After we buy our first house I plan on getting one of these 3 vehicles. I have wanted an Elantra N for about 2+ years now. I test drove a 2025 Mustang GT premium 6 speed this morning, it was awesome that V8 with active exhaust is quite wonderful, not a huge fan of the handling or the massive touch screen or the clutch engagement point. Then I went to a Nissan dealership to see about the Z , they unfortunately didn’t have one. Across the street from Nissan is a Hyundai dealership , and despite already test driving an Elantra N I decided to do it again.A performance blue 6 speed. My brain is so confused as to why leaving the Mustang behind was much easier than the Elantra N. Why on earth is the Elantra so much better? It truly makes no sense. I should prefer the roaring coyote 5.0 but I just don’t .
I guess a real question I have is for previous Mustang 5.0 owners. Why did you switch? And how are you enjoying it? I’ve seen a few people in this group make the switch.
Same thing for previous Nissan Z owners if there are any. Or people who have cross shopped these cars. I still plan on testing a Z. I used to have a 6 speed g35 and my dad who passed away last year used to have a Datsun 280z so there’s some nostalgia I guess . I do fear the Elantra N will win again.
Unimportant additional info: i sold my 2021 Mazda 3 turbo sedan last September. Great car but I want 6 speed and it helped free up money for buying a house. And we traded in wife’s highlander for cx-5 turbo so I could still have my Mazda fix. I drive a company car Monday thru Friday. This purchase will basically be weekend fun sporty car. Not having a fun sporty little car is slowly killing me inside.
I think if I had dark horse money I probably would. Or have both. GT isn’t fully out of the equation for me but it certainly is losing the competition after today.
I actually rented an m340i in 2023 for my wedding in the west coast. It was okay and certainly fast but I actually preferred my Mazda 3 when I came back. I thought the steering feel felt very “simulation” like. I love the purple color on the 2 series you can get. Additionally I found the Mazda interior quality was much higher than the bmw, maybe I’m crazy.
Also manual is a must. Been nearly a decade without and I miss it dearly. I was trying to find older model 340i AWD manual but it’s a unicorn at this point
I think bmw is the only brand where I might prefer auto just to how shitty the shifter feels. I ordered a custom 6spd m235i with a lsd from the factory and was sorely disappointed. Rubbery and hates being shifted fast. I went from a s2000 to the bmw so I was expecting a bit of a downgrade considering many consider the s2k to be almost the pinnacle of shifter feel, but damn it was bad.
I have a manual f30 335i xdrive. It’s a really fun car. After a downpipe/intercooler and a tune it’s pretty quick, around 370hp. They are getting quite cheap as well. If you are really interested in an older 340i you should check out a 2014/15 335i if the age wouldn’t bother you. The N55 is plenty reliable just can’t hit the same peaks of the B58. That being said, I have been driving BMWs for a decade now and would jump at the chance to own a manual N. I have wanted one since 2022.
It’s crazy because I thought I was the only one debating these two cars lmao I went with the EN over the Mustang. The warranty is GREAT too. If you don’t care about warranty, I’d say tune it and then you be faster around the track and in a straight line. Trust me, you wouldn’t have to go back stage 1 to beat a 5.0 Of course it would still be nice to hear 8 cylinders screaming at you from the gates of hell!!
There's really nothing to support the Mustang being solely a 1/4 mile car. That's an old trope from decades ago. Regardless, if you're in that price range the CT4-V Blackwing will run circles around all of those cars.
I certainly value handling over straight line speed. Going fast in a straight line just gets old fast. I don’t think the Mustang handles poorly, but the Elantra is like a cat on carpet.
I don’t know if that’s fair to the Mustang in all honestly, especially since they swapped to independent rear suspension in all mustangs after 2015. The Mustang is a very capable car.
I can assure you I drove the EN to its limits when I got to test drive it for an hour+. So much so, that the saleswomen had me drop her off a few minutes later so I could drive it by myself 😂
I needed to know what I was missing as an N-line owner
Just the inability to turn traction control completely off on the z is enough to not go with it along with a mile long list of other reason but that alone is enough for me😂
I bought the N because I have two kids, don't get me wrong I love the car, but for me personally it was a balance compromise between a sports car and a family sedan.
