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BMW M3 Picked Over The GT-R and 911 Turbo. WHO WOULD Have Won If YOU Picked The Winners And Losers?

Agent00J submitted on 05/30/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 11:00 PM
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[44] user comments | category: New Cars

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BMW M3 Picked Over The GT-R and 911 Turbo. WHO WOULD Have Won If YOU Picked The Winners And Losers?

The fact that the BMW M3 was chosen as winner over the 911 Turbo and the Nissan GT-R is certainly enough to stir up debate and argument, but was the 911 Turbo the right car for the comparison.

Porsche has cars that are as capable as the Turbo, but not quite as expensive. Should the GT3 have been invited to the test instead.

GT3 RWD 3.6L flat 6 Manual $107,500
GT3 RS RWD 3.6L flat 6 Manual $124,900
Turbo AWD 3.6L flat 6 T ManualAuto $126,200

Consider this, in the C&D article they state about the M3:

"...The M3 offers an unparalleled mix of hassle-free livability and performance at a price that undercuts those of the Nissan and the Porsche. For that, it wins in our book. We say its performance deficit is made up by the near perfection and sophistication of the rest of the package."

It goes on to say:

"...and before you think we've gone soft and are too old for a wildcat like the GT-R, know that the average age of the test drivers was 29.5 years..."

I guess the question most relevant to ask then, is aside from the Porsche and BMW, what other cars should have been included in this comparison?

Perhaps secondly we should consider, does the GT-R really have a true competitor in the marketplace, and if so, WHO?

Finally, if you happen to agree with the C&D choices but not the outcome, how would you have ranked the competitors, and WHY? (I would rank the Porsche first mainly because it is a timeless classic with mind blowing performance that has stood the test of time, the M3 second because of its all around versatility, and the GT-R third. Insanely fast yes, but will it truly stand the test of time in terms of intrinsic appeal)

To help get your thought process started, check out this video featuring the GT-R versus a group of cars not included in the C&D comparison.

Tell us what you think...

BMW M3 Picked Over The GT-R and 911 Turbo. WHO WOULD Have Won If YOU Picked The Winners And Losers?

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KZ258 - 5/31/2008 9:55:41 AM

+10 Boost

i KNEW a post like this was gonna happen. oh man you agents are becoming predictable. next time im callin it out.

GT-R > 911 turbo....................>M3

reply to this comment

dlin - 5/31/2008 12:43:12 PM

-3 Boost

In fact my first reaction is why do they pair a 2 door sport sedan w/ two sports cars? I've never felt BMW as a racer boy, but it surely feel like so standing next to GT-R and 911 TT.

henbmw - 5/31/2008 3:51:04 PM

-1 Boost

Thank God we get the opinion of some fool who hasn't driven any of these cars. I was getting sick of reading these informed auto journalists objective reviews after having extensive driving experiences in each car.

kthor - 5/31/2008 4:49:56 PM

-2 Boost

CONGRATULATIONS BMW! A well deserved win. BTW, after driving the M3 several times with the new DCT (Dual Clutch) I can only describe it as "perfection". That engine and transmission together are simply pure joy to experience.

PerformanceGuy - 5/31/2008 10:22:28 AM

+10 Boost

1. GT-R
2. 911-Turbo
3. M3

reply to this comment

Star - 5/31/2008 10:30:10 AM

Show Comment -15 Boost

nsmatt - 5/31/2008 12:19:33 PM

+3 Boost

Boy racer because it's a Nissan? If this is true then you can count on seeing a lot of dead boys in the near future.

Star - 5/31/2008 12:44:09 PM

-1 Boost

Boy racer not because it's a Nissan but because it sacrifices everything for numbers. Same as Dodge SRT4, the old EVO and STI. These are the fastest cars in their price range but also the worst built, cheap tin cans, lower quality vehicles for the money. They are the choice of the boy racer who doesn't care about anything else other than speed.

cyco - 5/31/2008 10:34:56 AM

+1 Boost

If you want to read the whole article (scroll down a ways): http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3859745&page=2

reply to this comment

BostonBiosafety - 5/31/2008 10:36:47 AM

-3 Boost

The Nissan proves to be a great car, not sure it would be my choice over the 911. The Nissan is not exotic looking, I would think the NSX would still turn more heads. If buying a car is about bragging rights....count me out.

