Well, here's how. In Cdn. $, if someone in a $75k - $100k car (Z06 or M5) wants to dice with me in my $185k car, I want to dust him without effort. Call it immature, insecure or whatever you want, it's one of the elements I require in a car that costs this much.

 

I couldn't agree more with this post. The real thing I would love to see tackled is weight- more important than HP. I love my turbo to death but stock is was just way too heavy... Instead of focusing on another 30hp I would much rather all the 911 line shed a couple of hundred pounds and at least be on par with 993s. It's great all of these cars, M5s/E55s etc... have so much HP but then take a look at their weight and 4500 pounds actually takes a lot of HP to make it move...

 

This is all true, and that is why the M brand from BMW will always reign supreme to a AMG Mercedes. Although still a porker in some respects they are still semi-true to heritage and stay N.A. with 50/50 weight balance, and lighter weight (yes the E39 M5 was not light by any respect, but it handled well for 4000 lbs) Also the new M5 is supposedly going to lose some weight from its latest predecessor...in the 3800lbs range from the rumors.

Also people that think a car like the M5 is only straight line has never driven one (I've never driven an E55, but I have a SL55 and they are not that close when it comes to track ability in my mind)...Sure a turbo may beat it on a track, but it'll hang around for quite a while to a C2 or C4 especially with a good driver behind the wheel. I, a not great driver, but better than average was turning better times in my stock M5 then a few 993's and 996's the last time I was at the track with it. Sure you say that well it may be the driver, or it may not, whatever the point being I was still running faster than they were and it was not a big track; it was a track that emphasized handling over everything else (Nelsons Ledges, if anyone knows it)
Plus if you look at the "ring" times, they are pretty impressive to me being its a 4 door luxo/sport cruiser

I have not had a chance to track my Porsche yet, and well since it is gone, I will not get a chance until I get another one, until then I have nothing really to add on the Porsche track characteristics, all I know is after 4 cars on the track that were front engined and rear drive, except for my S4, the Turbo intimidates me a little with that rear engine thing...maybe it's just me though.

So in the end I don't know what I wanted to prove or say with all this, as it is not to say Porsche is bad, BMW is good, because we all know both are excellent at what they do, and can always improve. I guess it is to say unless you really know your car, don't dismiss those high H.P. cars behind you as straight line rockets, some can and do turn well.

~ Jason

 

3800 pounds for a sport sedan is fine... but a 911 Turbo should weigh no more than 3000 in my opinion...