Sunshine

Does the 997 Carrera S out perform the current M3. M3 has LSD and 997S doesn't. I would like to hear unbiased real experiences.

Le Chef

I test drove an M3 vs. a 996 C2. No contest: the M3 is still based on a sedan and has a sedan's C.o.G. And that was against the 996. The 997 is light years better than both the 996 and the M3. Don't look back.

doc2s

i had an 03 m3 w/6spd and now i have 997s. drove both cars on the street and on the track. the only thing i miss about the m3 is during highway cruisining it's quiter and isolates you from road imperfections better. it is for that reason why the m3 doesn't compare at all with the 997s on the track. as for lsd the rear weight bias gives the 997s tons of grip that the lack of lsd is not a big loss. if the 997s had lsd (in the us) it would have been phenomenal.

i've done track days with bmw club and all the instuctors who have been in the car with me were blown away by the level of performance from this street machine. that is also the case with pca instructors who some own ferraris. th 997s is simply that great.

Sunshine

I test drove a launch 997S. It was a brief drive and I couldn't feel much. The client advisor started off the drive though and while he drove I was impressed. The car felt as if it was glued to the road.

poki

I had a E46 M3 for 3 years...fully loaded. My 997s is truly a sports car and in a different league. There is no going back.

Holli82

I have an M3 (2003 E46). It has been a wonderful car and does a lot of things very well. It is my daily driver and I have attended some driver's ed events with the BMW club. I thought that I could be statisfied with it for a few more years. The new M5 wasn't doing it for me ( too heavy and too ugly) and the next M3 is at least couple of years away. So I went to drive a 997S with the idea that it would be fun, but I had no real intention of buying......

So now I sit here and wait for my 997S to be built.

IMO it is that good

ronmart

Porsche - There is NO substitute. Period.

(from someone who seriously considered the M3 on 3 occasions and decided to hold out for a 911)

mdonline

The question isn't M3 vs 997S. That is not a fair comparison in terms of performance.

The question is whether it is that much better for the extra 40k that you would pay for the 997S. For the look alone and the double take that people make walking by my car, it is worth it.

Alan Smithee

The M3 is a great car; had an E46 as a daily driver for the last four years and an E36 before it. The M3 is a great coupe/sedan, however I've always had a 911 as well. The 911 is a sports car; even the base model 997 has far superior steering, brakes, power/weight ratio, and lower center of gravity when compared to the E46 M3.

As was mentioned, the 911's rear weight bias makes grip a non-issue for street driving. The M3's stability/traction control is so intrusive that the LSD is pointless unless DSC is disabled. Combined with the ridiculously staggered front/rear wheels (for a car with 50/50 weight distribution) contributing to massive understeer, the M3's handling just isn't all that. Again, a good coupe/sedan, but it's no sports car.

TT Surgeon

M3 is a nice sedan, 996/997's are sports cars in a different league. Somebody once told me the only reason they drive a M3 is bc they can't yet afford a 911.

Cytoboy

I owned E46 M3 with SMG for almost 4 years before buying my 06 997S, and agree with most comments here.

To sum it up; the 911 is a much more connected and rewarding drive. Personally, I feel that the P-car is also more comfortable, and with an engine silky smoothness not found in my M3. I don't think that the M3 had a more isolated feeling; but rather did not have as high level of engineering as my Porsche.

I have had each car to 150+ mph, and I will say that the M3 felt more planted and stable over the 140 mark. No doubt, the 997 had much more reserve and willingness to run than the M3 at these speeds. The sport shifter option is a MUST for me.

When you hit the turns, there is NO comparison. The M3 would roll out slightly on turns that the P-car handles effortlessly.

As far as value is concerned; both are fine in this department, but the Porsche is worth double the difference, if not more!

MMD

For the non-expert, non-tracker, non-semi professional driver, on public roads I gotta say the M3 with SMG and the 997S are about equal in thrill factor, performance, handling. How do I know? Because I have both a 05 E46 M3 and a 06 997S. I can drive the p*ss out of a car on on-ramps, vacant twisty roads and I did Porsche driver Ed at local track. I'd say both cars are a dream (even though they lack about 100 hp ). If I'm tired and don't want the constant engine drone of the 997S I take the M3 and it's quieter more of a highway "cruiser." Both are equally "fast" cars.

Sunshine

My client advisor took me out in a 997 S today and let me drive. The Porsche is a totally different machine. I like it.

yemenmocha

Though I'm not the person referred to above, I am someone who just ordered a 2006 M3 ZCP because I cannot afford the 997S. I can get the M3 how I want it configured for about $50k less than the 997S how I want it.

I'm a tall guy, so the boxster/cayman isn't a desirable option for me.

I'm still on a restricted budget, and there's no way in hell I'm going to keep driving my Honda for another two years so that I can then get a 997S.

So, yes 997S is much better than e46 M3, but if you're on a budge the M3 is a great car for about half the price.

-Aaron

LuisGT3

997 S. Come on man......