Giant Test: Ford Mustang vs Lexus RCF vs BMW M4

ForTehNguyen · Oct 29, 2016

large article, read full article in link

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-re...rd-mustang-vs-lexus-rcf-vs-bmw-m4-car-review/

Results

1st – Lexus RC F

Baffled? Don’t be, the maths are compelling: Nissan GT-R styling and tech + previous-gen V8 M3 bombast and exuberance = winner.

2nd – Ford Mustang

Looks good, sounds incredible and the ’Stang’s only a small loan more expensive than a GT86. But as a sports coupe it feels more blank canvas than finished article.

3rd – BMW M4

Hugely desirable and effortlessly fast but – and it’s a big one – the turbo six is really hard to fall for. No charm, no goosebumps, no thanks.

JohnnyUtah · Oct 29, 2016

Interesting... my order preference would be the exact opposite of that.

1mic · Oct 31, 2016

^ Mine too

And I've driven an RCF at a lexus drive event. Its nice and all but it weighs 4000lbs.

Again these euro magazines are comparing a plain v8 model mustang virtually half the price of the competitive cars. When are they going to compare to a car in its price range? GT350 anyone

Twin Turbo · Oct 31, 2016

1mic said:
Again these euro magazines are comparing a plain v8 model mustang virtually half the price of the competitive cars. When are they going to compare to a car in its price range? GT350 anyone

Because the GT350 isn't officially available in Europe ;)

MRGTX · Oct 31, 2016

1mic said:
...

And I've driven an RCF at a lexus drive event. Its nice and all but it weighs 4000lbs.

Again these euro magazines are comparing a plain v8 model mustang virtually half the price of the competitive cars. When are they going to compare to a car in its price range? GT350 anyone

4,000lbs sounds like a lot to S197 people but it's within spitting distance of an S550.

Your question about comparing these cars to a GT350 is a damn good one but IIRC, the Mustang is a lot more expensive over there so it might make more sense to compare a GTPP regardless of the GT350 being available or not.

Twin Turbo · Oct 31, 2016

Yep, the Mustang GT is about £35k here (about $42k......the £ has tanked against the $ recently), and that Lexus (as tested) was £68k :eyebulge:

Lone Survivor · Oct 31, 2016

MRGTX said:
4,000lbs sounds like a lot to S197 people but it's within spitting distance of an S550 with a few options.

Your question about comparing these cars to a GT350 is a damn good one but IIRC, the Mustang is a lot more expensive over there so it might make more sense to compare a GTPP regardless of the GT350 being available or not.

The Mustang 5.0 GT, with the Euro version of PP is a @ £37k in Europe/UK. The M4 starts at £5 under £58k, the Lexus RCF starts at £5 under £59k rising to £70k for the CF (?) version.

Whichever way you look at it, the Mustang punches well above its weight. £20-30k premium? No thanks, just another expensive, not as good as it wants to be, bit of badge snobbery.

MRGTX · Oct 31, 2016

Lone Survivor said:
The Mustang 5.0 GT, with the Euro version of PP is a @ £37k in Europe/UK. The M4 starts at £5 under £58k, the Lexus RCF starts at £5 under £59k rising to £70k for the CF (?) version.

Whichever way you look at it, the Mustang punches well above its weight. £20-30k premium? No thanks, just another expensive, not as good as it wants to be, bit of badge snobbery.

Thanks for the specifics...and I totally agree that it offers WAY more performance car for the money than pretty much anything on the market. It's nice to see that this is true in other markets too.

I'm also amazed at how universally "unloved" this generation of the M3 has turned out to be.

9secondko · Nov 1, 2016

Lame. Put the gt350 in their since it's more in the price ballpark.

Oh... but that would mean it flat out SPANKS the other two. Can't have that apparently...

redtrack · Nov 1, 2016

I liked the part of the "blank canvas"...that means that with the money we saved, we can finish the "canvas" the way we want, enjoy the process and still keep money in the pocket!

16 GT MM/Auto · Nov 1, 2016

The Stang is a "blank canvas", as long as you don't mind voiding your warranty.

The bottom line is that when a European test pits a $45,296 (US) Mustang against a $70,995 (US) M4 and a $77,209 (US) Lexus RCF ...

The Mustang already won. ;)

ForTehNguyen · Nov 2, 2016

add square PSS tire setup, springs/shocks, BMR rear IRS lockout, BMR front brace, MGW shifter to this blank canvas and it would complete the car

BmacIL · Nov 2, 2016

I didn't realize the Euro cars didn't get the strut tower brace. That makes a decent difference. That plus something like the BMR cradle lockout would cure most of the issues they had, aside from being a little underdamped and on tires that are crap on wet roads.

wildcatgoal · Nov 2, 2016

I like those Lexus-izzzzz but they are a bit girly looking, IMHO.

I'd rather have an M3, especially an E92, but those f'ing things are expensive as sin.

offroadkarter · Nov 3, 2016

I'm surprised they loved the RC F so much, when Clarkson drove it on top gear he down right hated it.

wildcatgoal said:
I'd rather have an M3, especially an E92, but those f'ing things are expensive as sin.

To buy? only if you're looking at a low mile 12-13, 08-11's can be had between 25 and 42 grand.

To maintain? Yeah thats kind of the reason I didn't buy one, I didn't want to do a 3000 dollar preemptive rod bearing replacement or hope the 1500 dollar throttle actuators lasted.

Giant Test: Ford Mustang vs Lexus RCF vs BMW M4

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