Trying to decide: e46 M3 vs F82 M4 vs 997.2

[Tbonem3]

That's not what they think. They KNOW the simpleton public will THINK more hp/faster 'ring time = best car. It hasn't been about making the best product for a long time, certainly for public companies. It's mostly advertising, image, hype etc.

[Zack]

Audi RS3 drives like the soulless, numb, dull car that it is. Comparing that to an E46 M3? No comparison in how the car drives. The M3 is much better.

I would get an M2 Competition DCT if you're stuck on getting a much newer M car with 2 pedals. Doesn't have the feel, but it's fast and way more fun than the Audi.

It always baffles me that car companies think adding more and more horsepower is the answer to making a great car. The truth is way more complicated, Miata is the perfect example, no HP and a blast to drive.

[t44tq]

Just throwing it out there. The Audi RS3 has a fantastic engine, it's about the same size as the e46 (which I like), and with a few mods can do 10s in the 1/4. It makes a great sound too. While the e90dct is fantastic, heck I own one (e93m3 with a 6MT), the Audi is a much better daily (tech is on-point, better mpg, and less maintenance). It's an especially good option if you live in a place with any sort of weather since it's awd. The 7spd dsg (dq500) dct transmission is very capable and quick.

Audi RS3 drives like the soulless, numb, dull car that it is. Comparing that to an E46 M3? No comparison in how the car drives. The M3 is much better.

I would get an M2 Competition DCT if you're stuck on getting a much newer M car with 2 pedals. Doesn't have the feel, but it's fast and way more fun than the Audi.

[Tonggi]

I have a 997.2 c2s and my e46 and both are great cars. The Porsche drives different. Feels different. But how my m3 is set up, it feels a lot rarer. The Porsche while still I think peak 911 still feels great. Both enjoyable cars d I know the feeling of gt3 of bust crap but they are so ridiculous. Find a good c2s and you won't regret it.

But slrkiyon m3 is easier but seeing the engineering of the Porsche is a different experience for sure

[EthanolTurbo]

Honestly for a while I really wanted a 335d, but I drive primarily very short trips so it would be a really bad pick for me.

Yeah they really need medium to long trips, it's a highway car. That being said it's an amazing stoplight to stoplight car. You can go faster shifting at 3K RPM than an E46 M3 can go shifting at 8k+ lol. 😇

[Sprp85]

With the price of E46 Ms coming back down to somewhere more sensible, just pick up another one.

Personally, I have owned a couple of turbo charged B/N series motors and were not excited to wrench on those.

In the end I feel like E46 M3 will be easier to DIY & relatively cheaper to operate overall vs. F8X and 911

[Aeko]

Agreed. M Sport E90 is a very beautiful car. Idk how anyone could bash on them, my E90 335d is one of the most fun, reliable, affordable and powerful daily drivers ever made. A lot of people would change their tune if they drove one for a day, it is phenomenal.

Honestly for a while I really wanted a 335d, but I drive primarily very short trips so it would be a really bad pick for me.

[stephen]

The 335d with a couple easy mods is like a diesel IS-F. I love mine.

[EthanolTurbo]

I didn’t like them much until I owned one. It’s a much better daily driver than my E46 sedan; no creaks/rattles, much stiffer chassis, less road noise, better ride quality, comparable steering feel after installation of SDW TRBs. I could go on. I’m really also enamored by how well it masks the additional weight it put on over the E46.

LCI E90s, particularly the M sports, are very handsome cars. I sort of agree with the bashing when it comes to the E92/E93 and the pre-LCI E9X, but only in terms of styling.

Agreed. M Sport E90 is a very beautiful car. Idk how anyone could bash on them, my E90 335d is one of the most fun, reliable, affordable and powerful daily drivers ever made. A lot of people would change their tune if they drove one for a day, it is phenomenal.

[Aeko]

Interesting you say that, I picked up a GR86 as a DD a few months ago.

It's definitely not at the M3 level but it's a 27k car.

And the steering in the GR IMHO is not good at all. Driving them back to back running errands is a weekend thing for me and I still grab the keys to the M3 before the GR.

I didn't really get enough time in the GR86 to really understand what it is I liked about the steering so much... I think honestly it just really made the M3 show its age in comparison. One of the biggest things was the on center feel was much improved compared to my M3, that was one thing I never really enjoyed about the e46 chassis.

[01SG]

I would have the 997 GTS, or the S, over the turbo for autocross and back roads. The turbo is much heavier and AWD.

[GreyM340i]

If you can afford it there is no question to a 997.2 Turbo. However most are in the mid $100k

[stephen]

Some of the E90/non-M bashing here kinda hurts my feelings because they're honestly great cars.

I didn’t like them much until I owned one. It’s a much better daily driver than my E46 sedan; no creaks/rattles, much stiffer chassis, less road noise, better ride quality, comparable steering feel after installation of SDW TRBs. I could go on. I’m really also enamored by how well it masks the additional weight it put on over the E46.

LCI E90s, particularly the M sports, are very handsome cars. I sort of agree with the bashing when it comes to the E92/E93 and the pre-LCI E9X, but only in terms of styling.

[Boost]

Well, that's annoying. I've driven a RS7 and it was bonkers, talk about a missile, but I haven't driven a S5 so I can't comment. I guess the awd won't really help you too much, but it is fantastic in the rain for when the hurricanes hits you all. And drag racing if you're into that sort of thing. Still, try to test drive an RS3 - fun little things and use launch control on the test drive, it's a hoot.

The RS7 is a riot of a car, and 25mpg highway is pretty good for 560hp+. Nowhere near as nimble as some of the cars being discussed here but it hides its 4500lb pretty well.

Some of the E90/non-M bashing here kinda hurts my feelings because they're honestly great cars.

OP,

Cars I would look at:

-Nissan GTR
-997 Turbo
-F13 M6
-W204 C63 AMG
-W205 C43 AMG
-Audi RS5 (both gens)
-C6 Z06/ZR1,
-CTS-V coupe (3rd gen) + ATS-V
-F-Type

Cars I would absolutely get some seat time in:

-M2***
-RS3**
-Supra*

[Sharocks]

Appreciate it. Being in the garage is therapeutic for me haha.

RE: numb steering and the e46 m3. Funny enough, after driving a GR86 back to back with my e46 M3 I was really disappointed in how the M3 feels. In honestly felt like the steering shaft was made of solid rubber in comparison (and yes I'd replaced all the front suspension with new OEM already.) I'd want the GR86 but... it just lacks the special feeling of the M cars. I could get in it with my eyes closed and feel like I was sitting in a base Corolla. I might go for the GR Corolla as a daily IF they do come out with the auto like they've been alleging is already in development for the GR Yaris. However I feel like the GR Corolla is going to suffer Type-R levels of dealer markup, and for that money I'd sooner buy the 997.2.

Just to be clear ITT I'm looking for a weekend car. If it has the ability to double a daily that's just gravy, but not make or break



Thanks! And I'm not really expecting completely different cars to be similar, which is why I value everyone's input here because I have the e46 as a benchmark in my mind, so I'm mostly wanting to know how they're different.

Interesting you say that, I picked up a GR86 as a DD a few months ago.

It's definitely not at the M3 level but it's a 27k car.

And the steering in the GR IMHO is not good at all. Driving them back to back running errands is a weekend thing for me and I still grab the keys to the M3 before the GR.

As a DD, it's got just enough to be okay but it's not special for sure.

Out of the cars you're looking at, I'd say maybe an F80 M3 and if your budget allows a CS.

Special, DCT, looks good, and infinitely moddable.