Malakas

I had a 996 C4s (miss that thing~!, must change avatar) and now have a M3 Coupe. If you drop the hammer at 4500k rpm, that V8 is a beast. Way faster than the 996 in pure straight line acceleration. First time at MSR Houston, I was almost a full second quicker in the M than the 4S... and I was driving terribly.

That said, the feedback of the 996 is totally different, and IMO, 100% better. Steering is more communicative, and actual "feeling" of velocity is much higher in the 996. I was shocked to see my M's lap times because it does not "feel" as fast as the 996.

I think the M is a superb daily driver but is just not the same as a 911.

leedav

I apologize for this in advance. really. I'm bored and cranky. 4500k rpm is 4 million 500 thousand RPM. That would be a huge kick.... Sorry sorry sorry I can't help myself The monsoon season has started, and will continue until June. Crankiness abounds here

philooo

I am glad to see some confirmation that the M3 number are impressive but the fun factor seems to be missing for a couple of people.

After the M3 test I was wondering if I was going crazy or something. I was expecting to be kicked in my butt by the M3 and the C63 took my heart instead. who knew mercedes are more fun them bimmers nowadays !

SSST

the current M3 is getting a bit long in the tooth. I suspect the next version will have a tuned turbo V8. That should provide some kick.

Kazual99

Wait one minute.....Your Carmax had an M3 and C63????? Man, I need to move to a better state.

philooo

That's how we roll in Miami, not one single road to enjoy the cars... but everybody is driving a 400hp beast LOL ! At least we have 3 tracks within 3 hour drive

Wellardmac

I think this is very fair. I love my 996 and my M3 sedan, but they're both different beasts. I describe the 996 as a scalpel and the M3 as an axe, but they're both hellishly fun to drive. The m3 can scream and throw you back in your seat more viscerally than the 996, but the handling and responsiveness of the 996 is better - pure physics, it's smaller and lighter.

To compare the two cars is unfair, but both are very respectable sports cars.

philooo

I was a bit ashamed of myself after the M3 drive, I was thinking good car, would make a nice daily driver with good speed... man we are so spoiled with the 996. Hard to enjoy the pretty good cars out there... there was a time I though the 328i was a beast

ivangene

after a while you start to understand why the old timer Porsche guys are such Porsche Snobs....

because they drive a Porsche and nothing else seems to fill that niche quite so nicely!!
(I myself hate all other cars now and refer to any car that is not a Porsche as a piece of ****)

philooo

Lol

ivangene

I was cracking up when I wrote that...

Kazual99

So if I agree what does that make me?

SSST

I came out of a Dinan tuned 335, and into a 996 turbo. The BMW was a lot of fun and an excellent daily driver. You could really toss it around on the twisties. I have nothing bad to say about that car and would buy another one. Almost did.

The Porsche is a whole different bast. It's faster and handles better, but isn't as easy to live with as a daily city driver. It's rough riding and noisy by modern standards. Shifting can get old in stop and go traffic. That said it is a brilliant car that makes few compromises as to it's true nature.

In a perfect world, I would have a 550 or 650 as a DD and the Porsche for weekends.

philooo

good point, on daily use you want things to be a little more mellow. Working from home I don't do much commuting So sometime I forget about the little things