test drove M3 convertible and C63

Last weekend I had a familly thing close to a carmax so on my way back I decided to bother a bit the sales people I jumped into the latest BMW M3 convertible manual and the Sedan Mercedes C63 auto, both were 2008 model with 30k miles. First the M3 convertible, the suspension seems softer than the sedan I tried in the past, the clutch is super light, almost bothering and the gear lever feel flimsy compared to my B&M shortshift so I did not enjoy it too much, but the main issue was the power, I think I had press the power button when I left for the drive but even flat out I though it was slow. The speed was creeping up but the kick in the pansts... zero. Good steering and great cruiser but on the sensation part, i was quite disappointed. Then came the C63, superb seats, very hugging and really transmitting well the feeling of the car. The suspension is a tad firmer, but very civil. The gear box is fast enough and the engine is crazzyyyyy. The power goes all the way up to red line around 7500rpm and it is a thrill. After my short test drive I'd take the C63 in a heart beat, just love at first drive The M3 looks better and the convertible top is nice for the florida winter but my track days would be over.. But driving my 996, I think it gives you so much more sensations than any of those cars, which are still $50k used. So I don't feel the need to upgrade even if I really try to find a way to get something newer when I think my 996 is already 8 years old, but really I can't see what would beat it at this price point of $30k I wonder if you guys have tried those cars and came to similar conclusion

Everything I've heard puts the M3 0-60 time significantly lower than the 996. The M3 was slow compared to what?

I am sure it was fast, but it felt slow may be too effortless. no grunt and no kick in the ***... so no fun I think.. I know the M3 kick *** on paper but on a straight line, I did not have fun.

That's because your Porsche is way cooler

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Does your Porsche know you were cheating on her?

It probably wasn't a fair test comparing the M3 cab to the C63. It is significantly heavier that the M3 coupe. Still, I wouldn't describe it as slow. The ones I've driven howl like a banshee at WOT and register plenty on the butt-o-meter. Are you sure it wasn't a 335 with the M Sport package? The C63 has a beast of an engine though.

I had an e46 M3 and found that you needed to rev it up real high before it started to feel like you were accelerating fast. Havent driven the e9X but imagine the hp/torque curves are similar. The 996 feels much more raw and powerful (even if on paper it is actually slower)

no newer car will feel more powerful IMO...they add more weight, more gadgets and remove the feel and sound of actual driving.... wanna "feel fast?" - try driving something 10 or more years OLDER than your 996...anything! (well almost anything)

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They are similar. The power doesn't really start to come on until about 3800 RPM.

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I think that is the thing, heavier and heavier and the M# convertible with its 400lbs pounds of convertible top and reinforced chassis is really a good/bad example, even with 400 horse it felft ..bla... I also think they might be tuning the convertible to feel more of a cruiser. I hope someone can chime in to compare the coupe and the convertible as I think that was the main problem. This got me thinking of test driving a 1998 911 C2S those are fun fun fun !!

I had an E90 M3 sedan but I didn't bond with it. I LOVE the C63 but if it's my only car I gotta have a manual. Now I'm thinking about an Evolution MR to companion my 996.

humm interesting comment about you going to an EVO from an M3... May be I am not completely crazy then... I had the subary wrx for a week as a test drive and I loved it. the turbo kick is old school, but it adds the word fun to the equation! PS: I am a BMW fan boy and I really wanted to love the M3.

The Evo is the closest thing to a 4door 911 I can think of. Steering and agility are fantastic.

I drove an Evo GSR a yr. ago Blue manual fast, raw, excellent brakes. My favorite 4 door sedan before the 911. More of a rally car though

I had a 996 C4s (miss that thing~!, must change avatar) and now have a M3 Coupe. If you drop the hammer at 4500k rpm, that V8 is a beast. Way faster than the 996 in pure straight line acceleration. First time at MSR Houston, I was almost a full second quicker in the M than the 4S... and I was driving terribly. That said, the feedback of the 996 is totally different, and IMO, 100% better. Steering is more communicative, and actual "feeling" of velocity is much higher in the 996. I was shocked to see my M's lap times because it does not "feel" as fast as the 996. I think the M is a superb daily driver but is just not the same as a 911.

I apologize for this in advance. really. I'm bored and cranky. 4500k rpm is 4 million 500 thousand RPM. That would be a huge kick.... Sorry sorry sorry I can't help myself The monsoon season has started, and will continue until June. Crankiness abounds here

I am glad to see some confirmation that the M3 number are impressive but the fun factor seems to be missing for a couple of people. After the M3 test I was wondering if I was going crazy or something. I was expecting to be kicked in my butt by the M3 and the C63 took my heart instead. who knew mercedes are more fun them bimmers nowadays !

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the current M3 is getting a bit long in the tooth. I suspect the next version will have a tuned turbo V8. That should provide some kick.

Wait one minute.....Your Carmax had an M3 and C63????? Man, I need to move to a better state.

That's how we roll in Miami, not one single road to enjoy the cars... but everybody is driving a 400hp beast LOL ! At least we have 3 tracks within 3 hour drive

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I think this is very fair. I love my 996 and my M3 sedan, but they're both different beasts. I describe the 996 as a scalpel and the M3 as an axe, but they're both hellishly fun to drive. The m3 can scream and throw you back in your seat more viscerally than the 996, but the handling and responsiveness of the 996 is better - pure physics, it's smaller and lighter. To compare the two cars is unfair, but both are very respectable sports cars.

I was a bit ashamed of myself after the M3 drive, I was thinking good car, would make a nice daily driver with good speed... man we are so spoiled with the 996. Hard to enjoy the pretty good cars out there... there was a time I though the 328i was a beast

after a while you start to understand why the old timer Porsche guys are such Porsche Snobs.... because they drive a Porsche and nothing else seems to fill that niche quite so nicely!! (I myself hate all other cars now and refer to any car that is not a Porsche as a piece of ****)

Lol

I was cracking up when I wrote that...

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So if I agree what does that make me?

I came out of a Dinan tuned 335, and into a 996 turbo. The BMW was a lot of fun and an excellent daily driver. You could really toss it around on the twisties. I have nothing bad to say about that car and would buy another one. Almost did. The Porsche is a whole different bast. It's faster and handles better, but isn't as easy to live with as a daily city driver. It's rough riding and noisy by modern standards. Shifting can get old in stop and go traffic. That said it is a brilliant car that makes few compromises as to it's true nature. In a perfect world, I would have a 550 or 650 as a DD and the Porsche for weekends.

good point, on daily use you want things to be a little more mellow. Working from home I don't do much commuting So sometime I forget about the little things