When it comes to the perfect recipe for four-wheeled fun, you want a powerful engine up front, a manual gearbox in the middle and drive going to the back. Two cars that nail that recipe better than most are the Ford Mustang GT and the BMW M235i (now the BMW M240i). Both of which can be found on the used market for significantly less than they were new, which makes them both very enticing prospects for pre-owned buyers. But which one is better? What Car? found out.

In this test of used cars, What Car? put the BMW M235i up against the Mustang GT to see which is the best used rear-wheel drive sports car.

The BMW M235i is well known around these parts, using an N55 3.0 liter turbocharged I6 engine, a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive (in this case. An eight-speed auto and all-wheel drive are optional). It makes 322 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque and, with a manual, can get from 0-60 mph in under five seconds.

While the Ford Mustang GT uses a 5.0 liter, naturally-aspirated V8 that makes 410 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque. With its six-speed manual, What Car? recorded a 5.0 second 0-60 mph time. That’s a bit slow and we’ve seen much faster.

In a straight-line, numbers aside, they feel about as fast. The Mustang has much more power and revs beautifully, thanks to its free-breathing nature, but the BMW is lighter and has a more accessible powerband, thanks to being turbocharged. So they both feel very quick but the Mustang feels quicker at the top end while the BMW feels quicker at lower revs.

When it comes to corners, the BMW M235i is the sharper car, with better, faster steering and more composed dynamics. The Mustang is very good but it’s not quite as sharp as the Bimmer, feeling as heavy as it is and being less nimble. It loves to play, though, and is the more exciting car, mostly due to that engine.

We won’t spoil the winner for you, so you can actually check out the original article, but it’s an interesting read. The Mustang is a great sports car that packs more thrills but the BMW M235i is the more well-rounded car. So which wins? Read What Car? to find out.

[Source: What Car?]