FR-S/BRZ vs 2011+ Mustang V6

[Phaedrus29]

Originally Posted by muffinman

ended up buying a new 2012 v6 stang about a month ago (the day after they announced the FRS price actually lol). stickshift with 3.31 gears, a lil spoiler and a stripe. 23k OTD is what sold me. the live axle moves around on fast corners that have alot of broken asphalt. and the shifter initally requires a firm nudge into 1st and 2nd, but its gotten smoother after 2000 miles. otherwise there have been no rattles or weird noises and everything works great. 2013's r probably coming in now so if u can get a 2012 for under 23, i would totally recommend that

OK so the shifter gets smoother...that's good to know!

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by brewksy

By comparing performance numbers, its an easy decision - choose the Mustang for bang for the buck value.

If you test drive, it will definitely be a tougher decision. I drove a GT, and could not even come close to enjoying how it felt on the road - the weight was a killer for me. Tight, twisting roads on Vancouver Island felt downright dangerous. I'll wait to drive the BRZ...

brembo package?

[brewksy]

Originally Posted by fatoni

brembo package?

No. Though my driving experience didn't have much to do with Brembos.

Again, I always recommend test drives before deciding YMMV.

[fatoni]

Originally Posted by brewksy

No. Though my driving experience didn't have much to do with Brembos.

Again, I always recommend test drives before deciding YMMV.

Im pretty sure that package involves a host of suspension mods

[Capt Canuck]

^And the rest...
http://www.brembo50.com/Default.aspx?pageId=1130035

[brewksy]

Originally Posted by fatoni

Im pretty sure that package involves a host of suspension mods

You can feel the weight of a car, regardless of how well planted/stiff the suspension is, and that was my concern.

[carbonBLUE]

Originally Posted by justaquestion

Brembo package is for GT's only.

The performance package on the V6 is:

-Strut tower brace
-Larger front sway bar and SVT rear sway bar
-Unique front springs
-Unique front and rear calipers with performance friction pads
-19" painted aluminum wheels
-255/40r19 summer tires
-Unique stability control calibration
-Gloss black side mirrors
-3.31 rear axle
-Unique engine cover for manual transmission only

And just a note, and this goes for many other cars out there that offer Brembo's vs upgradable OEM brakes, not just the Mustang. Besides looking better, all the Brembo brakes do over OEM upgraded brakes, is wear the break pads down more evenly. They don't stop any quicker.

less brake fade is more what the brembos are for :P

[quik1987]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pD3hgleEOXA"]Subaru BRZ vs Ford Mustang! - Head 2 Head Episode 7 - YouTube[/ame]

[Guff]

Originally Posted by quik1987

PERFECT!!!! This film really gets the point down brilliantly!!!

[fatoni]

i am all for the drivers feel of the brz but its hard to ignore the v6 stang being faster in most categories all the while the brz being like 20% more expensive. im impressed but if you want numbers, go mustang (especially considering the gt can be had for the same price, if not cheaper than the brz) or if you really want feel...hopefully the nd is right around the corner.

[alyon]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i am all for the drivers feel of the brz but its hard to ignore the v6 stang being faster in most categories all the while the brz being like 20% more expensive. im impressed but if you want numbers, go mustang (especially considering the gt can be had for the same price, if not cheaper than the brz) or if you really want feel...hopefully the nd is right around the corner.

While the difference in performance is significant between the two you have to remember this is when comparing the v6 performance package Mustang to the 86. As stated above this package includes a ton of goodies which hides many of the Mustangs downfalls. The original PP for the mustang had 255/45/19 ultra performance summer tires which were about $350 a pop. Without these goodies the performance figures are not nearly as significant.

But here is the thing. During the 2011 and 2012 production years only 1.8% of v6 Mustangs were built with this performance package while reviewers only received PP Mustangs. They were pretty much by order only they were that scarce. So most of the performance figures you see represent a very small portion of the Mustangs coming out of the factory. Maybe that will change for 2013. Who knows.

The $2000 package is one hell of a steal though for what you get. Most of the dealers didn't even know about it when I inquired them about it.

[Capt Canuck]

Originally Posted by fatoni

i am all for the drivers feel of the brz but its hard to ignore the v6 stang being faster in most categories all the while the brz being like 20% more expensive. im impressed but if you want numbers, go mustang (especially considering the gt can be had for the same price, if not cheaper than the brz) or if you really want feel...hopefully the nd is right around the corner.

Matched up against the BRZ, I'd be wanting the Performance Package and the Recaros with the V6 which will get the price much much closer.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Capt Canuck

Matched up against the BRZ, I'd be wanting the Performance Package and the Recaros with the V6 which will get the price much much closer.

About $300 difference, destination included in both prices. The V6 remains the bargain sports car, but it's still a) a Mustang; and b) not a V8.

[Deslock]

Thanks for posting that video... very interesting and entertaining.

[spoiler alert]

I didn't expect the BRZ ($28.2k as tested) to be that fast. It was only 1.23 sec behind the Mustang with the performance package ($30.8k as tested).

More to the point is how much more of a drivers car both Angus MacKenzie and Randy Pobst said the BRZ was. I wonder what they would've said about the stock Mustang V6.

Compared with some other times (more here):

2011 GT-R                  80.25
2007 M3                    87.67
2009 370Z                  88.30
2005 Cayman S              88.91
2013 Mustang V6 (Prf Pkg)  89.09
2009 E63 AMG               89.60
2013 BRZ Limited           90.32
2005 M5                    90.40
2006 911 turbo             90.69
2011 Mustang V6 (Prf Pkg)  90.90
2011 EVO SE                91.40
2008 EVO MR                91.60
2004 350Z NISMO            93.87
2007 STI                   94.10

Notes: FWIW since different drivers and conditions. The 2011 Mustang V6 time appears to be from http://www.insideline.com/ford/musta...shoot-out.html (at first it wasn't clear to me if the 2011 V6 tested was stock, but from the photos and their captions, it appears to have been with the performance package).