the e92 trunk space is lacking in my opinion but the e90 is a tad better, practicality is really hard to define. im out of chicago so RWD is nearly impractical but i guess if the Porsche worked the m3 would be considered a more practical car for you. id go for it man!

the only thing about the m3/bmw in general is the 6spd isnt the smoothest and iDrive is so f***ing annoying to work sometimes :/

 

i think that the 6mt in the m3 ids really good and really the way to go

 

Have you considered an M6? I used to have a 650. I loved the car. Had a huge trunk, enough room in the small back seat (once had 5 people in the car) and very fun to drive. It is definitely not a Porsche (not even close) but a great car, and unique enough that it gets tons of admirers. Besides, when you get above a 3 series the interior just feels a little more upgraded ( not so plastic feeling).

 

Good luck on the M3 I have driven a few and very nice. I own a new 650 and love it. Plus you got to love the no maintenance fees for several years. I will return to the P car in about 2 years really want a Turbo.

 

my buddies M3 eats oil, worse than anyone would expect..

 

they use about a quart a month, but that seems normal for that engine

 

Same here!

This seems to depend on break-in. I've read positive comments about oil consumption and fairly "hard" break-in. Some that have really babied cars are later faced with heavy oil consumption, but of course not enough to garner any action from the mfg.

Trannies have had some issues and the 6 spd in the M3 has not been that good. I hope all the complaints since '08 have been addressed with a design revision for 2011. I've only driven the 2011 DCT and not the manual. I'm also getting the red on black interior...

 

1. I have heard the M engines consume a lot of oil.
2. If the the 6MT is anything like th one in my 535, it has a very notchy 2nd gear synchro.
3. I think that BMW has replaced their old sequential with a dual clutch like that used in Audi/VW/Porsche. BMW had problems with the former and in, general, they are not as well suited to road use as a dual clutch.

 

A Rouge Engineering SSK and shift **** will make a huge difference in the smoothness of the shifter assembly. It shortens the throws, which in typical M3 fashion are way too long. It also offers a huge improvement in the directness of the shifts with all the factory slop dialed out.

Honestly the biggest issues I would see would be the overboosted steering and clutch pedal compared to a 911. The M3 lacks some of the connection you get in a 911.