Need Owner Feedback...M2 or DH

[LouG]

This won't help the OP, but down here in the Antipodes it's no contest. DH = $NZ115,000 or thereabouts, M2 starts at $NZ154,000.
Servicing at least 50% more for anything German.
Plus Beemers are too common until you get up to M5's and such.

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[sl8anic]

I don't have direct M2 or DH experience but I did have a 135is and m235i, also had a 2005GT about 20 years ago, now I have a 2024 GT. Various cars in between, mostly imports.

I have to say that if you're looking for a best handling, special vehicle used as fun weekend "oh this is neat" car - my vote is M2. While DH is a great looking and sounding vehicle, its special sauce isn't going to keep you happy as compared to that German shnietzel

Level of refinement, usability (no front sensors/camera? C'mon), infotainment stability (don't even go there) and just feedback as you're driving the damn thing... I think M2 wins in that sense. Latest models have also been rock solid for me, so dealership trips didn't figure into my BMW experience much. Ford keeps leaving me underwhelmed in this area.

But if just a fun & relaxed cruiser is what you're after - DH is that.

 

[tastetickles]

Just my opinion, I recently just crossshop these too.

M2: Faster in every metric (watch the savagegeese comparison), its ugly imo but the performance more than makes up for it. Lack of front steering feedback but the Mustang isn't much better in this area.

DH: Buy it if you fancy the engine which is more reliable and lots of aftermarket support. Less refined.

I would have bought a DH if one is available where I live but i had to settle for a GT, it came down to a very non logical reason: I just imagine myself cruising in a muscle car making V8 noises. If i wanted fast I would just get an AWD with torque vectoring and lots of boosted power since those are way easier to drive.

 

[DINOSOAR21]

Also Gen X. The 10r80 in the '24+ Mustangs is next lever better than my '17 Raptor programming and yes I realize it's a car to truck comparison. I've got bikes if I want to manually shift and honestly, the 10r80 does fine on track but not for as long as the tremec, and the 10r80 shifts faster, rev matches on downshifts quite well in auto mode.

There has not been a single moment since July '24 I've thought to myself "gee, I wish I'd bought the manual transmission instead."

I hear you, and I think you can compare the transmissions from the Raptor to Mustang. I had a 2018 Mustang GT with the auto, and I have been following this transmission over the years since I love the 10 speeds and the performance and efficiency it brings. The Achilles heel from this trans has been the software, IMO. I think Ford (and GM) have finally nailed it from what I can see. I am drawn to the auto-rev match capable TREMEC, but for my street use, and the performance, I will probably go with the auto (I can feel the other members wincing...LOL).

 

[smurfslayer]

Level of refinement, usability (no front sensors/camera? C'mon), infotainment stability (don't even go there) and just feedback as you're driving the damn thing... I think M2 wins in that sense. Latest models have also been rock solid for me, so dealership trips didn't figure into my BMW experience much. Ford keeps leaving me underwhelmed in this area.

FU, I'm going there.
I haven't sampled the brand b infotainment system, or any of them since my rental bmw lost its brakes on an abs fault on Susten Pass, almost 18 years ago. Color me prejudiced.
It may well have a good info system now, but Sync has been around a long time, and been respectably good and stable since about version 3.2. Sync 4 is better in every way.

If you're underwhelmed by the bells and whistles from the giant screens, maybe the Mustang isn't a good car choice. A lot of us have panned the screens and move away from old school, relative simplicity. At purchase I wasn't for or against and I think the only thing that really bothers me about it is the lack of manual climate control.

no front camera and sensors?

What will we do !? What did people do before 2000?

I can certainly see your perspective though. Not everyone has problems, and you can hit the lucky car jackpot and get one that has no problems for 10+ years. Or it can go the other way.
And Ford has notoriously been subject to a multitude of industry leading numbers of recalls lately.

The Mustang is, and has always been a car that was meant to be fun to drive. Let's pretend the Mustang II didn't exist for the purposes of this discussion it's supposed to be more raw, visceral with a level of refinement.
NOW, for GTD money, it better be refined - and it's really not for that price point.
but for ~$68k, I think what you get is very good.

 

[sl8anic]

Yeah, the car lottery

It's mostly about relative bang for the buck I guess... The front sensor/camera is just such a simple thing that it's surprising that it's not in there. For the money there was no reason not to have it, IMHO. I'll take that over silly mode transition animations. Is the front sensor a necessity? No. But by that logic - where do you stop?

