M3 vs. C6
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 7
Re: M3 vs. C6 (bcmarly)
I agree with a lot of what has been said above and this is my take
M3 = Grandtouring
C6 = Sportscar
This isn't to take anything away from the M3 - I own a 1997 M3 to go along with my corvettes and when I bought my Z06 it was going to be either that car or a New M3 (at the time an 03).
The BMW's are very capable cars but they are not in the same league as the corvette's when it comes down to the absolute performance limits of each vehicle.
Myself, I can't wait for the 500hp M5. It is going to be a beast
M3 = Grandtouring
C6 = Sportscar
This isn't to take anything away from the M3 - I own a 1997 M3 to go along with my corvettes and when I bought my Z06 it was going to be either that car or a New M3 (at the time an 03).
The BMW's are very capable cars but they are not in the same league as the corvette's when it comes down to the absolute performance limits of each vehicle.
Myself, I can't wait for the 500hp M5. It is going to be a beast
Racer
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Re: M3 vs. C6 (groovyjay)
The 05 M3 will have 400hp, it's lighter and propably out handles the C6. I would put my money on the Bimmer. 
torque of the C6. The next M5 at 500HP only has 500nM (~370 ft-lbs) of peak torque.
Now the next M3/M4 CSL will have 450HP (don't know torque figures) and could be
lighter than the base C6.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 363
From: Colorado
Re: M3 vs. C6 (peccles)
I appreciate everybody's input. I look forward to taking delivery of a C6 Z51 sometime in September (?)
When I purchased my M3 in '02 I had a choice of many cars. At that time I did not opt for the Z06. There's no question that the Z06 is a superior performer, and for that matter so is the C5 (although based on personal experience, not quite as bad as the above video).
However there are many considerations that go into my decision making, only one of which is performance. These include styling, interior appointments, fit and finish, price, exclusivity, steering feedback, resale etc...
The C6 addresses all these important criteria.
On the other hand I'm not sure BMW's competition includes the Corvette. Rather, their competition is the Porsche 996 and the Audi S4. The M3 is a comfortable 2+2. The 996 is a 2+2 whose back seat is nothing more than a torture chamber. The Audi is a 4 door. By virtue of their rear seats the M3 and S4 will invariably weigh more. However, having said that, The M division is getting away from their roots and their cars are getting heavier and heavier. There are too many amenities adding unwanted weight. Unfortunately, the M cars are attracting a different buyer, much like Porsche has over the years. These folks would rather be seen in their cars than actually drive them.
It's difficult to know for sure where the M division is headed with their new model. I fear it will weigh even more than my current M3 which weighs 3405 lbs. If the M division brings over a V8 powered light weight CSL model, it will be plenty fast and plenty expensive. Remember when that car was devastating the competition 3 years ago in the ALMS series. Porsche cried so loud and hard, they managed to convince the sanctioning body to impose a 200 lbs penalty on the M3 thereby forcing it out altogether.
I like where the Corvette is headed: 3200 lbs +/- great power to weight ratio with all the things I look for in a car. They need to work on getting the power to the road. Something the M cars do very well as witnessed by the M3 vs Z06 video.
My friend is a professional photographer, and he was asked to take some pictures for an exclusive Time Magazine publication of an event that took place in Nevada last year (can't recall the name). The participants were very well healed. The object was to go as fast as you could go between point A and point B. Some were going in excess of 180 mph. These were serious licensed car enthusiasts with all the racing gear, nomex suits etc. There was a life support helicopter buzzing the area. In short it was a serious event. There were Vipers and Porsches. However, by and large the car of choice: The C5/Z06. Need I say more?
Bob
PS The new 4 door M5 w/v10 will pump out 550HP and is not competition for the Vette. It's competition is MB, Audi, and Cadillac.
Oh one last note, on Sunday I will be trading blows with a Tesstarossa and a 355. It will be fun to see how my measly M will stack up against $340,000 of Italian machinery. I bet I’m very competitive from 0-100.
When I purchased my M3 in '02 I had a choice of many cars. At that time I did not opt for the Z06. There's no question that the Z06 is a superior performer, and for that matter so is the C5 (although based on personal experience, not quite as bad as the above video).
