MT tests 2011 Mustang GT vs 2010 M3

[zerocool84]

Exactly

 

[JackBurton]

That pretty awesome. I'm looking to get my 2011 Mustang GT here in a month or so and this is pretty cool. Never thought it would be able to hang with the M3 in a straight up drag race, let alone beat it. Not bad for a ~$30,000 American muscle car.

 

[JackBurton]

What evidence? The M3 handles better. No one would ever question that except you obviously. I don't understand why you can't understand. The Mustang has more torque which helps it exit out of the turns faster. Does that mean it handles better? No. The BMW costs more, no one would ever cross-shop these. It's a fully equipped luxury car to a cheap speed pony car. I don't get what's so hard to understand.

I love the M3, but I'd be pissed if GTs were beating my off the line after spending $70,000. If that was the case, I'd just get a Z06 for my money.

 

[Pariah]

Anyone really surprised by the result? The cars weigh just about the same, and have similar HP. If you want dirt cheap performance, the Mustang has always been good bang for buck, the BMW, not really. The current M3 is also 3 years old already. The comparison probably won't be so close 3 years from now when the Mustang hasn't been revised but the M3 likely will have been.

As has already been mentioned, these cars won't ever be cross shopped. One is cheap performance, the other is a luxury car that happens to be really fast. Offered both cars, with no option to sell (making the price difference irrelevant), I wouldn't even remotely consider taking the Mustang GT over an M3.

 

[Pariah]

I love the M3, but I'd be pissed if GTs were beating my off the line after spending $70,000. If that was the case, I'd just get a Z06 for my money.

Why? Since when has the M3 ever been the best drag racing car available for $70k or less? Nobody buys an M3 to drag race between lights. If you have any driving skill, the cars are close enough that you would beat the average Mustang driver hands down every time.

 

[Tsavo]

Both are great cars.

I looked at a new 335i sedan the other day and it was $52k!

New Mustang + better brakes/shocks seems like a pretty easy sell.

Especially since the M3 stickers at $60k!

 

[abaez]

Unrelated to the comparison, but man you can really see how utterly fantastic Top Gear's editing and filming is when you watch these vids.

 

[exdeath]

Why? Since when has the M3 ever been the best drag racing car available for $70k or less? Nobody buys an M3 to drag race between lights.

Sure they do, as long as they are only drag racing people in Altimas, Camrys, Kias, being a stereotypical dime a dozen look what daddy bought me douchebag in their factory stock factory slow blank check BMW.

Put someone next to them that can take them on at the game of their own choosing when they are revving and creeping at a stop light and suddenly it's excuses about how it's not a drag car, throw some twisties in there, luxury, blah blah blah, eg: shit the BMW driver couldn't have cared less about when he was showing up that helpless Accord at every red light.

Granted the majority of these posing douchebags are only in bare bones 330s or 328s not M3s, but the point remains.

 

[EightySix Four]

Both are great cars.

I looked at a new 335i sedan the other day and it was $52k!

New Mustang + better brakes/shocks seems like a pretty easy sell.

Especially since the M3 stickers at $60k!

Didn't need better brakes, he praised them. Needs a stiffer suspension.

 

[Tsavo]

Didn't need better brakes, he praised them. Needs a stiffer suspension.

I'd put better brakes on it if I bought one...but I'm hard on brakes.

 

[overst33r]

Anyone really surprised by the result? The cars weigh just about the same, and have similar HP. If you want dirt cheap performance, the Mustang has always been good bang for buck, the BMW, not really. The current M3 is also 3 years old already. The comparison probably won't be so close 3 years from now when the Mustang hasn't been revised but the M3 likely will have been.

As has already been mentioned, these cars won't ever be cross shopped. One is cheap performance, the other is a luxury car that happens to be really fast. Offered both cars, with no option to sell (making the price difference irrelevant), I wouldn't even remotely consider taking the Mustang GT over an M3.

The Mustang isn't exactly new, it did get a refresh but most of the chassis components date back to 2005 with the major facelift and engine upgrade just a year ago.

 

[Tsavo]

Unrelated to the comparison, but man you can really see how utterly fantastic Top Gear's editing and filming is when you watch these vids.

Amen brother, preach it!

 

[sdifox]

humm, maybe I should go test drive one... or the Taurus SHO...

in the market for another car.

 

[PhoKingGuy]

humm, maybe I should go test drive one... or the Taurus SHO...

in the market for another car.

IMHO the Taurus SHO is a fantastic car. My friend almost picked it over an A4 Premium Plus Quattro but decided he didn't want that big of a car.

It feels 99.9% the same as any midsize german lux car, E class, 5 series, A6. No joke, fantastic engineering.

 

[SSSnail]

My favorite quote of the second video "... try that in a Mustang and you'd be off the track".

Anyways, while 25K is quite a bit of money for the performance difference, some can justify it in other areas.

