Not one mention of tires?!? Did I miss it whiling scanning the article?
The specs show the Ford on Pirelli Pzeros and the BMW on Conti Sportcontact3.
I realize this was a “stock” comparison but…
Edit: OK this was it… “This $2500 kit(BMW) provides a slightly wider track via higher offset 19-inch wheels and improved grip by way of stickier tires”
So the already waaay higher priced BMW had a $2500 “sticky” package. I wonder how it would have done on the “regular” package.
Hmm…yet another “The other car was better in all measurable categories, but we gave the win to the BMW for some unknown reason” comparison test. This is why car mags can’t have nice things.
Ah well, the Mustang got paid back for the 2005 test vs. the 2005 GTO where it got beaten by 7 points and then they gave it an 8 point advantage in “Gotta have it factor” to give it the win.
For the first time I would actually want a brand new GT, I love that car.
But I would take a M3 sedan over it if money wasn’t an issue. I actually saw a black sedan today that was flush with nice wheels. It was at a reserve spot at buff state, saw the car once before at the building where GCR is(recording studio), it was on the side that has a dentist’s office. Just one of the nicest new cars anyone makes, for a reasonable price that is.
One of My professors is chief chassis engineer at Ford and I asked this very question. He said that they were going to use the IRS that they developed for the 99-03 Cobras, but they achieved the same “feel” according to their customers. The solid axle is also more robust form the factory and Ford didn’t want to go through the same rear end issues that other similar vehicles suffered from.(I think he meant the GTO)