M- cars - cooler in general than a much pricier 911/R8?

[Gary C]

J66JBo said:

I agree with this. For me, performance BMW’s (that includes M lites as I currently have an M240i) are pretty much the most fun you can have at road speeds. Sure a Porsche might be faster but they are so capable that at anything lower than silly speeds they are dull. M cars aren’t the fastest or most capable, however they are fun and engaging.

humm

I feel the exact opposite about M cars and 911's (upto the 997, can't comment on later 911's)

The M cars were too capable, to fast and too quiet and comfortable to feel special, whereas the 911's felt much more useable and more alive.

[TheAngryDog]

Gary C said:

humm

I feel the exact opposite about M cars and 911's (upto the 997, can't comment on later 911's)

The M cars were too capable, to fast and too quiet and comfortable to feel special, whereas the 911's felt much more useable and more alive.

I couldn't say that any of my E39 M5's were too quiet. Refined, yes, but not quiet. Nor is my E60 M5.

For me, the last of the proper M's were the e9x M3 and the E6x M5. I like and respect the current turbo crop, but they're not proper M to me.

M lites aren't even in the same country as any proper M car imo.

[Gary C]

TheAngryDog said:

Gary C said:

humm

I feel the exact opposite about M cars and 911's (upto the 997, can't comment on later 911's)

The M cars were too capable, to fast and too quiet and comfortable to feel special, whereas the 911's felt much more useable and more alive.

I couldn't say that any of my E39 M5's were too quiet. Refined, yes, but not quiet. Nor is my E60 M5.

For me, the last of the proper M's were the e9x M3 and the E6x M5. I like and respect the current turbo crop, but they're not proper M to me.

M lites aren't even in the same country as any proper M car imo.

As I said originally, there are some epic exceptions to the M series cars, the V10 M5 is without doubt a spine tingling drive (boss at work had one), but I always found the 911's upto 997 were much more of an occasion to drive. You have to be much more aware of weight transfer to prevent understeer for example.

I do have a 3.2 carrera and its an event every time I drive it, its loud, heavy and requires some concentration at speed. The last M3 I drove could be thrashed with ease and never felt unsettled or ruffled (which is really impressive from an engineering POV, but not really fun)

Good cars, fast cars, some amazing cars

but I would prefer an old school 911

[J66JBo]

Gary C said:

humm

I feel the exact opposite about M cars and 911's (upto the 997, can't comment on later 911's)

The M cars were too capable, to fast and too quiet and comfortable to feel special, whereas the 911's felt much more useable and more alive.

I’m intrigued. Which M cars have you driven that were more capable than a 911? The majority of M cars are tail happy and often too stiffly sprung. 911’s (and Porsches in general for that matter) have huge rear end grip, overly wide rear wheels and long gearing.

I recently had a back to back drive of a new Cayman 4.0 and an M2. The Porsche was positively yawn inducing by comparison.

[Gary C]

J66JBo said:

Gary C said:

humm

I feel the exact opposite about M cars and 911's (upto the 997, can't comment on later 911's)

The M cars were too capable, to fast and too quiet and comfortable to feel special, whereas the 911's felt much more useable and more alive.

I’m intrigued. Which M cars have you driven that were more capable than a 911? The majority of M cars are tail happy and often too stiffly sprung. 911’s (and Porsches in general for that matter) have huge rear end grip, overly wide rear wheels and long gearing.

I recently had a back to back drive of a new Cayman 4.0 and an M2. The Porsche was positively yawn inducing by comparison.

Not being a BMW expert I could not recount the model numbers and I dont mean more capable than a 911 in beating it around a track, I mean the M3/5's I have driven fast are too capable to drive near limits on the road while an equivalent 911 feels much more lively if you get what I mean ?

Drove the V8 M3 on a track and it was so well balanced I didn't really need to do anything other than brake, turn, accelerate, repeat. the 997 I drove back to back with it, needed much more driver involvement to get the most out of it, feeling the weight transfer, shading the brake to get it onto the nose, feeling the yaw as it transfers to the rear and increasing the throttle to match.

if you get what I mean. So not anything to do with actual speeds, just more, well, fun

Still, the V10 M5 sticks out as just spine tingling

and of course, I haven't driven a 911 newer than a 997 and a 997 GT3 feels like driving my 3.2 Carrera, just faster. Its possible/likely that the 992 has insulated the driver from the 911's 'character'.


Also, the M2 does look interesting, first 'small' M car for ages.

Edited by Gary C on Tuesday 24th May 11:12