[wjones14]

Originally Posted by G-Mann

C & D posted a 0 - 60 1/4 time in the M235i of 4.3 12.9 and the 2015 mustang they posted 4.5 13. It would be very interesting to get these two cars out on the same track at the same time.

It's already been done. The Road & Track Performance Car of the Year tested all the cars on the Motown Mile track. The Mustang beat the M235i by a convincing margin.

There are also the Motor Trend Head2Head tests where Randy Pobst does the driving at Willow Springs. The Mustang GT beat the M235i convincingly on this track as well.

[vladberca]

^ It will be another story with M2

[PackPride85]

Originally Posted by vladberca

^ It will be another story with M2

and another with the GT350 that was just announced today.

[M235ixDriveMP]

Originally Posted by Killramos

Have you seen the back of an m235i? Much worse than a mustang.

wrong statement

[G-Mann]

Originally Posted by wjones14

It's already been done. The Road & Track Performance Car of the Year tested all the cars on the Motown Mile track. The Mustang beat the M235i by a convincing margin.

There are also the Motor Trend Head2Head tests where Randy Pobst does the driving at Willow Springs. The Mustang GT beat the M235i convincingly on this track as well.

yeah, I was just pointing out a performance perspective from a DD red light view where the OP will be spending 99% of his time.

[Uponone76]

Originally Posted by smakdown61

and another with the GT350 that was just announced today.

I was thinking the same thing. That car is going to be a lot of bang for your buck.

And that engine...... 5.2 liter v8, flat plane crank, revving above 8000rpms

[mmmmm235i]

Originally Posted by G-Mann

I can see a 2 tenth improvement with xdrive. We have to take these numbers with a grain of salt, track conditions, temps, driver, etc... can be interesting variables. Still a 4.3 is a damn good number and the potential xdrive numbers (4.1) under the same conditions would have been interesting. What these numbers do show is that performance wise these cars do compete. C & D also got a 4.9 out of the 228i

M235i is the best performance luxury car that you can buy today period. Show me another 4.3 car in its class and price range. I was just checking out the numbers on the lexus RC 350 coupe, what a disappointment.

p.s. Here were the mag numbers on the 2015 stang.

(Source – 0-60 – ¼ Mile time)
Car & Driver – 4.5 – 13.0
Road & Track – 4.6 – 13.0
Motor Trend – 4.4 – 12.8 -

MT was able to get the 2013 Mustang GT from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds while running a 12.7 quarter mile.

See more at: http://www.torquenews.com/106/2015-f....qcsFaoiQ.dpuf

I couldn't agree with you more. The 235 offers the complete package of luxury and performance and despite its limited utility, I consider this car to be a good bargain. Although I have limited experience behind the wheel of a mustang, the driving dynamics and engagement are worlds apart. Although this can be somewhat subjective I just don't see a comparison when you can have these cars for just a few thousand difference. Either way if you go with the mustang just one less 235 on the road making me feel less special haha.

[ketema]

Originally Posted by wjones14

It's already been done. The Road & Track Performance Car of the Year tested all the cars on the Motown Mile track. The Mustang beat the M235i by a convincing margin.

There are also the Motor Trend Head2Head tests where Randy Pobst does the driving at Willow Springs. The Mustang GT beat the M235i convincingly on this track as well.

Can you post link for h2h? I have not seen one comparing these two cars. Are you taking the times from separate comparisons?

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by ketema

Can you post link for h2h? I have not seen one comparing these two cars. Are you taking the times from separate comparisons?

Sorry for being misleading. The Head2Head times were indeed from separate comparisons. So you can take those times with a grain of salt I suppose. But, the difference was over 2 seconds, so to me, that's outside the margin for error. And it's roughly the same lap time difference that the Road & Track boys saw in their direct comparison.

I think it's just too much of a horsepower difference for the M235i to make up on any road course where horsepower is a big factor.

[millifoo]

> After test driving both cars back to back, I liked the M235i better overall. It's smaller, more nimble, more refined, more elite, and just more a pure driver's car than the Mustang.

