Motor Trend: Mustang GT 5.0 vs. BMW M3

[Wimbledon]

My, how far the Mustang has come.

Question: With performance so close, is the ~$27k price difference worth it to you? And this Mustang isn't even the 2012 Boss...

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coup...index.html

Motor Trend Wrote:1ST PLACE: BMW M3
Did you blink and miss the M3's onionskin advantage over the GT? Here's a hint: It's in the chassis, not underhood.

2ND PLACE: MUSTANG GT
Never has a loss felt so much like a win. From not once considered to full-blown contender, 5.0 officially puts the world on notice.

PRICE AS TESTED
MUSTANG - $40,275
M3 COUPE -$67,025

0-60
MUSTANG -4.4sec
M3 COUPE -4.4sec

1/4 mile
MUSTANG - 12.7sec
M3 COUPE - 12.8sec

LATERAL ACCELERATION
MUSTANG - 0.96 g (avg)
M3 COUPE - 0.95 g (avg)

MT FIGURE EIGHT
MUSTANG - 24.9 sec @ 0.76 g (avg)
M3 COUPE - 25.1 sec @ 0.74 g (avg)

BRAKING, 60-0 MPH
MUSTANG - 108 ft
M3 COUPE - 110 ft

For me, suspension and steering feel are criteria near the top of my list when it comes to cars so I would appreciate the M3. But for others, this new Mustang is mighty impressive.

[grethi]

Suspension is a big criteria for me, too. I've been eyeballing Mustangs off and on for months, but I can't see myself trading in a AWD Subaru for the 3-link solid axle with a panhard bar. I'd be half tempted to see if my '69 VW (IRS) could keep pace in the twisties with a late model Mustang V6. I'm not talented or experienced enough of a track driver to keep up with an M3 in a car like that.

I drove a '06 Mustang for work shortly after they hit the rental lots. It felt like a HUGE car. I was driving an extended cab S-10 at the time, too. My truck only weighed 300lbs more than the 06 Mustang, but the Mustang felt broader and heavier. It felt pretty clumsy and soft for a sports car travelling between 10 and 40mph. That said, the 5.0 in the article may be more nimble in city traffic if they truly have upgraded the suspension with this version.

As far as the price comparison, I'd take the Mustang any day. Besides, the Mustang hasn't earned any nasty stigmas like the BMW does.

[Vman455]

Forget the 5.0...I want to see the GT500 go up against the M3. At $12,000 less, still.

[BamBamE34]

(08-24-2010 04:18 PM)Vman455 Wrote:  Forget the 5.0...I want to see the GT500 go up against the M3. At $12,000 less, still.

You missed the point, Regardless of cost you can't compare a 550HP car to a 414HP.

The GT is closer when it comes to specifications. It's like saying, Why buy a new Audi R8 V10 (525hp) when you can get a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (620hp) for afew grand less.

[grethi]

(08-25-2010 06:46 AM)BamBamE34 Wrote:  You missed the point, Regardless of cost you can't compare a 550HP car to a 414HP.

The GT is closer when it comes to specifications. It's like saying, Why buy a new Audi R8 V10 (525hp) when you can get a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (620hp) for afew grand less.

Maybe, but the Audi is far more eyecatching. It's been a long time since I could picture myself driving a Corvette. The Audi, on the other hand, seems like a great dream to be racing down highway 101 (the coast highway for you east coasters).

And why can't they compare the two? They put the little Lotus Elise into comparisions with the bigger cars all the time. "It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog.":D

(08-24-2010 04:18 PM)Vman455 Wrote:  Forget the 5.0...I want to see the GT500 go up against the M3. At $12,000 less, still.

That one would be fun to see. Especially in a tuner prepped M3...

[Wimbledon]

Audi's dog in this fight should be the 444-hp RS5.

[BamBamE34]

Lotus weighs nothing and sprints 0-60 in like 4 Seconds or something like that, Lotus didn't want to put a ton of power, But instead made their cars light... That might be why they compare it to everything.

In a more fair comparison for a GT500 would have to be the Dinan S3R M3 (scroll down to the bottom'ish http://www.dinancars.com/bmw/whats-new )... But it's pointless to compare stock to modified... But for some reason you failed to see the point of my example comparison (corvette vs R8) they are in different leagues and there are other reasons to buy one or the other... Sheer power of the Corvette or the awesome build quality of the R8.

Oh and Wimb, A comparison for the RS5, M3 and CTS-V Coupe has been done before (recently).

[Dr.Gonzo]

The mustang GT is aimed at 335i buyers not m3 buyers. I wanna see me some 335is Mustang GT comparo

[Vman455]

(08-25-2010 04:25 PM)BamBamE34 Wrote:  In a more fair comparison for a GT500 would have to be the Dinan S3R M3 (scroll down to the bottom'ish http://www.dinancars.com/bmw/whats-new )... But it's pointless to compare stock to modified... But for some reason you failed to see the point of my example comparison (corvette vs R8) they are in different leagues and there are other reasons to buy one or the other... Sheer power of the Corvette or the awesome build quality of the R8.

That may be so, but for 99.9% of buyers, price is the first consideration: what cars am I looking at for x dollars? And by that measure, the GT500 is a closer match to the M3.