So, 2011 Mustang GT anyone?

[Zeus69]

I know this is an M3 forum, but hear me out. I get all the major car mags and just finished reading another glowing review of the 2011 Ford Mustang GT. All writers pretty much agree on the 5.0: "great power, great handling, great refinement, great fit and finish, etc." There are inevitable comparisons to the M3 made within these categories, with the GT being seen as a tremendously strong return on the dollar.

The following select stats are from Motor Trend:

8 cyl, 4951 cc
412 hp @ 6500 rpm (K&N Dyno actual = 435 hp)
390 lb-ft @4250 rpm (K&N Dyno actual = 404 lb-ft)
0-60: 4.3 sec
1/4 mile: 12.8
Braking 60-0: 105 ft
Lateral accel: 0.94 g
EPA CITY/HWY: 17/26

One particular area that struck me was the universal compliments of the Ford's 6 speed manual tranny. They refer to it as "sublime", "effortless", "crisp", "linear", "precise". Dang...

Loaded to the gills (all the interior and electronic gizmos as well as 19x9-inch cast aluminum wheels and 14-inch Brembos), the cost of the GT is $39,750. That's about 25 to 30-large less than the M3 Coupe. Look, I understand that both Corona and Dom Perignon will get you drunk, but this car apparently hits all the enthusiast sweet spots at an incredible price point.

I love my M3 but I'll admit: if I they made the Mustang GT in a 4-door version, I'd be wishing that I had taken it for a test spin before making a final decision.

What do you all think??

[deletedelete]

Its a good car on paper no doubt, but for me it doesnt give me that special feeling I get when thinking about having an m. Like most things, its more psychological then numbers on a page. And I like bmw as a brand better then ford, so id never consider it, but its finally what the mustang should be.

[Frozen Black Panther]

it will never have the balance and finish and feel of an m3. c'mon now - it's a mustang.
great car but personally at 33 I would not be caught dead driving one, it's a car for high school kids or really old guys that didnt have the mustang in high school.

plus i raced one and won his said "boss" on the side and he rolled his window down and said "that fuckers quick!!" said thanks

[Bubbles]

Two words: "live axle"

[Frozen Black Panther]

but it does piss me off that my car was 70 grand and has shitty torque and a 30k ford has more........

[Poppin Fresh]

Originally Posted by That Nice Guy Beck!

but it does piss me off that my car was 70 grand and has shitty torque and a 30k ford has more........

Slap an under drive pulley then hit the highway ramp on third and then come back and chime in...

[warzilla]

For two different buyers. While I like the Mustang 5.0, I would never buy one, and vice versa with someone who I think would buy the Mustang 5.0.

BTW - I sat in the interior of the new 5.0 and I couldn't drive it after coming from a current e92 BMW....its two different worlds in terms of materials, fit, finish, features, etc.

[IbanezGod]

Cars aren't all about numbers and performance numbers. They are also about how they make you feel and are an extension of your personality and lifestyle. Mustang just makes me shake my head. So ugly

[warzilla]

Originally Posted by stingray23

I wouldnt say its much different. I currently have a 335i and test drove a new mustang GT convertible and I can say the materials and fit and finish were very similar if not the same.

The OP was comparing the M3 with the 5.0. My comments were based that I drive an M3 and the M3 has a upgraded interior compared to the 335i. M3 and 335 interiors are not the same.

[M3 Esq]

It can't be anywhere near as good as my 1990 5.0 GT was. That thing was a BEAST!

[Definitive]

Originally Posted by stingray23

I wouldnt say its much different. I currently have a 335i and test drove a new mustang GT convertible and I can say the materials and fit and finish were very similar if not the same.

I'm sorry that's just crazy!!! The inside of the mustang is horrible. Nowherr near as nice as a BMW even a e46... I was just going to post my experience, but after reading that I had to comment on what you said.

I got to drive this car fro two days and this was what I thought.

Honestly, I could never drive the new mustang. It is very sloppy, doesn't feel very fast at all, and the interior is hideous and very plasticky... At any decent speed taking a turn you feel like you'll lose control and thats with traction on. Im not saying you will, but it just feels like it.

It really feels like it is just unstable, and clunky. Very bad view out the back window and blind spots. The built in wide angle mirrors on the side mirrors are horrible and a dangerous distraction. The stereo is horrible and so is the sound of the car.

All together i don't care it is faster which its not, or a while lot less money, it's just a whole lot less car. Im not anti american cars or anything. I drove a ford sporttrac for 3 years. Loved it. But the mustang just sucked.

I really think these magazine writers are smoking some really good stuff. When I got out of the mustang and back in my car, it was an amazing feeling.

I will say the gas milage seemed really good for a V8 though. LOL

D

[Zeus69]

I haven't sat in or driven an '11 GT so I can't comment personally. Just struck by the uniform praise (C&D, Motor Trend, Automobile, R&T, etc.) that the 5.0 is receiving. I don't think this is just advertising dollars or kool-aid that leads the editors to reach the same conclusions. And we're not talking just "good for a Ford" praise; I mean a bona-fide "M3 drivers look over your shoulder" praise. Hey, I got nothing to gain by pimping a Mustang--stop by Borders and leaf through the car mags on the rack for yourselves...

Again, I understand the stereotypes that surround certain car models (and we have a couple of ongoing threads debating the M "brand" and "class", so I won't go there...). I learned how to drive on my parents '66 Mustang so that badge doesn't emote the same degree of "creeps" that it does for others. I personally like the look of the most recent GT. A drop and some spacers would make it look pretty tough, IMO. BMW M3 tough?? Nah, but in the future, if I can get 90-95% of the driving experience for 50-60% of the price I'd have to give it some serious consideration...

