When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I currently have a 2013 6spd Honda Accord Sport which I've loved, but put a ton of miles on while moving around the country. Now that I'm settled I wanted something new, and I figured it would be the new M3 since I am a big fan of the look.
S3 - Odd one of the bunch, but every review I've read was raving about it. There was a lot of traffic on my test drive, but I wasn't blown away by it. It was like a sophisticated STi, which I owned before as well. Very nice, but not what I was looking for.
M4 (DCT) - Traffic wasn't as bad so I got to open it up. At the age of 35, I no longer feel the need to be the fastest and satisfaction in a fast car for me is auditory.. but the M4 doesn't sound great. It was fast for sure but like the S3, it's a nice ride that I wasn't impressed with. The look though.. amazing.
C63 S - Monster is the only way I can describe it. I came in expecting to put a deposit down an M3 (they didnt have one in, M4 was for the test drive) and the C63 S would be the wild card, but it blew the M4 away. The sound wasn't as pronounced as a previous NA C63 I test drove, but it still had that bark. The ride, the handling, all of it made sense in this car. It was the first car I've driven where I see a spot.. punch it, and I'm there.
When I got back in my Accord I felt relieved though. It took all night for me to figure out why but it was the 6 speed. A DCT cannot replicate the connection you have in a manual, and although the M3 comes in a manual.. I can tell I wouldn't love it.
I chose the GT350 because its a formula that speaks to my heart although I've avoided domestics for the longest. Looks, sound, manual, power, and I'd feel comfortable opening up the hood and doing my own work. I spec'd it only with the Track Pack just like this so.. I'll repost when it arrives.
Dang really? I would have certainly got that C63 AMG over the stang, but great choice regardless. Hope you can post pictures here when you get the chance.
Hey thanks. I would've gone for the C63.. but the way I wanted it you're talking an extra $30k over the Mustang, and it only comes in automatic. If I didn't desire a manual transmission my choice would be the C63 for sure.
Interesting cross-shop. Was the GT350 on the short list, or after being slightly dissapointed with your short list you figured, "what the hell, I'll check out the GT350"?
I've only seen a couple of M4s and each time my jaw dropped. I think that would have been my pick. The GT350 I've seen a few times too, and I double-take and shake my head and think, "That is siiick!" Congrats on your choice! Enjoy.
RS5 was in the back of my mind but finding one to test drive was a PITA. It just so happened that the local BMW/Merc/Audi dealerships were all in one place, so I drove these three back to back.
If you've seen a GT350 on the road you're one of the few.. I'm dying to see one in person. I was almost certain the M3 would be my choice so I dismissed the GT350 since stealerships were talking a $10k - $20k markup. After test driving the Germans I searched for an MSRP deal and found one.
I think turbos are taking away something special from NA performance cars.. and I respect Ford for not going that route.
S3 vs S5, the S5 always hit me as a tourer and I'm looking for fun as opposed to comfort.
Awesome man, congrats. The GT350 would have most certainly been on my short list. As nice as those German cars are, the Mustang will be a better car by any performance metric and be reliable to boot.
Also the sound of the Voodoo V8 is spine tingling good.
Awesome man, congrats. The GT350 would have most certainly been on my short list. As nice as those German cars are, the Mustang will be a better car by any performance metric and be reliable to boot.
Also the sound of the Voodoo V8 is spine tingling good.
What color did you get?
All I've done for the last two weeks is watch youtube videos of that car hitting 8000 rpm's. I ordered all black, no stripes. For a second this afternoon I was going to go with blue with white stripes, but I'm going to stick with black. I'd prefer to go under the radar than draw attention.
I still love imports, I wonder would it be ass backwards to put Volk TE-37's on a Mustang? Because I would try.
RS5 was in the back of my mind but finding one to test drive was a PITA. It just so happened that the local BMW/Merc/Audi dealerships were all in one place, so I drove these three back to back.
If you've seen a GT350 on the road you're one of the few.. I'm dying to see one in person. I was almost certain the M3 would be my choice so I dismissed the GT350 since stealerships were talking a $10k - $20k markup. After test driving the Germans I searched for an MSRP deal and found one.
I think turbos are taking away something special from NA performance cars.. and I respect Ford for not going that route.
S3 vs S5, the S5 always hit me as a tourer and I'm looking for fun as opposed to comfort.
Hmm... I might not have seen the 2016 GT350, now that you mention it. However, I've seen quite a few GTs with performance packages on them. They look awesome.
All I've done for the last two weeks is watch youtube videos of that car hitting 8000 rpm's. I ordered all black, no stripes. For a second this afternoon I was going to go with blue with white stripes, but I'm going to stick with black. I'd prefer to go under the radar than draw attention.
I still love imports, I wonder would it be ass backwards to put Volk TE-37's on a Mustang? Because I would try.
My personal choice would be white with blue stripes or just all white. Looks so classy with all the black accents. Pull me over red is a bad idea with a car like this.
The OE wheels are awesome, I wouldn't change them out. JMO.
My personal choice would be white with blue stripes or just all white. Looks so classy with all the black accents. Pull me over red is a bad idea with a car like this.
The OE wheels are awesome, I wouldn't change them out. JMO.
What kills it for the GT350 in terms of the wheels, is the GT350R with the carbon fiber wheels. The look is amazing.
but I'm not paying $14k for the wheels.. and the markup on the R is ridiculous (I need a back seat anyway) so, I'm looking for alternatives.
Out of curiosity, were you able to avoid the stupid markups dealers have been placing on them? Impossible here to find a dealer that doesn't want you to fork over $5,000 just because they can.
But, congrats on the purchase. Not a big Mustang fan, turned down a 5.0 a couple years back, but these 350s are seriously side-swaying cars. That exhaust sound is awesome.
I called no less than 15 dealerships.. from Idaho to Atlanta. The lowest I could find was $5k over MSRP. ($10k over was the norm)
A member on the Mustang forums hooked me up with a $1k over MSRP deal, and a day later a local dealership offered MSRP so I took it. Some of the Ford dealerships are outrageous with the hype behind this car, others are more sensible and genuinely want your business.
And thanks! I will post my impressions once I get it.
BUT for $14K you'd better be tracking that car and making use of those wheels. For daily driving and occasional aggressive driving that'd be a waste of money.
<p>In for pics! That thing is going to be a beast. I know you ordered it with no stripes, but black with some matte black very subtle stripes would be bad-ass. <br /><br />Either way, sick purchase and can't wait to see pics!! </p><p> </p>
Congrats. with your list of choices, you really could not go wrong with any of them as they are similar (except the S3) and very different at the same time.
Nice comparison writeup and congrats in the GT350, looks great in black. Great motor with flat plane 180 crank, Torsen diff, IRS, mag shocks... Ford engineers really pushed the Mustang ahead this time
Last edited by Legend2TL; Sep 3, 2015 at 09:25 AM.
</p><p> </p>
