“How would you feel after driving from Munich to Frankfurt in a 911? Tired and stressed” says Segler, “not so in the M3, which is relaxing when you need it to be, yet also entertains when you want to have fun”. Note: The distance between the two cities is approximately 245 miles.

I guess he should know a lot about comfort as he was the Head of BMW's Mini division before this!

 

He could not say anything else. But he's wrong - the 996/997 is a very comfortable road car and not only for short distances like Munich to Frankfurt (270 miles) but much longer trips (like 600 miles in a single day).

 

Agree and disagree.

The 997 is very comfortable for a sports car... there's no two ways around that. But the interior noise in a 997 (in particular tire noise) is notably louder than it is in the M3. To most, that can become tiresome.

But I think the BMW paid employee is exaggerating.

And forgets the other important question... which would you rather drive on the back roads? The 911 is the hands down winner, IMO.

 

I agree that after a long drive in the 911 I'm tired and stressed but you can't wipe the grin off my face. I'm tired because the car encourages me to DRIVE not cruise and I'm stressed because I don't want some idiot on the road to destroy it. If I had the M3 I wouldn't give a $h1t.

 

LOL! I am always amazed at how little stress and fatigue I get driving the 911! My E46 M3 started giving me back aches around the 3rd hour of driving. Can't speak for the E92 M3.....

 

Comments like this are always made when people looking up from the bottom up! How many times do you hear comments from those on top?

 

Meaningless drivel.

The M3 is a great vehicle, and deserves respect. But there is so little negative to say about the 911 platform. Yes, the cupholders suck, they are worse than the vaunted M3 cupholders, etc. If that's your idiom, knock yourself out. Add some to your back seat, and congratulations.

While the M3 is terrific, it's forgettable: I forget it as soon as I see it. The 911 lasts. Forever.
CATTMAN

 

TIRED? STRESSED?

He must have been driving too SLOW.........

 

As much as I love the 911, I have to admit it's not a long haul cruiser. It's loud, fairly bumpy and has no space. I will take the M3 for a long road trip any time. I will never, however, trade in my 997TT for it.

 

I had an E46M3 for 4 years but cant comment on the current one. I actually like the 335 better for a comfortable long trip. Just as fast but with better torque and actually more comfortable. But for fun, excitement and a real sports car, neither come close to the 911.

I found my M3 to be a very good car but not really great at anything. It was a compromise all the way around. It wasnt very comfortable (compared to a regular 3 or 5 series, E class mercedes etc. and it wasnt anywhere near the same league as a 911 from a sports car perspective.

I'd take my C2S with PDK on a long trip - with a massive smile on my face

 

For the first time ever on 6speed, where I've been nothing other than a complete gentleman, here's what I am actually thinking:

Yeah, I hear you. I'm sure you're right, the 911 platform should be scraped, and redesigned as a long-haul cruiser. While it may have been designed and perfected as a pure sports car, it ought to be overhauled, and have larger rear seats, more cup-holders- hey, maybe even a sliding rear door? Yes, yes, that's it, that'd be perfect for carrying my extended family on extra-long coast to coast drives! And do be sure to have a huge trunk, as in the Suburban, so I can take everything with me wherever I go! Oh, this is going to be great! Gosh, if we could only do this, I'd never need my Honda Odyssey again!

Puke.

OK, I'm done, and back to being the gentleman I'm known for. I lost control here, admittedly. Do forgive me.
CATTMAN

 

Cattman,

You seem to be a fun fella and we would get along quite well if we ever met. If you ever get to MN, give me a holla.

Back on track... I would not change a thing on 997 to make it more like M3 or anything comfortable. It would dilute its pedigree.
As soon as mine has a few more miles, it will become louder, quicker and better handling and be even less of a "long haul cruiser".

 

They really shouldn't be compared. They're different types of cars. 911 is a sports car; M3 is more of a GT (albeit a cheaper one compared to something like a Bentley or Aston).

The M3 is cheaper though; probably the only reason why I'd take one over a 911.

 

Funny quote. Last month I drove my 997 (with 2 dogs and a summer's worth of clothes and random crap) 1500+ miles in 36 hours with zero fatigue. I've made the same trip in my X5 4.8i, SL550, SL500, and a 540i 6-speed and cannot say that it was any less enjoyable in the 997 than the BMWs or softer Benzes. If anything the Porsche made the trip go by a lot, um, faster. :-)

 

Sounds good, Alex, I'll strap on my skates- a cold local beer is my my treat!

I suppose my temporary insanity stemmed from any comparison between a 911 of any era and a car designed for anything other than pure performance. Talk of things such as long-haul, etc. just don't fit the 911 idiom, though I'd argue, convincingly, that it meets that standard quite well. Again, all amongst friends. I have a riot losing it, from time to time
CATTMAN