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

[Jonyxz]

There is definitely cross shopping between the 2 cars, there are numerous former members on Mustang6g/7G that are now on the bimmerforums that have moved on to the M2. I think Ford priced themselves into this position. The S650 I had optioned out at $56K and I was offered the car at invoice still had a 48mos lease payment of $960.00 per month. I am leasing my M2 with an MSRP at 65K for 36mos. at 1047 per month. There are a crap load of S650s out there. There was one post that said they had gotten 6%off of MSRP for an M2, but you will wait a long time for an allocation from that dealer. I did get $1200 off of MSRP for my G87 and an additional $500 off for being former military, even though it was well over 20 yrs. ago. Ford only offers this discount if you were discharged less than 2yrs. ago.

I traded my 19 GT for an X3M, then had an M3, then an AMG GLA45...and now I'm back to an mt Dark Horse with handling package. Yes, the m3 was a great all rounder. The X3M was an SUV that could go to the track. The GLA45 was a refined machine with a jewel under the hood(m139). All comparable in price to the new Dark Horse. But the reality is the Dark Horse is a better experience overall. The tremec, the v8, the classic proportions, it looks good from every angle and let me tell you the handling doesnt envy anything to an M3. I'll give the more luxurious interior and quicker engine to the bmw(if not supercharged) but everywhere else the Dark Horse is an unbelievable great package. I didnt like and understand the price in the beginning but now I get it. the improvement is massive compared to a normal gt. Its in a different league. This thing is a beautiful daily drivable track machine just like an M2, M3 and M4 but with tons of more soul.

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[Polo08816]

There is definitely cross shopping between the 2 cars, there are numerous former members on Mustang6g/7G that are now on the bimmerforums that have moved on to the M2. I think Ford priced themselves into this position. The S650 I had optioned out at $56K and I was offered the car at invoice still had a 48mos lease payment of $960.00 per month. I am leasing my M2 with an MSRP at 65K for 36mos. at 1047 per month. There are a crap load of S650s out there. There was one post that said they had gotten 6%off of MSRP for an M2, but you will wait a long time for an allocation from that dealer. I did get $1200 off of MSRP for my G87 and an additional $500 off for being former military, even though it was well over 20 yrs. ago. Ford only offers this discount if you were discharged less than 2yrs. ago.

This is the main problem. Otherwise the DH is an excellent vehicle.

wow. how much down? 1K+ per month for 36 months then you have nothing to show for it. Turn it in and start all over? Won't you have a car payment for the rest of your life?

I would argue that if you're going to track your car in largely stock format, lease is the way to go. Those 36,000 miles will really be like 100,000+ street miles by the end of that lease.

 

[Polo08816]

I traded my 19 GT for an X3M, then had an M3, then an AMG GLA45...and now I'm back to an mt Dark Horse with handling package. Yes, the m3 was a great all rounder. The X3M was an SUV that could go to the track. The GLA45 was a refined machine with a jewel under the hood(m139). All comparable in price to the new Dark Horse. But the reality is the Dark Horse is a better experience overall. The tremec, the v8, the classic proportions, it looks good from every angle and let me tell you the handling doesnt envy anything to an M3. I'll give the more luxurious interior and quicker engine to the bmw(if not supercharged) but everywhere else the Dark Horse is an unbelievable great package. I didnt like and understand the price in the beginning but now I get it. the improvement is massive compared to a normal gt. Its in a different league. This thing is a beautiful daily drivable track machine just like an M2, M3 and M4 but with tons of more soul.

I wish they put the LT2 in the CT4-V Blackwing instead of that LF4. GM's Alpha platform is excellent.

 

[Mustang406]

There is definitely cross shopping between the 2 cars, there are numerous former members on Mustang6g/7G that are now on the bimmerforums that have moved on to the M2. I think Ford priced themselves into this position. The S650 I had optioned out at $56K and I was offered the car at invoice still had a 48mos lease payment of $960.00 per month. I am leasing my M2 with an MSRP at 65K for 36mos. at 1047 per month. There are a crap load of S650s out there. There was one post that said they had gotten 6%off of MSRP for an M2, but you will wait a long time for an allocation from that dealer. I did get $1200 off of MSRP for my G87 and an additional $500 off for being former military, even though it was well over 20 yrs. ago. Ford only offers this discount if you were discharged less than 2yrs. ago.

I agree Ford priced themselves into this position and honestly with the Camaro, Chally/Charger siblings gone the M2 is really the closest competitor the S650 has.

If the S650 was entirely new and not heavily based on the S550 and it had a bit more refinement and more than a marginal performance improvement over the S550 I wouldn't have a problem paying 80k for a DH.

My biggest gripe with the DH is that the GT has 95% of the DH performance and it is considerably cheaper.

