BMW M3 vs. Camaro SS?

[Jamestwilliams]

Originally Posted by stratman

What I was implying was that even though the Chevelle was not sporty by today's standards that was about as sporty as it got back then. At least in this country and for reasonable money. It's all relative. The price for performance of the C was what I was getting at. I think the C63 MSRP is like $63,000. You are paying a large majority of that for something other than performance of the vehicle. And I think most here would be in agreement what sports car/sedan we would be going after for that price.

You're a little off there, there were Corvettes first gen T-Birds and British sports cars like Jaguar (D types weren't hugely expensive), Triumph, at that time, all of them far sportier than a Chevelle.

[SdustinK]

C63 is my favorite mercedes I would so get that car if it was a little less but wtv haha.

[Robehren]

I have been driving an M3 for years. There is nothing that can take corners at 100+ MPH like the E92. It is lightweight, tight handling, and power-to-weight ratio faster than the camaro. When the guy next to you has more torque than you, and you still smoke him out of the red light, it shows how little torque actually matters in considering overall speed. Consider this: if you took an engine from a school bus, and somehow fit it into a mustang, it would have tons of more torque. Would it improve the speed? NO. Torque does not always mean speed. Now I still am getting the camaro, but the camaro and the m3 are in different classes.

[Muscle Master]

I got to admit I been attracted to bimmers for a while

and if I can't get a good monthly payment for the chally in may

I'm looking for a good used 07 335I

6-speed manual twin-turbo V6 pushing 300 Hp the interior

[Az Sparky]

This is very simple...M3's are great cars. The Camaro is a LEGEND. M3=woman Camaro=man.

[stratman]

Originally Posted by Jamestwilliams

You're a little off there, there were Corvettes first gen T-Birds and British sports cars like Jaguar (D types weren't hugely expensive), Triumph, at that time, all of them far sportier than a Chevelle.

First off you just named 2 American cars and several European cars. I was speaking strictly of American cars and engineering. European sports cars have almost always been ahead of American sports cars in handling. That being said, they for the most part were not cramming big engines in the cars either (Tiger Shark excluded).

I can’t speak to this for sure as I wasn’t there myself but I would expect any Jag pre-dating the Ford takeover models (Jagtaurus) to be a site more expensive than a Chevelle. Especially back then when they were not as readily available this side of the pond. Correct me if I’m wrong on that. And with most Triumphs and MGs you start to get into that gray area between sports coupes and roadsters, which I do try and delineate. And let’s not leave out the Datsuns while we are off the continent.

The corvette was then what it is today. The best American sports car only a few can afford. Maybe even more so back then. And as far as the T-Bird I honestly can’t refer to that as a sports car with a straight face. My personal opinion.

[MrIcky]

Who cares if an M3 is half a second faster. Do you honestly expect to be out racing? Simply put, the Camaro has the nicest lines of any car (excepting a few exotic Italians) to come out in years.

Early reports are that it performs great too. Don't get caught up on the .x of a second. Bottom line is anything under 5 seconds to 60 is QUICK. And since an M3 is double the price of a Camaro- does that mean it's fair to pit an M3 against a ZR1 or a 911GT2?

[Robehren]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

Who cares if an M3 is half a second faster. Do you honestly expect to be out racing? Simply put, the Camaro has the nicest lines of any car (excepting a few exotic Italians) to come out in years.

Early reports are that it performs great too. Don't get caught up on the .x of a second. Bottom line is anything under 5 seconds to 60 is QUICK. And since an M3 is double the price of a Camaro- does that mean it's fair to pit an M3 against a ZR1 or a 911GT2?

A camaro is more of a muscle car than the m3. That being said, however, the m3 is more of an all-around sports car. It also costs almost double. There are pros and cons to both cars. What I'm saying is that comparing an m3 to a camaro is like comparing a shelby gt500kr to a ferarri. The gt500kr would be more of a "muscle car", but for double the price, the ferarri is more well-rounded.

[pharmd]

Originally Posted by Robehren

A camaro is more of a muscle car than the m3. That being said, however, the m3 is more of an all-around sports car. It also costs almost double. There are pros and cons to both cars. What I'm saying is that comparing an m3 to a camaro is like comparing a shelby gt500kr to a ferarri. The gt500kr would be more of a "muscle car", but for double the price, the ferarri is more well-rounded.

I would tend to agree very much with that...I just hope that this 5th generation car closes that gap much further than we've ever seen in the past. From the look and feel of the G8, GM has gotten more serious about attracting a different type of buyer, and by the suspension layout (albeit a porky iteration) and performance of this and other new release GM cars (CTS-V), its looks like we could be seeing the comparison of these cars performance become more of a reality. Now I know, it won't be the same, I have a 335i (which is NOT a M3), but for those buyers that are on the fence about this...those who because either price, the looks of the Camaro, the "muscularity" of the camaro, the trendiness, or the ability to mod the camaro are considering it...I just hope that its a close enough experience as a true all around sports car, to make them seriously consider the purchase. Because how things look now, with the economy, SALES PERFORMANCE may be the most important stat of all.

[Robehren]

with the economy as it is, the power-to-price ratio of the camaro is pretty unbeatable, even by the Germans and Italians...

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Robehren

with the economy as it is, the power-to-price ratio of the camaro is pretty unbeatable, even by the Germans and Italians...

Since when have the Italians had a good power to price ratio? Or the Germans for that matter.

[Congoman775]

This thread is nearly pointless.

[Robehren]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Since when have the Italians had a good power to price ratio? Or the Germans for that matter.

I was more talking about the power aspect than the price aspect...

[Oracle]

I beleive, and i have said this several times before, that performance wise the M3 is the camaros true competition. everything else it just leaves limp. they will both have similar power, similar weight, and similar skidpad numbers. overall if you met on a track the M3 may have a slight edge to it, but they will be so closely matched that the difference would be a drivers race, not a cars. so where does the BMW get off charging twice the tag? its how it gets it all done. the camaro's interrior will be great, the M3's will be luxurious. the camaro will corner with the strength to chase down ferraris. As will the M3, it just wont feel as viloent through it (though BMWs arent exactly sprung choushie, its just more sophisticated in the tuning). the camaro will provide snap your neck tourqe and a power curve that makes sure you know its here to kick ass, but when you look out your window im sure you will see an M3 right there. so can a camaro hang? absolutely. which would I rather own? the Camaro because its got so much more potential, can keep up stock for stock, and i could stomach the insurance and car payment. which would I rather drive? the M3 because its just so much more refined, smooth, and luxurious. not to mention its the new world benchmark for sportcoupes.