New M3 better than a 997 911 Turbo?
05-16-2009, 10:38 AM
#46
Drifting
Not an M3, but my 335i is an all around great car comfort wise and particularly performance wise. So much so that I stopped driving my 993 on the street for the most part. The 993 was awesome but inconvenient. BMW has performance sedans that are sports cars, that no one else has been able to replicate. IMO.
05-16-2009, 01:08 PM
#47
Drifting
Thread Starter
i just sold my 335i coupe, now i'm really torn between getting an 06/07 carrera 2 (not S) or ordering an 09 m3 coupe just the way i want it
on my test drives, i like the 997's gruff sound (especially the sport exhaust), VERY smooooth gearchange, the hid lights, and of course the porsche badge
but i like the m3's sleek looks, smooth yet visceral v8 sound, and its generally more modern feel (especially the 09 with the newer i drive)
i understand that i shouldnt compare a 3/4 yr old one to a new m3.. but the 911 seems like great value at about $10-12k less than the m3 that i want
decisions...
on my test drives, i like the 997's gruff sound (especially the sport exhaust), VERY smooooth gearchange, the hid lights, and of course the porsche badge
but i like the m3's sleek looks, smooth yet visceral v8 sound, and its generally more modern feel (especially the 09 with the newer i drive)
i understand that i shouldnt compare a 3/4 yr old one to a new m3.. but the 911 seems like great value at about $10-12k less than the m3 that i want
decisions...
05-16-2009, 01:10 PM
#48
Drifting
Thread Starter
Not an M3, but my 335i is an all around great car comfort wise and particularly performance wise. So much so that I stopped driving my 993 on the street for the most part. The 993 was awesome but inconvenient. BMW has performance sedans that are sports cars, that no one else has been able to replicate. IMO.
05-16-2009, 01:14 PM
#49
Porsche Nut
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Exactly! As nice as the M3 is, it's a compromise. Fast, nice handling, but not a sports car.
05-16-2009, 01:53 PM
#50
Porsche Nut
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Not an M3, but my 335i is an all around great car comfort wise and particularly performance wise. So much so that I stopped driving my 993 on the street for the most part. The 993 was awesome but inconvenient. BMW has performance sedans that are sports cars, that no one else has been able to replicate. IMO.
SPORTS CAR:
A sports car is a term used to describe a class of automobile typically of two seats and two doors with precise handling, brisk acceleration, sharp braking, and attractive aesthetics. A sports car makes trade offs in practical considerations such as passenger space, comfort, and cargo capacity in favor of those traits which enhance the joy of driving it.
SPORTS SEDAN:
A sports sedan or a sports saloon is a descriptive term applied to a sedan automobile that is designed to look and feel "sporty" - offering the driver more connection with the driving experience. Most vehicles in this category overlap with the compact executive car and executive car classifications.
05-16-2009, 03:27 PM
#51
Drifting
According to Wikepdia:
SPORTS CAR:
A sports car is a term used to describe a class of automobile typically of two seats and two doors with precise handling, brisk acceleration, sharp braking, and attractive aesthetics. A sports car makes trade offs in practical considerations such as passenger space, comfort, and cargo capacity in favor of those traits which enhance the joy of driving it.
SPORTS SEDAN:
A sports sedan or a sports saloon is a descriptive term applied to a sedan automobile that is designed to look and feel "sporty" - offering the driver more connection with the driving experience. Most vehicles in this category overlap with the compact executive car and executive car classifications.
SPORTS CAR:
A sports car is a term used to describe a class of automobile typically of two seats and two doors with precise handling, brisk acceleration, sharp braking, and attractive aesthetics. A sports car makes trade offs in practical considerations such as passenger space, comfort, and cargo capacity in favor of those traits which enhance the joy of driving it.
SPORTS SEDAN:
A sports sedan or a sports saloon is a descriptive term applied to a sedan automobile that is designed to look and feel "sporty" - offering the driver more connection with the driving experience. Most vehicles in this category overlap with the compact executive car and executive car classifications.
My point is there are not alot of "Sports Cars" by definition that will out perform BMW's line-up of "Sports Sedans" for the money. Add to it what others have said about the creature comforts and it is hard to compromise the inconvience of a sports car to the convience of a sports sedan when the deparity is minimal...
335i is not an M3 but it also gets 24MPG vs. 14MPG and insurance rating nearly 1/2 the cost. Don't get me wrong all the cars listed are phenomenal pieces of machinery but most of these cars are far beyond the guy behind the wheels ability to push the limits of the car. That said I'd bet a dollar you couldn't get your M3 around my 335i.
05-16-2009, 04:01 PM
#52
Drifting
Thread Starter
Thanks for the definition..