And there's your answer. You liked it more, you had more fun, the handling felt better. Who cares if another car is technically a wee bit faster on some tracks - there's *always* going to be a faster car than yours. This decision should be all about your enjoyment.

Also consider that you're going to see TONS of Mustangs on the road, and very few M235s. I can almost guarantee you'll be smiling every time you get in the car.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by millifoo

> After test driving both cars back to back, I liked the M235i better overall. It's smaller, more nimble, more refined, more elite, and just more a pure driver's car than the Mustang.

And there's your answer. You liked it more, you had more fun, the handling felt better. Who cares if another car is technically a wee bit faster on some tracks - there's *always* going to be a faster car than yours. This decision should be all about your enjoyment.

Also consider that you're going to see TONS of Mustangs on the road, and very few M235s. I can almost guarantee you'll be smiling every time you get in the car.

Yes, I've made up my mind to go with the BMW. I've thought about them for a long time. When I bought my '05 Mustang, I test drove a 330Ci first. It felt great, was upscale compared to what I was used to, but it just didn't have the torque I wanted and at the time I thought the $26K Mustang was a much better value. I just wasn't ready. But now I am. The BMW has more torque and hp than my current car, so now I can't use that excuse, and the price difference isn't all that much from a semi-loaded Mustang GT.

With winter just about here, I'll wait 'til the end of the year to order, and hopefully have it by March or so. Really excited about it!

[millifoo]

> Really excited about it!

Congrats on your decision! And welcome to the BMW family .

I predict many, many hours playing with BMWUSA.com's builder app over the next couple months

[WWM3]

Originally Posted by G-Mann

I can see a 2 tenth improvement with xdrive. We have to take these numbers with a grain of salt, track conditions, temps, driver, etc... can be interesting variables. Still a 4.3 is a damn good number and the potential xdrive numbers (4.1) under the same conditions would have been interesting. What these numbers do show is that performance wise these cars do compete. C & D also got a 4.9 out of the 228i

M235i is the best performance luxury car that you can buy today period. Show me another 4.3 car in its class and price range. I was just checking out the numbers on the lexus RC 350 coupe, what a disappointment.

p.s. Here were the mag numbers on the 2015 stang.

(Source – 0-60 – Mile time)
Car & Driver – 4.5 – 13.0
Road & Track – 4.6 – 13.0
Motor Trend – 4.4 – 12.8 -

MT was able to get the 2013 Mustang GT from 0-60 in 4.3 seconds while running a 12.7 quarter mile.

See more at: http://www.torquenews.com/106/2015-f....qcsFaoiQ.dpuf

OP is buying a 6MT M235i right? Wouldn't the most honest comparison be the 6MT M235i 0-60 vs. Mustang GT 6MT 0-60?

I know the 0-60 for a manual Mustang is faster than an auto and vice versa for the M235i and you want to compare fastest vs. fastest. However that's not the way I would look at it if I was in the OP's position. I would want apples vs. apples.

[Shawnski]

Originally Posted by wjones14

Yes, I've made up my mind to go with the BMW.

The irony; the op decides to go with the M235 coinciding with a new Mustang GT that finally approaches the refinement and daily driving pleasure of a BMW. Prior to the new Mustang I would have too. The 2 has an edge in packaging with demensionsional tidiness, and remains more clever than just having a premium badge, something I have always defended about BMW. However (and like my F20 335) it is personality challenged, there is just something bland here. The Chris Bangle styled 1 had that scrappy bulldog stance that still looks good.

The S550 Mustang on the other hand exudes something really special at the moment, and it's more than skin deep. BMW save for the revolutionary i3 and i8, are not better than its 2008 equivelents IMO. And that probobly says more about Ford since BMW remains the standard of comparison.

Will the new Mustang be more prosaic in the coming years? Yes, however that does mean its any less desirable.

[auf Deutsch]

Originally Posted by G-Mann

C & D posted a 0 - 60 1/4 time in the M235i of 4.3 12.9 and the 2015 mustang they posted 4.5 13.

