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Don't look now, but the 2021 M3 gives you 992 S performance for half the price.
My long-time friend Rafael bought a new 2021 M3 Competition this week (he also owns a Boxster S) and like we always do - meet up for lunch and then we swap cars and go play on the backroads for about 15 to 20 miles. We are both 20+ years as HPDE Instructors and trust each other to not ball up the other's car. It's a time-honored tradition we have. Of course I read up on the M3 and everyone is all wigged out regarding the front en styling, specifically the "coffin" grille. In this dark color, it's fine to my eye. While I would not call it beautiful, I don't find it offensive, either. The M3 is large, same size as a prior E60 generation M5. And its about 450 to 500 lb heavier than my 992 S. It's packing 500+ HP in the Competition model, and I wasn't sure what to expect when we rolled out, I'd not been in a new BMW M3 in several years.
Well, I have to say I was super-impressed. It's a torque monster, and the automatic transmission finds the right gear and holds it correctly every time. The size and weight dissapear when you start driving it in the curves as it was meant to be, and of course the brakes are excellent. For the Competition model, I was surprised at how comfortable the suspension was while still being capable. The last M Competition vehicle I drove was an X4, and that one thrashed you soundly on the road, not so this new 2021 M3. The BMW is more weighted, you can definitely feel the lightness of the 992 S in comparison, however I don't think the M3 gives up much in cornering prowess - if anything at all. I think the M3 may be slightly quicker in a straight line, it's hard to tell as we were not drag racing. Seats are great, the car is composed and solid. For $ 72K with options, there is a lot of car here to like.
If you want a track capable car that's calm enough to take the wife out to dinner in, and want to stay under $ 75K, you'd be hard pressed not to take a look at this machine. It's that good.
Sure! Someone bring me a C8! If i can climb across those wide door sills, I'll be more than happy to try one out.
<laughing> I am active on Ferrari Chat as well, when I got my 992S and posted how good it was in comparison to a Portofino, they were ready to hang me from the gates over there. I can see some have the same response here. Hilarious. Anyone who knows me personally is well aware I'm not afraid to stick a lance in a sacred cow, regardless of the marque. They are all hunks of metal and plastic with engines/motors. It's not a religion, it's a car.
We might as well buy a Tesla Model S too while we're at it. Get the same performance at half the price, and drive around in a bunch of jaw-dropping Teslas!!!
^ I guess I understand, but all this thread does is make everyone question their purchase.
Should we all sell our 911s now and buy that sedan-looking thing?
Does everything you read on the internet have such a profound impact on you? It's an alternative. Even the author doesn't seem to be bent out of shape about it. He's just saying, "Hey, this is a good car with good bang for the buck." FWIW, I had an M3 and now have a 991 Cab. The 991 Cab is the most fun car I've ever owned. M3s have almost always looked pretty BMW sedan-like, with subtle bulges here and there. I guess they go for the "wolf in sheep's clothing" look. Eh. I find them uninspiring, but imagine the performance is way beyond my 8 year old 911. <shrug>
Sure! Someone bring me a C8! If i can climb across those wide door sills, I'll be more than happy to try one out.
<laughing> I am active on Ferrari Chat as well, when I got my 992S and posted how good it was in comparison to a Portofino, they were ready to hang me from the gates over there. I can see some have the same response here. Hilarious. Anyone who knows me personally is well aware I'm not afraid to stick a lance in a sacred cow, regardless of the marque. They are all hunks of metal and plastic with engines/motors. It's not a religion, it's a car.
^ I guess I understand, but all this thread does is make everyone question their purchase.
Should we all sell our 911s now and buy that sedan-looking thing?
so you clicked on a thread with a title that clearly illustrated what it was about. The subject of the thread, which is consistent with the title, upset you. Now, you cry about the thread because it isn't about how great your car is? Wouldn't it be better for you to, I don't know, not click on threads that will obviously upset you? I for one think its a great break from threads from a certain poster about revving beyond rev limits, how to do the best launches, how to turn on the car, how to open a door, etc.
No harm in comparing. I have the current M5. When the Grand Tour tested it, it went around their track as fast as the 991 GT3 RS. It’s a really fast car and handles great for a sedan.
I’d still rather be driving a 992 - it comes down to more than just capability.
Well, many of sources I read all show the BMW M3 Competition getting 0-60 in the upper 3's, which is definitely slower than the 992 S. Plus with 500 extra lbs (and less aerodynamic design), I also can't imagine it handles as well on corners.
Dr C is the track expert so I will give him the benefit of the doubt, but......
I think it's a fair comparison to make. The M3 and then M4 has always been pitched as a cheaper 911/kind of alternative. For me, (and it might be a subjective thing) the BMW is not in the same league no matter how good it is. But I'm not surprised it is very close in terms of raw performance. I drove, (very nearly ordered) the X3M with the same engine and that was a monster.
Tho I haven’t raced one yet, but I know it’s not faster than a 992S in a straight line. I’m coming from a F82 M4 tuned on stg1 making about 540hp and it was fast but my 992S is faster. The new M3/4 are not as fast as that (in stock form of course).
Futhermore, while these new ones are very capable, almost every legit pro reviewer says the major downfall of the car is its new auto transmission; it has no engagement or fun factor at all compared to the raw DCT in the previous gen. Feels more like a fast M440i than an actual M car. That is probably the biggest disappointment along with its front end or course.
I can offer some opinions on the C8 but absolutely nothing on vs 992 as I have yet to drive one. That will have to wait till I can swap cars with drcollie.
Had the chance to drive several mid-engine cars at an Xtreme Xperience event held on the infield course of Charlotte Motor Speedway as part of a group activity event.
I skipped driving the 991 GT3 because I've spent many hours driving them and a 991.2 GT3 RS on twisty roads in Western NC through Appalachian Driving Experience.
I can offer much more about the qualities of each, but it's not relevant to the C8 question, except to say it compared favorably at a fraction of their price. When I chose to drive the C8, it was as a long term 997.2 owner looking for the next thing. The sound and power is really good, but at the end of the day, even with Z51 in sport modes, it felt soft and heavy. I don't see it satisfying a Porsche sports car driver. If you could buy one at retail or slightly depreciated, it would be a great buy, but the market has these priced well above retail till supply meets demand. Once the market is saturated with them and there are hotter models available, I don't see why they wouldn't depreciate like every other C6, C7 'base' Vette since
Obligatory Porsche content- the 991 GT3s were the driver favorites of the event, especially for people that drove the mid-engined cars listed above.
04-05-2021, 11:10 AM
Don't look now, but the 2021 M3 gives you 992 S performance for half the price.
