2024 Dark Horse Mustang vs 2023 BMW M2 - Car and Driver Comparison Review

[Karguy]

Performance Coupe Showdown: 2023 BMW M2 vs. 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse

Link: https://www.caranddriver.com/review.../2023-bmw-m2-vs-2024-ford-mustang-dark-horse/




Car and Driver just posted a comparison of the last 2 semi affordable practical and sporty daily drivers with manual transmission that can be bought new...Mustang or 2 series BMW as also 3 and 4 series as the 911 is on another level when it comes to price and performance as also being a real sportscar but still practical enough as being a daily driver.

Anyways I put a few numbers of former C & D comparison of the then 19 Camaro 2SS1LE and Mustang GT with PP2 into the mix...

Starting with price the Darkhorse was the most expensive coming in at $78755 vs the M2 at 75345 despite having a 9900 Carbon fiber package you could do without.The 2019 SS1LE or S550 Mustang where both around 51500 bucks ! As far as performance 5-60 Camaro 4.5 sec , M2 4.8 , S550 5.0 and DH 5.1...0-100 M2 8.8 , Camaro 9.1 , S550 9.5 and DH 9.9 sec...1/4 mile was M2 12.3/119 , S550 12.5/116,Camaro 12.6/114 and DH 12.7/115...70-0 was S550 139 ft , Camaro 140 ft , DH 141 ft and M2 151 ft.Skidpad was S550 1.13 g , Camaro 1.11g,DH 1.07g and M2 1.04 g...Weight the DH lead with 3968 lbs ,Camaro 3821 , S550 3773 and BMW was lightest with 3754 lbs...Mpg M2 was 18 while DH returned 14 mpg...So far the numbers !

According to C & D the Mustangs lacked torque and were tramlining.The DH infotainment was slow on start up and sluggish on reaction.The Camaro precise but not playful and of course let down by ints interior and lack of practicality / outward visibility.The BMW was playful and easy to drive fast and obviously the fastest with its smooth revvy and powerful engine and good outward visibility.It won despite the DH having the great V8 soundtrack...What I take away is that Ford really did not set the bar any higher over the S550 PP2 or Mach 1 but raised the price by a whopping 25 grand in the last 5 years for pretty much the same car except for the touchscreens that are not necessarily loved or any better than the old dashboard...With Less weight and more displacement things could have been different ! But 75 grand for the same car that was 50 grand in 2020 is a steep rise especially where the performance did not get any better except for the Tremec the 550 PP2 lacked...AS also tramlining is still part of the package you would think they would have solved by now with a different geometry or smaller tires of front...

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[Karguy]

It would have been cool if C&D would have thrown in a used SS1LE and Challenger WB 6-spd into the mix since they never tested any of those for whatever reason !? And maybe even a C7 Z51 and a Carrera S and then let Randy Pobst drive them for a few laps on the track...! Wrong magazine as this would have been MT...LOL

 

[Dave2013M3]

I have an order in for a 2024 BMW M2 G87. That is a slow time for the M2, Car and Driver ran a 3.9 0-60 and a 12.2@118mph in a previous test, this was with the manual. The Autos were 0-60 in3.5 and 11.7@121mph with the ZF automatic. I also have a S650 on order. Whats really holding me back on the M2 is the sound. No matter what you do to it, they wont ever sound as good as the Gen 4 Coyote.

 

[wolf32v]

the numbers were at altude which you cannot compare to the other numbers since they were at sea level. They are also the worst times ever for a Dark Horse. The Gt350 non R 0-60 time is 3.9 and 1/4 mile 12.2 119 is what I would use to compare to the Dark Horse. The Gt350 or maybe a boss version should come out to top the Dark Horse. Also the Dark Horse at sea level did 12.5 at 115 C&D. The Dark Horse is allot faster around a track then the M2 because of all that down force which slows it down in the 0-60 or 1/4 mile. The Dark horse is a track car and not made for any 0-60 or 1/4 mile times. The Dark Horse is for hero run times on the track and thats it. i would like to see some test of the non track pack focus Dark Horse 0-60 and 1/4 mile.