You omitted one very important stat. The GT traps at 113, only 1 mph off the pace of a E9x M3.

[3.0L]

The new Mustang is a great performing car and has Mustang good looks. I've like the V-8 versions of car since it hit the streets in 1965, particularly the retro style Mustangs since 2004.

But, I do have a problem with the 'stang. There's just too dang many of them on the road. It seems almost like everyone and their uncle has one. One of my favorite drives is up California Coast Highway 1 and it seems like every 4th car is a Mustang! Someone told me that these are rentals, driven by tourists from Europe. Maybe so, but just too common a car for me.

[Year's_End]

I'll have my GT around the beginning of the new year and plan on doing a decent comparison of the two. I had a BLAST driving an M235i with the ZF8 a couple months ago; it really is a hell of a car. I wanted a change of pace and went for the Mustang for an overall change in character, but I'm also younger than you (25). I'd rather have something slightly less refined, more visceral... something with a naturally-aspirated V8 and three pedals to make some noise.

If I was more concerned with luxury or maintaining a mature image, the M235i would be a no-brainer. But I'd rather have something with more theater and a focus on performance, so I'll share some photos when it gets here and let you know how it plays out.

[hyperzulu]

I saw all the Mustangs at the LA auto show. The only one I liked was the GT350. The others were not impressive looking inside or out. The 350 looked sick enough to forgive its blah interior styling (not that I got to see inside as it was up on a pedestal).

I don't care to contribute to this thread other than to say the Mustang still looks like a Mustang to me. Nowhere near as nice as even the baby bimmer.

{Unsubscribing}

[chaswyck1]

How about the Galpin 750HP Mustang at the auto show? I'm not a big Mustang fan, but that car was HOT! It's also going to sell for about $150,000. As hot as that car was, the word Mustang and $150,000 should not be in the same sentence.

[GMe90]

Like others have said, you should at least test drive an e92 M3 with manual transmission before you make your final decision. That M3 is still one of the most fun cars to drive out there.

[hyperzulu]

Originally Posted by chaswyck@yahoo.com

How about the Galpin 750HP Mustang at the auto show? I'm not a big Mustang fan, but that car was HOT! It's also going to sell for about $150,000. As hot as that car was, the word Mustang and $150,000 should not be in the same sentence.

That GAS 350 was my favorite, but the new 350 looked beastly.

[wjones14]

Originally Posted by Shawnski

The irony; the op decides to go with the M235 coinciding with a new Mustang GT that finally approaches the refinement and daily driving pleasure of a BMW. Prior to the new Mustang I would have too. The 2 has an edge in packaging with demensionsional tidiness, and remains more clever than just having a premium badge, something I have always defended about BMW. However (and like my F20 335) it is personality challenged, there is just something bland here. The Chris Bangle styled 1 had that scrappy bulldog stance that still looks good.

The S550 Mustang on the other hand exudes something really special at the moment, and it's more than skin deep. BMW save for the revolutionary i3 and i8, are not better than its 2008 equivelents IMO. And that probobly says more about Ford since BMW remains the standard of comparison.

Will the new Mustang be more prosaic in the coming years? Yes, however that does mean its any less desirable.

Yes, you're right that there is some irony to my decision. A big part of my decision to go with the BMW is based on the refinement of the car - at a time when the Mustang has never been more refined. And yes, I do agree that the M235i is bland compared to the sexy design of the new Mustang.

I'm just ready for a change, it's as simple as that. As far as Mustangs, I've been there and done that. Three times no less. Look at these pics of my current Mustang parked next to the new one. Is the new one that much better looking? Is it any better looking?

No doubt that Mustangs draw attention. Especially yellow ones, for better or worse. Even after 10 years, I literally can't park anywhere without getting a compliment. The attention is nice, I'm not going to deny that. But that's the general public. When I take it to track day events where everyone is a knowledgeable car enthusiast, the bright yellow Mustang is just meh.

At this point in my life, a conservative car is okay. Appropriate even. The enjoyment's going to come in driving it, as opposed to admiring it.