cds4402

I do like the idea of the 1M, however it's just so "cute".

*Edit* - I just looked up the M2. This has definitely got my attention. Looks much better than the 1M, and the size/weight will likely be much lower than the M4 (which will regardless be out of my price range I'm sure). Throw on some Active Autowerke software onto the M2, and it will be an M4 killer no doubt.

Hothonda

Owned a '13 M3 DCT....overall good, but thirsty (13 mpg city), DCT
shifts hard + at low speed in the auto mode jerky & unpredictable. PDK is
smoother. Optional BMW performance exhaust w/V8 sounds great.

German rice magnet....

triode

I think the 1M is badass, with the mega flares; dude in my neighborhood has a white one. Too bad they discontinued it.

Carrera GT

Sounds like BMW marketing is having some fun with Porsche marketing.

The car looks bloated and indistinguishable from the 3 Series. The design is overly complicated with "too many crease lines is never enough."

Perhaps Porsche is doing the same thing as BMW did with the 3 Series, just make it bigger from one model to the next until it opens up a gap for a "smaller" model beneath it.

Overall, I just can't get excited about BMW (or Mercedes, other than their diesel SUVs.)

There's just nothing about BMW since the 3.0 CSL that really has my attention. Every time I think "okay, this should be worth trying" it turns out to be another underwhelming car. Same with Audi and Mercedes for a decade now. Audi started shoehorning interesting engines in their cars and the R8 came along, but aside from its striking design, they all turned out to be yawns. Sometimes they're great daily drivers or novel weekend "try it once" track day cars.

They've gone to the "focus group generalized appeal, design by committee in beige." Porsche is now following BMW and Mercedes into that box canyon with OEM "solutions" like electric steering and generic cabins that have forsaken the cabin design of the 911 that has endured for half a century.

It's bitter irony that Porsche will "celebrate" those 50 years at the same time as ignoring and asking its enthusiasts to deny the fact that the 2013 model cars are not faithful to the legacy. When VW turns them into a margin-driven brand on their balance sheet, it's going to be hard for anyone left at Porsche with the determination to right the ship and bring it about to its correct course and heading.

Nizer

+1 And only offered with a manual to boot....

yemenmocha

Love that original picture. Hopefully the actual car is close. Very strong contender for next car - if going new.

Have an 06 M3 also and love it, as well as the value the M cars offer in terms of performance and great practicality.

yemenmocha

Guys above... Why even bring this up at all? The M3's are sporty sedans or coupe with two very large doors and reasonable back seat.

GT3 is among the most dedicated pure sports cars for the track you can buy. They better not be at all close in any performance measurement, because if so then that's not looking so good for the pure sports car.

TomTom77

I don't see the new M4 compete with the GT3 either, unless they bring out a CSL version, which they sadly didn't do for the E9x series either. Sure, the M3 GTS was great, but hardly competitive in terms of price and performance, let alone value for money.

Have been driving an 1M for the last year now and absolutely adore it. Bought that car impulsively after I got screwed by the Porsche dealer and didn't get the allocated / down-paid GT3 RS 4.0. Even though it is obviously not comparable (apart from also being a good-old manual and RWD, that is), I got to like it so much that I got rid of my new 2012 GT-R, since I ended up driving the 1M all the time.

After 6 years, I'm back in Porsche territory. I should get one of the first 991 GT3s, confirmed production July, expected delivery in September. I can't wait to drive it, but will 'never' sell the 1M... even when the 458 'Scuderia' (or whatever they'll call it) arrives early 2014...

yemenmocha

I'm going to have to drive one. I didn't know it was that much fun.

Petevb

+1

I've been DDing a 1M for the last year and a half as well. Best street car I've ever owned, and can't think of anything I'd trade it in for. I've got a couple Porsches for different rolls, but for a fun, practical every day car with a wild side BMW hit the nail on the head. Porsche should take notes while considering the Cayman GT3.

mdrums

That BMW Z4 that raced in the Sebring 12hr race with the flared fenders looked really cool. I wish they'd make that look for the street.

zirrah

Yes, turbo. And yes, $65-70k nicely optioned. Rumors were 450hp but I guess not if these specs are accurate.