There are plenty of jerks driving around in Stangs too, as there are in BMWs and any other car. Yeah, there is an totally image-based based sector to BMWs, as in any "status" car, but, like me, there are also hard core driving enthusiasts who appreciate the performance and technical aspects of a BMW. I don't have much love for posers and preeners in any car, BMWs or Stangs included, and there are plenty in both camps. But there are also open minded enthusiasts in both camps too who appreciate fine performance cars regardless of what label is stuck on it.

My E46 M3 is a fantastic performance and driving car and hardly an overly refined, effete ride as some try to imply, being almost raw in some aspects due to its focus on performance. And there are many other similar M3 enthusiast who'll gladly talk tech and performance through as many rounds as you care to down.

In any case, I'm glad we have both the Stang, the M3 and a multitude of other excellent performance cars to enjoy. And the manufacturer competition only enhances them all in the end for which we all benefit.

 

disregard this post

 

i had a previous gen M3..and i love my stang more! LOL

 

I'll have to chime in here...Although not a new model. I have outrun several of the earler model M3's 333hp i believe....Thats in my '99 2v with a 70mm Tb with plenum exhaust and 3:73's...87 octane too

Every time i ran one, since the redline so high i would be able to almost wind out two gears before his one always giving me an edge.

i recently ran a 335i (twin turbo) and got walked cause i missed 3rd twice.
i could hung with him til bout 100-120 i think...Those things make like 270-280 at the tire stock i think

 

New 335 twin turbo's are over 300hp (330hp maybe?) and are just as fast as the previous generation M3's.

 

It is quite difficult to do anything with these two cars comparison wise besides compare their speed and accelleration capabilities.

Simply stated, if you haven't driven a BMW, then you cannot relate to it. Yes they are expensive. Yes, many people ASSUME you're a jerk if you drive one. YES you need oil tankers of cash to maintain them post warranty BUT they drive like nothing else on the road. They are simply awesome.

I love my Stang believe me. But compared to a BMW, they are about 2 caveman steps above a bucket of bolts.

And service wise, hmm...let me see. Here's a comparison for you:

BMW Service: Like getting a warm oil massage on an exotic beach by a topless native girl who is close to a 10.

Ford Service: Like getting caught by a cop in NYC trying to get a $20 BJ

 

The E46 (333hp) M3's make around 260-270 at the wheel, and the 335is make very close to that. The acceleration of the two is really VERY close, more of a driver's race than anything else. The M3's might have a slight edge, but the 335is are a bit easier to drive.

As for handling and braking though, no contest, the M3 will pretty readily trounce a stock 335 or Stang GT for that matter, they're extremely capable road racer/track cars. Also, the 335i's seem prone to overheating with their oil temps hitting 300 degrees and going into limp home mode. The stick versions apparently have oil coolers which help if not totally alleviate the problem while the M3s will easily shrug off extended high speed running -- all that extensive, expensive engineering does count for a lot and its 420hp V8 howling at 8.5K is a song to put on MP3s.

The E92 M3 just ramps up from where the E46 left off, though some are starting to wonder about its (d)evolution over time from the more single purpose, bare bones E30 M3. But it is a superb, if not cheap, performance machine.

 

I was all set to get an M3, but for about the same money I got a mustang and a toyota 4x4 pickup. No regrets.

 

you now owe me a mouthfull of coffee and a new keyboard....