Considerations for long-term ownership.
Style - Nissan's design may look old 5-10 years from now.
Longevity - How well will the Nissan hold-up?
Cost of Ownership - ??????

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EL34 - 5/31/2008 12:30:03 PM

-4 Boost

No doubt ;-)

reply to this comment

Agent00J - 5/31/2008 11:55:24 AMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

Don't miss the point of what we are asking you to do. The fact you disagree with the C&D article is fine.

If you had written that article, what cars would you have included. We laid out the arguments that C&D made in support of their choices, but we really want to know how you ranked not only the three tested by C&D, but others as well.

reply to this comment

Batman219 - 5/31/2008 11:55:52 AM

-5 Boost

911 Turbo. End of list.

reply to this comment

ThierryHenry14 - 5/31/2008 12:15:31 PM

+1 Boost

I think I would choose the 997 Turbo for its proven track records (previous 911 Turbos are going strong), but theres no denying that the GT-R is a great one.

I recently visited several Nissan dealerships in my area, and it seems the salespeople are not too crazy about it... At least that was the vibe I was getting. Perhaps because the three dealership that I went to, two were not going to be allocated any, and the other one, well, maybe the guy was just being a jerk.

reply to this comment

Batman219 - 5/31/2008 12:19:40 PM

-1 Boost

I wouldn't be surprised that dealers are ambivalent towards the GT-R. It sounds like Nissan laced the GT-R with a lot of rules and regulations for sale and ownership.

gooch - 6/2/2008 9:41:10 AM

0 Boost

I can tell you exactly what is happening -- the car is attracting fanboys who want to come in a run their suck about the car all day long but not make any move toward purchasing the thing. They want to know what it takes to get a test drive (but don't have the money to buy one), then act like jerks when they're told no test drives. That's why the salespeople are ambivalent. It happened at the Mitsubishi dealership I worked at when we got the Evo. The fanboys were like lemmings. I think we sold three, and I was responsible for two of those sales. Even I got a little tired of the fanboys. The two people who bought from me were in their 50s.

TheSailor - 5/31/2008 12:15:40 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Well... I don't think the question is as simple as what would you have picked, because they are all the best at what they do! In the C&D-test, I would have ranked them the complete opposite. The 911 is the best package if you are a road warrior looking for a chariot which eats tarmac while retaining a bit of sanity! The GT-R is a street machine which means that it is very hard to beat on the track, but it sacrifices some of it's practicality for that (most of it actually). The M3 is sold as a sports car and I love it and would have picked it out of these three, BUT not because it is the best "chariot", but the best compromise overall it can't keep up with the 911 or the GT-R around the track, but then again, I don't spend all day going around a track! It handles beautifully, though not as good as the GT-R or the Porsche, it has room for a couple of golf bags (or hockey bags if that's your sport) and for a short trip, it will accomodate you and three of your friends (yes yes, the porsche has 4 seats, but have you ever sat in the rear ones?!).

So... The ultimate performer:

1:GT-R
2:911
3:M3

Ultimate road warrior:
1:911
2:M3
3:GT-R

Ultimate every day car (well, not really, but of the three):

1:M3
2:911
3:GT-R

reply to this comment

EL34 - 5/31/2008 12:29:32 PM

-5 Boost

1) M3
2) Nine Eleven
9) gt-R

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Agent00J - 5/31/2008 12:44:54 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

EL34 - Put up or Shut up

If you rank the GT-R as #9 on your list, what cars fill spots 3-8???

Star - 5/31/2008 1:03:42 PM

-1 Boost

3)Porsche GT3
4)Porsche 911 Carrera S
5)Porsche 911 Carrera
6)Mercedes C63 AMG
7)Audi R8
8)Audi RS4
9)Boy racer GT-R

EL34 - 5/31/2008 1:32:19 PM

0 Boost

Star, thank you filling in the gap between the 911 and the GT-R for me.

