C5 vs M3
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Prattville AL
C5 vs M3
Do any of you stock C5ers have any experience racing E46 M3s? We were discussing this on a local board and one guy thought that a M3 would beat a C5 'all day long', but I think it would be more of a driver's race.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Prosper TX
What type of racing? There is high speed autocross, low speed autocross, drag racing (1/8 & 1/4 mile) as well as road course and true track.
If you are talking stock 04 C5 coupe against stock 04 M3, save for the straight line stuff, the M3 is going to have a field day and chew up the Vette. If you are comparing 04 C5 Z06 against M3 then it does become a drivers race on large road course and race track, Vette in the drag but the M3 should win in both low and high speed autocross.
If you are talking stock 04 C5 coupe against stock 04 M3, save for the straight line stuff, the M3 is going to have a field day and chew up the Vette. If you are comparing 04 C5 Z06 against M3 then it does become a drivers race on large road course and race track, Vette in the drag but the M3 should win in both low and high speed autocross.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Prattville AL
Originally Posted by Skull One
What type of racing? There is high speed autocross, low speed autocross, drag racing (1/8 & 1/4 mile) as well as road course and true track.
If you are talking stock 04 C5 coupe against stock 04 M3, save for the straight line stuff, the M3 is going to have a field day and chew up the Vette. If you are comparing 04 C5 Z06 against M3 then it does become a drivers race on large road course and race track, Vette in the drag but the M3 should win in both low and high speed autocross.
If you are talking stock 04 C5 coupe against stock 04 M3, save for the straight line stuff, the M3 is going to have a field day and chew up the Vette. If you are comparing 04 C5 Z06 against M3 then it does become a drivers race on large road course and race track, Vette in the drag but the M3 should win in both low and high speed autocross.
Aren't M3s low 13 sec cars in the 1/4. That should be a driver's race against a C5.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 175
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From: Syracuse NY
Not according to what I'm hearing...
Originally Posted by Skull One
What type of racing? There is high speed autocross, low speed autocross, drag racing (1/8 & 1/4 mile) as well as road course and true track.
If you are talking stock 04 C5 coupe against stock 04 M3, save for the straight line stuff, the M3 is going to have a field day and chew up the Vette. If you are comparing 04 C5 Z06 against M3 then it does become a drivers race on large road course and race track, Vette in the drag but the M3 should win in both low and high speed autocross.
If you are talking stock 04 C5 coupe against stock 04 M3, save for the straight line stuff, the M3 is going to have a field day and chew up the Vette. If you are comparing 04 C5 Z06 against M3 then it does become a drivers race on large road course and race track, Vette in the drag but the M3 should win in both low and high speed autocross.
-Mr.Z-06
Last edited by Mr.Z-06; Jun 10, 2005 at 12:37 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Prattville AL
Originally Posted by JoshVette
What are you guys talking about.......
Vette will win stock for stock, those beemers weigh more and have less power. 3700 lbs and 330 HP 04 M3
Vette will win stock for stock, those beemers weigh more and have less power. 3700 lbs and 330 HP 04 M3
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,865
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From: Chicago il
I have auto Xed with the BMW club several times, ( they have lots of events) and those cars are nice, but they have alot of body roll and thye eirhter under or over steer.... although i did not beat many of there times in the low speed, ( they were much more ecperienced drivers) you could tell that the car struggled through the twisties and when it came to accelration. All of the BMW guys were envious of my low end torque 
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by SPD KILZ
Iv killed a MANY of M3's when i was pretty much stock.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Prosper TX
I believe I stated the stock Vette would win all the straight line stuff. But the twisties is always going to be an issue. Stock 04 Coupe just doesn't have the sway bar and shocks to hang with a stock M3. The Z06 on the other hand is a driver vs driver race on track and large road courses. Autocross is generally going to be in the M3 favors even with their body roll and tendency to push thru a turn. The car instills a greater trust when it goes thru hard hair pins turns hence they maintain better speed. I autocross (1.2 miles avg course, top speed usually between 75 and 85) with M3s once a month. I have yet to see a stock Vette take a top 10 time. It took a modded Vette (headers, exhaust, T1 Sway bar, shocks, brakes and tires) to break into the top 10 so far.
If you would like to prove me and the BMW people wrong, I would be more than happy to provide you with details for the next autocross June 25th in Mineral Wells Tx where the M3s will be playing. And I am sure we can find a M3 that is either stock or is modded to your level to make sure the playing field is even.
Don't get me wrong and assume I consider the M3 to be a better car, I don't. But simply put, I have gone up against them enough times to know better when it comes to the tight twisties of autocross.
If you would like to prove me and the BMW people wrong, I would be more than happy to provide you with details for the next autocross June 25th in Mineral Wells Tx where the M3s will be playing. And I am sure we can find a M3 that is either stock or is modded to your level to make sure the playing field is even.
Don't get me wrong and assume I consider the M3 to be a better car, I don't. But simply put, I have gone up against them enough times to know better when it comes to the tight twisties of autocross.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
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From: San Diego CA
"tight twisties" favor short wheelbases. I've been to slaloms where slightly-modded Honda CRXs chew up M3s and spit em out quite handily. Essentially, a short wheelbase and low weight (such as with the new Lotus) rules the really tight races. Racetrack races though, are another story.......
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Prosper TX
Exactly, thank you for putting it that way. The only car I have seen eat the M3s at our events are the WRX/Evos, a few modified Z3s and a tricked out Mini Cooper S that simply is a wonder to watch.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2003
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M3's race in A Stock along with the C4's, which is a slower class than Super Stock which the C5 is in. For some reason I don't see too many M3's at SCCA auto-x's. Autocross really comes down to the driver. Back when I used to race an 88 Fiero GT, I turned in better times than many of the Vette's. It seems like so a lot of them weren't very good drivers. The course design always makes a big difference too, a tighter course seems to favor the smaller cars, were a course with larger sweepers works better for higher horsepower cars like Vettes.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,915
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From: Alton/Godfrey IL
I saw a video of a stock C5 destroying an M# on the race track. Both were professional drivers. The bottom line is the C5 is faster in every category. It will beat the M3 in a straight line or around any track.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,479
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From: Dallas/Grand Prairie Texas
Originally Posted by LiquidDI
I saw a video of a stock C5 destroying an M# on the race track. Both were professional drivers. The bottom line is the C5 is faster in every category. It will beat the M3 in a straight line or around any track.
Who cares how much you lean in a turn if you're taking it twice as fast as the car behind you??
