Automotive News Discussion

[Steve85]

I really like the sloping rear end, and the older model looks like shit sitting next to the new one, so that's got to count for something.

Agree. Some of those earlier pics make the hood look so big. These other pics and the comparison to the old car help provide some scale. The old car looks like it's standing around and the new design looks like it's in the blocks leaning forward ready to go. I like it overall.

And the corvette team would do well to take a hint on how to use color in the rear...from this and every other car that didn't completely fuck it up.

[Goodspeed]

I had hopes that Ford would scale the cars dimensions back and drop significant weight to align the S550 cars with Fox era ('79-'93) numbers or at least the SN-95/Fox-4 ('94-'04) chassis to get back in the 100" wheelbase ballpark and a curb weight of around 3,200lbs-3,300lbs. The current car (2014 MY) is just too large. Ever since the S197 came out in '05 I've always thought that car would have been so much better if it was 7/8ths scale of its actual size.

The current car is such an enigma to me. It looks acceptably small to me from certain angles (even up close) and too big from others, but overall what I've mostly felt is that its way too tall, so I was glad to see what appears to be a lower roof line here. That may as well help combat what I felt was an overly-massive interior - the one time I was in an old coworker's '13 I felt like I was sinking into the dark cavern that is a 4th-gen F-Body interior.

It looks like its a lower car with shorter overhangs, and the long WB may have been kept for stability, I dunno (see: E36 M3). The current car is what, 3,500 right - so minus 200 (quoted)....if this thing comes in under 3,300 that'd be awesome.

[ScottyB]

i really like it, personally. i think it strikes a nice balance between what the mustang was and what it can be in the future. i don't think its too graceful; the mustang should be a little brutish and i'm glad they kept the rake on the front grille and put some hauches on it. but that said it still looks pretty athletic and low without too many fussy surface details. i'm fine with the grill...they can only stay tied to the 69 grill style so long, and i can sympathize that they want to tie it in with the corporate look that the taurus, focus, fiesta, etc have. if it looks a bit like an Aston i can live with that. love the lower aero skirts and the hood vents.

the diffuser is stupid, and i'll never be OK with the giant-ass prows that cars are required to have now so that useless jaywalkers can bounce off of them. that's about it though. i want to test drive all of them, stat.

[ScottyB]

It looks acceptably small to me from certain angles (even up close) and too big from others, but overall what I've mostly felt is that its way too tall, so I was glad to see what appears to be a lower roof line here.

i'm seeing the same thing. i think its that this new stang is pretty wide which throws off the perspective of how relatively large it is, since you really don't see that mass from the side.

i agree so many cars nowadays look like they're the +15% version of what they should actually be. alot of it stems from designers using a number of visual tricks to make the car look small and compact in pictures or from far away, without any objects nearby for proper scale. then you see it in real life up close, and its BIG.

low rooflines, huge wheels that barely fill the wheel wells, proportionately large lights that make the body shrink around them, etc. the latest camaro comes to mind, and the 1 series with the headlight trick.

[*insertusernamehere*]

New M3/M4 - 425hp
New Mustang GT - 420hp

BMW's a lil bit lighter, Mustang has new suspension stuff, one is turbo'd, the other is a V8! Sounds like a fun day at Top Gear track for the Stig!

[ScottyB]

New M3/M4 - 425hp
New Mustang GT - 420hp

the kicker will be how much $$ you save going with the stang, and how huge the aftermarket is going to get for it. they aren't always cross-shopped but i think as Ford quality continues to improve its going to get harder to ignore the pony car.

[G.Irish]

I like what BMW has done with the M3/M4. I'd prefer a n/a engine but getting something with 10 more horsepower and 100 ft-lbs more torque with 25% better fuel economy while being lighter is just too much win to ignore.





As for M3 vs Mustang, now that the Mustang is living up to its potential I don't think it will have any trouble hanging with a M3. I don't think those two cars compete for the same buyer though.

[CaptainHenreh]

Dear Ford.

