Having recently driven an e92 with 6 speed, and e90 with DCT, a 997.2 with PDK and 6 speed, and recently having bought a 997.1 c4s, I think it's silly to compare the cars. I acknowledge that the M3 is a great car (my 05 interlagos blue ZCP is my dd), but the new V8's have a different feel than the Porsche. On the M3 forums, the e46 fans feel that the new version is less visceral, and less connected to the road. I agree with the above assessment and think it felt heavier. It was faster though much less visceral than my M3. The torque on the M3 seemed to be at the high end to the point that it didn't feel any faster at the speeds I was able to drive the dealer cars.

I was able to do 5 or 6 laps in various PDK 911s during a launch event and though it was a great transmission. However, I hate the steering wheel mounted controls. It needs true paddle shifters. The reality is the both are great cars and really fill different niches. Just my 2 cents. I even respect the Corvette... though think it has one of the most hideous interiors possible. I love the Edmunds comments on how the new ZR1 shares it's steering wheel with the Chevy Cobalt.

 

I get Panorama, Excellence and C&D at the same time, I always read Excellence first, Panorama second, and C&D last.

 

The M3 is very practical and has some good features . I did buy one . I am even going to drive it tonight . What gets the emotional response from me isn't the car but how journalists make a huge stretch to draw a comparision. Here's another car and driver article ( and video) claiming the M3 as first place next to the Gtr and 997tt . http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/...omparison_test

With all the press on how great the M3 is one would think that dealerships would be in short supply. They aren't.

 

I was responding to your post, not "all the posts". YOU said that "Using the same criteria a 911 would win against a 430 Scuderia."

I disagree. I don't think a 911 will come CLOSE to a 430 in acceleration, lap times or lane change. Perhaps you can cite some objective tests that contradict my assertions?

 

You would think the Nissan dealers would be in short supply of the GTRs too, and they aren't at all. I have a Nissan dealer emailing me to buy a GTR ever few months because they aren't selling like hot cakes. Do any dealers have a short supply of cars right now? Even Lamborghini and Ferrari dealers have inventory sitting around.

 

I agree - the M3 gets spanked in almost every part of this comparison, yet is declared the "winner"? WOW. I DO think it's amazing how well that car handles though - it MADE UP time against a 911 turbo in the curves!

 

I agree 100%, the M3 is a very good car, but the way that the media constantly portrays the M3 and other BMW's is to the point where unless we buy a Honda or a BMW we are settling for 2nd place. I bought two Audi S4's and never even considered a M3. Throughout that time the Audi S4 always seemed to come in second place when compared to the BMW.

 

C and D are not alone . There is this overall mantra of mediocrity touted in the media and maybe it sells . After all , people want to hear how great their car stocks up to a benchmark and if they hear that it can even win they run out to buy it . Look at the Gtr --it was praised to the hilt and now just a short time after its launch the sweetness is soured by a transmission nightmare .

The real test of success is how well used cars are holding up in a down economy and the Porsche 997 line up has done very well . The M3 has not and give it another year and a few more blown transmissions and watch the gtr used price go Timberrrrrr!!!!!!

 

I'm not aware of much difference in the % depreciation of E9x M3 vs 997S. Also, I'm not sure that's "the real test" anyway. That has a lot to do with changes in the current model, competing models and number of units sold along with quality/durability and value.

I'm not sure what you mean about mediocrity. Are you suggesting an M3 CAN'T perform as described in C & D? Or that a GTR can't?

As for the GTR, Nissan is SCREWING UP by not warrantying (AND fixing the problems with/limiting) those transmissions. Nonetheless, it's a hell of a buy at that price, and most of us wouldn't be "launching" as much as hard driving once moving, so it might not even matter.

 

The 997S has faced a change yet even an 05 model is holding more than 50 percent of its MSRP in adown economy . The E46 will compete but the E92 has not been met the same way . BMW has changed its entire customer base with its large lease programs and "Bangled" cars . This M is not like past M's .

No --I am saying that even if the M and Gtr are the cars that the media touts as (paraphrasing) "everyone wants to drive " the reality is that when they actually do drive them , face repiars, and customer service --they walk .
Haven't you ever broken up with a beautiful woman who didn't look so great on the day you said "good bye" ?

I would love to say good bye to my M3 but I never felt that way aboit any of my Porsches . I wish I cold have kept all of them.

 

I have read this thread with interest. Great points everyone. In my eyes I bought my 997s because of not just the numbers it can produce but the visceral feeling I get when I sit in the driver seat. This experience of driving this machine is a true joy. I love my 2006 S4, and is a fun car but the history I feel when I sit in my 997 is not produced in nearly the same way. The general public expresses the same feeling. No one cares or notices my S4 which is a great car, but they do notice my 997s. I am not saying that it is important someone notices a car but it is a reflection of the history of the line. Not many cars including BMW can say that. So let everyone compare themselves to the 911, bet or worse they are still comparing themselves to the icon. I will stick to driving my icon.

 

Excellent points... and the one other thing the BMW inexplicably did was to launch the 08 M3 last year with the prior navigation. The e90 M3 after 6 months received a facelift! That's poor planning. They should have debuted the new M3 sedan to coincide with the e90 facelift and the new improved nav system. The M3 prices have dropped and there are still a lot of 08's on local lots. I also read a quote recently that BMW has decided that it will probably abandon the V8 in favor of the twin turbo on it's next generation M3. The gas mileage on these cars is supposedly hideous (not that one really should be thinking of such things when purchasing a sports car).

 

You STILL missed the point. The original road test used "practicality" as a criteria that meant the M3 beat the 911. On the basis of practicality the 911 would beat the 430. NOW do you get it?

 

Milage is bad on the M3, my 997 was getting between 10-15% better milage then my buddy in his M3. The other thing to note, is the brakes on the press cars are different then the ones that the customer buys. Again the same buddy had two sets of rotors warp on him, as well another guy in a 4dr M3 had gone through one set in only 3000km (less then 2000 miles).

 

Recently... the best I can get on my e46 is 17.1 averaged between highway and city driving. The 997 C4s is doing 20.3 mpg. Sad about the brakes.