on the cars they've set out to buy though. Regardless of their similarities in performance, they're still marketed towards two very different types of people. I'll have the BMW, black/black.

[hightower99]

I think this article shows just how far ahead of the game BMW was when they made the E9X series M3. The car is coming up to its third birthday while still maintaining the slightest of overall advantage against a car that is completely brand new.

I think that people should consider the reason why MotorTrend and others initially thought that this comparison would be unfair/Odd/Unlikely or anything other than a completely valid comparison...

Cars are not priced by performance alone. Something that many people seem to forget. It is plainly obvious why the BMW costs more than the Ford. Marketing factors such as Brand value and Perceived quality make up a good portion of the difference as well as the fact that it costs more to make an E9X series M3 then it does to make a 2011 Ford Mustang GT, even though they literally achieve equal performance (IMO).

However none of this is to detract from the Ford. It is a great car and the engine is simply awesome. Randy Probst's comments tell of somewhat lose suspension control that ultimately leads to the Mustang requiring a larger set of brass ones to eek the peak performance out of it. However he did praise the overall balance of the car which I would say is the biggest "win" over the BMW.

According to Randy though, it looks like the BMW is safer and inspires more confidence which inevitably leads to it being easier to drive to the limit.

In summary: The Mustang is a brilliant car and with a professional driver behind the wheel it achieves performance equal to a modern M3. However in the hands of Joe Average, it is the BMW M3 that still maintains the advantage. Which is highly respectable for a car approaching its third birthday.

[clutch-monkey]

image and branding aside (they're obviously going after different buyers), that's a good comparo. well done the mustang! now sink some of that left over change you saved over the M3 into some mods..

[pimento]

Originally Posted by clutch-monkey

image and branding aside (they're obviously going after different buyers), that's a good comparo. well done the mustang! now sink some of that left over change you saved over the M3 into some mods..

You mean like this?

[clutch-monkey]

well by the sounds of it..i'd be spending the money on suspension first.

[ThisBlood147]

Just pick up a new Boss 302, remove the flashy graphics, and call it a day.

[Rasmus]

I'm actually a bit surprised as the 5.0 suspension ain't really that much better than the old 4.6. I would have thought it would have taken some Koni/Tokico shocks and struts, and some decent springs -- at least.

Originally Posted by clutch-monkey

now sink some of that left over change you saved over the M3 into some mods..

No, don't. Really, don't even go there. Trust me.

[clutch-monkey]

Originally Posted by Rasmus

No, don't. Really, don't even go there. Trust me.

can of worms..opened

[Niko_Fx]

The new 5.0 is a monster... wish I could trade the Z in for one of those.