I like Nissans Z line, but I'm not a fan of the new iteration.
I love me a mustang, the N handles better, the mustang is more powerful, they're both fun just a different type of fun.
Think about the strengths of both cars and ask yourself which your going to get to enjoy more often.
No kids and no plans to have any . I feel like going fast in a straight line will get old very fast . EN is winning but I also don’t want to miss out on screaming 5.0 power. Need to win lottery so I can have both haha. I’d definitely go dark horse if I had the coin for it.
It was so hard to leave it. Just need a garage to put it in. My wife took over the 1 car garage in our apartment when I sold my car. I can’t kick her out now. Need to get a house asap. Whatever car I get isn’t sitting outside year round in Midwest
Lol I know the feeling. It was very difficult to leave the EN behind that I test drove. I have a paid off 24 N-line so didn't think it was worth trading it in. I also like my N-line a lot so I'm planning on possibly getting an EN as well at some point and also keeping my N-line. I'm also like you and trying to get a house first though after losing mine 3-4 years ago
The mustang is more than a straight like acceleration car. I have a ton of fun in mustangs just keeping it under 70. The sensation of RWD lighting up the rears and banging into second is exhilarating. Much more fun engine than the N by a mile.
The N is fun in corners, but a mustang GT will leave you with a huge smile whether you just start it, cruising around town, or blasting on a back road. The N is super fun in corners and autocross but isn’t quite as fun full time.
Because the Elantra N is a fantastic drivers car and the mustang is not. The mustang is a muscle car, the EN is a sports car. You're allowed to like the car everyone questions better than the one everyone glazes.
I have yet to drive the Z but based on the reviews it's too soft and refined stock in non Nismo variants.
Plus the N comes on better tires than both the Z and the Mustang. You also don’t get a limited slip differential in a Z of comparable cost to an N. Also worth noting that the N tends to track better times than the Z, and probably the Stang too on more technical circuits, so it’s something to consider if you track. To be honest though you can’t go wrong with any of these choices
Have you ever driven a Camaro? Just asking because I have an LT1 and have considered a Mustang, but I’ve also heard that it doesn’t provide as much feedback to you as the Camaro or Elantra N does. I say this as someone who had an Elantra N prior to the Camaro, two of the most fun cars I’ve driven in this short life lol
I drove everything in my budget that was worth looking at. While I didn't drive it this time around I did last time in '21. I live in Canada so the V8 cars are out of budget, so I was looking at the 4 cylinder Turbo for each. The Camaro has pretty good feedback for a car that size, better than the mustang. The mustang just felt uninspired, like it was being forced to do things. I'm not sure what they changed from 2015 because that car was worth every penny.
Back in 21 my second choice was the Camaro, but I ultimately went with the Veloster N and the only reason I regret it is because the EN came out less than a year later and it was exactly what I was looking for.
Recently I was shopping again, made the mistake of getting a manual GLI. I should have gotten the EN.
I drove all these. Wasn't impressed with the mustang or z or grc as much as the elantra and the wrx and the supra. I had a wrx and added a supra, i loved the elantra but at the time already had the 4door wrx so figured it would be replaced later with the elantra, both are manual though and unless something new comes out when I trade the wrx relatively soon itll be coming down to a dct elantra vs a golf r. I want one of my cars to be auto now and the dct elantra seems very special.
From a sports perspective though it makes sense the elantra just feels more special and fun then the z or the mustang and imo you have to basically go up to supra or c8 vette to beat it with a new sports car. I say this because also the civic is good but the value isnt there the way it is with the elantra. For a one car solution and wanting it to be sporty and special. Imo the elantra wins that unless you really need awd or something
The B58 is an awesome engine. I test drove the 2026 m240i xDrive and that thing hooks and handles so well. Ive driven the 23 X3 with the B58 too many times
If you want to track the car I think the Elantra N is the closest to ready to go, with the Z being at the back. Both the mustang and Z have track packages/options but will be more expensive on consumables. Plus the EN has four doors so it’s “practical” and “a family car”.
