BimmFiniti

Perhaps this will create a few "religious" arguments?

I own an '01 BMW 330i and an '02 base 911. Love both cars. The Porsche has loads more power and grip; I use my 330i as a DD and have had it on the track multiple times. I haven't had a chance to take the 996 to the track yet (have only owned it for 6 mos), but am really looking forward to that.

With that as background, my summaries of both cars (companies) are:

• BMW has absolutely telepathic steering feel and precision. Low speed, high speed, you name it.
• Porsche has a bit more vagueness at low speeds; as speed increases, the car just gets better and better
• ** Heresy alert ** Would I be happier with a BMW with similar performance to my 911 (i.e., Dinan 335) than my 911?

chsu74

Its subjective and different in the model generations.

My Porsche has better feel after the suspension upgrade to Pss9s and GT3 sways than my BMW. Its not in the same league. 01 BMW was the only year they made the steering even lighter than before resulting in customer complaints. Have you driven a E36 M3? That was comparable to Porsche steering.

BimmFiniti

No, I haven't driven an E36 M3, although I do hear a lot of good things about them. I actually feel my 996's steering feel is lighter than my 330i's, so I wouldn't necessarily want to duplicate the Porsche steering, at least at low speed. I actually prefer the BMW's.

dhuberty

Well as an owner of both a 2001 996 and 1999 E36 M3 I can tell you that on the track the 996 is the complete package; meaning that you can throttle steer a 996 and that is something you can't do with a stock engine E36 M3. That aside the steering is slightly heavier in the E36 M3 because there is more mass over the front tires. The front of the 996 is light compared to the E36 M3 and that contributes to the lightness you feel in the 996.

For what it is worth I would take a E36 M3 to learn to drive on the track before a 996, but once you master the E36 M3 then I would take the 996. The 996 is a drivers car through and through. Just my 2 cents from experience.

thorin

i own an '01 325 as well.... and i have to agree for daily driving the bmw's steering is better than the porsche... but on the track its not even close to what the porsche gives you....

Tbred911

I drove a 335i and an M3... the 335i steering feel is a joke... what is BMW thinking here...

the M3 is also disappointing for a car of that caliber but lots better than the 335i...

450knotOffice

I have owned a BMW and currently own a 996 C2, a Cayman, and a slightly modded 1984 Carrera. The BMW had great feel, but it was not in the same ballpark as the Porsches, imo. In fact, the '84 Carrera has the best steering feel of any of them, by quite a margin. That car has truly telepathic steering.

Phil G.

The steering on my wife's 2007 328xi is incredible - wonderful feel, and not light. The Audi is too overboosted. The Porsche steering is great, but very different feel from the BMW. The BMW and Porsche are very different cars, so comparing their steering is like apples and oranges - both excellent, but different. I've always loved the feel of BMW steering.

JDSStudios

I always thought the answer would depend on which forum you would ask.

gota911

Stop it.... just STOP IT!!!

How the hell would you know how the steering on the Porsche feels? They are talking about about how the steering feels when the car is MOVING!

Good morning, Phil!

Phil G.

Good morning Tim. Steering feel in the Porsche is great - unless the wheel locks up with the ignition off. Then, it's a little tough.

medtech

Tim,
Where does Honda's steering rate in all this??


M

Van

It's been a while since I've driven a BMW... But, in the last comparison I made, the steering in my 914 felt much better than the steering in a friends 320i.

JDSStudios

JDSStudios