RE: Mustang vs. 370Z NISMO vs. M3: Dab of oppo(sition)

[Smitters]

Quinny said:

I'd just like to say that as one of the 2000 prospective Mustang owners I'm not. And never have been a "die hard V8 yank fan"... In saying that I am a fan of good solid old school tried and tested tech

The mustang appealed for a number of reasons, the main one being price, then novelty value, and finally the chance to own something brand new....

A 4 year old M3 for the same money as the Ford, holds no interest whatsoever.....the Nissan is OK, but only 2 seats.

I'd probably get just as excited by buying a new fridge, as a new Nissan.....where as with the Mustang, despite, or maybe because of never even seeing one, I'm genuinely looking forward to the big day...

Will it be a disappointment?? Who knows

My head says M3, my heart says Mustang. Well impressed with your decision sir! 370 is several steps below IMHO, despite the price.

[boombastictiger]

The majority are going for the M3 and Mustang, with the later being due to novelty factor (even with 2,000 orders placed)....the 370z is the rarer more exclusive choice, been around since 2008 yet only 1,892 registered in the UK this year according to the below link, and in the Nismo variant even fewer with 161 :P. Looks better in my opinion as well

https://www.howmanyleft.co.uk/?utf8=%E2%9C%93&...

[james22]

No-one mentions a 3 yr old C63........surely it should be considered in this company?

[aeropilot]

Mustang for me, as 4 years ago, I chose the 135i over the 370Z and E92 M3.

[Matt Bird]

J4CKO said:

Nearly 100 BHP down ?

Nismo 370Z is 340 BHP, Mustang is 410 BHP in the UK isnt it ?

That is 70 bhp down by my reckoning ?

I quite fancy a Mustang GT next but it doesnt mean the 370 isnt without virtue, it isnt that much slower than the Mustang, I like the looks of both but I think the 370 wins, value wise the Mustang wins, the Nissan seems a bit pricey considering its missing 2 cylinders and that 70 bhp, its a couple of grand more than a Mustang with the Custom pack, it needs to be like £29,995 as a headline price and they may shift some but I bet that thought you can always get a discount, I cant imagine it will be anywhere near that.

Yes, my money would be on the Mustang but I still like the 370Z, its just too pricey for what you get.

Of course, apologies. Will sort it now, thanks for highlighting!


MB

[Clivey]

This is better PH; makes a pleasant change from the dozens of articles about VAG shopping trolleys!

I really like all three of these options but would be wary of a non-warrantied modern BMW (our Mini's had enough issues), especially an M-car. I expect the Mustang would turn out to be the more reliable car...which goes well with it's good, honest fun approach. As others have alluded to, they just have a certain character and that's why it'd be my choice in a world full of fake engine noises and "performance" Eco-boxes.

Also, I wouldn't judge the GT from experience with an Ecoboost or V6 auto rental; the reviews I've read so far, including the PH ones, mark them out as very different beasts. Furthermore, UK V8s get the Performance Package as standard.

[rassi]

Had the choice of Mustang GT or E92 M3 and chose the M3. Amazing engine and DCT combination, and perfect size and build quality, even for a 3 year old one.

[ORD]

The Mustang must be seriously traction limited to take 4.8 seconds to hit 62mph with those power and torque figures.

[Quinny]

ORD said:

The Mustang must be seriously traction limited to take 4.8 seconds to hit 62mph with those power and torque figures.

Yes its positively snail like...

[Crowds]

MuscleSaloon said:

daveco said:

The engine in the M3 is phenomenal!

But deeply flawed from an engineering point of view .. so many con rod bearing issues and failures even on low milers .. a very risky proposition without BMW warranty IMO !

Edited by MuscleSaloon on Wednesday 26th August 09:08

I've heard of one or two with bottom end issues, I wouldn't say its a wide spread issue, end of the day its a v8 engine that's revs to over 8k one or two are going to have probs. Compare it to the RS4 of a similar age and look at the problems they have!

The only commonish issue id say is throttle actuators, but then these can be repaired and upgrade for around 500 for the pair.

Additionally I don't think an engine that was voted engine of the year 5 years running can be described as Deeply flawed.. :P

Crowds

Edited by Crowds on Wednesday 26th August 12:40

[ORD]

ORD said:

The Mustang must be seriously traction limited to take 4.8 seconds to hit 62mph with those power and torque figures.

For the power and torque figures, it is. About half a second slower than you would expect. As I say, though, it must be traction limited, which is unsurprising given the weight distribution. It is probably very quick from 30 to 60.