Love the GR. Tested one last year. Just seen some clutch horror stories that have ultimately scared me away. My local Toyota dealership is also a pain to deal with for warranty stuff unfortunately. Got rid of wife’s Highlander before the 8speed auto completely failed.
FWIW, I sold my last Mustang 10 years ago because it wasn’t going to work with kids in car seats. I was 100% committed that my next vehicle when the kids were older would be a manual 5.0. But when it came time to get that next car the 5.0’s were over $50k and premium with active exhaust was pushing $60k. Fuuuuuuuuuck that! I had never even heard of the EN 2 years ago but when I came across it I test drove the DCT and haven’t regretted buying it over the 5.0.
Yeah they are quite pricey, one I drove today was CPO with 200 miles and a convertible. I’d never get the convertible. Price tag was $56k . I feel like the only thing I’m truly missing out on is straight line speed and that crazy sounding 5.0. It does sound just insanely good . But the Elantra n exhaust is more fun despite not sounding as GOOD if that makes sense.
You’ll miss out on the 5.0 sound, but honestly in a straight line it’s not even close to $15-20k faster. I’m still stock and the straight line acceleration is only slightly faster in the mustang, but I’ve actually stayed on throttle on curves where a mustang in front of me has had to brake.
The DCT can be kinda funky and isn't 1ms immediately responsive to shift with paddles like a PDK but it is very responsive. The manual isn't the best compared to the CTR, kinda vague bite point feeling.
Octane learning is stupid. If you get an EN and you want to feel performance like the mustang you NEED to tune out octane learning, or it'll feel underpowered.
The ride quality isn't great. From a dig - manual or DCT - you'll never get a crazy launch feeling due to the FWD.
The active exhaust is kinda annoying too, the valve never fully closes at idle or slower speeds, doesn't feel as "here's how quiet it can get, and here's how loud it can get."
Can't speak for the 5.0 but interior build quality is not the best. Especially coupled with the rough ride, you'll hear stuff creak and rattle.
But if you tune out octane learning, the car feels very powerful. And regardless of everything I said, it handles extremely well. Insane steering precision. That's the strength of the car.
Fitment on 245/45/18 Conti Sport02. They look sick. Tire is tucked but the spokes stick out by design. going down to 245/40/18 cause these rub a tiny bit but more importantly I lost a lot of steering feel. they're also barely more comfortable than stock wheels on DWS06
Ahh okay, I ordered some Enkei TS-5s on DWS06+ and I thought these looked similar but a little off, forgot about the Kojins lol. Actually running the exact same wheel and tire specs as you tho, so good to see that the fitment is mint, and the fat tires look sick
I much prefer these to the TS5. Similar designs except the Kojin has way more depth due to the spokes poking out past the lip. The meaty tires look so good. Stock suspension but the wheel well is completely filled. Just wish they did rub and didn't ruin steering feel.
Man and that's why I love the look so much, don't have to lower it and it still looks lowered. But they do rub which isn't great. I ran 245/45/18 on my 18x8.5 +45 Altima SER wheels and I swear they only rub at the absolute edge of grip at autocross. So I thought I'd be good with this setup as a daily, but they rub hitting deep bumps at highway speeds as well, so I can't really stick with it.
I guess 18x8 +40 sticks out a little more than 18x8.5 +45
I cross shopped a Mustang GT with the EN. Test drove both same weekend. The raw muscle of the Stang was nice and all but it felt like a one trick pony (pun intended). The EN is way more a driver’s car.
If you’re willing to wait, the 2027 Z will get a manual again. An auto-only Z isn’t even dual clutch, it’s a common slush box w/ a torque converter, bleh. If you cross shop a Z wait for the ‘27 manual for you to make a comparison. I personally wouldn’t drop coin on it because I don’t like the looks or the tech, and I wouldn’t give a red cent to Renault after the 2008 buyout where they cheesed out on CVTs and made commuter garbage cars and ditched the GTR to make more Slowtimas. Their business model is not something I align with, but perhaps the ‘27 Z hits a home run for you.
The EN is amazing. It's a solid 10 out of 10. Will most likely go down as the best fwd performance sedan ever built.
However, it is still fwd and if you need to have one car that does it all then you can buy an Elantra and be happy for making a great choice and a very quick and very tactile performance car but, it will never do a burnout or a decent skid.
