Originally Posted by PorscheC4

Hahah. The RS4 is NOT even close. The 997C4S is even faster than the RS4. Look at anything in R&T or C&D and they will tell you that. But, i will see if i can scrounge up a video of a 997S and an RS4.

Originally Posted by sticky

They are pretty much neck and neck... with a slight edge to the Carrera S as the speeds get higher.

Originally Posted by sticky

Man, some things to clear up in this thread.

The manual E46 m3's are not faster than the SMG cars. The Manual cars are simply able to get a better E.T. from being able to launch at over 1800 rpm. I had an SMG M3, from a roll I would always come out on top vs. a manual as the manual driver simply had to be perfect to keep pace with the SMG.

The new M3 will be faster than the carrera S, no doubt. It will be the m5 v10 with 2 less cylinders and possibly a slightly higher redline. Lets say it weighs 3500, realistic with the aluminum block, it won't be much heavier than the e46 M3 (50 pounds) with an *** load more torque and hp through a 7 speed. It will be realistically a couple mph slower than the M5 the same way the e46 m3 was a couple mph slower than the E39 M5.

Every encounter I had with a 996 carrera (including 3.6 liters) the M3 came out on top. Not by bus lengths or anything but it was slightly faster than 3.6's and definitely faster than the 3.4's.

The M3 is a great car to discuss because it does so many things right just like a porsche except with useable back seats. I miss my E46 M3, simply a phenominal car especially for the money.

Originally Posted by C70Pete

that's what I thought...

as for the M3 being faster than the 996... hmmmm

Originally Posted by PorscheC4

im gonna haver to disagree slightly with you on this one. every m3 i have encountered, i have taken down. maybe by 1 car length with my 3.4 C4. i dont have a time slip, but with a quite accurate g-tech was able to run a 0-60 in 4.9 sec(no launch, just feathered out the clutch) and a quarter mile at 13.5 and i dont remember what it said the mph is. the 996 3.6 liter is def faster than an m3 from the few races i have seen of them and the 3.4 liter comes down to driver. both good cars, but i feel the adv goes to the 996 models due to better aerodynamics, better gearing imo, and less weight.

Originally Posted by sticky

Man, some things to clear up in this thread.

The manual E46 m3's are not faster than the SMG cars. The Manual cars are simply able to get a better E.T. from being able to launch at over 1800 rpm. I had an SMG M3, from a roll I would always come out on top vs. a manual as the manual driver simply had to be perfect to keep pace with the SMG.

The new M3 will be faster than the carrera S, no doubt. It will be the m5 v10 with 2 less cylinders and possibly a slightly higher redline. Lets say it weighs 3500, realistic with the aluminum block, it won't be much heavier than the e46 M3 (50 pounds) with an *** load more torque and hp through a 7 speed. It will be realistically a couple mph slower than the M5 the same way the e46 m3 was a couple mph slower than the E39 M5.

Every encounter I had with a 996 carrera (including 3.6 liters) the M3 came out on top. Not by bus lengths or anything but it was slightly faster than 3.6's and definitely faster than the 3.4's.

The M3 is a great car to discuss because it does so many things right just like a porsche except with useable back seats. I miss my E46 M3, simply a phenominal car especially for the money.

Originally Posted by PorscheC4

not trying to start anything here but just to show you. this is for the 1999 carrera 2 with 296 hp, before they went to 300 hp for the 2000 and 2001 cars.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/auto...tml?page=9&c=y

Scroll to the bottom of the page to see what the 3.4 liter 1999 C2 with 296 hp ran.

Originally Posted by sticky

Damn, that is a great time! We aren't going to sit here and magainze bench race though. There was an issue of muscle mustangs and fast fords where a guy in the mustang tuner industry brought out his e46 m3 to a strip where they were testing the 03 cobra and he did a 12.7 @ 109.

I mean, there are all kinds of numbers all over the place in magazines. All I know, is when the magazines have tested the 996 and m3 side by side, such as road and track, the M3 came out the faster car and it does dyno higher. These are all variables, on the street anything can happen as we both have stories to attest to either direction.

When cars are withing a couple mph of each other there will always be outcomes favoring both sides.

Originally Posted by C70Pete

I have to agree with C4... the 996 is faster... I have a 99 996 and M3 just can't keep up... having said that the 99's are a bit faster because they don't have electronic throttle... a test I saw for the 99's did 0-100mph in 10.5 seconds!!! that's fast and no M3 will keep up to that baby..

from a roll on I have pulled away from M3's... no problem..... now if your in an M3 and racing a 996 cab with big fat 18 rims... maybe your M3 is faster... depends on options and model year... the 2000,2001 996 were a little slower due to extra weight and electronic throttle...

my 996 has a giac chip & K&N... I kept up with a 360 modena in 3rd and 4th gears to redline... until he decided he didn't want to race any more cause he wasn't gaining on me at all !!...

Originally Posted by C70Pete

If your still not a believer as to the speed of the 99 C2... check out this link.. pay attention to the trap speed... 112 mph @ 13.0 flat! and 0-60 in 4.6 (something I've replicated in my car)

http://www.autocar.co.uk/RoadTest_Summary.asp?RT=200086