I have one that'll be arriving in a few weeks and looking forward to her...it'll be my new work sled...white w/carbon roof, extended red leather, paddle shift (double clutch)...have the wheels ordered, will be dropped etc...to me you need a 4 seater for Monday through Friday...it'll be taking the place of the M5 ....the weekend is a different story

 

sorry bro, but the 997S has posted 0-60 in 3.9 seconds, 0-100 in 9.5 seconds and 1/4 in 12.3@114.8...the new m3 is new technology and is just barely as fast, its a drivers race, but on a track, the 997 will decimate an m3! it had better braking, better grip, better road feel, better quality, better fit and finish. the m3 is a 0-100 in ~10 second car and is more of a 112-113 trap speed, not 114

 

I did the BMW driving school last year, loved it, and intended to buy the BMW M3 sedan. I did the factory tour, and I have driven my M5 every day since 1989. It is totally sorted, set up right, handles as well as my C4S thanks to Frank Fahey in San Diego, and I hope it runs forever. I read Roundel every month. But I have not had a regular relationship with the dealership here since it changed hands years ago, and after taking my Volvo there, I do not want one. I quit taking my Volvo there when it had warranty left because they could not fix the car and kept lying to me about it. I have not been back except to check a code or something proprietary and every time I set foot in there they **** me off to high heaven. I would love to have a diesel X3 but will not buy one from them and become captive of their service department. My regular shade tree Volvo mechanic says the most satisfied customers who come through his shop drive Porsches. I hope I found the ideal car for me and that I am free at last. I love BMW but until they do a better job of customer interface, I am done owning their new cars. Sorry for the OT rant.

 

+1...bmw has 4 year more technology and can only match the straight line of the 997S and nothing else! not the grip, not the ring times, not the steering feel or brake feel or quality.

 

People said the E46 M3 was maxed. Last I checked, the aftermarket available for the s54 blows away anything available for the wet sump porsche motors. Only sound modifications? You are out of the loop, big time.

 

Perspective from an M3 fan and former owner of an E46 SMG Cab. Perfect "compromise" car and (when it ran) was the best car I ever owned; but some days I did actually miss the '98 Boxster that it replaced. The car did have some significant bugs and a tendency to want a flat bed ride every 8 months, but it was a fun car and a little more practical than the 986. Moving forward to today with the C2S; not once have I missed the M3 - I actually miss the SMG more than the car. Nice to compare, but my experience tells me that they are two completely different cars, with different targets. If your wish is a fast, reasonably practical touring car; M3 fills the bill. If you are wishing for a cheaper 911, you will be disappointed; they are that different - bigger, heavier, lighter steering, body roll, harsher ride... difference in price is money well spent.

 

What makes you think there is going to be a DFI version? BMW said DFI is very difficult to perfect for high revs and individual throttle bodies, if it wasn't BMW would have included it to begin with.

 

Let us know where we can be kept up to date on your new car. It sounds very interesting and I'd love to see photos when available.

 

I like how you use the fastest ever time recorded that has never been replicated since, even by Road and Track. A bit of a hypocrite aren't you? If we use Road and Tracks numbers again, the M3 does 0-100 well under 10 seconds, faster than the 997s anomaly they tested. The M3 has been tested under 0-100 in 10 seconds by more than one mag, with the 997s it hasn't happened since.

The DCT M3 will be several tenths quicker than the current Carrera S. It will take the facelift 997 w/ DCT to hang with it, straight line of course.

 

Sounds like you have spent a lot of time with the E92 M3 on the track, right? I think porsche should be the one offering far more performance than an M3 considering the price difference. It is a testament to M as to how well they make their vehicles that they consistently offer better motors, technology, and similar performance to Porsche for less money. Hell they even like their customers enough to throw in a limited slip differential.

 

Having one car and the rational side of needing space opens the door to this segment --but as you said --it wil not match the P car.

 

The newest and near term EPA/MPG regs/req's are causing automobile manufactures to go the DFI route, most sooner than later. BMW will utililize it when they can no longer meet these ever more stringent req's (unless they have a better technology up their sleeve which they could very well have) but DFI combines cost effectivenss, better drivability/reliablity, improved EPA #'s with an added performnce bonus to boot. BTW, Audi was using a version of DFI in their Le Mans winning 3.6 liter twin turbocharged high reving race car beginning in 2000 (it won Le Mans five times from 2000-2005). In addition Ferrari waited to introduce DFI for their 2009 models.


Ferrari will begin equipping its engines with direct injection, starting with the 2009 F430. The technology will then spread to the rest of Ferrari's lineup, including the 612 and 599. The move to direct injection will not only raise power by about 10%, but it will also reduce emissions — by at least 40% — while improving fuel economy. Ferrari is implementing direct injection in an effort to make its cars more environmentally friendly.

Ferrari looked to Audi as a model for direct injection and Ferrari is co-developing its system with Bosch — the same company that helped Audi develop its FSI technology. “We looked at Audi because they spent a lot of time on it and use it in more than one application with different engines,” Ferrari GT Technical Director Roberto Fedeli said.

 

I understand the benefits that DFI offers, my question was what makes you think the E92/E90 M3 specifically is getting it? I have not seen anything yet that suggests DFI is coming for the M3.

 

Only BMW knows for sure but I believe it's just a matter of time and for all the reasons I stated above; I wouldn't be surprised if the 09 model gets it, unless, as I also said above, BMW has something better up their sleeves...God only knows, with the M3's EPA #'s it sure could use it and sooner than later. If Ferrari is using across their entire model range the high rpm or intake concerns you mentioned should also not be an issue for the M3/BMW.

 

Both cars have 8.05 at the ring . I won't discredit the M3's performance but I will state that for me a car is not only about numbers . I have owned M cars and Porsches and I feel that there is an emotional and visceral component of a car experience . For me the Porsche stirs the emotion along with great performance and quality . Even when one views food on a plate --presentation matters . With Porsche and this particular 997 model line --it offers a touch of class above these BMW with understated "Bangled" style .

I like BMW but i don't love it and that's worth 20, 30, 40.50, or in my case 120K more with all my mods on my 997tt.