http://jalopnik.com/5518750/is-the-n...-than-a-bmw-m3

 

It just reinforces the value of the Mustang. It shouldn't detract at all from the refinement of the BMW. But toss me a V6 Mustang too for the same money as that M3 and I'll gladly take the Fords and pay for my 3 years of service.

 

Ford has really done it. The 5.0 is the poor man's M3 now...

 

And that's the 5.0... Guess I shouldn't be fearing M's like I used to. I'm sure even with the 500, the new M3's will have us in the twisties, if only by a little bit.

 

Road and Track ran a 4.1 0-60 and a 12.5@114.8mph in a 08 M3 coupe 6 spd. manual. Road and Track weighed an M3 Coupe non DCT and it weighed 3555lb. I would like someone to take an 2011 Mustang GT Brembo car up to Nurburgring and see what it would run. A non R compound M3 ran a 8:05 around the circuit. An SS Camaro ran a 8:20 I believe...a lot of the times its the driver who knows the Nurburgring like the back of his hand like Walter Rohl who tests for Porsche who ran a 7:59 in a 997.1S and a 7:58 in a 997.2S.

Either way I am so impressed what Ford has done with this log axle car..it really has become an affordable (don't like to use the term "poor mans" M3, as a fully baked 2011 GT is $40k)M3.

Dave

 

A friend of mine has an M3 that I've driven. No doubt about it that is a very refined sports car.

As far as numbers go Ford is right there, but as far as drive quality and comfort the Mustang can't compare. In the end that's what it is though: you get what you pay for. And for me, I'd rather pay 35k and get a **** fast car, then pay 55k for a fast car with sophistication.

 

I just optioned a new M3 as close as I could match it to My Shelby order... $55,705 for my Shelby....





66,075 for the M3.

Don't get me wrong.. I love the M but for $11,000 difference I will sacrifice the refinement. I prefer the look of the E46 anyway... and only 30K for a decent used one.. lol

 

Yeah, I saw a similar comparison a day or two ago and yeah, the Stang GT is getting very close to realizing its initial (S197 development engineers trash talk) of being a, well, working man's E9X M3. I say this being an owner of an E46 M3, reputedly an S197 development benchmark. A (continuing) job well done, Ford.

The hard numbers are definitely pretty much there and Ford seems to have a new appreciation for the more subtle aspects of overall performance and driving enjoyments, especially in the areas of balance and control feedback, areas where they tended to be a bit ham handed. A direct comparison test would be quite interesting, both in terms of hard numbers, including some lap times, but also in terms of the driving experience, which is where Bimmers have excelled so well beyond their test numbers. Even if the M3 still does drive better, if not any faster, than the Stang GT, it gets a bit hard to justify the $20K price premium over a GT, especially now that Ford's upgraded the interior quality above econocar levels, well above.

Apparently BMW is working on an "M" version of the 1 Series to bring in a more affordable M car into the stable. Not sure they would call it an M1, a storied moniker for the late '70s super car. Also interesting is how fast they would allow it to be for if they made it as fast as the Stang GT, then it would, of course, be as fast as their M3 which makes things a bit awkward for the product planners. Perhaps they could distinguish it from the M3 by making it a much "rawer" car and it is of course a bit smaller and tighter inside. The E46 M3 was about as fast as the contemporary M5, so there's some precedence there.

Now a nice Control Blade IRS on the Stang would be the coup de grace...:-)

 

We can dream...