C6 GS vs E92 M3
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1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2025
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C6 GS vs E92 M3
Hello, im currently trying to decide between C6 Grandsport 6A or a E92 M3 DCT. The car will be a daily and both are around $35k USD. What do you guys think will be better? Both cars have their pros and cons. LS3 cheaper to maintain and more torque but a worse transmission. M3 better interior, transmission and handling but more expensive to maintain.
For the C6 auto owners does a transmission tune help the 6spd auto in vette become quicker and snappier to overcome the sluggishness?
For the C6 auto owners does a transmission tune help the 6spd auto in vette become quicker and snappier to overcome the sluggishness?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,833
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From: Shawnee, OK
I have owned 7 Vettes, 5 of them C6's, 2 of those 5 with autos. Hate that transmission. My current C6, which I love over all of them, happens to be an auto. Oh how I wish it was a manual. The bimmer is undoubtedly a better candidate for a daily driver. The Vette will deliver a more inspiring drive, but only when you really "get on it" and make the slushbox work. If you really want the best of both, find a C6 manual. Better yet, a C6 manual with a mild cam and headers. You will forget all about the M3.
BTW, my A6 has a cam, headers, exhaust, and tune (including the tranny). It shifts like a MFR when paddling - left on its own, still sluggish and always in the wrong gear.
BTW, my A6 has a cam, headers, exhaust, and tune (including the tranny). It shifts like a MFR when paddling - left on its own, still sluggish and always in the wrong gear.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,341
Likes: 723
From: Chicago N/W Suburbs
Regarding the BMW..... You are surely correct in that it's going to eat a hole in your wallet. They all do. The higher the value, the bigger the hole to keep it working as it was designed, though you always have the choice of ignoring the barrage of warnings that come up.
The only matter about the C6 being a daily driver will be inclimate weather. I wouldn't want to drive it when the streets are "wintered."
Last edited by Ron Dittmer; Feb 2, 2025 at 10:31 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
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I agree with PM, the Beamer is the better daily of the two, but I would argue about the better handling... that car is substantially heavier than the Vette and nowhere near as nimble. Don't get me wrong, they handle great for a luxury sedan, but equal drivers on an equal course and my moneys on the Vette every time. Performance aside though the BMW is the way nicer car overall but also come in with higher maintenance costs too.
As for the auto trans thing... yes, a tune will completely change the dynamic of the 6l80e. GM had a lethargic tune in them from the factory. I drove mine for a few days untuned and then loaded a trans tune into it the first week I had it.... completely different car in the way it drove and behaved. In butt dyno terms it picked up 100hp (not really but that's what it feels like.) That being said once you tune it's pretty great. I've had zero issues with mine over the 80k of abuse filed miles I've thrown at it and its never skipped a beat. Plenty of guys making big power on them stock too.
Ron, I know you're a keep it stock guy, but I promise you a trans tune will completely change your car for the better.
As for the auto trans thing... yes, a tune will completely change the dynamic of the 6l80e. GM had a lethargic tune in them from the factory. I drove mine for a few days untuned and then loaded a trans tune into it the first week I had it.... completely different car in the way it drove and behaved. In butt dyno terms it picked up 100hp (not really but that's what it feels like.) That being said once you tune it's pretty great. I've had zero issues with mine over the 80k of abuse filed miles I've thrown at it and its never skipped a beat. Plenty of guys making big power on them stock too.
Ron, I know you're a keep it stock guy, but I promise you a trans tune will completely change your car for the better.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,386
Likes: 6,529
From: Melbourne, FL
Hello, im currently trying to decide between C6 Grandsport 6A or a E92 M3 DCT. The car will be a daily and both are around $35k USD. What do you guys think will be better? Both cars have their pros and cons. LS3 cheaper to maintain and more torque but a worse transmission. M3 better interior, transmission and handling but more expensive to maintain.
For the C6 auto owners does a transmission tune help the 6spd auto in vette become quicker and snappier to overcome the sluggishness?
For the C6 auto owners does a transmission tune help the 6spd auto in vette become quicker and snappier to overcome the sluggishness?
