Throughout the years, the Ford Mustang has made a formidable opponent for the BMW M series. Take the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse, which, when pitted against the BMW M2, was the clear-cut victor. More recently, a Mustang Shelby GT350 came out on top in a race against the BMW M4, but just barely. This time, YouTuber Sam CarLegion put a Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R up against a 2025 BMW M3, making the case for the manual transmission while he’s at it.
The BMW M3 harnesses a twin-turbocharged 3.0L I6 engine, rated at 473 brake horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. On the other side of the ring, the 2020 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R features the naturally aspirated 5.2L V8 engine, good for 526 brake horsepower and 429 pound-feet of torque. Both vehicles features rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and six-speed manual transmissions, and despite the power discrepancy, they seem fairly evenly matched.
That proves true as soon as they hit the track. In a roll race test, the two vehicles stay neck-and-neck for the length of the runway, finishing the race in a dead heat. The Mustang Shelby GT350R was slightly ahead at the stripe in the first race, so they have another go. The second race produces about the same results, with the Mustang Shelby nosing ahead at the finish, no questions asked.
Finally, in a drag race, the two vehicles get off the line at practically the same exact time. The 2025 BMW M3 struggles to find grip, allowing the Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R to gain the advantage. Once the Mustang pulls ahead, it’s all over for the BMW, which once again finishes second. The Mustang once again shows the M3 how it’s done, galloping ahead of its opponent without breaking a sweat.
Manual transmissions are a dying breed. Even though the Mustang Shelby GT350R isn’t part of the model line anymore, the seventh-gen Mustang can still be had with a manual transmission, making it one of the last of a dying breed.
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