Good day :-)

Star - 5/31/2008 4:07:22 PM

-1 Boost

EL34 you are doing such great work here. This is my small token of appreciation.

0to60 - 5/31/2008 4:21:17 PM

+2 Boost

I think star and EL are the same person. Just made a mistake and logged into the wrong screen name above.

hao420 - 6/2/2008 1:03:07 AM

+1 Boost

Sure it is......

LJB27 - 5/31/2008 1:15:44 PM

-1 Boost

The fact that the M3 is even compared to these two beasts makes it a winner no matter what the final results are. I would still pick the 911 if given the choice though.

911
M3
GT-R

reply to this comment

EL34 - 5/31/2008 1:45:44 PM

+9 Boost

If I was buying a car in this category I would get the Audi R8.

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S4cabriofoxone - 5/31/2008 2:06:33 PMView My AgentSpace

+6 Boost

The GT-R is a monster, but I love the 911 Turbo's interior with the full leather, and its style. So...

1. 911 Turbo / GT-R tie
3. M3

reply to this comment

Agent001 - 5/31/2008 2:23:13 PMView My AgentSpace

-4 Boost

In my opinion, at MSRP, the GT-R is what the Corvette should be.

A total package. Style (INSIDE AND out), performance and image.

It beats it in performance and KILLS it on interior style and image.

The 911 Turbo is an old man's sports car.

I'll take a GT3 ANYDAY.

And the new 3-Series whether in 328, 335 or M3 guise is simply the best all around car on earth and leads all others (in each segment it competes) by a large margin.

But in THIS comparison I feel the buyer here makes his buying decision on raw performance and image.

So my pick here would be the Nissan GT-R.

I don't think anyone truly thinks of these cars as daily drivers...

A 335 is a daily driver, not an M3... Sorry 00J.

I LOVE the M3.

Just don't think it's an IDEAL daily driver.

001

Agent001 - 5/31/2008 2:26:39 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

Oh, and my pick 4 sure would be the Audi R8 if it were allowed to be in the mix.

NOTHING today beats that car for the money.

001

S4cabriofoxone - 6/1/2008 11:59:29 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

"The 911 Turbo is an old man's sports car."

Are you kidding? Have you driven one? If you have, how did you draw that conclusion?

"I'll take a GT3 ANYDAY."

I agree with you on that one. GT3, and especially GT2, are simply better than the Turbo.

I also agree with your other post. For all-around daily luxo cruiser/track car, the R8 can't be topped (until the R8 V12 TDI and V10 come out).

EL34 - 5/31/2008 3:13:18 PM

+3 Boost

I could never see myself driving the Nissan GT-R.

It has the styling of a crane. With all thise odd angles. It may be fast, but I need cool looking styling and not just speed.

reply to this comment

BJS470 - 6/1/2008 1:31:55 AM

0 Boost

you need is to get out of your mom's basement

henbmw - 5/31/2008 3:58:54 PM

+1 Boost

As with others, if the R8 were in the mix, it would be the winner.

The GT-R is a devastatingly fast car, impressive in every form of speed and I would never regret buying one.

The Turbo is one of the best highway cruisers out there and would be an amiable companion for the frequent autobahn user.

Having said that, I would probably buy an M3 given the choice of these three awesome autos. I personally find it the prettiest of the bunch and, from second hand experiences, it seems the most livable. Oh, and the sounds from that V8 are orgasmic.

reply to this comment

KZ258 - 5/31/2008 4:00:09 PM

+4 Boost

"So my pick here would be the Nissan GT-R"

omg oo1. first you think a 3 series makes the c-class look outdated and now you pick a GT-R over an M3?? good lord

the R8 is definitely an outstanding car and i would pick it over the turbo but with GT-R....it just owns the track with such monstrosity and it screams hardcore, raw power where the R8 displays extreme cool slickness, quietness and undeniable eye-catching presence. i guess its because im young and im more attracted towards the GT-R's hardcore personality but the R8 is very close to the GT-R on my list

reply to this comment

quizz - 5/31/2008 11:59:34 PM

-1 Boost

The M3 would be the perfect commuter where you don't have long stretches of road, just spurts of speed of a 1/4 mile here and there.

