Got a chance to drive one yesterday.

Very sweet engine with very nice sound. Good brakes but lacking a bit in pedal feel. Steering was light at low speeds but decent at speed. Very light clutch and shifting a bit rubbery.

Very solid car riding much better than E46. Nice seats.

All in all a great car--especially for the $$ and the extra seating. Just not as tactile as 911 and IMHO a bit more of a touring car than a sports car.

The E46 gang will love it as it is a much improved car if a bit less raw. The engine makes the car.

 

Wtf is a e92 m-3...its either a compound for medicinal use or a military explosive designed to take out Iranian silos hiding nukes.

 

I had an E46 M3 and absolutely loved it. Like you said about the E92, the engine was definately the best part of the car. The E46 brought back a little of the rawness that the E36 M3 was lacking. I haven't gotten the chance to drive the new one yet, but it looks waay bigger than the E46. It's too bad because BMW already has a touring car with the 6 series, I wish they had kept the M3 as the more focused sports car like it was when it first came out.

 

I had an E46, too...this is more of the same. However, its erring on the touring side which is not for me after trading for the Carrera S. GREAT ENGINE, HOWEVER.

Still not sure why they are always comparing the M-3s to 911s. Completely different animals. I don't think its fair to either car to compare it to each other.

One of my friends who has a new M-3 on order wanted to know if I was going to trade in the Carrera after driving the new M-3...ROTFLMAO................what a clown.

 

Well, you're drive'n a 997, ain't ya? Same thang......(explosive device and all )

 

But....I have to add, that from a value angle, the new M3 is amazing. I had this conversation yesterday with a close friend.

I have a 964 C2 and love it, and when I trade up, I dont think Ill go 911. This is simply due to value. To get into a naturally aspirated 911 that makes over 400hp, your looking at a huge difference in price compared against the M3.

And its not like the new M3 is giving the buyer a crappy interior, or lesser technology....theyre just giving the buyer a better value.

I respect BMW for that....

 

Is the E92 the one with the V8?

 

+1

Though I don't expect it to happen, I would be very pleased if Porsche responded by taking steps to give their buyer a better value. Personally, I'm feeling kinda taken advantage of Porsche by pricing. It is getting harder to justify, even for me, and I'm pretty goofy.

 

New M3:

 

Another 46M3 to 997 convert here. I had an SMG version and while it was a wicked car, for a full sports car experience, the 997 is better. Is the E92M3 a better value, you bet it is! But the 997 is still a purpose build sports car while the M3 is a performance version of BMW's entry level car.

 

The E92 M3 is a V8 (very similar to the M5 V10).

I am a big fan of both cars but, not a big fan of BMWNA or their local dealers. Anyone comparing both the M3 and 997 should drive them both, AND hang out at the dealer service department. I live in Dallas and regardless of which model of the brand you drive, there is a vast difference in the service experience between the BMW & Porsche dealers. Also keep in mind that the new M3 price is very near the base C2 territory.

 

Not to beat a dead horse but, the BMW 335 (TT) is a better value IMHO. One could consider garaging a base 997 & 335 without too much incremental cost but a lot of fun. OR you might wait for the BMW nutters to figure out that they can bring the fantastic diesel version, this side of the pond. The torque and gas mileage are wicked. Now if you will excuse me, I have to have a chat with my wonderful wife.

 

Another former E46 M3 owner here; traded up to a 997 in 2004. My lease is up this year, but the E92 M3 isn't tempting me a bit. Now, if it had the E46's lighter weight, cleaner lines, more aggressive stance, more driver-focused interior, and without all of the electronic nonsense (motorized arm to hand you the seatbelt?) along with that fantastic V8 and decent price...then they might have had me back as a customer.

 

I never considered buying the 997S as a value product. I bought it because I always wanted one and finally DID IT. Not in the least "underwhelmed as to its value". Its intrinsic value to me is in how it makes me feel when I drive it or look at it in my garage. The window sticker only bothered me the day I wrote the check.

The M-3 is a great car BUT if I were throwing value into the equation I would not be comparing it to a 911 but a 335i.

On the side---I really am not blown away by the M-3 styling inside or out.
I prefer the aestheitics of the E46....

 

+1. Ditch the fancy doo dads, shave off the extra fat and I'd be tempted. The engineers who designed the new V8 managed to make it weigh even less than the old I6, which is really impressive. Then someone comes along and starts adding pointless gadgets for 'wow' factor... what's the point of saving weight then?

If BMW M would listen more to their engineers and less to their marketing department they could come up with some really incredible designs.