 

[Rocket Man]

Karguy, you keep focusing on the Dark Horse which is fine but I am looking at it from the point of a GT with PP, which is what I am interested in. You keep talking about bang for the buck. My Scat Pack Shaker (narrow body since there was no widebody in 2016) MSRP was 51K, pretty much fully loaded. The GT I want will be about 61 or 62K MSRP, and I expect to get about 7-8K off. Even MSRP to MSRP a ten grand increase in 8 years is not that bad, and I expect to have a nicer car, handle better and be just as fast. A car is worth whatever the buyer feels it's worth to him.

 

[Polo08816]

the numbers were at altude which you cannot compare to the other numbers since they were at sea level. They are also the worst times ever for a Dark Horse. The Gt350 non R 0-60 time is 3.9 and 1/4 mile 12.2 119 is what I would use to compare to the Dark Horse. The Gt350 or maybe a boss version should come out to top the Dark Horse. Also the Dark Horse at sea level did 12.5 at 115 C&D. The Dark Horse is allot faster around a track then the M2 because of all that down force which slows it down in the 0-60 or 1/4 mile. The Dark horse is a track car and not made for any 0-60 or 1/4 mile times. The Dark Horse is for hero run times on the track and thats it. i would like to see some test of the non track pack focus Dark Horse 0-60 and 1/4 mile.

It's not downforce. It's the tires - the Trofeo RS with 180 treadwear. And we're talking at a DH with the Handling Package, specifically.

Given the same category of tire, the G87 M2 would be faster on any type of track.

However, for those that track their cars frequently, the catastrophic repair costs on a G87 M2 are significantly higher (ie. powertrain failure).

The problem with the DH with HP and Recaros is the entry price is higher than a G87 M2.

 

[Bullit]

The M2 looks horrible...

 

[GripTime]

The M2 looks horrible...

Call me shallow or whatever but just not interested in the M2. BMWs used to be my dream car now they are just everywhere and looking weird. No offense to Bimmer owners on here.

 

[Dragster]

The M2 looks horrible...

That color is especially heinous. It looks slightly less terrible in black.

 

[JAL]

AS also tramlining is still part of the package you would think they would have solved by now with a different geometry or smaller tires of front...

The nose-heavy S550 and S650 that are driven on race tracks regularly pretty much all use 305 tire and lots of camber in the front to perform well and have even front tire wear.
Tramlining on regular roads is a necessary byproduct of this setup. I found it disconcerting at first but got used to it and eventually did not notice anymore.

 

[Karguy]

Karguy, you keep focusing on the Dark Horse which is fine but I am looking at it from the point of a GT with PP, which is what I am interested in. You keep talking about bang for the buck. My Scat Pack Shaker (narrow body since there was no widebody in 2016) MSRP was 51K, pretty much fully loaded. The GT I want will be about 61 or 62K MSRP, and I expect to get about 7-8K off. Even MSRP to MSRP a ten grand increase in 8 years is not that bad, and I expect to have a nicer car, handle better and be just as fast. A car is worth whatever the buyer feels it's worth to him.

Drive one before you buy because you might miss the TORQUE the Apache 392 has in spades but the Coyote unfortunately doesnt...

 

[Karguy]

The nose-heavy S550 and S650 that are driven on race tracks regularly pretty much all use 305 tire and lots of camber in the front to perform well and have even front tire wear.
Tramlining on regular roads is a necessary byproduct of this setup. I found it disconcerting at first but got used to it and eventually did not notice anymore.

What do you mean you dont notice it anymore ? The car either follows every rut and it tramlines that a cop following you pulls you over because thinks you are drunk or it does not tramline...I also think a lot has do do with the steering geometry and the steering knuckles because my SS!LE did not and my Challenger WB that has 305 on all corners does not tramline either...I bet Ford could solve the problem if they put more money into engineering.

 

[Karguy]

The M2 looks horrible...

I dont think they are beautiful the M2 or M4 with its beaver teeth but they look interesting and stick out in a sea of sameness which is not bad in my book.Better than boring for sure and the DH does not look right in the front either with way too much overhang and the beltline over the front wheel arches way too tall for a sportscar...Especially the kink in the front where the tall beltline/hood meets the headlights...Better than on the '18-on S550 for sure but still not right...

 

[roadpilot]

Yet another thread of lather, rinse, and repeat. Glad I've ignored it.

 

[Rocket Man]

I've driven a couple, loved em. I love the torque of the 392 but I used to race 2 stroke bikes and I like high end power too. The Coyote has that for sure. A change to 4.09 gears, even with the 10 speed, ought to keep it in the sweet spot.

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