Please, do this for Rexy. Take the Mustang. Stretch 2 inches. Add 2 doors. Put "Falcon" nameplate on back. Change nothing else. Sell for same price as Mustang.

I will take one in your Dark Grey literally the day they are available.

Love,
Rex.

[SlimKlim]

^ That would be badass.

I don't like the side profile of the "M4" (and that color is fucking nasty), but the M3 is everything that I had hoped and dreamed it would be. In fact, I'll probably almost definitely buy one. Just give me 5-7 years so I can pay $25k for one instead of $80k.

[D_Eclipse9916]

I give a big "meh" to the new bmw M3/M4. They are "AMG"ing all of their product line. They can keep it.

[HAULN-SS]

lol..speed winglets on the mirrors?

I dunno..just can't get excited about it at all

[JustinG]

Until you said something I thought that connected to the car.

[HAULN-SS]

I also don't like the 2nd eyelid thing going on with that front air dam. reminds me of the double-eyelid guy from the foot chase in men in black 1.

[SlimKlim]

lol..speed winglets on the mirrors?

I dunno..just can't get excited about it at all

I didn't even notice those. They do look a bit goofy.

I like the eyelid thing on the airdam, it's an M3, its supposed to be a little bit crazy. This new one stirs up a longing in my loins that the E9x and even the E46 didn't really put there. It might not be the purest expression of racecar to meet DJ's standards but it'll be a fucking awesome grocery getter.

[*insertusernamehere*]

I don't think those two cars compete for the same buyer though.

I think the Mustangs new styling will change this. I mean, its already growing on me as a "would drive" and I've never said that about a Mustang before. BMW still has the edge tho...

Oh and the M3/M4 are aesthetically beautiful. Specifically, the front. I just really hope they give it a loud exhaust cause the M5 was disappointing.

[G.Irish]

I give a big "meh" to the new bmw M3/M4. They are "AMG"ing all of their product line. They can keep it.

How so? What does AMGing it mean?

[fiveoh2go]

Dear Ford.

Please, do this for Rexy. Take the Mustang. Stretch 2 inches. Add 2 doors. Put "Falcon" nameplate on back. Change nothing else. Sell for same price as Mustang.

I will take one in your Dark Grey literally the day they are available.

Love,
Rex.

Just go buy a couple year old CTS-V.

New M3/M4 - 425hp
New Mustang GT - 420hp

BMW's a lil bit lighter, Mustang has new suspension stuff, one is turbo'd, the other is a V8! Sounds like a fun day at Top Gear track for the Stig!

The Mustang GT should have at least 450hp, maybe more. Official numbers won't be released till the early spring but those in the know are reporting that the standard GT will get the current Boss 302s CNC'd heads, fully forged rotating assembly, both the intake and exhaust cams will be more lumpy than what the current five-oh sports, and the intake has been redesigned as well.

And then there is that flat plane cranked, direct injection equipped, N/A, 9K-ish redline sporting, 6.2 liter V8 monster that's supposedly lurking in the shadows around Dearborn, that no one at Ford wants to admit to its existence.

[CaptainHenreh]

Just go buy a couple year old CTS-V.

Cuz that has a quad cam 32 valve variable valve timing monstrosity of a 5.0? I'd....prefer a Falcon.

[WRXtranceformed]

Mustangs don't need more power, Ford has demonstrated they are perfectly capable of producing horsepower. What they NEED to do is make a Mustang that can handle (effectively use) the power and isn't a barbaric monstrosity of a rattletrap to drive

[D_Eclipse9916]

I give a big "meh" to the new bmw M3/M4. They are "AMG"ing all of their product line. They can keep it.

How so? What does AMGing it mean?

Heavy, numb steering (a complaint by many magazines on the new 3 series, a BMW SPECIALTY), make it technology laden and expensive. Oh good, I get to go to the dealer to have my battery reflashed to my ecu for $350.

Good luck getting one out the door for less than $75k. It has never been a cheap car but nor has it ever even been close to 911 territory.

Edit: and oh yeah, it is hideous. Hope it looks better in person.