My point is there are not alot of "Sports Cars" by definition that will out perform BMW's line-up of "Sports Sedans" for the money. Add to it what others have said about the creature comforts and it is hard to compromise the inconvience of a sports car to the convience of a sports sedan when the deparity is minimal...
335i is not an M3 but it also gets 24MPG vs. 14MPG and insurance rating nearly 1/2 the cost. Don't get me wrong all the cars listed are phenomenal pieces of machinery but most of these cars are far beyond the guy behind the wheels ability to push the limits of the car. That said I'd bet a dollar you couldn't get your M3 around my 335i.
My point is there are not alot of "Sports Cars" by definition that will out perform BMW's line-up of "Sports Sedans" for the money. Add to it what others have said about the creature comforts and it is hard to compromise the inconvience of a sports car to the convience of a sports sedan when the deparity is minimal...
335i is not an M3 but it also gets 24MPG vs. 14MPG and insurance rating nearly 1/2 the cost. Don't get me wrong all the cars listed are phenomenal pieces of machinery but most of these cars are far beyond the guy behind the wheels ability to push the limits of the car. That said I'd bet a dollar you couldn't get your M3 around my 335i.
As far as getting an M3 around a 335i, these two cars shouldn't be compared. Compare 335i to Infiniti G37, to Lexus IS 350, to Audi A4 3.2
05-16-2009, 04:05 PM
#53
Drifting
05-16-2009, 04:08 PM
#54
Drifting
Thread Starter
05-16-2009, 05:40 PM
#56
Porsche Nut
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Thanks for the definition..
My point is there are not alot of "Sports Cars" by definition that will out perform BMW's line-up of "Sports Sedans" for the money. Add to it what others have said about the creature comforts and it is hard to compromise the inconvience of a sports car to the convience of a sports sedan when the deparity is minimal...
335i is not an M3 but it also gets 24MPG vs. 14MPG and insurance rating nearly 1/2 the cost. Don't get me wrong all the cars listed are phenomenal pieces of machinery but most of these cars are far beyond the guy behind the wheels ability to push the limits of the car. That said I'd bet a dollar you couldn't get your M3 around my 335i.
My point is there are not alot of "Sports Cars" by definition that will out perform BMW's line-up of "Sports Sedans" for the money. Add to it what others have said about the creature comforts and it is hard to compromise the inconvience of a sports car to the convience of a sports sedan when the deparity is minimal...
335i is not an M3 but it also gets 24MPG vs. 14MPG and insurance rating nearly 1/2 the cost. Don't get me wrong all the cars listed are phenomenal pieces of machinery but most of these cars are far beyond the guy behind the wheels ability to push the limits of the car. That said I'd bet a dollar you couldn't get your M3 around my 335i.
I was by no means knocking the 335i, or the M3 for that matter. I was just pointing out that they are fine cars but not sports cars. I see you have the BEST of both worlds. A sports car and a very fine sports sedan.
I think BMW's are great cars. I used to own a '99 M Roadster.
Charlie
05-16-2009, 06:49 PM
#58
Three Wheelin'
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I was messing around with a new M3 a couple weeks ago (on empty highway), and we got to a red light. I told him "nice car" and he yells over "yeah, but a 911 is still better in some ways, this thing doesn't have the same handling response as my old 996. And this thing doesn't have as much torque as you'd think."
He then proceeded to jump the next light, but.... pretty amazing that I could hang with him until I hit the rev lmiter and of course he didn't have to shift for another 1500 rpm.
I'm not sold on the move to V8 power.
I prefer something like the new Audi S4 taking it back to V6 with forced induction....
05-16-2009, 09:24 PM
#59
Drifting
No Worries, Just Debating....
I'll always have a 911 for a race car. For good Reason!!
I'll always have a 911 for a race car. For good Reason!!
05-16-2009, 11:39 PM
#60
Three Wheelin'
Back from beyond! Hey I'm glad to see Gant back posting here even if it's about Munich!
So my big Q, after a long time without the turbo now, what do you think? Keep the M3 and buy something more frivolous for the weekend car? (btw I think you had perfect timing depreciation wise, good move)
I picked up a 2009 528xi this winter to replace an aging A6 for wet weather, and I have to say certain things about current BMW technology (and pricing) are very nice, particularly (and I'm not sure if the 3 platform has it) the active body control type technology they have.
So my big Q, after a long time without the turbo now, what do you think? Keep the M3 and buy something more frivolous for the weekend car? (btw I think you had perfect timing depreciation wise, good move)
I picked up a 2009 528xi this winter to replace an aging A6 for wet weather, and I have to say certain things about current BMW technology (and pricing) are very nice, particularly (and I'm not sure if the 3 platform has it) the active body control type technology they have.
