2015 Mustang benchmarked against outgoing M3. Already trailing the upcoming M4?

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by I am Earl

Turbo : Checked
Below 8000 rpm red line : Checked
Long gear ratios : Checked
Electronic steering : Checked
Active sound : Checked
Cars no longer produced in the special M plant : Checked
Use the same engine from 2006 that was used in pre LCI E9X 335 to cut costs : Checked

Anything else you want?

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by I am Earl

Turbo : Checked
Below 8000 rpm red line : Checked
Long gear ratios : Checked
Electronic steering : Checked
Active sound : Checked
Cars no longer produced in the special M plant : Checked
Use the same engine from 2006 that was used in pre LCI E9X 335 to cut costs : Checked

Anything else you want?

How did I know the very first thing you were going to use as proof was that it has a turbo? Did you bitch and moan when BMW ditched the I6 for the V8 too?

Sounds like you're already convinced yourself this isn't the car for you.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by I am Earl

Just please take 2 seconds and read the post above yours. You can clearly see that I am not convinced in any way. Am I frustrated? Yes. Am I convinced? Hell no. My lease is up in 6 months and I'm stuck between the M5, the new M3, or keeping the car. My heart wants the new M3, but I'm skeptical about it.

i am not planning on keeping my E92 forever. although if i could keep the car and grab a new car i would.

i don't plan on getting another M car though.

[swanson]

Originally Posted by drummer

I don't see how a dinosaur like the mustang can ever hold a candle to a 911 or any M series BMW. american car builders are more concerned about flash,muscle and straight line drag racing. BMW and Porsche are a moving network of science and technology and epitomize the definition of a true sports car,and will still out drag the Pony on any track or street race. Ford needs to scrap the whole pony idea and build a true sports car..

I love how the koolaid gang of this forum always try to put their BMW's on the same pedestal as Porsche. I know most of you guys suck porsches balls, but c'mon. BMW has fallen off. They are NOT the same cars they once were. Sports cars? LMMFAO! I hope the new M3/M4 is good, but if the latest criticism of BMW is any indication of whats to come, I wont hold my breathe.

[e92miami]

Seating position and the interior is still looking real bad on this Mustang but I have to say it may have taken Ford 40+ years but they finally made a nice looking exterior.

[duolab]

Let's not give too much credit to BMW interiors. My 2011 135i interior was one of the worse interiors I've ever owned and that was a $44k car. Granted the newer BMW interiors are nicer but still lagging behind Audi by far. Fact of the matter is the Mustang uses less expensive materials because it's a value priced car. Increase the sticker price by $10k to be in the same price range as BMW and you would see a huge jump in quality of the interiors..I think most people would say Ford's interiors are better, just get into a Fusion or Focus. Still work to do but better.

[Dave2011M3]

This thread doesn't have to degenerate to name calling. You don't like Mustangs, thats cool. Think BMW has lost their way, thats fine, its your opinion.

I don't like Chevy's, never have, never will. My dad worked for Ford, that doesn't man I don't think the new Vette or Z28 aren't bad arse rides. I wouldn't own one, but that doesn't mean I don't think they are cool cars.

Mustangs don't float your boat, no sweat. Just don't spread bull shiite about the car or be a fanbois. I can guaranfuckigteeyou that there is a bunch of bs being spread on the Mustang websites as well.

We should try to be above the fray and look at these cars as objectively you can.

Dave

[Dave2011M3]

Originally Posted by duolab

Let's not give too much credit to BMW interiors. My 2011 135i interior was one of the worse interiors I've ever owned and that was a $44k car. Granted the newer BMW interiors are nicer but still lagging behind Audi by far. Fact of the matter is the Mustang uses less expensive materials because it's a value priced car. Increase the sticker price by $10k to be in the same price range as BMW and you would see a huge jump in quality of the interiors..I think most people would say Ford's interiors are better, just get into a Fusion or Focus. Still work to do but better.

Yes the Audi's look better but materials aren't that much better if at all then what BMW uses. They just have more flair in the designs...once again my opinion.

