catpat8000

I'm sure there have been a number of threads on this topic but tonight a friend gave me my first ride the new E90 M3 with the 8000 rpm 4L V8.

Quite a nice car but I have to say, when he nailed it in 1st and ran through a couple of gears, it felt SOFT to me, like someone was pushing gently on my back.

In my C6 (LS3, 410 rwhp, 3:73 gears, 6 spd) it feels like someone's swung a 2x4 against my back when I get on it, and that's in 2nd because 1st almost never has enough traction. Even then, nailing it at 4000 rpm when it's below 60 degrees outside gets wheelspin in 2nd.

So vette owners, you don't need to worry about the M3.

Pat

da vette guy

Did you take your friend for a ride in your car?

hungryhippo

makes sense. they have much less torque and are heavier than a C6

DaytonaFIC6

yeah those small displacement hi revving motors aren't exactly torque monsters. they will get you in trouble though. i.e. you don't feel the torque, yet the car is still pulling pretty hard and before you know you're running 90+mph.

LS1LT1

bearnest

I guess you are talking about straight line driving. Yes there is no replacement for HP.
If you happen to go a HPDE with him you will have a whole new respest for his car.

AORoads

20 mpg hiway? 420 hp, 295 tq, 3650 lbs.

to be good at a road race it must be very well 'suspensioned' for handling. it's got the power, up high I guess.

RyanC7

I guess it will be a race for the new Mustang GT 5.0 vs M3.

1 slow 97

drove one and they are amazing cars but I wouldn't (especially your car the way it's set up) worry about it against an LS3 probably even LS2 car. One thing we can't take our cars to 8,000rpm, the Paddleshifter trans is the most amazing and quickest I have driven & makes the A6 seem like a POS. But with all those high reving motors you get no torque and you are never going to feel it like a good ole pushrod american V8 like the vette has. Handling if you can figure out BMW i drive system is a whole nother story all together.

chazc6

The M3 is at a huge disadvantage. Your comparing a 3600 lb 4.0L with only 244cu to a 3200 lb 6.2L / 374cu car. The M3 diffenately holds there own. 12.50 @ 113 mph weighing well over 3600 lbs plus the driver. The M5 would probably be more comparible, although still being at a disadvantage with 4 doors weighing in at 4000 lbs and only 5.0 L /302 cu, the M5 will give the C6 hell with a skilled driver.

Streetk14

I just sold my E90 M3 a few months back (to justify buying my LS3 C6), and I must say I do miss it as my daily driver. When the car magazines quote it as being the "best car in the world", there is a reason for it. It is an amazing car, and a very nice, comfortable one at that. It was also the best handling car I have ever driven.

But yeah, the power to weight ratio is not up with the C6. If I remember right, they are putting down ~350 rwhp on the chassis dyno stock and are around 3600 lbs. It is one of those cars that seems to be an over-achiever for what it is, though. For being a fairly heavy car with only 295 lb/ft, they do move.

What someone else in this thread said was absolutely true: the V8 M3 does not feel fast (but it is). If you look at the dyno charge for the S65 engine, it makes that 295 lb/ft @ 3000 rpm and holds it until 7000 rpm. Dead flat, which makes for very linear power. You really don't feel that "surge" or feeling of getting thrown back in the seat. That was one thing that disapointed me about the car- it just didn't feel as fast as it really was. If that makes sense?




Found a good stock dyno pull from an E9x M3. Impressive for what it is, but not a match for a modified C6:





Andy

LS1LT1

True...but couldn't one also argue that the C6 is at a huge disadvantage with only one cam and 16 valves over the M3 V8's 4 cams, 32 valves, variable vane individual throttle bodies, variable valve timing etc etc?
And the fact that the M3 is so heavy is actually part of the equation for me. Some of these German/Japanese car companies are so well known for their supposedly spectacular engineering and cutting edge technology yet somehow they still can't even match the weight, straight line performance nor FUEL ECONOMY of a cheaper, more basic vehicle/design.
Yes I know it's a sport sedan with (small) rear seats and is not a sports car like Corvette but still.

CMY SIX

do the c6R's suffer a hugh disadvantage with their 427's, they are trying to change the rule's because the euro cars can't compete with them!!!!

chazc6

Sure, one could argue, but i think its a little unfair to compare the two when it comes to cu inches. Its like adding 400 lbs to the LS2 6.0L and comparing it to the LS7 7.0L and stroking it to 8.0L, my point is there both great cars and a blast to drive, but there in totally different categories. The vette no dought is a true sports car and the M3 is more refined, with a back seat and a little more practical.

glass slipper

Especially the Macpherson strut front suspension. I had Macpherson struts on the front of my '83 Chevy Cavalier and the handling was the most refined I've ever experienced.

For about the same price, I'll take a Cadillac CTS-V...it even gets the same MPG as the M3 and kicks butt all around the track or the street.

AtlPitbull

Anyone who has not driven M3, do yourself a favor and drive one to see what is all the hype about ! There is a reason why it is considered by many as one of the top sport cars around. I chose to buy a C6 because I love to mod cars, to me the C6 is the best platform to start with because of the low cost for performance parts and maintenance. Some people worry about losing their warranty on a Vette, try losing a warranty on a modded M3

FloydSummerOf68

An M3 is NOT a sports car

chazc6

[QUOTE=glass slipper;1572992776]
Especially the Macpherson strut front suspension. I had Macpherson struts on the front of my '83 Chevy Cavalier and the handling was the most refined I've ever experienced.

For about the same price, I'll take a Cadillac CTS-V...it even gets the same MPG as the M3 and kicks butt all around the track or the street.
You do realize Macpherson manufactures a wide range of struts from low end like the ones in your cavalier, and high end like the ones found in BMW, If you ever drive or own one then you might recognize the quality in them and would understand the differences. Once again your comparing a 6.2 supercharged CTS-V to a 4.0L. Yet with all that power the CTS-V runs 12.40 @ 114 mph. The M3 runs 12.50 @ 112. Why do you need so much more power to compare with the M3, why don't you compare it to the CTS non V, GTO, or new camaro, better yet compare the CTS-V to the M5 or MB 55AMG, they would be more comparible except there only 5.0Ls & 5.5 Ls and one is naturally asperated and runs 12.20 @ 115. mph. and the other is s'charged and runs 12.20 @115 mpg. Its obvious the C6 LS2, LS3 & CTS-V are faster then the M3. Once again my point is there all great cars but totally different. I wouldn't consider trading my C6 LS2 for The M3 but i would consider adding one to my collection.

AtlPitbull

Ok u got me on that one How bout one of the best cars around

chazc6

The M3 is indeed a sports car and also classified as a supercar, however its no match for the C6 LS2 & LS3.