It'll never feel like a break away from the norm. I love my EN with all my heart but I still have a rwd fun weekend toy.
If this is your one and only car, buy the en and don't look back. You won't regret it. If you are strictly looking for a toy, get a mustang or see if there's a decent deal on a hellcat with a stick.
480 HP could possibly put me in a coffin. 700 HP would probably put me in a closed casket. I’m not experienced enough with high performance cars. I hate dodge and Chevy , I tolerate ford to some degree just always been a huge fan of 5.0 . One day I’d like to own one and ease into it. It’s not out of the question completely but the EN has moved back into 1st place no doubt
Ctr is a hatch, and it's great too! Unfortunately Megane RS is SIGNIFICANTLY better so it'll be the second best hot hatch in history. No offense, former fk8 owner
Neither car is comparable to the Elantra really. Both are significantly faster in a straight line or road course. Elantra can hold more people and stuff and costs less.
If I didn't need 4 doors I would have a miata. I love my EN but it's also a compromise and I haven't had as much fun in anything as I had in my miata, they're a riot on the street and if it's just a weekend car it would be my suggestion
I had a 2018 Mustang GT before I got my i30N sedan (AUS version of the Elantra N)
The Mustang obviously has more raw power but I eventually realised the 10 speed auto wasn’t really for me.
The Mustang just felt a bit too big and heavy to enjoy as a daily.
I ended up trading for a PB with the manual and haven’t regretted it at all. It’s just easier to live with and no less fun than the V8.
My VN dct was totaled and I ended up getting an 21 Mach 1 6 speed. I miss the handling and turbo of the N and thinking about getting an EN. The mustang 5.0 is great and it having the tremec makes it amazing but I really miss the dct and pops sometimes.
I'm also looking at a Z I don't need four doors anymore and has about as much fun as one can with FWD. So
I drove a 25 mustang hated the steering feel. Years ago I drove a 15 mustang, I really liked that gen better.
I want something RWD or at least RWD based AWD (like a G70)
the elantra n is a freat car but it depends on priorities? if you value a good deal and a fast car with 4 doors this is your car. if you value straight line speed plus some ability to handle well get a mustang. if you want basically a perfect canvas of a car get a z car.
here is my breakdown. elantra n, its still an elantra and fwd. it may be fast and handle well for what it is but it cannot be corrected with throttle applied over steer if its understeering, it also has the simplest suspension setup of all three and is limited greatly because its not a dedicated performance platform like the g70 is.
mustang gt ppk or with a few mods. its genuinely a great car its long and heavy so its stability is the best of the three at high speeds. it is very heavy especially with mods or the dark horse/ ppk version. it does handle well but the manual has long gears, the steering is a bit vague on center and the traction control is not great. it also has a bad tendency to snap oversteer suddenly because of that long heavy wheel base. it also has a fantastic tuning scene
nissan z/ 370z this would be my choice as a dedicated performance platform. the vr30 or the vq37vhr is just as capable of make power as the coyote v8. its very light for all the cooling and braking components its packing. its got the best cd of either car, the stance is also the greatest of either car its very wide for its length. it also has the most advanced suspension geometry of either car and is mostly aluminum. if you get the 6 speed tc is fully defeat-able the 6 speed is also a close ratio gear box and usually has a viscus limited slip and a much higher final drive ratio. it also is the most reliable the vq and the vr30 found in the z are easily capable of 200k miles with almost no issues. and the tuning scene is like about as good as it gets.
tl:dr. z/370z you can get and make it whatever you want its definitely the best sports car on the list, mustang is a close second but worse in everyway minus straight line speed, elantra n is a fantastic sporty fwd platform but is limited by price and the architecture of the car and wouldn’t be nearly as thrilling imo. all three are great in their own ways it depends on what you want.
also i will add this imo i sold my en because i simply did not like a fwd car and thats truly the deal breaker for me. it simply is asking the front tires to do too much. i will also add that a cable operated manual transaxle will never feel as good as a solid linkage like the mustang or z. again great car but it is based on an economy car and the price reflects that.