Dave

[pkimM3r]

Originally Posted by Dave2011M3

Yes the Audi's look better but materials aren't that much better if at all then what BMW uses. They just have more flair in the designs...once again my opinion.

Dave

I second that opinion. They look real bling and nice and you start touching them and its just cheapo plastic with loud ass cheapo plastic clicks. I sat in a buddies s5 and the seating position and how the gear stalk is up high felt awesome. How the gear stalk felt when shifting and how the steering felt and how using all the buttons in the interior felt though - the total opposite. I thought i was in a civic.

[pkimM3r]

Back to the mustang...its going to be a mustang. A nice car at its price point. It will give gobs of performance at its price point and especially with the special edition models.

I personally though would never buy any american car. Its been my story my whole life and im sticking to it (except ctsv wagon, the only exception).

[positiveions]

Car has some nice appeal to it.

[ORIGIN M.]

Until the resale value improves in a huge way I cannot see the point in cross shopping or buying Ford.

Ford has come a long ways, but they still have a huge journey ahead.

[Dave2011M3]

Keep in mind a fully loaded GT will be under $45k, what you pay for a decently equipped 428i, which doesn't even come with a locking diffy as standard and you need a calendar to record its 1/4 mile time in comparison to a 5.0L Mustang and yet handle just as good.

Dave

[Savory]

Originally Posted by I am Earl

Turbo : Checked
Below 8000 rpm red line : Checked
Long gear ratios : Checked
Electronic steering : Checked
Active sound : Checked
Cars no longer produced in the special M plant : Checked
Use the same engine from 2006 that was used in pre LCI E9X 335 to cut costs : Checked

Anything else you want?

Can't tell if trolling or not. In case you are being serious, wait until you drive one. Case in point: 991 GT3.
iconic Mezger engine: gone
PDK:mandatory
4 wheel steering
Heavier than outgoing model
More civilized etc..

Yet the GT3 managed not to be a pedestrian car. In fact, its turning out to be spectacular. It has been praised by doubters and naysayers.

[gvega702]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Im glad the 'stang is in this comparison. People think the M3 is in a class of its own performance wise. It just isnt. Build materials, sure. But I bet you it is not $30k better in just interior trim and finish.

This becomes more appealing now that pricing on the M3/M4 will just be astronomical (based on non-M 3/4 pricing as it is).

Agreed! Like someone else said before, if the 3 series and 4 series interiors are any indication there is a very marginal difference in quality between the 3/4 series and other cars for much less.

[vladberca]

BMW has done some track oriented models like M3 GTS/ CRT. Not available in US, though.
With the new generations we'll see an M235i Racing and for sure some special M3/M4 models
I don't know how many will "track" their cars, but the M3/M4 will be better as DD and this is what BMW wanted from the start.
I want to see if Ford can build a better car than Ford GT.
I think that the prices of European sport cars are correct once Porsche,Ferrari, AMG, M have their largest market in US.

[conradb]

I, for one, track my car. If there's one thing I've found, modded Mustang GT's on the track are ridiculously fast. We're talking GT-R fast, as I've raced with both at the same time. Since this new S550 Mustang GT is using the same Coyote 5.0 (sans for some minor tweaks and Boss 302 parts now), we're going to have a slew of cheap performance parts from day 1. You can get 850HP+ SC kits on these things for under $7k. Ford has an entire lineup of Ford Racing parts for the new Coyote 5.0 already. If you want a serious track car, and don't care to break the bank (drop $50k+ on mods) hands down the Mustang GT will be the better buy.

Then again, this thread may be geared more towards OEM vs OEM, but this is an important fact to remember. How much are the SC kits going for on the E9x M3? $20k+? Everything is more expensive because they know they can charge you more, not because the parts are better. However, one thing every long-term owner of either will have to face is maintenance and costs related to that. The Mustang will be FAR cheaper to work on and maintain. And from what I've heard, the Coyote 5.0 is a more reliable V8 than the S65 in the M3 is.

