Cars We Drive! - Page 192

That is not the point of a sports car. There are many GTs faster than purist sports cars, but the sports car driving experience is entirely different than a GT's. In the latest C&D lightning lap, the Panamera spanked many sports cars, and in one of the turns carried a minimum speed second only to a relatively exotic car, but someone looking for a sports car still wouldn't buy it. An E92 M3 is a numb driving experience compared to a 911.

Sure, so did I, but the rear engine config does have its unique advantages: the gearbox and drive axles are close to the engine minimizing losses, and there is somewhat usable rear seating. The backwards weight distribution helps with standing starts, and lets the car apply more braking power to the rear wheels. And one cannot deny that Porsche has made the rear-engine packaging into one of the fastest, most reliable race cars available, and they're built on the same assembly line as the regular cars. In comparison, the very impressive M3s raced in ALMS are essentially spaceframe racecars with an M3 skin, and a few token pieces of interior trim.

E9x's and early 997's are comparable in terms of price and I bet a ton of people cross-shop them. I know if I had $45k to blow on a car, I'd buy the 997 no questions asked. I can't imagine how the E9x would be better when comparing the entire package and not individual performance stats.

i'm not sure i agree with the definition of M3 as a GT either. i think it's closer to a sedan platform that is heavily modified by the factory to increase performance (and originally, to homologate cars for Touring Car racing, where the field were mostly sedans). kind of how car makers started doing the same thing for hatchbacks and created the "hot hatch" segment...is there an equivalent term for sedans/saloons?

but the distinction is fairly fine, so i won't argue with you too much about whether it's a GT or not


i mentioned this before, but IMO the only reason to choose the M3 over the 911 is the ability to carry four people in great comfort. but that is an absolutely huge advantage for some, and a good enough reason to go with the M3 if it's the only car in the garage.

I keep thinking of selling my E90 330i, but can't seem to find anything that I'd like more.

Thanks. Cali Weather + Roodster = PERFECT!!!

Here's a bunch of new pics. Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

thank you for acknowledging that.

sure

black, no stick, metal interior - not my cuppa.

Doesn't the black leather seats get hot as ****?

Supposedly the leather are treated with some chemicals that prevents it from becoming overly hot.
But I've had black leather seats before, it gets hot but that goes with any leather seats really.
My Lexus has tan seats and I rather deal with the black leather.

Nice, they should have thought of that years ago.

I know how my seats got in the Scandinavian summertime, so I can't imagine how they would be to have them every day, I ended up getting an interior heater/cooler fitted, so it could chill the seats before getting in.

Tan leather sucks tbh especially if you wear raw denim.

actually, you seem to like black in general.

cooled seats baby!

The idea of shopping a $75k+ purchase with priority to paper stats first and nothing to the design is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You wouldn't be able to drive if you were blind anyway.

The idea that an M3 is 'value' or 20% cheaper than a P-car is not really on the mark either - apart from one country, the US, the m3 and C2 are virtually the same price. An e92 M3 with comp pack is exactly the same price as a 991 C2 PDK, and RS5 where I live- about $150k. In Germany I think the same holds true. BMW has massive volume and dumps their product on the US market to be 20% cheaper than the p car.

I would disagree with that, my friend has a matte black BMW M3 that he washes less than one would a gloss black car and it looks amazing. I am contemplating doing matte white on my A6 as well...