The 6L80 will never shift like a DSG in speed, but it's much smoother in normal use. A tune can help, but they're two fundamentally different technologies.
I used to track my previous C6 GS with some E92 guys. They had fun when the cars worked, but they had nothing in any performance metric over the Vette. You could fit your whole change of wheels and tires inside one though, so that was a perk. The Vette you had to drive there on the tires you were gonna use, or have some sort of trailering or second car setup.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Melbourne, FL
If you're driving it next to nothing mileage wise it might be ok, but rod bearings are known issues on them and so if you go to sell one without basically fresh rod bearings, you're eating the cost of the replacement for the next guy.
That said, the only thing more "refined" about it is some materials. It isn't more comfortable. It doesn't have more features..it isn't more spacious for the driver. It doesn't have better cupholders. Maybe it's a little quieter? It's infotainment is equally out of date but you can't replace that easily in it like you can the Vette.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
I've gotten to drive a few BMW M4s and M3s now and I will say I think they make solid daily driven sports cars but I agree with ya Fauee, I think the Vette is better in every way minus maybe the interior, which like you said, completely upgradable in the Vette. Plus if you ever get bored with the power level the Vettes a whole hell of a lot cheaper to make fast.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2018
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I have owned 7 Vettes, 5 of them C6's, 2 of those 5 with autos. Hate that transmission. My current C6, which I love over all of them, happens to be an auto. Oh how I wish it was a manual. The bimmer is undoubtedly a better candidate for a daily driver. The Vette will deliver a more inspiring drive, but only when you really "get on it" and make the slushbox work. If you really want the best of both, find a C6 manual. Better yet, a C6 manual with a mild cam and headers. You will forget all about the M3.
BTW, my A6 has a cam, headers, exhaust, and tune (including the tranny). It shifts like a MFR when paddling - left on its own, still sluggish and always in the wrong gear.
BTW, my A6 has a cam, headers, exhaust, and tune (including the tranny). It shifts like a MFR when paddling - left on its own, still sluggish and always in the wrong gear.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,341
Likes: 723
From: Chicago N/W Suburbs
A few years back, I loaded an expensive (expensive to me) 5-Star Tune on my 2007 E350-V10 chassis motorhome's transmission that came in the form of hardware with software loaded inside it that allows me to switch back and forth if I so desire, so I have a little exposure to this. I wonder how I could try a C6 trasnsmission tune without great expense.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
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Do you know anyone with HP Tuners software near you? That would be the easiest way. I'm pretty sure I still have the stock file I wrote with the trans tune. I'd be happy to shoot it your way if you decide to do it.
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2024
Posts: 36
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From: Midwest
M3 if you need a back seat. Going to be a much better daily(BMW problems though). Corvette all day if you dont need the back seat. Get a manual unless you are driving in LA / So Cal level of traffic.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,341
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From: Chicago N/W Suburbs
We are never too old to learn, right?
Sorry for the distraction on this thread. I will start one specific for this purpose.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,386
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From: Melbourne, FL
I've gotten to drive a few BMW M4s and M3s now and I will say I think they make solid daily driven sports cars but I agree with ya Fauee, I think the Vette is better in every way minus maybe the interior, which like you said, completely upgradable in the Vette. Plus if you ever get bored with the power level the Vettes a whole hell of a lot cheaper to make fast.
BMW makes a great vehicle, I like my X5 a lot. But if you need the backseat, the e92 coupe isn't gonna make it happen, and even the sedan is a bit small for humans to fit in the back of. If you need to put humans in the back, get an M5 or an X5. MAYBE an X3M if everyone is small and no car seats involved.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
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From: Charles Town WV
2024 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2023 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
2022 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
HP Tuners software? Is that available on the internet? If you have a soft copy of the tune available for emailing, having that would be a start. My email address is my last name dittmer, dot, my first name ron, at gee male. On my laptop with the "Tuners" software and also the tune, then there is the challenge of hooking up my laptop to the ODB-II.
We are never too old to learn, right?
Sorry for the distraction on this thread. I will start one specific for this purpose.