Infotainment: I don't have anything against it per se, as long as it keeps my goddamn settings overnight, lol. I thought I'd hate the digital dash but it's actually not bad at all after I got into the car. Lack of physical controls is silly, but not really a deal breaker.

I think Mustang is a fine car, just when compared to M2 there are a few glaring omissions. Again, IMHO.

FU, I'm going there.
...
NOW, for GTD money, it better be refined - and it's really not for that price point.
but for ~$68k, I think what you get is very good.

 

[smurfslayer]

But by that logic - where do you stop?

yeah, there's the rub. I think they looked at several models and tried to pick a model to target in each aspect; cabin layout, gauges, screens, etc. Rather than identifying a single model or car to compete against and win.

And, the looming elephant in the room - we're paying a surcharge on every Ford for the failed EV program and enthusiast cars like ours are going to get more of that surcharge rather than FMC's bread and butter F series which has to remain competitive. Until there are other competing pony cars from Chevy & Dodge or even a Jap. mfgr. we're kind of out of luck there.

Once we can cross shop, that may drive some of that absorbed cost down.
I'd have to put more thought into what I'd do to make it what I want but... I think the aftermarket sensors are a nice band aid, but there's none for the no manual climate controls, etc.

Where do we stop?
Not sure, but I think we're at gauge overload. Last time on track the only time I looked at a gauge was on the cool down lap :-) Maybe we don't need all the gauge themes, and readings. Of course, if they did that, we'd all balk.

 

[Flash]

When i first started looking it was between the M2, DH, and C8 Stingray. For me I wasn't a fan of the looks of the M2. Completely opinion obviously not hating on it so nobody get mad. Then I kind of got stuck that the C8 specs are better. Then my buddy who is also a car guy said something that stood out to me. You can get pizza rolls faster in the microwave but they are better in the oven. As dumb as that was it stood out. The DH sounds great and I love the Tremec. My local Ford dealer is the opposite. A couple sales people suck and I had bad experience when I bought a 2015 mustang GT. I'll never buy from them again. The service department is pretty good though. Good luck on your decision.

 

[smurfslayer]

I hear you, and I think you can compare the transmissions from the Raptor to Mustang. I had a 2018 Mustang GT with the auto, and I have been following this transmission over the years since I love the 10 speeds and the performance and efficiency it brings. The Achilles heel from this trans has been the software, IMO. I think Ford (and GM) have finally nailed it from what I can see. I am drawn to the auto-rev match capable TREMEC, but for my street use, and the performance, I will probably go with the auto (I can feel the other members wincing...LOL).

I took a short drive today to get lunch, I'm on my 3rd week of reacquainting myself after the blower & header install. I am not an indiscriminate speeder, but the power is just nuts. It's been in the 80s's so my PS4S get up to temp pretty quick now so after a few miles in I got to enjoy some of the power.
I've got about 6400 miles on my tires. Pretty sure the rears are going to be needing replacement soon. Very soon.

 

[DINOSOAR21]

When i first started looking it was between the M2, DH, and C8 Stingray. For me I wasn't a fan of the looks of the M2. Completely opinion obviously not hating on it so nobody get mad. Then I kind of got stuck that the C8 specs are better. Then my buddy who is also a car guy said something that stood out to me. You can get pizza rolls faster in the microwave but they are better in the oven. As dumb as that was it stood out. The DH sounds great and I love the Tremec. My local Ford dealer is the opposite. A couple sales people suck and I had bad experience when I bought a 2015 mustang GT. I'll never buy from them again. The service department is pretty good though. Good luck on your decision.

I am not too mindful of the tech in a car...I do love all the sensors and gauges available (driveline temps in particular). My biggest worries are recalls and dealerships. I just feel I am not willing to cope with dropping $75K on a car, and they are not able to fix things.; this has been my experience with Ford Service shops over many years. I am surprised I kept buying Fords. The sales team, yeah, crooks and incompetents, but I can deal with that. But, I love the DH w HP and I love M cars. Until I get "911" money, these are my two choices for now. Thanks for all the feedback!

 

[LouG]

I'm lucky with the Ford dealership. Sales are useless, not even a "how are you enjoying the car" in the first year.
But service has been excellent. Car's ready when promised, work done well, reasonable cost and nice people.

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