For living and driving around in traffic in SoCal, the M3 is the most fitting of the 3. But if I lived in Central California where there were long stretches of road, then probably the 911 Turbo, and on the track at Laguna Seca, then the GTR.

reply to this comment

huu76 - 6/1/2008 1:39:16 AM

+3 Boost

Anybody who thinks a Skyline is less exotic than some dime a dozen BMW logo definitely needs to have their head examined.

Most people I'm sure forget the Skyline is a Nissan. Most people I'm sure couldn't care less whether the propellor is attached to a 323i or an M5.

Did they even bother to test the cars?

reply to this comment

Star - 6/1/2008 11:18:23 AM

-2 Boost

Skyline is the ultimate boy racer car. It was never desired by anybody who can actually afford a real car.
Cars like the EVO, STI and Skyline(now GT-R)are nothing more than souped up Japanese econoboxes known for their participation in illegal street racing and also for poor built quality and horrific designs. They are desired only by 16-17 years old boys with no taste and no money to buy a real car.

MunichRob - 6/1/2008 7:55:56 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

1.911 Turbo
2.BMW M3
3.Nissan GT-R

The 911's first because it's a GT-R type athlete in a much nicer suite.

M3 second because it's a more practical, more luxurious, better looking machine than the GT-R, for these reasons I'd reluctantly sacrifice the GT-R's performance but not it's styling.

GT-R third because the only pleasure I'd get from owning it would be behind the wheel on an empty road or track...No walking backwards away from this car in the parking lot for me.

reply to this comment

farabira1 - 6/2/2008 6:35:06 PM

+1 Boost

I don't know what C&D were thinking by putting up two high performance road raging bull of cars like 997 turbo and the GTR to a very different car in M3. They just don't match up in their specs, respective performance targets, and surely customer target. M3 is a great car, but really it has no chance against the other two in any road surface when you want to go fast. If you want to put forth the agrument that M3 is better because it has a more pliable and livable drive, then i guess you are in the wrong blog, because this is no place to raise your buttock's comfort issues, but rather it is about which car goes faster, and which drives more responsively, and which is the funnest to drive. And both GTR and 997 turbo trump the M3 in big leaps in these regards. The C&D people would have been much better off comparing the GTR and the 997 turbo against the R8 of Audi, because all have similar objectives of dominance of supreme performance.
My choice is as follows:
1)GTR(simply because it is the fastest of the lot and is earning a reputation as being the poor man's veyron for it's ground breaking technologies, record breaking performance figures, and a reestablishment of the revolutionary raw charm that was first introduced by the previous Skylines)
2) R8 (It is the best looking car by quite a margin, but it's performance figures are not as supreme as that of the GTR(acceleration 0-60 in 4.2 sec compared to GTR's 0-60 in 3.5 sec), but it is better than the 997 turbo because of it's seamless engine and magnificent gearbox. I choose the GTR over this just because it is faster and for me that is what makes a car better).

3)997 turbo( A supremely talented and thoroughly well rounded car that we know as the king of the sports cars under the bunch of the supercars(ferrari, lambo, Koeinegsegg, Pagani), but the car has been around for some time now, even the 997 incarnation, and i would much rather opt out for the newer more exciting generation of high performance sports cars in GTR and R8).

reply to this comment

RandyM - 6/5/2008 5:35:32 PM

+1 Boost

C&D must love the smell of BMW's ASS. It's been so far up there it hasn't seen the sun in years...

They'd pick the M3 over anything...

reply to this comment

avanti64 - 6/5/2008 10:55:37 PM

+1 Boost

Hey Star, you are an a..hole in plain English. I am 65 and am getting a GT-R.
You calling me a "fanboy", you ignorant idiot?
And calling it an econobox shows how blatantly STUPID YOU ARE!
Bring on your German krautfarters whenever, wherever and however and go home with your tail between your legs.

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