Ford's M5

[s4awd]

I don't think many people cross shop the F10 M5 with a GT500. I didn't either but always wanted an SVT Cobra or GT500. After every new iteration, I secretly hoped that it would be good but it just seems year after year, it's always infererior and irrelevant compared to what's out on the market. Understeer, heavy, no traction, live axle. etc etc. But they look so badass that I just loved'em. As you know, SVT and Ford RS Europe teamed up with Caroll Shelby to come up with the current 661HP mustang. All the reviews seem good but it's always compared to the Camaro. Again, no one cross shops this thing with anything else so I didn't expect much in terms of it's abilities compared to what we drive. Given Mr. Shelby is no longer with us I decided to grab the last classic muscle car.available. Here's my comparo.

You can read about the plastic interior and how the live axle is not an issue elsewhere on the internet so i'll quickly sum it up for those of you who wondered about this car.

After a 7 hour drive, I realized, THIS IS HOW MY M5 WAS SUPPOSED TO FEEL. No seriously. I'm not saying it as a fanboy (never purcased domestic before, but more as a dissapointed BMW fan. The 500 has great steering (not fake), insanely mechanical and accurate shifter, powerful V8, handles surprisingly well (like it handles amazingly well i can't get over it), comfortable, (more on that later) and has great sound. Sadly, For those of you who live with the M5, you know full well that those aren't the traits of our current M car. BMW muted the car with so much luxury that the car can be boring.

That said, comfort and feeling like what an M5 should feel is not what the GT500 should be either. It's a bit too easy and comfortable to drive. spinning your tires in 3rd at 80mph shouldn't feel this safe. So between the two cars, I didn't actually get what I expected.

Back to the Ford, what I noticed when researching the GT500, was that there was a good amount of reviews stating how docile and comfortable (for a muscle car) the Shelby is. I had to drive my car from Ohio to NYC because no non-gouging dealer was within 400 miles so I was hoping it would be bearable. After 7 hours of straight driving, I can absolutely say this thing is a cross country tourer. So comfortable, and at 6th gear, the exhaust drone dissappears and it would not drop below 22 mpg. 661HP and no gas guzzler tax. sheesh.

My lease for 3 years on the M5 costs almost as much as a GT500. BMW M really needs to get their shit together and create something that stirs this much emotion and create something fun to drive that's not tiny( 1M). Something has to be said of hot rodding a lesser car. Evo, STi, GT500. How fun could hot rodding a current 5 series be??

From Evo IX MR, to GTR, to E92 M3, to GT3RS and now the F10 M5 and GT500, I can honestly say that the GT500 is a jack of all trades while still being a master of one, straightline speed, while the others suffer a good amount of compromises in what they can do. Too bad it's just a "Ford"

Now that my rant is over, I love my GT3RS, love my GT500 and still like my M5. sigh.

[avi8tir]

Is the apocalypse here or something?

[s4awd]

Originally Posted by avi8tir

Is the apocalypse here or something?

The rivers run with blood, the sea boils, the desert freezes, the birds fall from the sky, X6 M....

[nynd]

GT500 is a great machine - especially when you look at what you pay and what you get!

[uhn2000]

Nice review, never heard of the GT so good to get an enthusiast perspective.

[Mperial]

Nice review. Of the traits you mentioned which are lacking in the M5; I can only agree that the exhaust note is little muted and some of that is attributable to the interior soundproofing. The timbre of the exhaust note sounds good to me; there's just not enough of it for the driver to enjoy. So, while I haven't yet driven the Mustang, I'd have to say the other traits are present in the M5, at least from my perspective.

[Niko1414]

2 vastly different cars. I've driven the new GT500 and enjoyed it no doubt, but would I enjoy taking the family from OC to LA and back in it. Nope.
For me I need the comfort and and love the speed especially with my switzer tune. Also no way in hell I could ever take one of my customers out to dinner in a GT500... Just saying

[s4awd]

Yeah. Definitely not subtle and not a family car. My kids love going with me to the ice cream parlor in it though Such a shame to see this motor and drivetrain exist only in a car that most will never even consider trying.

[Tom C]

Having owned 5 Mustangs (including 1 SVT), I have a soft spot for the 2013 GT500. With that said, the GT500 is in a completely different realm than an F10 M5. You are comparing a two door coupe that weighs 400lbs+less and almost purposely revels in its more blue collar nature and has virtually no luxury features and very little comfort. It gives it a great personality and provides a more raw experience....very un-German. I can completely understand and appreciate loving a car with that kind of nature.... But it shouldn't be compared to a car with a completely different objective. Is the M5 perfect? Absolutely not! Which makes things like getting a set of race mufflers a nice little project (my Supersprint race mufflers made a huge difference in the nature of my beast). Should BMW have done something about it from the factory...probably, but they seemed more concerned with dealing with EU noise regulations.

I would think that the GT500 would be a great complimentary car to own with the M5 rather than to view it as a "comparable".

[wisesoul]

The GT500 is a sledgehammer of a car. Enjoy it, but when you get tired of your GT3, make sure to give me a ring! What a garage you have!! On another note, I don't think any M5 was made to tickle our trousers in the way the GT500 does, it was always a sleeper that masked speed with a veil of leather.

[Pazzo009]

Nice stable, and well said. Enjoy

[GOLFFRR]

insane stable

love that your a titleist guy also I see. Make sense after seeing your stable

[Rob///M5]

Nice RS!

[s4awd]

Originally Posted by wisesoul

...a sleeper that masked speed with a veil of leather.

i like that