Compare the2025 Ford Mustang GTDVS 2025 BMW M8

Both the Mustang GTD and the M8 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Mustang GTD 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the M8. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the M8 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 8 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Mustang GTD’s warranty.

The Mustang GTD has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The M8 doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the car’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. With 3 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Ford higher than BMW.

The Mustang GTD’s 5.2 supercharged V8 produces 198 more horsepower (815 vs. 617) and 111 lbs.-ft. more torque (664 vs. 553) than the M8’s 4.4 turbo V8.

The Mustang GTD has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The M8 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Mustang GTD higher (4 out of 10) than the BMW M8 (2). This means the Mustang GTD produces up to 15.6 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the M8 every 15,000 miles.

The Mustang GTD offers a standard sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is much more efficient than a conventional automatic but just as easy to drive. The M8 doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

For better stopping power the Mustang GTD’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the M8:

The Mustang GTD stops much shorter than the M8:

For better traction, the Mustang GTD has larger tires than the M8 (F:325/30R20 & R:345/30R20 vs. F:275/35R20 & R:285/35R20).

The Mustang GTD’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the M8’s standard 35 series tires.

The Mustang GTD has a standard automatic front and rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The M8 doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Mustang GTD is 4 inches wider in the front and 3.5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the M8.

The Mustang GTD’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the M8’s (52.9% to 47.1%). This gives the Mustang GTD more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Mustang GTD’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the M8 Competition Coupe’s (37.8 feet vs. 40 feet). The Mustang GTD’s turning circle is 4.5 feet tighter than the M8 Gran Coupe’s (37.8 feet vs. 42.3 feet).

The Mustang GTD’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The M8 does not have an oil pressure gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Mustang GTD has standard extendable sun visors. The M8 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Ford Mustang outsold the BMW 8 Series by over 8 to one during 2024.