thing is, strictly speaking the m3 is not a sportscar. the difference between the m3 and mustang is one of execution not of philosophy. read the car mags as often as i do and you'll actually see the m3 referred to as a german muscle car quite often. the m3 at the end of the day is based off a four door sedan, a lot like early american muscle cars.

 

You say the 'Stang and Bimmer differ in philosophy rather than execution. I disagree. BMW's philosophy was "Let's make a well-rounded premium sportscar!" Ford's philosophy was "Let's make something cheap and powerful, and if we can make it handle decently too why not!" If anything, their execution was more similar, in that they both built RWD, 4 place, coupes--one a musclecar and one a sportscar.

 

I wanted a BMW so I went and test drove 2 used Z3's (love the retro style) 3 Z4's (awsome handling-very harsh ride). 2 M3's one used one new (awsome cars-high cost). BMW's are definately the "ultimate driving machine". Before I bought one I called my cousin (he works at the largest auto auction in the US) and asked him what he would or wouldn't buy as far as RELIABILITY goes. He said you CAN'T go wrong with Lexus, Infinity, Chevy Trucks, Ford(Mustang, CV, F 150). He said don't even consider Ford Taurus, BMW(they always come in with the check engine light on-and multiple codes), Mercedes or Mopars. Then I remembered when I drove the 3 used BMW's that they all had a check engine or ABS light showing and 1 was a "certified used car"! I am sorry, but I think a 50,000 dollar plus car should be as reliable as a ......well a Lexus!

 

Don't take this as a flame, just my opinion and experience:

I own a 2003 Ford Taurus LX and it's been the most reliable car I've owned. I've had a Honda Accord LX, 2 Civic EX's, Volkswagon Jetta GLX, a Dodge Intrepid and my current Mustang. The Taurus has not been in the shop for anything other than routine maintenance, is roomy, comfortable and runs strong. Something I can't say about any of my other cars, other than my Civics. Now I don't know if I just got lucky or not, but this car would definately make me buy another Taurus, if they were still making them.

Personally, the one car company I would never, EVER buy from again is Volkswagon. As for the BMW M3, I did get to drive one and it definately was a very pleasant experience (although my friend wouldn't let me open it up at all!) and if I had that kind of cash, I'd seriously consider it.

 

BMW's provide extraordinary levels of refinement, technology and driving pleasure. They are also well screwed together.

But there's a price to be paid for the overabundance of technology, and that price often comes in the form of reliability issues and a high cost of ownership, particularly once the warranty is up. Have a look around and you'll see most BMW owners unload their cars once the warranty expires. Initial purchase price is also high. Thus, changing cars of that caliber every few years is a rich person's game - hence the reason why most middle class buyers don't purchase them.

 

I owned a 1989 Taurus and it was a POS. Water Pump, Altenator, CV joints, Fuel pump and Transaxle all went out in 58,000 miles!

 

Very well put!

 

I've owned three Taurus' and never had any issues with them.

And Whit, hope you and the family had a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

 

Same to you Jason---ya'll getting much snow????

 

hi guys! happy new year to all!

i wondered where my thread went! LOL

Here are the cars i owned before i went and bought an '06 Mustang GT Premium:

'89 Taurus SHO - horrible, always in shop
'91 Acura Legend sedan - excellent! perfect
'95 Mercedes C36 AMG - wowsers! amazing!
'99 Mercedes CLK430 sport with Carlson kit - Good car but tranny died at 10K miles, Benz fixed it warranty
'02 BMW M3 - hmmm...overrated! 6cyl didnt feel that great! In the BMW shop a lot!
'01 and '02 Audi A6 4.2 sport - great Sedan! loved it but too big of a car for me since i'm still not married yet.
'06 Mustang GT premium - Can't wait to pick it up from dealer next week! so excited!

