Compare the2022 Ford Shelby GT500VS 2022 BMW M4

Both the Shelby GT500 and the M4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

Ford’s powertrain warranty covers the Shelby GT500 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the M4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the M4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 9 times as many Ford dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Shelby GT500’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford 14th in initial quality. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 20th.

The Shelby GT500’s 5.2 supercharged V8 produces 287 more horsepower (760 vs. 473) and 219 lbs.-ft. more torque (625 vs. 406) than the M4’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder. The Shelby GT500’s 5.2 supercharged V8 produces 257 more horsepower (760 vs. 503) and 146 lbs.-ft. more torque (625 vs. 479) than the M4 Competition’s standard 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder.

The Shelby GT500 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 M4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Ford Shelby GT500 comes standard with an automatic transmission, for driver comfort, especially in the city. Automatic costs extra on the M4.

The Shelby GT500 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 M4 doesn’t offer an SMG.

For better stopping power the Shelby GT500’s brake rotors are larger than those on the M4:

The Shelby GT500 stops shorter than the M4:

For better traction, the Shelby GT500 has larger tires than the M4 (F:305/30R20 & R:315/30R20 vs. F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19).

The Shelby GT500’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the M4’s standard 40 series front and 35 series rear tires. The Shelby GT500’s tires are lower profile than the M4’s optional 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Shelby GT500 has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch front and 19-inch rear wheels are standard on the M4. The M4’s largest wheels are only 19-inches in the front and 20-inches in the rear.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Shelby GT500 is 0 inches wider in the front and 1.1 inches wider in the rear than the track on the M4.

The Shelby GT500 handles at 1.13 G’s, while the M4 Coupe pulls only 1.03 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Shelby GT500 has 3.4 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front shoulder room and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the M4 Coupe.

The Shelby GT500 has a much larger trunk than the M4 Coupe (13.5 vs. 12 cubic feet).

The Shelby GT500’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 M4 has neither an oil pressure gauge nor a temperature gauge.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Shelby GT500 has standard extendable sun visors. The M4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

The Shelby GT500 will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Shelby GT500 will retain 63.08% of its original price after five years, while the M4 only retains 54.95% to 54.96%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Ford Shelby GT500 will be $69 to $1760 less than for the BMW M4.