[Phaeron]

Originally Posted by Sered

Please. The last one competed very well against the M3 on the track (not the dragstrip). It didn't drive as well, but this is supposed to be a really good improvement especially since they ripped off the E9X suspension for the car. This is supposed to be a sports car now.

Even with a track pack the Mustang has soft suspension. There is a reason why the Camaro which has already surpassed the M line up with the ZR1 is still better than the Mustang. Now lets ask a question that is really important here. How many revisions to the engine, suspension, and transmission did the 2008 M3 go through since its introduction vs how many revisions did the Mustang go through? in 2008 till 2010 the GT came with a 4.6L V8 that made 320hp and 300lbs of torque.. It wasn't until the 5.0 came out that the mustang finally got "serious".

Originally Posted by Sered

Have you sat in a new Ford lately? The new Fusion isn't quite there, but it's close vs current 3 series. So does a 4-series

I have sat in a Ford lately and if you were honest you would not be spouting stupid shit like this. What does current 3 series mean? The current 3 series interior is better than the E90 (isn't hard the E90 interior was garbage). The Fords have cheap plastic and leather... VERY CHEAP LEATHER. Ford Leather isn't dyed. They use a thin strip of leather and then "Paint" the color on with a thin coat of accrylic like paint. Yes the interiors now are light years ahead of old fords but to say they are close to a BMW interior... What ever integrity you have was voided.

Originally Posted by Sered;15086226I

say let them compete on the track. The 335i gets destroyed by the GT there (especially the F30 335i), the only apt comparison is the M3, sorry.

That is funny because the 335i coupe defeated the 2011 Mustang GT. The Mustang GT's VIR laptime is 3.13.5 while the 335i coupe was 3.10.5. Interestingly enough the E90 335is (which is a coupe) was 3.13.8 while the F30 335i 3.13.2. The M3 was 3.05.4 at VIR. You have to go to the Boss 302 to defeat not just the the M3 but the Shelby GT500. The Boss 302 was a thorough breed race car made for the street.

Originally Posted by Sered

You really don't want to go there. The Mustang as it sits right now is a more reliable vehicle than the M3 and costs FAR FAR less to repair and to modify. The M3 costs more because people like you are gullible enough to buy it at that price and pay for mods at the price you do. $15k for supercharger kits? $25k for stroker motors? $3k for exhausts? LOL.

No, CR did a reliability study and Declared the BMW M3 as one of the most reliable cars made. Your credibility at this point is non existant.. Thanks for playing.

[kdiggz]

Originally Posted by red-sauerkraut

Until the resale value improves in a huge way I cannot see the point in cross shopping or buying Ford.

Ford has come a long ways, but they still have a huge journey ahead.

You mean like how my M3 is now worth half as much as it was new? Yea great resale value

[Phaeron]

Originally Posted by kdiggz

You mean like how my M3 is now worth half as much as it was new? Yea great resale value

Resale value as a whole is just one big joke. In all honesty you have three choices. Buy used, Lease, or just keep what you buy.

[Xcution]

I don't know what the hating is about. I have never imagined about buying a Mustang let alone a Ford. This thing is a looker and from what I have read will be a great drivers car.

[Phaeron]

Originally Posted by Xcution

I don't know what the hating is about. I have never imagined about buying a Mustang let alone a Ford. This thing is a looker and from what I have read will be a great drivers car.

I don't know why the idea of beating an M3 is such a shocker/show of weakness. German manufacturers tend to release a model and only do very slight tweaks during the LCI updates. Ford and Chevy on the other hand may release a car and two years later in that release do a major update. Just look at the steady evolution of the Camaro and the Mustang.

All that money they save not putting in expensive leather and using cheap parts will allow for some really exciting cars. I won't lie i can't wait to see what the Mustang can do. I liked the Boss 302 but i never liked how the solid rear axle behaved... way to easy to get the tail out. Oh and the new mustang looks like Aston Martin, Mustang, and an RS5 had a baby.