 

[Dave2013M3]

You have to remember, the M2 comes with all the goodies. Yes there is the Carbon Package for the roof and seats to save some weight but that is pretty much it. At $67K the M2 is a hell of a bargain. You add a tuner box to these things and they are pushing darn near 600hp for just $500-600. A BMW G87 M2 around the Nurburgring BTG ran a 7:37 with Mich SC2s.

 

[Jonyxz]

You have to remember, the M2 comes with all the goodies. Yes there is the Carbon Package for the roof and seats to save some weight but that is pretty much it. At $67K the M2 is a hell of a bargain. You add a tuner box to these things and they are pushing darn near 600hp for just $500-600. A BMW G87 M2 around the Nurburgring BTG ran a 7:37 with Mich SC2s.

The tuner boxes(jb4, racechip) add power but are nothing like a real tune. You have to send the ECM to Finland to get it unlocked. Carbon ceramic brakes($8000), carbon bucket seats($5000) are expensive options. The M Performance exhaust is another $10000 and sounds like a fart. M2 and Darkhorse are both great cars and like any car each has some pros and cons.

 

[Dave2013M3]

The tuner boxes(jb4, racechip) add power but are nothing like a real tune. You have to send the ECM to Finland to get it unlocked. Carbon ceramic brakes($8000), carbon bucket seats($5000) are expensive options. The M Performance exhaust is another $10000 and sounds like a fart. M2 and Darkhorse are both great cars and like any car each has some pros and cons.

Agreed, doing the FENMO unlock is a major detriment. It may be true regarding a true tune vs. a tune box, but even the mild maps add 30-40hp and bring the torque on sooner.

What kills the M2, especially with the manual there is a ton of torque management going on. You can speed shift the car but it doesn't like to be powershifted.

As far as sound, nothing sounds worse that a full exhaust S58. I am only doing a midpipe, stock axle back with exhaust flap control. Adds something but not obnoxious. What is nice is people don't always think I am racing them. BTW, hardly anyone is buying that BMW M exhaust. Most folks do something else. The BMW M Performance parts are ridiculously priced. That exhaust adds 0 hp and its hideous.

 

[Jonyxz]

Agreed, doing the FENMO unlock is a major detriment. It may be true regarding a true tune vs. a tune box, but even the mild maps add 30-40hp and bring the torque on sooner.

What kills the M2, especially with the manual there is a ton of torque management going on. You can speed shift the car but it doesn't like to be powershifted.

As far as sound, nothing sounds worse that a full exhaust S58. I am only doing a midpipe, stock axle back with exhaust flap control. Adds something but not obnoxious. What is nice is people don't always think I am racing them. BTW, hardly anyone is buying that BMW M exhaust. Most folks do something else. The BMW M Performance parts are ridiculously priced. That exhaust adds 0 hp and its hideous.

Yeah that M performance exhaust is in Titanium and the diffuser also needs to be replaced to accomodate it. A single midpipe is the most decent sound you can probably get out of the s58. I deleted the secondary cats with the stock keeping the stock midpipe and was also decent but I always missed the Coyote sound. The did a great job with the stock Dark Horse exhaust, the na v8 sound is so therapeutic.

 

[Rocket Man]

sounds like a boat motor

 

[Jonyxz]

sounds like a boat motor

Yeah, the sound was a real downer. Especially for a previous mustang owner. And the more you open it up the worse it gets. Its a great all round machine but seriously lacking in the sound department. I couldnt justify spending more money on exhaust.

 

[Rocket Man]

i hear you. didn't say it sounded bad, just kinda boatlike
Once you hear the song of a healthy V8, nothing else really compares. Maybe a high winding V12.

 

[Jonyxz]

i hear you. didn't say it sounded bad, just kinda boatlike
Once you hear the song of a healthy V8, nothing else really compares. Maybe a high winding V12.

Its the reality. Its hard to make a twin turbo i6 sound right.

 

[robvas]

Yeah that M performance exhaust is in Titanium and the diffuser also needs to be replaced to accomodate it. A single midpipe is the most decent sound you can probably get out of the s58. I deleted the secondary cats with the stock keeping the stock midpipe and was also decent but I always missed the Coyote sound. The did a great job with the stock Dark Horse exhaust, the na v8 sound is so therapeutic.

Doesn't sound that bad.

plus it's not like most opened up Coyotes sound great anyway

 

[Mustang406]

Doesn't sound that bad.

plus it's not like most opened up Coyotes sound great anyway

That doesn't sound that bad but the 5.0 sounds a lot better to me especially with an H pipe.

 

[robvas]

That doesn't sound that bad but the 5.0 sounds a lot better to me especially with an H pipe.

They can sound okay. But most of them do not. And the old 4.6/5.0 sounded much better.

I don't know who this guy is so I'm not picking on him it's just one of the first hits on Youtube (and if you're on here don't get your panties in a bunch).

This car sounds like total shit. Just loud and obnoxious. And the annoying ass cold starts on these engines don't help either...

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