Mustang GT v. M3

[blocke]

The only reason to buy a 335i is because you plain cant afford an M3.
Ford has come around I'll give them that.
But this comparison in totally not apples to apples. Two totally different markets, and sets of buyers.
The crowd that can afford the M3 does not want to be seen in a Mustang.
Face it, there's those out there that buy the car for status.
And nobody is going to buy either car with the sole intent of tracking it, without making a number of modifications anyway.

[Jonny Cash]

I valet, so I drive a lot of cars. Granted I wasn't in the e90 m3 THAT long but I did dart it around a corner and pull it to redline. I was expecting so much more that it left me kind of disappointed. All the other e90s I had driven left me much happier.

I think to really enjoy the e90 I would A) have to be a better driver and B) have a place to drive it hard (track)

The e46 felt more raw and it's still plenty quick.

Please kid, youre such a bullshitter. Not that i valet, but Id love to find out the little shit behind the desk was leaving the lot with my car let alone redlining it. Even if you did, Id still like to know how a 8k reving, 400hp v8 is not impressive to someone who drives a 25 year old heap.

But this comparison in totally not apples to apples. Two totally different markets, and sets of buyers.

Yes they were aware, this is noted in the first line of the article.

[z31maniac]

blocke, it seems like many you are missing the point.

The point is that the Mustang is so close in performance at nearly 1/2 the price as the M3. The hallmark car in the sport coupe market for the last 20+ years.

[sonej4]

The mustang has always been a great bang for the buck. I know alot of guys that track them oftem and they do well. I can imagine with the simple addition of a panhard bar the Mustang will beat the M3 and still have $20k to spare. I also wonder what tires the Mustang has stock compared to the M3. Assume the same tires and a panhard bar bye bye M3!!!

I looked at/test drove the new mustake and it is a great value. I wouldn't buy one, b/c there is no room in the trunk and the car is too big.

I have a friend that bought a new GT with the upgraded wheels, tires, brembos. It is an identical one to the test car. It looks like it has the upgraded tires on the car, which are the Pirelli p-zeros. It doesn't state in the test if the car has the 3.73 gears, or the handling/brake package.

[87e30]

Please kid, youre such a bullshitter.

WE have to go around the block to enter the parking garage. One straight part of road. I don't get on most cars, and especially not if they aren't warmed up. The e90 m3 had been such a dream though that I just had to take it to 7k to see what it was about.

Take it as you will, but I was personally not as impressed as I thought I would be. INterior is awesome, it looks great, sounds great, pulls hard, and the one slow corner I took felt like a guided missile, but I got out just going hmmm. Not what I expected.

Cars are preferences. Which ever one puts the smile on your face is the one for you. Of course I'd have to drive it more, but initially impression wasn't that it was the car for me, like I had imagined anyways.

[blunttech]

I love the fact an american car that used to be a fucking pile has come this far. granted fit and finish probably isnt close but performancewise its impressive what theyve done

[blocke]

blocke, it seems like many you are missing the point.

The point is that the Mustang is so close in performance at nearly 1/2 the price as the M3. The hallmark car in the sport coupe market for the last 20+ years.

No I totally get the point. I used to make this same type of argument way back when I worked for Mistusbishi. It's the same kind of comparison and argument we used to make with the Lancer Evolution. Supercar performance for less than half the cost..yadda yadda. But there was always the argument that regardless if the Evo rivaled a Porsche in performance and cost half the price, there was the crowd that wouldn't be caught dead in a Mitsubishi, regardless of the numbers.

This is the same. Regardless if the Mustang is right there with the M3 on paper at half the cost, the crowd that is considering the M3, would likely consider a C63, Porsche 911, or an RS4 before going to a Mustang.

[dirty30]

I suddenly wanted a new mustang after reading that article in motortrend.

My eyes welled up, I draped my body with an american flag and saluted myself in the mirror.

[VacMan]

Agreed. I don't understand the video because of this. Like someone goes and test drives a Mustang and says "y'know, it was good and all, but it's not what I'm lookin for....lemme go test drive an M3!"

Maybe not for M3 fans, but for Mustang fans that's huge. "Lookit my Mustang...it'll run right with the new M3 for half the price!"

blocke, it seems like many you are missing the point.

The point is that the Mustang is so close in performance at nearly 1/2 the price as the M3. The hallmark car in the sport coupe market for the last 20+ years.

Yep.

No I totally get the point. I used to make this same type of argument way back when I worked for Mistusbishi. It's the same kind of comparison and argument we used to make with the Lancer Evolution. Supercar performance for less than half the cost..yadda yadda. But there was always the argument that regardless if the Evo rivaled a Porsche in performance and cost half the price, there was the crowd that wouldn't be caught dead in a Mitsubishi, regardless of the numbers.

This is the same. Regardless if the Mustang is right there with the M3 on paper at half the cost, the crowd that is considering the M3, would likely consider a C63, Porsche 911, or an RS4 before going to a Mustang.

No, you still don't get his point. The Porsche owner may not like the comparison, but the Mitsu owners sure do. It has nothing to do with personal taste or not being caught dead, it has everything to do with the fact that owners of the Evo can hang their hat on the fact that bang for the buck they own the Porsche. Same thing for the Mustang owners.

I got a Facebook update from Top Gear a few weeks ago where the new Mustang beat the M3 around Laguna Seca as well, so it's not just the tight courses where the M3 loses. I do believe it was a special edition car with no rear seat and extra mods, though.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/ford-mustang-boss-302?imageNo=1

http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1048663_video-jay-lenos-garage-visits-2012-mustang-boss-302-laguna-seca

[briansjacobs]

I have a client with a GT500, a full tank of gas=200 miles. Perfect car for cruising SoBe, but could you imagine trying to make a signifacant drive in it? Also his Shelby GT only had a range of 300 miles.

[Holland]

I suddenly wanted a new mustang after reading that article in motortrend.

My eyes welled up, I draped my body with an american flag and saluted myself in the mirror.

I agree as well. I think it is a cheap alternative for similar performance. I hate American cars but I really like this one.

[VacMan]

I have a client with a GT500, a full tank of gas=200 miles. Perfect car for cruising SoBe, but could you imagine trying to make a signifacant drive in it? Also his Shelby GT only had a range of 300 miles.

E90 M3 has a 16.6 gallon tank. With in-town driving you'll get at best 13mpg if you keep your foot out of it. 16x13=208 rolling in on fumes. In steady state freeway driving you might get 16x19=304, again assuming you aren't doing 160mph sprints on the way home from work at 7am...

No wonder my buddy Jack is always bitching about filling up his M3.

[xwill112x]

meh, i dont like the new mustangs at all. they lost me after the 04' cobra, from then on they're just big bulky ugly peices of odd looking shit that go fast in a straight line. i would much rather be caught in a m3 than a mustang. if it was a fox, myabe not.. :)

[dkbmxer002]

meh, i dont like the new mustangs at all. they lost me after the 04' cobra, from then on they're just big bulky ugly peices of odd looking shit that go fast in a straight line. i would much rather be caught in a m3 than a mustang. if it was a fox, myabe not.. :)

you do realize they handle well too right?

[Holland]

meh, i dont like the new mustangs at all. they lost me after the 04' cobra, from then on they're just big bulky ugly peices of odd looking shit that go fast in a straight line. i would much rather be caught in a m3 than a mustang. if it was a fox, myabe not.. :)

They do handle, thread owns you.