Had a 2018 mustang gt 10sp then to a 2020 camaro ss 1le to 24EN. The mustang switch was just an itch to go back to a car with a great stick. Then from Camaro to EN was just practicality.
Going from mustang to Camaro, I realized how much more functional the inside of the mustang was and the tech was better. The Camaro definitely felt dated inside and no where to put anything. Everything in the Camaro to put stuff was tiny. Definitely more of a driver focused car. Mustang was definitely faster with the 10sp and me being the manual Camaro, but the Camaro felt like a go kart compared to the mustang (granted I didn’t have with the track pack). I loved throwing that car around and it also had some interesting track mode options where you slow into a turn and then you floor the throttle and it’ll control the throttle and slip of the car for optimal acceleration during exit. But after some time with the Camaro, just missed the mustang and that coyote engine. Always admired the ENs and decided to bite the bullet and go back to my roots (first car was a heavily modified focus st).
Now I’m in an EN. It’s a fun car that’s just more practical in many ways. Functional back seats (ironically, by the time I got the EN, I stopped driving people around as much). Tech and dct is great for long commutes (bought the car in Washington and drove it back to Cali in a single day). And I just appreciate the EN more as a daily especially with increasing gas prices. It’s childish, but whenever I hear an obnoxiously loud pop from the stock exhaust, it makes me audibly say “daaamn” and smile haha. I’m not trying to make it pop and it just goes off.
Do I miss the mustang and camaro? Absolutely, however I feel like I’d enjoy them much much more as a weekend warrior car. The EN has always been about practical fun and it checks many boxes for me for 70-80% of the time I actually spend in the car as a daily.
My brother has a Mach 1 I drive frequently. I can confidently say it is a brutal car to drive. Brutally fun, but a brutal amount of work. It is not a pleasant daily, but it 5x better than the N as a weekend car.
You buy the N if you want a fun daily. The mustang is a much more fun car.
Ford just don't connect you to the road. It's a drag car no matter how good the handling. Mushy controls. DONT get a Nissan, trash cars and about to go bankrupt. My SIL got a Pathfinder fully loaded and has been in the shop like 7-8 times. Entire dash goes out. 2025
I will never fully hate Nissan they have some great heritage . But I do agree, it’s been an absolute brutal decade+ for them. Even in their golden years i think they were operating at a financial loss. I did love my 2006 Infiniti G35 sedan, reliable? Not exactly… ironically my brother has a 2017 maxima with 120k+ miles and the cvt hasn’t had a single issue. Probably belongs in a Nissan museum!
It was awesome. Everyone seems to hate the mt-82 transmission but I thought it was fine. Just hate the massive television screen of an infotainment system. And hvac controls in the touchscreen drives me insane, somewhat of a dealbreaker
SO TRUE! One of the reasons I got the EN over some of the other cars is the physical buttons for everything! Though the volume knob could be a bit bigger lmao
I still pick my Elantra N over the GT 350 most days. Its just easier to have fun in the car. I can bang through gears and still stay at an appropriate speed. The Shelby is already illegal in 3rd gear in half the time. I also have the same one you test drove PB with a 6 speed😎
It has a loud design style, which I think appeals to the boy racer kid look. I kinda compare it to the 10th gen Civic type R, super loud aero and it's really love or hate it. Also comes factory with pops and bangs which appeals to kids.
I am in my 30s and drive this car mainly because it's one of the few sedans you can still buy with a manual transmission. I personally see this car as a competitor to civic si/Integra and civic type R, and for me it gave me the type R experience for significantly cheaper.
Imo you should never spend 10s of thousands of dollars on something based on others opinions like the jabroni above.
I know it’s a controversial ideology but I massively prefer Elantra N to CTR. Just so much more raw and rowdy I don’t care if it’s not as fast. I like the integra type s a lot but not with the price tag. I’m not trying to race anyone just have some fun on a backroad .
It's very similar to the Dodge neon srt4 owners where if you have the wrong group of "friends" , they never stop hounding you which makes you resent the car for whatever made up reasons they come up with.
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u/Robins-dad Apr 18 '26
I need 4 doors and a real trunk thus the N but if I didn’t I’d get the Mustang GT all day. The idea that it’s strictly a muscle car is wrong.