Tbred911

oh really? those are the words of the M3 owner after he drove my car and after numerous sessions on the track where VALID OPINIONS ARE FORMED.

what's is arrogant about M3 owners is they always want to compare their lesser (cause it is a lesser car.. in many ways..... unless you have a wife who uses it for getting groceries... then the truck comes in handy) car to the well established 911... lets not forget the delta in price and the reason for this price difference...

you sound like another insecure M3 owner who some how some way wants to justify his car is as good as a 911... it snot. .. go to the track and see for yourself.... ( and yah.. the BMW salesman lied to ya!!

Quadcammer

I don't own an M3.

Regardless of what YOU think is valid, there are many hundreds of people that think quite highly of the M3's brakes, handling, gearbox, and overall performance.

It is clearly a sports coupe and not a sports car, but I wouldn't go around thinking a 99C2 is king of the world either.

Tbred911

hey.... for the $$$ if utility and practicality are a must for your purchase then its a great buy... where I step in is when I hear people saying the M3 is a better track car than a 996... or its faster than a 996.. they don't know what the f*** they are talking about.

Fissionx

The gearbox on the M3 is my least favorite aspect of the car. The flywheel is really noisy, the drivetrain has a lot of lurch when you clutch in under engine braking, and the shifting is very clunky with long throws. Remember all m3s come with electronically variable LSD from the factory, not the case for the 996.

The brakes WORK, and with the right pads they will stop the car on track without fading on anything short of R-comps. However, they are still floating caliper, single piston and not built as well as the brakes on the 996. Typically this causes uneven pad wear (floating caliper) and excessive pad/rotor wear due to insufficient cooling.

I was only saying the M3 is easier to be fast in for the novice - intermediate, doesn't bite back as much, and is balanced. I believe the 996 is the better track car and ultimately, when driven properly, is faster. This is why I sold my modified M3 for a 996.

To be honest, you pretty much hit it right on the head, the downsides of the m3 compared to the 996. I still think its a great car, and the 996 has some downsides when compared to the m3 as well. Just depends on what you want in a car.

911Joel

what???

The car does not perform better with 19s. The 19's look nice and fill the wheel well but for tracking 18s win hands down.

I had an 01 M3and just sold in June. I did most performance mods and the car rocked! I like my 996 C4 more but either way you go here its a winner. Really depends what you need in a car.

In a race I thought it would be really close and in a straight line I had thougth the m3 would win but others who have raced side by side seem to think differently. Porsche would win easily in the twisties, especially if the nasty stock understeer hasnt been corrected.

Wellardmac

Hmmm.... oversteer and mushy brakes.

http://www.bmwe36blog.com/2008/03/09...nd-nissan-gtr/

arr0gant

I'd take a '02+ E46 OVER a '99-'01 911 Carrera. I think it's a slight step up...if the M3's got similar miles and in better condition. Both are great cars and on par with each other in most ways.

OP, if you have $55k to $65k to spend DO NOT drive an E9x M3, unless you're willing to part with your money, cause you WILL!!

Wellardmac

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTRAOjA22WM

redridge

I like m3's... i like 911's more...

did I talk you out of it?

Ray S

Different strokes I guess. No way I'd take any e46 M3 over a 996, unless I really needed the space. Too many downsides for the M3 in that matchup IMHO.

Ray S

LOL.....

More proof that you need to look at more than peak HP when looking at the M3's. Both the e46 M3 and E92 M3 are heavy bastards.....

Wellardmac

Yup, weight matters. No good having lots of HP if you have a big fat ***.

arr0gant

ya, the M3 VERT is WAY, WAY, WAY too heavy. I'd never buy one.

If you're putting the Coupe up against a 911S, it's a different story. The Coupe with CF roof hits 60 in 4.1 to 4.5, has a slalom speed of 73 MPH and skidpad of .95 G's. Almost equal to a 997 GT3 .97G's
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=125265

Carrera S numbers as tested by Edmunds are 70.5 on the slalom and .92G's on the skidpad.
http://www.germancarzone.com/997/202...carrera-s.html

911TTCAB

I did not even spend that for a nice TTCAB. Keep the Porsche or if you are tired of that one, sell it and get another model/year/color/etc.!

arr0gant

..and I sold my TT for the M. I would tell anyone who was looking for a 2001/2002 TT to check out the M, also. Both are GREAT cars and I'm glad I owned my TT but happy to be in the M.