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

[04cobra]

I am waiting for the new "cobra" model to be revealed. Thats the version I will probably buy, maybe I will even change my name to 16cobra :-D

[m3less]

Mustang will probably out perform the new M3/4 but, not sure if it will be a better all around car than M3/4. I can't see myself paying 70k for M3/4 when something as well put together as this new mustang seems to be, for half the price. Eagerly waiting for the show down lol

[TK427]

At the end of the day..........

[ppatel223]

Originally Posted by Charminar

Gotta say, it's quite a looker.

pics linked from Mustang6g.com

It looks like Audi TT

[N & M]

It is a really sad day when BMW M has to start worrying about the Mustang. Then again, Nissan did it so is it really impossible to believe that they could make it work?

[BMWJ]

I would still take a M3/4 over this any day - wouldn't have to think twice about it, even if it is a nice improvement over previous models. I just don't like it.

[cdgatti]

For me it comes down to they are both great cars, that would be fun to own. If I could afford the M, I'd get it, if I couldn't I'd reward ford for their stellar efforts to bring performance to the masses.

The wild card out there though is still the eps in the new M, will it be ok? Because in the f30/32 cars it is not!

[BMWforLife]

I traded my e90 330i for a 2012 mustang v6.

wish i never did...

i had the performance pack, so i had better gear ratios and stiffer suspension, the car still didn’t quite handle as well as I would have liked.

Granted i got the v6 rather than the v8, my biggest gripe is the power was not smooth at all, it was obviously variable through the RPM range. killed the joy of driving.

needless to say i corrected this mistake

[ORIGIN M.]

Originally Posted by basscadet

Sarcasm

[krnnerdboy]

Looks like I'll be owning my 2nd mustang! And yes, I'm one to cross shop an m3, mustang, z06, gt3, gtr... It's all about smiles per miles right? And at the of the day, why only own 1 if you like it?

[vladberca]

For sure the Mustang is dedicated to americans, but it will not sell good at all in Europe due to the engine displacement. And the real Mustang is the GT one.
BMW has now a 3l engine so the customers will pay lower taxes and it will have a much better fuel consumption. According to these characteristics BMW will sell more models in Europe.
Before these cars are launched there are intensive studies in order to satisfy as many people as possible.
As the cars built in US are more track focused, the M models are great all rounders.
The European track dedicated cars are way in front of the models built in US, but with higher prices.
So to say that one is better than the other is a big mistake due to the preliminary purposes

[Sered]

Originally Posted by XtoM

Looks nice but it's no comparison to either of it's benchmarking cars, it's a fast car but not a sports car, muscle cars don't cut it unless you live on a drag strip.

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.

Originally Posted by kmarei

the biggest disappointment, as always with American cars
is the second you sit inside
cheapo plastic interior all around

I have a friend at work who owns the GT500
rode with him a few times
sounds nice, tons of power
but feels like i'm sitting in a cheapo Ford focus on the inside

in no way does it feel premium
its a cheap car, with a strong engine

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

Originally Posted by YOLO89

Front/side profile looks like a honda accord to me....

So does a 4-series

Originally Posted by reborn

I think that a true comparison for a GT is the 335. The M3 is a much more expensive car and should be compared to special models of the mustang.

I 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.

Originally Posted by dhirm5

This is a meaningless comparison. Noone in their right mind cross shops an M3/M4 and a Mustang. The comparison can only be used for Mustang people to make themselves look/feel better. M3/M4 buyers have no skin in this game - it's irrelevant.

Except when it comes to tangible results, I agree with what you say. We'll see what happens, especially with the GT350 and GT500 variants.

Originally Posted by mlhj83

Even if the Mustang matched the M3 for performance, I think the biggest difference would be durability; how long can the Mustang withstand hard use before something wears out or breaks. We already know that the M3 in general has very good durability over many many miles of both road and track use. I think this is why the M3 costs so much more. It is one thing to produce a fast car, it is another to make it durable.

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.

[Sered]

Originally Posted by khanyam3

Ill see most of you on this board in you m3 or m4. Let be real if most of you are about getting the most for your money you wouldn't be on this board.

Says the guy driving a 2013 535i?

[Sered]

Originally Posted by vladberca

For sure the Mustang is dedicated to americans, but it will not sell good at all in Europe due to the engine displacement. And the real Mustang is the GT one.
BMW has now a 3l engine so the customers will pay lower taxes and it will have a much better fuel consumption. According to these characteristics BMW will sell more models in Europe.
Before these cars are launched there are intensive studies in order to satisfy as many people as possible.
As the cars built in US are more track focused, the M models are great all rounders.
The European track dedicated cars are way in front of the models built in US, but with higher prices.
So to say that one is better than the other is a big mistake due to the preliminary purposes

So you think people shop the M3 based on engine displacement? If they're that worried about it, the turbo 4 will probably be a great drive. Of course BMW will sell more models in Europe, just as Ford will sell more models in the USA

I disagree about the 'track dedicated cars' in Europe being THAT much better. Sure there's a margin and they are ahead, but not by much and considering you've probably never driven a 5.0 on a track; I'd think you should just wait and see.

I cannot wait to see the backtracking and stuttering by M fanboys when the GT350 comes out. They're going to go on and on about build quality, refinement, and heritage.

[XtoM]

It's a car for the "basic model" that's why it doesn't sell well in the real world. Doesn't matter anyway you cut it, it's a domestic car for a reason, you just can't sell it in the rest of the world, the few you see over here are just so out of place and so badly equipped to cope, the US will big them up like Clarkson does the Jags and Astons, flag waving, nothing more.

[desertfox73]

Originally Posted by kmarei

I just love me some tacked on fender flares
Nothing screams quality than stuck on bodywork additions

Agreed. I feel the same way about the wide body M3 kits I've seen on this forum, too. The gaps, the fit...not good.

[sizquik]

Originally Posted by Rated R

What I get out of many of these comments is that a guys identity, self image or what have you is mistakenly wrapped into the logo on their car.

Nailed it. Some people are just insecure and need to compensate.

[nemex12]

nice Hofmeister Kink...

[basscadet]

Originally Posted by XtoM

It's a car for the "basic model" that's why it doesn't sell well in the real world. Doesn't matter anyway you cut it, it's a domestic car for a reason, you just can't sell it in the rest of the world, the few you see over here are just so out of place and so badly equipped to cope, the US will big them up like Clarkson does the Jags and Astons, flag waving, nothing more.

You can sneer at this car all you want but all it proves is that you're closed-minded and out-of-touch with what is going on in the car world in 2013.

[US///M3]

Did they use the M3 as a benchmark too for the new Mustang's interior or it'll have the typical cheap interior ?

[vladberca]

Originally Posted by Sered

So you think people shop the M3 based on engine displacement? If they're that worried about it, the turbo 4 will probably be a great drive. Of course BMW will sell more models in Europe, just as Ford will sell more models in the USA

I disagree about the 'track dedicated cars' in Europe being THAT much better. Sure there's a margin and they are ahead, but not by much and considering you've probably never driven a 5.0 on a track; I'd think you should just wait and see.

I cannot wait to see the backtracking and stuttering by M fanboys when the GT350 comes out. They're going to go on and on about build quality, refinement, and heritage.

BMW will sell more F80/F82 models in Europe than they sold E9X due to the new engine characteristics. The prices for petrol here are very high, also the taxes for larger displacement engines.

Track dedicated cars built in Europe by: Ferrari, McLaren, Porsche.

I'd like to see the comparative between the GT350 with the Track Pack and the 435i with the M Performance Goodies (but double the price nevertheless)

[Tallest]

really liking the looks of this thing, in silver especially.