check out this new release from BMW. look at the curb weight! 1655 kg which converts to just shy of 3650 lbs! i also think that its funny they compare it to a base 997, but thats because its no match for a 997S other than it *might* be as fast in a straight line, thats about it.

check it out:

http://www.speedyshare.com/779111544.html

 

65k for an M3? C'mon, BMW.

 

After options maybe (a loaded car)? I thought it was going to start closer to 52k (base)?

 

Nope, that's a modestly equipped coupe.

 

all i know is this car is a piggy. after options is gonna weigh in at prob over 3700 lbs, ew! the base price will prob be around 55k, about 7k more than the e46 m3 was, which is also WAY overpriced when i can go pick up a superior 997S used for a little bit more. the only benefit the m3 has is more space, but thats not enough to make me buy an ugly pig of a car that with 70 hp isnt gonna be faster and sure as hell wont handle nearly as well.

 

BMW's ego amazes me. The fact that M5, 6 values are in the toilet should tell them something. Push button horsepower, grotesque bodies, heavy weight, weak subframes, overpriced. I wish they went back to their E30 roots.

 

I acknowledge that the BMW acronym is now better known as:
"Big Motherf**king Waste"

Great cars...but the prices seem to get heftier and heftier and more ridiculous for what it is. And I'm a bmw owner mind you.

 

i dont particularly think they are *GREAT* cars anymore. certain cars still are, but for the most part the M's are the ones to buy, but still, not anymore. m5 grew on me and i think its nice, the m6 is grotesque! the new m3, the motor is awesome, but the actual car is a joke for the most part. bmw has headed down the mercedes path too fast lately. they need to go back to their roots alright, i agree with that totally. i am also a bmw owner but dont really see myself buying one unless they start to wise up and produce great cars again that are totally on top of the sports luxury market. also, 70k for a nicely optioned m3 is a joke. that car should be 60k tops. they are entering a dangerous territory that a lot of car manuf. have realized they cannot and will not compete in. once you hit 911 territory esp 997 territory, its hard to compete. the e46 had similar performance but was way less expensive than a 996 911 and has more space. the new m3 other than having more space has NO benefits to a 911 (which is the superior car in every way except for practicality). astin martin tried to compete iwth the V8 vantage, that was a flop, the rs4 is aimed that way, and failed miserably, the r8 has monsterous power but beat out the 997C4S. its a never ending battle, and BMW will find out that that market is going to be tough for them to compete in as well.

 

Hmm. I really like my 7 and the M3 was great to. I seem to run into a lot of people who can't drive to save their life so having a slighty slower and poorer handling car doesn't present a problem.

That said. You have to spend another 15-20K to get that slightly faster and better handling car and you know we are not talking about a standard 997. I don't see how Porsche is any better at all.

I don't see how you can argue the Porsche isn't guilty of the exact same thinhg when a standard Corvette (not the ZO6) can run down a 997S. Not to mention the ZO6 that will humiliate either 911.

The M3 is a wonderful car and it will sell very well and unlike the 911 will have exceptional resale.

Whatever.

 

are you serior about resale prices? have you seen the prices for pre owned m5s and m6s lately, they are down the drain, BIG TIME. you can go pick up an 06 m5 that was originally 95-100K new for high 60's low 70's, and last i checked some of those prices were from dealers. the m3 is going to suffer the same fate. the 997 isnt doing too bad, but i dont check them as im not in the market for one. who cares is a standard vette can run with a 997S, it doesnt hold the same prestige or have the intagibles as handle as well as the 997. this is the same arguement we go through with the 997TT vs z06, and is pointless, just this time its about less performance. the new m3 isnt going to be what the 997 is, no matter how hard they try, and thats the short and tall of it. unless the new m3 looks 1 million times better than it does in the pics, i will not be buying one.

 

if you havnt noticed, i DO have an M3 currently. i accept the car for what it is, and also for what it is not. it competes with 996s and base 997s, but isnt as much fun, but is more practical. it IS a wonderful car, but its nothing particularly special when comparing it to the likes of Porsches, ferraris, and lambos.

 

I would not be at all surprised if the M3 got very close to the 997S.

I didn't say anything about the 5 or 6. Compare an M3 to 997 for percentage of value retained. The M3 does very well. I like the 911 but I would never buy a two year old car with 15K miles on it over a new M3 even it were faster.

I don't really care that much about the intangibles. Yes they are cool and prestigious but personally, impressing people with a nice car is really weak. Drive it because you like it.

The argument was that the M3 is overweight underperforming and overpriced, I think you can easily argue the same thing with any 911. They are not the fastest car nor best handling and they are by far the most expensive. I think they could afford to lose a few pounds to boot.

 

you can make the same arguement for ferraris and lambos as they are not the fastest nor the best handling. as for the intangibles for Porsche, i meant presitge, heritage, but also other things such as steering feel, being fun to drive, not impressing people (that just happens and should not buy a car for only that reason). i think the m3 will be almost or just as fast as the 997S but wont handle as well which makes a huge difference to me as i want a great handling car and while it will be good, wont compare to a 911. the m3 is very overweight, and the same is not true as a 997S coupe weighs only about 3250 lbs. thats not too bad if you ask me, but wouldnt mine it being 3150 lbs instead. how many cars do you know that have 355 hp and run mid 12s and traps 112-114 mph? not many, if any. if bmw is lucky they will run this with a car with significantly more hp, and a larger engine with more displacement.

 

Why compare the cars SO Much? What is really gained by this "battle" anyways?

Both cars are SWEET and each will have its advantages and disadvantages. How fun would things be if every car weighed the same, came with the same HP and cost the same price???

New M3 will be sick im sure...997s is OBV a sick car too. Why compare?

 

for the hell of it. its gonna happen no matter what.