Nothing wrong with 4.8 seconds to 60 It's enough to rip your face off unless you drive a GTR day-in-day-out or, more likely on PH, are simply a bullstter who likes to pretend that he needs 500bhp just to pop to the shops.

[Dannbodge]

Not going to lie but I'm a BMW fanboy and would normally pick the BMW in any situation.

I think I'd have the mustang this time though.

[J4CKO]

ORD said:

The Mustang must be seriously traction limited to take 4.8 seconds to hit 62mph with those power and torque figures.

Yeah,, good isnt it

Am sure a Golf R will run it close and the next A45 AMG needs the driver to wear a G suit, they are great but it isnt just down to how long it takes to accelerate, its how the trip there was and how it felt, whether you get "beaten" doesnt matter.

[300bhp/ton]

Surely you'd consider 2nd hand Mustangs and others if you are prepared to look at a used M3.


But yet another bullst American car review. Every time a US car is reviewed by a British road tester it's the same.

[liner33]

The 370z is limited in 1st at least , via the map limiting the throttle position , no point blowing hp away in tyre smoke

As a 370z GT owner I have never been swayed by the Nismo version so for me its the Mustang as well

[300bhp/ton]

liner33 said:

The 370z is limited in 1st at least , via the map limiting the throttle position , no point blowing hp away in tyre smoke

As a 370z GT owner I have never been swayed by the Nismo version so for me its the Mustang as well

I suspect the Ford and BMW also use torque limiting in the lower gears. Pretty standard on many cars since the mid 1990's.

[ewenm]

300bhp/ton said:

Surely you'd consider 2nd hand Mustangs and others if you are prepared to look at a used M3.

But yet another bullst American car review. Every time a US car is reviewed by a British road tester it's the same.

The LHD/RHD thing does matter to many, so for many there are no used Mustangs available for consideration here.

I thought it was a fairly well balanced article (it's really not a car review) that mirrors plenty of threads on here - I've got £30k to spend on a sporty coupe, what do I go for? I've been suggesting the Mustang on all of those threads

[James Junior]

I recently bought a 370Z GT. I was in the market for a used M3, XKR or RS5 but then remembered I could pick up a used 370Z for significantly less.

Its not a great car as it has too many stupid flaws. However, it is a really good drivers car and is far more precise and entertaining on an open road than I expected. Its rather Alfa-esque in how it nails the charisma, the styling (in the metal it looks infinitely better than in pictures), the fun factor and the sense that you are going against the crowd, whilst screwing up the stuff that should be easy, i.e. crap seats, abysmal satnav, hands free not fit for purpose and way too little sound insulation for the cabin.

As a cut-price alternative to an M3 it was a no brainer and I am enjoying it.

However, even with my love of all things left-field, I am not sure I would choose a Nismo over a lightly used M3 if I had £30k to spend.

I think I too would have the Mustang all day long, mostly for the sense of occasion and because its different.

Yes it may not be as good dynamically as the Nismo or the M3, but seeing as I am not a road tester and don't spend my days driving and comparing performance machinery, I doubt I would notice. Reviews have been pretty damn good and who wouldn't want to woofle around in a V8 all day long?

[pirategaz]

I own a 370Z so biased here but here goes anyway!
M3 great car possibly the best of the bunch but why we comparing second hand to new that makes no sense does it? also how many are there out there just too boring dare to be different!!!
You see another 370 Nismo you´ll be flashing your lights with your hand out the window in salute!!!
The Mustang has great looks will give it that but its just too big and cumbersome for me.
The 370 in standard form is epic I love it and for me the best looking of the bunch by miles, and lets not talk about practicality here non of these cars are designed for a trip down the shops.... and do we really care?
In Nismo guise the 370 is just bucket loads of more.... I would take it eveytime Japanese muscle for me all the way!

[pirategaz]

I own a 370Z so biased here but here goes anyway!
M3 great car possibly the best of the bunch but why we comparing second hand to new that makes no sense does it? also how many are there out there just too boring dare to be different!!!
You see another 370 Nismo you´ll be flashing your lights with your hand out the window in salute!!!
The Mustang has great looks will give it that but its just too big and cumbersome for me.
The 370 in standard form is epic I love it and for me the best looking of the bunch by miles, and lets not talk about practicality here non of these cars are designed for a trip down the shops.... and do we really care?
In Nismo guise the 370 is just bucket loads of more.... I would take it eveytime Japanese muscle for me all the way!