The reason why i decided to compare the GT to E46 M3 was because i owned an M3 and every magazine was raving about it and i was not impressed at all. i felt like the 3.2 motor was struggling everytime you made it GO. Also, it whined and vibrated a lot. The car was SO heavy too! i believe its close to 4000 lbs. If you went out of warranty, you are in big trouble for any small fix. My ignition/starter went. I just ended my warranty period. It cost me $600 to fix it!

On top of that, there is something special about a beefy TOUGH american muscle car. i like that its a bit UNREFINED. Not too much luxury items. Thats the way a muscle/sports car should be. the M3 has way too many luxury enhancments. I dont know, i felt like such a high maintenance dude driving it!

Just my opinion. Oh! one more thing....the dang M3 cost me DOUBLE what i paid for my Stang GT!!

Happy New Year all! im glad to be on the american muscle bandwagon!

 

Spoken like a true enthusiast. Well said!

 

That is why I will never own a BMW or Mercedes!! I have a 2000 Mustang GT that hasn't cost me a penny in repairs even though I drag race it at the track, have driven it in anger at Barbers Motorsports park and drive "The Tail of the Dragon" in anger at least once a year and that is after adding 140 rwhp via a Vortech V1 SQ (I don't mind spending $ 20,000 in mods on a car that is actually reliable and I can work on if I have to).

 

Funny that you say M3s are "SO heavy" considering its the lightest of all the cars you listed (other than the 18 year old Taurus).

 

yes....i think im done with benz/bmw...

hopefully, i'll keep my stang forever and if i need another car for daily beater...i'll lease a ford fusion or new hyndai sonata...

but the Mustang GT...man....i love it way more than i ever did even the first day i picked my M3.

for sure i know it feels smoother and faster from 0-40 than my m3 did because of the response of the V8.

i had motor problems on my m3 because that 3.2 6 cyl was so max'd out, compression so high that bmw had a few recalls on the motor itself.

and i dont like people seeing me in that m3...they all think i was arrogant....

 

hi guys, I went for a ride in my friends M3 2005, an incredible car for sure, it will kick my GT's butt any day, but I am a believer that a sport car/muscle car, has to be a little unforgiving, a little raw, and the bimmers, they have so many computer things, it kind of makes you forget you are driving a car, I enjoy cars that make the driver shine, those cars have electronic stabilization, you can change the way the gears do the change of gears with a button, I don't know, I would die to have a raw ford cobra with 500 horses, and a steering wheel, a stick 4 sp. or 5 sp. tops, and 3 pedals, and if it rain, I get wet, that is a pure breed sports car for me, and the mustang is closer to that than the M3, you can suck at driving, and the M3 will make you look good, but still, I enjoy simpler cars if I think of the car as a sports car.
also, I believe the shape of the mustang is more beautiful, the M3 is awesome, but it is a little boring, even the guy fromo Top Gear syas it... and they know about cars.
I would have a bimmer if I wanted to be a showoff, and if I could afford it iwthout a sweat.
now, do you people think a GT with a SC like a KB or whipple, with low pressure can win in the 1/4 mile to a brand new M3??
I still prefer an M3 against a vette(not the Z06, just a vette)
I guess if I would prefer an old A/C cobra with a big motor and raw pure muscle, I am a car romantic???
Happy new Year!!! 2007 is the year of james bond, we should all be talking about aston martins.

 

"Kick [your] GT's butt"? I seriously doubt that. MAYBE in the twisties.

 

I agree. A M3 is a sports coupe (or sports sedan if it's one of the older M3 4-doors). A 2006 M3 has a MSRP of $50K, but in reality, you can't really find one for less than a $60K sticker.

A Porsche 911 is a sports car.

 

Raced a E36 last night. Two rounds. Passed it by a car length each time. Supposedly it had an engine swap with an E46....
Beat it in a stock 07 too, first kill. haha.

 

Beating an E36 ain't no puzzle. I would expect you to beat one of those. How old are they now?

 

A s/c s197 would kill a new m3