Z06LUST

OK. Lets make this simple. Real simple. Racer simple. The M3 is/was a target car.
The hunter was Ford and its' weapon- the 2012 Boss 302 Mustang. The Boss owns the M3 at Laguna Seca.

Watch the vid and then see the times posted at the end for the GT500, M3, Audi R8 and the Boss 302. Now, if the Boss 302 can take the M3...I feel quite positive the Grand Sport can kick the M3's tail. Grand Sport vs Boss 302...now that could get interesting on a road course like Laguna Seca.

The test was done by Motor Trend.

http://www.mustangevolution.com/must...302-vs-bmw-m3/

Gering

Thanks for your input!

Mookster

E92 M3 is already 5 year old technology so comparing it to the new Boss 302 is somewhat unfair i would say. Take the Boss 302 versus M3 GTS would be a different outcome

Jawnathin

The M3 is a benchmark car for its class. A true driver's car that can be used comfortably everyday. But performance wise, its gets easily beat by a GS, let alone a Z06 (for those that bring it up)

If I could only have a single car for daily and spirited driving, an M3 would probably be it. I don't think a Corvette is uncomfortable (the Z is better than the whiners say) but the M3 is probably nicer to deal with on a day to day basis.

Since I can and do own more than one car, the Corvette was my choice for a weekend/fun car given its superior performance, value, and driving experience. The Corvette just feels more 'raw' than the M3 does. IMO, the LS3 and LS7 is a much better engine than the V8 they put in the M3 in just about every category... power band, torque, weight, size, and sound.

jedblanks

I've worked on BMWs and I find the parts are similarly priced to the vette. (Same "tax"). They are well built cars but like vettes, have their flaws.

TKgs2010

Once again, apples to oranges, but here's a good comparison;
A good friend has a 2010 M3 Coupe with the 6 speed manual, and I recently traded my wife's 2010 Mercedes C63 AMG sedan for a 2012 C300 Sport 4Matic, and my toy is a 2010 GS coupe 6 speed manual.
C63 completely spanks M3 in acceleration up to whatever speed you want, and GS completely does the same to the C63. Handling wise, M3 has a slight edge over C63, but GS has a bigger edge over M3, and braking is very close, with the edge quite possibly going to the GS, but barely. We're comparing a sedan, a sport coupe and a sports car, so all is subjective, based on need and preference.

Mayonayze

i can be dim at times so someone will have to educate me on what the hell a "purpose built sports car" is. when i look at these two cars, i view them both as high performance cars. that the M3 elects to have a backseat, pig-wieght, and call itself a 'GT car' adds zero value in the discussion/evaluation of which is the better performing vehicle.

which is a better "utility" or "all around" vehicle? beats the chit out of me. i buy vettes for performance. *shrug*

06 C6 vert

Vrs does not apply. totally different cars obviously.

The beamer is a sedan, lots of weight, different power and handling.

I don't get the comparison.

FYI I schooled a late M3 in my base vert.

ALMS21

Mookster - I am the person that posted that comment on M3post. I was so intrigued by the DCT in the M3 that I sold the GS and bought the DCT M3. The main reason I sold the GS and bought the M3 is that I was tired and bored of driving my 4Runner every day (well, 85% of the time) and wanted a great GT car. I just couldn't drive my 911 as a daily driver and, even though the Vette is a more comfortable ride, I still couldn't drive it as a DD either. IMO the E92M3 is the best combination of performance, luxury and utility out there.

My opinions have not changed from what I posted before. Although, I will say that whoever is driving the Vette better know how to drive it (see launch, throttle control, etc.) or the M3 is going to beat you in a race that is very close to begin with. All of this obviously meaning stock vs stock.

Performance wise -- a C6Z06 thumps the E92M3.....we all knew that already though.

Still love the looks of the widebody Vettes....please just step up the damn interior with the C7. Here is a quick pic of my M3.

jonathontodd

If your looking for a sweet interior, get the Cadillac xlr

breecher_7

Or the CTS-V, Its worlds better then the vette and the BMW. THe vettes interior is cheap to say the least, but every BMW ive ever been in (including the M3) is pretty crappy to, better then the vette, but certainly not the interior of a car in that price range.

saplumr

Compared to the CTS the XLR is totally out of date.

ALMS21

You are out of your mind if you think that glossy black plastic **** they put in the CTS-V is better than what is in an M3 let alone the M5 or M6.

It's not only about how it looks as well....it's what it's made of. The GM stuff is littered with gaudy shiny cheap plastic bits. Sorry, it is what it is.

I don't want to get this thread off track nor do I have a desire to continue to post negative stuff about the Vette or GM for that matter. We all know the Vette's few short coming vis a vis the interior. I simply wanted to offer my opinons of the two cars in question as I've recently own(ed) both.

jschindler

Out of date and about two years out of production too.

breecher_7

Im going to disagree, I have several friends with bimmers and there interiors are falling apart.

rpm94

Sweet M3, love the color and wheels. My neighbor has a black one. My daily driver is a 4Runner and I have been toying with the idea of replacing it with a M3 or a Cayman S.

Oh, who cares about the Vettes cheap interior, just go with Caravaggio and solve the problem yourself.

69L79

Good comparison from someone who actually has driven all of these Cars.

Jawnathin

I'm with ALMS21 on this one

My brother has a 1999 BMW 328i (E46) with over 150k miles and its interior is nicer than my C6. Yup, its a 13 year old car and its interior is still great looking and has worn quite well.

For my replacement daily driver, I am strongly considering some sort of BMW.

Jaxon

BMW beating a Vette??? Bitch, please. Btw, you don't want to be seen in a BMW, do you?

McLendon95

The irony in that statement is that any European sports car enthusiast would use that same statement as an insult to american cars, rather than the compliment you intend it to be