[bigjae1976]

Took a stock E90 M3 to a non-nurburgring track for the first time. PF01 pads and Hoosier R6 scrubs 9255/275).

What a machine! The DCT is cheating, it shifts so fast. Good for a couple of seconds a lap for a beginner or intermediate driver. That rear diff is also awesome. Everytime the rear end gets loose, just stay on the throttle and the car gets straight.

The bad part is the rear end feels really loose under hard acceleration coming out of tight corners. Could be the car's weight showing or maybe I just need to rotate the car more. Its hard to describe but it never feels like it really hooks up. The brakes, although I had PF01s, were never confidence inspiring. They did work and never faded. I can't hear the engine with the windows down. Above 5k rpm it all sounds the same so I was constantly banging against the rev limiter.

The M3 IS superior to the E46 (M or non-M) in every measurable performance stat. But just like on the street, you feel like the car is always in control even if you aren't. You'd have to be doing something REALLY stupid to spin the M3.

Whereas my 330...even without the harnesses I don't get thrown around like a rag doll. The cockit is far better. And it doesn't use 3/8 of a tank of gas per session. You can feel and hear what's going on in a much more tactile way than in the M3. I can already tell, the 330 will be FAR cheaper to run on the track.

So, do I like my 330 or M3 better? Obviously I like the M3 better RIGHT now since my 330's top speed is 0 mph right now. But I still like my 330 better. Maybe its an emotional attachment or the long term relationship I've had with it.

But quite honestly, I think it comes down to cost. Don't think I want or can afford to run an M3 on the track over the long-term. Even if the platform ages and parts get cheaper, tires, brakes, and 6mpgs on the track will likely run up the bills pretty quickly.