However there are many considerations that go into my decision making, only one of which is performance. These include styling, interior appointments, fit and finish, price, exclusivity, steering feedback, resale etc...
The C6 addresses all these important criteria.
On the other hand I'm not sure BMW's competition includes the Corvette. Rather, their competition is the Porsche 996 and the Audi S4. The M3 is a comfortable 2+2. The 996 is a 2+2 whose back seat is nothing more than a torture chamber. The Audi is a 4 door. By virtue of their rear seats the M3 and S4 will invariably weigh more. However, having said that, The M division is getting away from their roots and their cars are getting heavier and heavier. There are too many amenities adding unwanted weight. Unfortunately, the M cars are attracting a different buyer, much like Porsche has over the years. These folks would rather be seen in their cars than actually drive them.
It's difficult to know for sure where the M division is headed with their new model. I fear it will weigh even more than my current M3 which weighs 3405 lbs. If the M division brings over a V8 powered light weight CSL model, it will be plenty fast and plenty expensive. Remember when that car was devastating the competition 3 years ago in the ALMS series. Porsche cried so loud and hard, they managed to convince the sanctioning body to impose a 200 lbs penalty on the M3 thereby forcing it out altogether.
I like where the Corvette is headed: 3200 lbs +/- great power to weight ratio with all the things I look for in a car. They need to work on getting the power to the road. Something the M cars do very well as witnessed by the M3 vs Z06 video.
My friend is a professional photographer, and he was asked to take some pictures for an exclusive Time Magazine publication of an event that took place in Nevada last year (can't recall the name). The participants were very well healed. The object was to go as fast as you could go between point A and point B. Some were going in excess of 180 mph. These were serious licensed car enthusiasts with all the racing gear, nomex suits etc. There was a life support helicopter buzzing the area. In short it was a serious event. There were Vipers and Porsches. However, by and large the car of choice: The C5/Z06. Need I say more?
Bob
PS The new 4 door M5 w/v10 will pump out 550HP and is not competition for the Vette. It's competition is MB, Audi, and Cadillac.
Oh one last note, on Sunday I will be trading blows with a Tesstarossa and a 355. It will be fun to see how my measly M will stack up against $340,000 of Italian machinery. I bet I’m very competitive from 0-100.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 45,200
Likes: 892
From: Texas
CI 1-4-5-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '10, '17
Re: M3 vs. C6 (bcmarly)
I look forward to taking delivery of a C6 Z51 sometime in September (?)
Racer
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
Re: M3 vs. C6 (bcmarly)
I appreciate everybody's input. I look forward to taking delivery of a C6 Z51 sometime in September (?)
each year is a big Corvette bash with driving events, etc.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Chicago IL
Re: M3 vs. C6 (Ruby6spd)
On "BMW vs Vette" it's not terribly relevant to the original thread but, for fun...
I have a 2000 M5 and a 66 roadster with a highly souped up 502. The vette is outrageously more fun, louder, faster, and just plain baaaaad. On the other hand, something breaks every week, I get CO poisoning regularly, and in a crash I have a 1960s lap seat belt to look forward to. But it does have 538 lbs of rear wheel torque pushing 3150 lbs, and I can fix it with common sense and hand tools. (at least sometimes).
The m5 is of course much more civilized, an all weather car, doesn't shake and set off car alarms, etc. And it's safer by a lot. It's peppy enough, but everything's relative... and as it so happens my particular example has been unreliable (2 visits a month to dealer) and to boot, my dealer really sucks.
Both cars are illegal to drive as they should be driven.
Fun visiting your forum,
Gerry
I have a 2000 M5 and a 66 roadster with a highly souped up 502. The vette is outrageously more fun, louder, faster, and just plain baaaaad. On the other hand, something breaks every week, I get CO poisoning regularly, and in a crash I have a 1960s lap seat belt to look forward to. But it does have 538 lbs of rear wheel torque pushing 3150 lbs, and I can fix it with common sense and hand tools. (at least sometimes).
The m5 is of course much more civilized, an all weather car, doesn't shake and set off car alarms, etc. And it's safer by a lot. It's peppy enough, but everything's relative... and as it so happens my particular example has been unreliable (2 visits a month to dealer) and to boot, my dealer really sucks.
Both cars are illegal to drive as they should be driven.
Fun visiting your forum,
Gerry