[Definitive]

Originally Posted by stingray23

the M3 and 335i interiors are not the same? besides the difference in leather and the thicker steering wheel, everything else is the same.

Im not meaning to attack you specifically, but thats another crazy comment!!! Now I agree that if you get a black interior sans the extended leather option and aluminum trim, it will seem a lot like a 335 interior.

But if you get something like Fox Red Extended (there is stitching everywhere!), Carbon leather, add the anthracite headliner, M wheel. The car starts to feel very different inside.

I came out of a e92 328 and the diff is huge! You decide for yourself!!!

D

[AMPowerJ]

What I think is funny is we have this forum where many say they would never drive a Mustang because it is a POS or whatever. Then there is the Mustang forum where everyone says you are a tool if you drive a BMW and they would never have one.

[deletedelete]

Way too much grey plastic in the mustang and it looks cheap to me. Plenty of cheap cars like hyundai can make good interiors but ford and especially dodge/chrysler cannot.

[Definitive]

Originally Posted by stingray23

^^^you know what I mean.

I could be wrong but I think hes saying that it goes both ways. The grass is always greener and what not. Lakers fans say the Celtics suck, Celtics fans say the Lakers suck. And so on.

Could be wrong though! All I know is how I felt when I drove the car. Some cars emote passion, some cars make you want to get out as soon as you can! I think you know which ones I feel that way about.

D

[Zeus69]

The Bimmer pic looks like a pro-quality photo shot. The Ford has a Nikon Coolpix sort of feel to it so there might be some bias there. Having said that, I personally like the BMW interior design MUCH better. But since I haven't sat in an '11 GT to cop a feel for my myself I can't compare the two beyond appearance and layout.

[AMPowerJ]

To elaborate ... different cars strike chords with buyers in different ways. Us BMW owners have certain things we want/need in a car that maybe a Mustang driver doesn't need or want. That doesn't make our cars really better. People that simply put down a Mustang, or any car for that matter, because it is a Mustang are missing the point.

I personally love the way Mustang's sound from the factory. I always have ever since I was a kid and I probably always will. But the ride height of Mustangs has always turned me off. Now if I got smoked at the light by a Mustang I wouldn't be ashamed. They are performance cars. Only a different type of performance car.

[Frozen Black Panther]

for what my payment is for my m3 i could have leased 4 civics and started my own race team

[Cdnrockies]

Originally Posted by Definitive

I'm sorry that's just crazy!!! The inside of the mustang is horrible. Nowherr near as nice as a BMW even a e46... I was just going to post my experience, but after reading that I had to comment on what you said.

I got to drive this car fro two days and this was what I thought.

Honestly, I could never drive the new mustang. It is very sloppy, doesn't feel very fast at all, and the interior is hideous and very plasticky... At any decent speed taking a turn you feel like you'll lose control and thats with traction on. Im not saying you will, but it just feels like it.

It really feels like it is just unstable, and clunky. Very bad view out the back window and blind spots. The built in wide angle mirrors on the side mirrors are horrible and a dangerous distraction. The stereo is horrible and so is the sound of the car.

All together i don't care it is faster which its not, or a while lot less money, it's just a whole lot less car. Im not anti american cars or anything. I drove a ford sporttrac for 3 years. Loved it. But the mustang just sucked.

I really think these magazine writers are smoking some really good stuff. When I got out of the mustang and back in my car, it was an amazing feeling.

I will say the gas milage seemed really good for a V8 though. LOL

D

I also spent three days with one a couple of weeks ago. The only thing that I disagree with you on is that I didn't think the interior was horrible....just mediocre...but still an improvement for the Mustang. The leather with the white stitching looked sharp, though I did think the gauges looked tacky and like cheap plastic. The seats were horrible with little support.

Decent bang for your buck, but not a car I'd ever consider owning....Supersnakes a different conversation.

[Dave07997S]

Well...I almost bought one before I decided on the 2011 M3 ZCP. I haven't owned a Mustang now for over 10 years, my last one being a 98 Mustang SVT Cobra with the 4.6L 32V engine. The car ran mid 13's with nothing more han 3.73 gears and an exhaust. Not bad for that time...

For those of you who are commenting on the Mustangs interior I really question wether you sat in one or not. The "grey plastic" is actually a soft feel matierial that is right in par what BMW is using. What did bother me about the interior was the door panels were still a hard plastic, other than the centers which did have a faux leather material with the galloping Mustang in the middle. It made me wonder if Ford spent the time to go over the insturment panel the way they did...why on earth did they let the door panels slide like that? I mean how much more could it have cost? If you get a "Premium" interior along with the "electronics package" which includes the best navigation I have seen in a car yet along with Ford's excellent sync system the interior is actually very livable and quite well thought out. The seats weren't in the M3s league as well, but I find the M3s seat to soft as well considering my 997S had the sport seat which hugged you to the point it could hurt your ribs.

In the end what pretty much decided it to me was 2 things...
1. I lease and the leases on these cars are attrocious.
2. 8400rpm V8...

With my lease payment not that far off of owing one of these Mustang (not enough in making me change my mind) I decided on the M3. I missed my E46 M3and after coming out of a Porsche 997S I really wanted to get back into an M3.

As far as the live axle..better check out the standing for the Koni Challenge..granted BMW will probably win the championship, but the Mustang with its Fred Flintstone live rear axle has won quite a few races and is not that far off from BMW. BTW, Ford has won the Koni Challenge 3 out of the last 5 years.

Dave

[xxs65xx]

please...whoever said the interiors are similar has no idea

corvette owners and mustang owners are in their own worlds