 

[SSSnail]

Sure they do, as long as they are only drag racing people in Altimas, Camrys, Kias, being a stereotypical dime a dozen look what daddy bought me douchebag in their factory stock factory slow blank check BMW.

Put someone next to them that can take them on at the game of their own choosing when they are revving and creeping at a stop light and suddenly it's excuses about how it's not a drag car, throw some twisties in there, luxury, blah blah blah, eg: shit the BMW driver couldn't have cared less about when he was showing up that helpless Accord at every red light.

Granted the majority of these posing douchebags are only in bare bones 330s or 328s not M3s, but the point remains.

Dude, give it a rest; every thread you come in here with the same tired diatribe.

Here's something for you to consider - while the new Mustang maybe a much better handling cars than those previous generations; wait, yours belongs to the "previous" generation doesn't it? Some people could very well say "redneck", as you would fall perfectly into that category, according to common wisdom.

Some people buy a car for more than just stop light to stop light "racing". Your constant bagging of people that buy these types of cars makes you no better than they are. It makes you the exact opposite of them, with the same equal hatred level and ignorance.

Do you race yours? Or just stomp your foot at stop lights to show up "them unpatriotic Euro cars lover".

And to quote you "put someone next to them that can take them at their game", which game is that, straight line "racing"?

There, I said it. TYVM and good night! Take a chill pill dude.

 

[exar333]

Spend some $$$ on suspension upgrades for the Mustang and see it really shine; I am not talking 25k either.

 

[JackBurton]

Why? Since when has the M3 ever been the best drag racing car available for $70k or less? Nobody buys an M3 to drag race between lights. If you have any driving skill, the cars are close enough that you would beat the average Mustang driver hands down every time.

To me the M3 is about performance and luxury. However, without the performance (power), I would rather just get the 335i coupe and save some money. If I had $70,000 to spend on a car though, and it was between the M3 and Z06, I think I would just get the Z06. I still like the M3, but BMW definitely needs to beef up the power.

 

[overst33r]

Spend some $$$ on suspension upgrades for the Mustang and see it really shine; I am not talking 25k either.

I can't wait for the Boss 302 vs M3 comparison. :twisted:

 

[JulesMaximus]

Of course the Mustang handles well for what it is. Did I say it didn't? But if you've seen what the new M3 can do then it's a HUGE difference as it should be cus it's not a cheap car Comparing the Stang with an M3 in the handling department is dumb. Not even close.

Did you even watch the second video? M3 understeers while the Mustang has a very neutral feel, yeah, it suffers from excessive dive under braking and cornering but it was only 1/10th of a second slower around the road course than the M3. 1/10th of a second is huge when comparing Formula One cars but it is completely meaningless when comparing road cars.

 

[JulesMaximus]

The Mustang isn't exactly new, it did get a refresh but most of the chassis components date back to 2005 with the major facelift and engine upgrade just a year ago.

Yeah, and it was great back then. They've had time to refine it now.

 

[Pariah]

Did you even watch the second video? M3 understeers while the Mustang has a very neutral feel, yeah, it suffers from excessive dive under braking and cornering but it was only 1/10th of a second slower around the road course than the M3.

Great, now compare their times around the Nurburgring which isn't known for it's perfectly manicured pavement and is a much more technical course for seperating the capables from the pretenders.

 

[SSSnail]

Streets of Willow have LOTS of big sweepers, not much of a technical course.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Anyone really surprised by the result? The cars weigh just about the same, and have similar HP. If you want dirt cheap performance, the Mustang has always been good bang for buck, the BMW, not really. The current M3 is also 3 years old already. The comparison probably won't be so close 3 years from now when the Mustang hasn't been revised but the M3 likely will have been.

As has already been mentioned, these cars won't ever be cross shopped. One is cheap performance, the other is a luxury car that happens to be really fast. Offered both cars, with no option to sell (making the price difference irrelevant), I wouldn't even remotely consider taking the Mustang GT over an M3.

What is luxury exactly? Leather seats? An automatic transmission? Or a DSGSSGGSSGSFLAPPYPADDLEGEARBOXOMG? iDrive? That solid thunk when you slam the door? Or is it the fact that you get a loaner car when you go in for service? Or is it the $125 oil changes? Or the $1000 brake jobs every 15k miles? Or is it just the BMW keys you toss to the valet?

Of course you wouldn't cross shop the Mustang GT and the BMW M3. To even consider the Mustang would indicate how little you really care about your image...and that's all that really matters isn't it?

 

[SSSnail]

Hey Jules, any cars can get leather seat nowadays.

BTW, the Lotus you love so much? Has a Toyota engine in it, so no V-TECH.

Let me guess, Mustang GT owners change out their oil at Jiffy Lube for $20? Change their brakes less often? 15K miles? Where the fcuk did you get your info from? Do people race these 15K miles car everyday?

Quit arguing semantics.