Tag Archives: BMW M3

Base Porsche 911 Carrera Vs. BMW M3 Competition: Which Is The Best Sports Car Of The Two?

If you’re a fan of German performance cars, desire excitement, and happen to have £90,000 ($124,000) lying around, you might want to consider having a look at the latest offerings from BMW and Porsche: the M3 Competition, which costs £87,000 ($119,000 converted), and the £85,000 ($117,000) Porsche 911 Carrera.

Starting with the exterior design comparison, the elephant in the room is predictably the beaver-tooth grille of the M3 that’s totally different from the relatively subtle and, perhaps, “smiley” face of the 911 Carrera. From the back, the M3 maintains its aggressiveness, with sharp lights, a noticeable diffuser, and relatively large quad exhausts. Still, the simple design of the Porsche coupled with new elements like the single bar taillight and a spoiler that pops up once you reach a certain speed might give it a little bit of competitive advantage.

The interiors are, as you’d expect, impressive, with the 911 paying tribute to its heritage with the gauge layout, even though the steering wheel obscures some of it. Mat Watson from Carwow points out a few minor issues with the infotainment system, too, including small icons that can be a little fiddly and the rather apparent lack of Android Auto (although we expect that to be updated soon). Less impressive is the fact that, after a few hard launches, a nasty rattle rears its ugly head. The M3, on the other hand, does have Android Auto, as well as Apple Carplay, and although it might not feel as ‘racey’ as the Carerra’s 2+2 layout, the Carbon Pack adds some rather fetching carbon-backed seats.

See: 2021 BMW M4 Competition Vs Base Porsche 911 Carrera

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With design out of the way, it’s time to start talking numbers. The M3 Competition is powered by a 3.0-liter twin-turbo straight-six with 503 hhp (510 PS) driving the rear wheels, although a four-wheel-drive version is an option. The 911 has a 3.0-liter twin-turbo flat-six driving the rear wheels and although it comes with “just” 385 hp (390 PS/287 kW), it’s evidently more than enough, considering that it reached 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standstill in 3.7 seconds during its run with Watson, beating the M3 which needed 4.0 seconds for the same sprint.

But what you lose for a couple of tenths of a second in the M3 is gained by a rather spacious rear seat that can be accessed with the extra set of doors and will comfortably accommodate two adults. The Porsche, on the other hand, should never have more than two people sitting in it – and two small kids, at best, at the back. Trunk space isn’t that impressive either, giving you just 132 liters in comparison to the Bimmer’s 480 liters, but then again the Porsche could never compete in practicality.

As a daily driver, the 911 Carrera happens to hold its own pretty well. Watson finds fault with the slightly stiff suspension and annoyingly loud tire noise, but it’s bearable. In Sport mode is where the Porsche performs how it’s meant to after inheriting bits from generations of 911 perfection. The M3 does stiffen up quite a bit more than the regular model, but it also manages to feel a little cushier than the Porsche on the daily commute. When you start to push it, though, the BMW brings out its wilder, more playful side that could be good or bad depending on your driving style.

What Is The Quintessential BMW Driver’s Car, The One All Look Up To?

BMW’s MO has been to create the “Ultimate Driving Machine” and over the years, they’ve produced various cars that have certainly embodied that philosophy. However, as times change, so does the definition of what this means, and for that reason, it’s hard to pick just one BMW that is truly that: the ultimate driving machine.

Let’s take a look at a few of the contenders.

BMW E30 M3

Watch: What Makes The BMW E30 M3 So Freaking Special?

First is the E30 M3. Introduced in 1986, the E30 is the oldest car of the three. It was a homologation special based on a race-proven chassis, having seen great success in many forms of motorsport. With none of the heavy intrusion from modern electronic aids, the driving experience was about as raw as it could get. It was a no-frills car whose only goal was to be as enjoyable to drive as possible. Not to mention, on top of all its performance credentials, it was the car that started the M3 line, and one of the most recognizable performance nameplates of today would not exist if not for it.

BMW E46 M3

See Also: Get Your Techno Violet Groove With This Beautiful E46 BMW M3 Individual

Next up is the E46 M3. While the E30 may have been the first of the pure M3s, the E46 was, probably, the last. It was the last to have a naturally aspirated inline-six, as the succeeding generations used either more cylinders or forced induction. In that regard, it was the last modern M3 to retain some of that old-school driving experience. Faster than an E30 or E36, but more balanced and driver-focused than an E90 or F80, the E46 combined the best traits of all the M3s, while also dipping its toes further into luxury car territory.

BMW M2 CS

Watch More: The BMW M2 CS Is The Best Driver’s M Car Currently On Sale

Lastly, we come to the M2. With the other two cars in this article being 3-Series, we felt it would be nice to mix it up a bit. It is arguably the best modern BMW when it comes to having fun, and owners and reviewers alike all seem to share this sentiment. With a solid amount of power on tap, but the right amount of weight to keep things balanced, the M2, especially in CS guise, is undoubtedly the epitome of the modern “Ultimate Driving Machine” compared to its faster, but heavier, heavier M3/4, M5, and M8 siblings.

While there are of course many other iconic BMWs across the brand’s long, storied history, these were the three that we felt best embodied the brand’s philosophy of an all-around driver’s car.

Which of these cars do you think is the quintessential BMW? Or do you have your own suggestion? Let us know in the comments below.