Redline911

I stopped into a BMW dealer this afternoon to check out details with ordering an M4. They would do it at MSRP with a September delivery date. $1k down to place the order. I spec'd out a very bare bones car. Manual, 19's, adaptive suspension. That's it. Came in at $68k. That gets me a 4/50k warranty with 4 years of maintenance included.

Pretty tempting when you consider what $68k would get me in 997 terms. Not even into a GTS, a clean 997.2S likely.

I couldn't pull the trigger on it. Wondering if it would hold me over for a few years while the 997 GT3 prices came down after the 991 issues are sorted. Anyone else have an M3/4 on order?

Buddhamonk

I'd wait for the M2. The M4 is a pig...

scorcherjf

M4 has lost a lot of weight compared the outgoing E90/E92. At ~3350lbs it's almost the same weight as a heavily optioned 997S! However, based on the reviews the fake engine noise as well as the electric steering are real downers so unless you're addicted to boost, I think the 997 would still feel like a more focused driver's car.

Ray S

I'd like to drive one, but purely from a looks standpoint it doesn't really move me. I have a hard time believing that it would turn my head the way a typical 911 does especially given the fact that it doesn't look all that different than a basic 435i.

At least it's reported to have been put on a diet. I suppose that's something.

Dark Helmet

I've owned a bimmer non-stop since December of 2001, and this month marks the end for me...

the new 2/3/4 front ends are just fugly, and the 5ers don't come with a 6MT anymore... (my 2013 535 M-Sport 6MT was totaled last august).

ONLY the M235 is remotely compelling, and it's 50-frickin-grand, and it'll depreciate like a rock... and the interior is "eh".

I pick up my 997 on friday, my last BMW will be gone when the buyer arranges delivery in a week or so...

I just went through this same process and the 997 is a clear winner to me.

Para82

No Likey - 997 and Boss 302 all day for me. It would take one hell of a car for me to switch.

Redline911

There was a Boss 302 Laguna Seca in my run group at Auto Club Speedway last weekend. By far the fastest car out there. I was blowing away every, Boxster, 993/996, Z370, etc.... but this 302 went past me like I was standing still. Serious machine! I can only have 1 fun car though and I'm not sure that would be it.

z3mcoupe

I've a 2001 M Coupe also, and driven the E90 & E46 M3's extensively. After the 997, I honestly feel like going back to a M3 (or almost any BMW) is a downgrade in driving engagement (I've not driven the new M3/4)

As a new 997 owner, I've also noticed how 'special' the 997 is to the rest of the general population. I don't advocate that as a rationale to selecting one car over another, its just something I wasn't aware of until I noticed peoples reactions to the car.

I've never had a car that people have so extensively checked out, and I get random thumbs up from other road users and even bikers, and so far all the positive attention has been nice!

I've never gotten that from driving other BMW's, and it happens VERY rarely in the M Coupe. BMW's aren't anything special anymore unfortunately. If you are really serious about a new M3/4, I'd take the 997 to the dealer and drive one right after, on roads you know well so you can get a good feel for it.

Keep us posted, I'd love to hear from other 997 owners how they think the car compares.

jdogg2000

I'm a long-time BMW guy... had 6 in a row, the last a 2011 E92 M3:

[/url] IMG_20130416_164116_914 by jmgs2m1


I moved to a 997 GTS because I thought it was time to try a "real" sports car rather than a sporty sedan/coupe. I thought about the new M3/M4, but they're just too big/heavy to have as my "fun" car. I flew out to South Carolina for the BMW /M School, and it was great driving the M3, M5, and M6 around the track and on the skid pad. I was blown away by the performance of these vehicles, but I feel like BMWs have become too refined, too big, and too heavy to feel like real sports cars anymore (despite their performance numbers on paper being quite impressive).

If I needed to go down to one car, that might be a different situation. I miss the sound of the V8, but otherwise the 997 is a blast! I love how much smaller and lighter it feels, how much lower to the ground you feel, etc.. One other thing, I believe the weight reduction in the new M3/M4 is not nearly as significant as BMW originally claimed. I'm pretty sure that mildly optioned cars are running around 3500+ lbs. Still a 200 lb weight saving from the previous, but not in the same league as a 911 or Cayman/Boxster...

[/url] GTS - Angeles crest by jmgs2m1

Redline911

Thanks for the replies everyone. What I'm hearing over and over is kind of what I expected. It's too big & heavy to be a serious sports car (compared to the 997) I'm fondly remembering my E36 M3 days a decade ago, but that car was 3,100 lbs. I believe....much smaller than today's M3/4. I think I'll take a breather for a few months and wait until I can drive an M4 and 997 GTS back to back.

s329

the 4 door (M3) would make a great DD, but would it ever replace my 997? hell to the no.

91469972

God now M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, M7. We had both the 335i and the X5 4.8is and some quality issue's on both plus way too many BMW's on the road in So Calif so heads never turn.

TxBob74

My E36 M3 is now 20 years old. Though I do not drive it frequently anymore, I just made the executive decision to perform some troubleshooting, upgrades and preventive maintenance (routine and not so routine) to make it reliable and enjoyable to drive again. It will be comparable to the new M2 (as it was to the 135i that I test drove before buying the Boxster), though down on power, but will have more interior room and a full size spare.

Buddhamonk

of all the new M cars coming out, I think the only one that will come close to the feel of a 911 in terms of sportiness is going to be the M2 (if the rumors are true)

Para82

I really like the 1 Series M Coupe. I have one in racing green I track on the regular on Forza 5 (Xbox)