We are never too old to learn, right?
Sorry for the distraction on this thread. I will start one specific for this purpose.
100%
BMW makes a great vehicle, I like my X5 a lot. But if you need the backseat, the e92 coupe isn't gonna make it happen, and even the sedan is a bit small for humans to fit in the back of. If you need to put humans in the back, get an M5 or an X5. MAYBE an X3M if everyone is small and no car seats involved.
BMW makes a great vehicle, I like my X5 a lot. But if you need the backseat, the e92 coupe isn't gonna make it happen, and even the sedan is a bit small for humans to fit in the back of. If you need to put humans in the back, get an M5 or an X5. MAYBE an X3M if everyone is small and no car seats involved.
I'd love to have an M5 for a daily lol, not really winter friendly in the mid-atlantic though.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 76
Likes: 24
My tuner told me he could make my 6L80 shift quick/hard enough to bark the tires in any gear, it just wasn't clear how long the trans would last if he did. I think level of satisfaction with a trans tune is going to depend on what you're expecting from it and how aggressive your tuner is.
The problems I've encountered paddle shifting mine in autocross revolve around downshifts. Slower upshifts don't lose me much, if any, time on course because the car is still pulling during the shift and straights aren't very long anyway. However, sometimes the car will refuse to downshift when I want it to, even when it won't exceed the RPM limiter. It's a tuning issue, but it's not something I have figured out in my car.
The problems I've encountered paddle shifting mine in autocross revolve around downshifts. Slower upshifts don't lose me much, if any, time on course because the car is still pulling during the shift and straights aren't very long anyway. However, sometimes the car will refuse to downshift when I want it to, even when it won't exceed the RPM limiter. It's a tuning issue, but it's not something I have figured out in my car.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,386
Likes: 6,529
From: Melbourne, FL
Newer M5s are AWD, so that's a perk, and the M550i is sweet... but it's kind of hard to justify the 5 over an X5M or the X5 M50 (like I have) for similar money.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 17,386
Likes: 6,529
From: Melbourne, FL
My tuner told me he could make my 6L80 shift quick/hard enough to bark the tires in any gear, it just wasn't clear how long the trans would last if he did. I think level of satisfaction with a trans tune is going to depend on what you're expecting from it and how aggressive your tuner is.
The problems I've encountered paddle shifting mine in autocross revolve around downshifts. Slower upshifts don't lose me much, if any, time on course because the car is still pulling during the shift and straights aren't very long anyway. However, sometimes the car will refuse to downshift when I want it to, even when it won't exceed the RPM limiter. It's a tuning issue, but it's not something I have figured out in my car.
The problems I've encountered paddle shifting mine in autocross revolve around downshifts. Slower upshifts don't lose me much, if any, time on course because the car is still pulling during the shift and straights aren't very long anyway. However, sometimes the car will refuse to downshift when I want it to, even when it won't exceed the RPM limiter. It's a tuning issue, but it's not something I have figured out in my car.
Now the rest of the driveline might not love the shock.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,321
Likes: 220
From: Woodbridge, Virginia
I'm a bimmer gearhead as well. Had several e92, had several vettes as well. E92 are very capable cars, more comfortable than any stock c6 seat. I would not get one with the dct, manual is the way to go. If your daily needs to be an auto, stick with the c6. Dct clutch repair is not for the faint of heart. Rod bearings are not that expensive to replace if needed. Thing with bmw is that they have a lot of modules, oil changes need to be on time, preventative maintenance cannot be ignored. You could have a very capable, fun e92, takes a bit more money, not knowing your budget.
I daily my GS, cheaper to run than my bmws but only because you learn replace things before they fail.
You cant go wrong with either choice, let it be your choice. Plenty of both cars around, in all kinds of conditions. But if it was my choice, e93, 6spd, carbon roof, would be my choice of M3.
I daily my GS, cheaper to run than my bmws but only because you learn replace things before they fail.
You cant go wrong with either choice, let it be your choice. Plenty of both cars around, in all kinds of conditions. But if it was my choice, e93, 6spd, carbon roof, would be my choice of M3.
