M3 mileage is so bad that my girlfriend uses the Honda quite a bit . The gearbox is sloppy . I have this love/hate thing with the M3 . In one aspect in 9K miles it has been trouble free . It comfortable, practical and fast . It';s hard to complain UNLESS one has owned a Porsche 997.

I don't even complain about the Honda Si . What a great little car ! It's almost juvenile in many ways but has a such a beatiful gearbox , nice sound . limited slip diff , superior user friendly Nav than my 07 Porsche , and is cheap as can be to run . It's a great little car in so many ways and bang for the buck at the 25K level I see nothing new which has the simplicity, quality, reliability, and refinement .

 

Is that a direct quote from C&D about the Honda?

 

Thanks for getting to what I was trying to say in an earlier post. It's true that I consider my e46 M3 to be more visceral and engaging than the e92. Of course, I didn't spend a lot of time driving the new one. Others here have both. I will say neither compares to the feeling that you get in the 911. It's just different and it's hard to explain. I absolutely love my M3 and intend to keep it. It's Interlagos Blue paint still gets stares and thumbs up when I drive around town. I just think the 911 is a different experience. They really are different cars and belong in different categories. Hat's off to both companies. Also love the S4... I think when my SUV gives up the ghost and one of my kids doesn't require a child seat... then it will be a yellow s4 with dsg or whatever they call it for the wife.

 

Nope --I wrote it from my heart . I really like the car and I am willing to show that I will praise a lesser car than an M3 if there is a certain character it reveals when I drive it.

 

I agree with all you said, although I think going from a 333hp 6cyl to a 414hp v8 and completely new body style is a "more major" change than the 997.1 to 997.2.

 

Yup - mileage IS terrible on the M3. Gas guzzler tax and all - at least on 'vert.

I also saw the future Ms will be turbos to improve mileage while retaining performance. I'm sorry to see that coming; I prefer a n/a engine, not because of outright performance, but sound and responsiveness.

 

No, but I'm not looking to make any enemies of a subject that I think we probably more-or-less agree upon: the 997.2 is a more desirable car than the M3.

If I was shopping now, I'd be looking for a 997.2 w/PDK. I'd probably test drive the M3 w/DCT just to do my "due diligence". I really like the M3 and M5/6 motors, and if I can get the same or better performance in a stylish, well built package for less, I'll consider it. Nonetheless, I'm confident I'd end it where I started - 997.2 C2S/PDK.

However, it DOES seem to me that you're still focused on the tangent of "practicality" while ignoring the FACT that the tests used as the basis for the article showed that the M3 had superior PERFORMANCE in many categories. You keep talking about trunks and back seats as if they were the deciding factors; they weren't. The M3 was simply faster AND had a more compliant ride AND had a decent back seat/trunk AND was $8k cheaper with more gizmos.

Again, I'm NOT interested in making enemies, even anonymously over the internet. I apologize if this or prior posts gave an impression of disrespect - none is intended. I just see the test as flawed but containing interesting and possibly useful info about the totality of the vehicles in question.

Thanks!

Kurt

 

its not always the validity of the comparison, it will never make total sense to owners. But the other 99.9% of readers who do not own these cars probably find it good reading thus it sells magazines.

 

Being a hardcore BMW owner, I test drove an e92 M3 and 997.2. I ended up with a 997.2. There is no comparison. 997.2 is special........ There are many cars that are faster than the Porsche but that is not the point.... The thrill of having the engine in the back is awesome.....

 

The original magazine test focused more on the practicality, not me. My back seats are for storage only.

On track the 997 would walk off into the sunset - it was designed to be a sports car from day 1.

I just think as usual the magazine was trying to create a stir and keep BMW happy.

Given a free choice I don;t know why anyone would go for an M3 over a 997.

 

Hi Kurt,

when 997S first came out few years ago, Autocar magazine did a group test with 997S, F430, Ford GT, Corvette C6, Aston V8, BMW M5 and a bunch of others. 997S beat the F430 in both the dry and wet track times and was declared the performance car of the year regardless of car price that year.

sure it is just one test, but it was an objective one published by a magazine that I think has more weight than C & D.

 

Le Chef, I agree with you entirely. My back seats when they were still in the car were used for storage (and I have small kids that could arguably fit back there. I find the rear seats on both cars to be a waste of space, the M3 has more head room, but both are a joke when it comes to leg room.

I have made a number of track related comments already, no need to continue, and as for choosing the M3 over the 997, my buddy is already talking about getting a Porsche, and using his M3 as a daily driver then turning it back in when his lease expires. He has even joined the local PCA using my first 997's VIN number. He has seen the light.

 

They did a track test; 911 came in 2nd. I KNOW you don't LIKE that result, but to ignore it is ridiculous. The M3 is a very fast 4 seater - one of the fastest on a track.

- price (or by "free" choice, do you mean a gift?)
- faster in some comparisons; close enough that it doesn't matter in all of them
- superior ride quality
- utility (back seat, trunk, gizmos)
- fun of an 8400 rpm redline and the sound that engine makes.

I already said the 997.2 (especially S) is what I'd pick today. But to suggest there's no way to understand someone choosing the M3 is a bit ridiculous.

 

That's interesting, and I am a bit surprised to see that. However, we are talking about a base Carrera in this specific instance. If you have a link, I'd like to read that article though . . .


Thanks!

 

I really don't care if a magazine (any magazine) prefers the M3 to a 997 and thinks it's faster, I'm not buying one. I have driven both current and last generation M3 owned by friends who encourage fast driving, and I cannot see why anyone would buy one unless they had children. Incidentally one traded up for an M5 and the other a CSL63 because they wanted something faster and more spacious for their growing children. One has a GT3 as a track car and the other a 964 RSA.

As far as I was concerned after driving one it was never even close to being considered.

But if you need the practicality and/or have kids good luck to you, but it's no 911.