M3 vs. 911 vs Corvette etc. - Which is most fun?

[adc]

Originally Posted by DefBringer

For those of you lucky enough to have owned/driven any of the cars that people typically cross-shop M3's with, which of those cars have been the most fun to drive?

I don't mean "best lap times" or "best in a quarter mile", I simply mean which car, driven on public roads at legal speeds, offers the best driving experience?

For me, the best driving experience comes from lots of steering feel, lazer-like reflexes, and toss-ability. If this is my goal, what cars should I be looking at?

Given your criteria, a 911 S, Cayman S or R or even Elise/Exige will fit the bill perfectly.

The Elise put my butt/legs to sleep in less than 20 min, if not for that it would be my choice. 911 is a step up in build quality and amenities, but also a lot heavier and maybe even a tad rougher riding. Can also be absolutely scary at times (I mean OMG I'm going to die in the next 5 seconds scary). Cayman not scary at all.

M3 the best compromise as others have noted. Biggest letdown for me is steering feel, everything else is up to snuff. If you go this way, try Euro Delivery - an absolutely incredible experience.

[Z K]

+1 on the M3 steering feel. In normal it feels too light and boosted, in M mode, it feels too heavy - almost artificially weighted.

The M3 overall is very soft and cushy, not very involving to drive if you are used to fast nimble cars.

I drove the 911 Carrera S. I like the power of the 911 but the Cayman S feels much more balanced and tossable. The Porsches also have great steering feel which is lacking in the M3.

[rick berry]

M3 or Cayman. Vette is fast but not the overall great package the other 2 are.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by stingray23

Stingray, I do agree... as a performance option, Vette's are really amazing. If Chevy can ever get the interior and seats up to M3/Porsche levels then a Vette would absolutely be VERY high on my list of cars. For me, I can't get past the crappy seats and horrible (to me) dash as I have to live in that environment everyday regardless of how much the car would kick my M3's ass on the track

[KKM3]

Yellow corvettes scream I have a small penis.

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by KKM3

Yellow corvettes scream I have a small penis.

And posts like these scream you are a douche-bag.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by KKM3

Yellow corvettes scream I have a small penis.

So you have an M3 and a C2S and you wanna talk about penis size?

[KKM3]

Originally Posted by erhanh

So you have an M3 and a C2S and you wanna talk about penis size?

I buy my cars in subtle colors and I buy them because I enjoy driving them, not at all to show off.

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by KKM3

I buy my cars in subtle colors and I buy them because I enjoy driving them, not at all to show off.

Yeah, but comments regarding dick sizes in regards to what color car you have is just plain laughable... who the f@ck are you to judge? It was a pretty unnecessary post.

[elh0102]

I have owned a 997S, a 996 GT3, Cayman S, C5 and C6 ZO6, and a E92 M3, with street and track experience in all. The GT3 was the most fun, and the most challenging to drive well. The 997 GT3 is a better street car, but that’s getting pricey. Some of your communication criteria might leave the ZO6 a little short, but it is one heck of a car, and, driven well, the fastest of the bunch. Porsche quality is good, but not commensurate with the cost, especially new. Fun on public roads at legal speeds…..think maybe that’s an oxymoron, but, assuming average driving ability, my guess would be the Cayman S.

[alms211]

Originally Posted by elh0102

I have owned a 997S, a 996 GT3, Cayman S, C5 and C6 ZO6, and a E92 M3, with street and track experience in all. The GT3 was the most fun, and the most challenging to drive well. The 997 GT3 is a better street car, but that’s getting pricey. Some of your communication criteria might leave the ZO6 a little short, but it is one heck of a car, and, driven well, the fastest of the bunch. Porsche quality is good, but not commensurate with the cost, especially new. Fun on public roads at legal speeds…..think maybe that’s an oxymoron, but, assuming average driving ability, my guess would be the Cayman S.

Nice accurate post. I agree with everything above. For what the OP is after, the CaymanS would be the ideal car.

[KKM3]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

Yeah, but comments regarding dick sizes in regards to what color car you have is just plain laughable... who the f@ck are you to judge? It was a pretty unnecessary post.

Lighten up

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by KKM3

Lighten up

Will do that after 5pm....

[spearfisher]

I think you'll have to drive them all and decide on yourself and get ideas from previous owners. But we all have different tastes and criteria.

I think the most fun will be the GT3 or Cayman, GT3 too harsh for the road.

Best performer ZO6

but best all around for carrying people, comfort, all weather conditions, and good performance is the M3.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by shift@red

Dont have much to say about vettes as they will never be a contender for me, but the Cayman S would likely be the ideal car if youre looking for feel, precision and generally want a car that on a back road, really nothing out there will keep up with.

I have driven the Cayman S many times, I'd say a Mitsubishi Evo will spank the Cayman S in both straight line and cornering whether on back roads or track days. Trick triple differentials with S-AYC, pin point steering and butt hugging Recaro seats really makes the car stand out and drive like no other AWD car. Throw in 4 door passenger space and a trunk and it is pretty utilitarian too. Of course it is a rather punishing ride in every day driving.

But along the lines that the OP is looking for, I'd suggest the Cayman S too.

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by Z K

I have driven the Cayman S many times, I'd say a Mitsubishi Evo will spank the Cayman S in both straight line and cornering whether on back roads or track days. Trick triple differentials with S-AYC, pin point steering and butt hugging Recaro seats really makes the car stand out and drive like no other AWD car. Throw in 4 door passenger space and a trunk and it is pretty utilitarian too. Of course it is a rather punishing ride in every day driving.

But along the lines that the OP is looking for, I'd suggest the Cayman S too.

[devo]

Originally Posted by spearfisher

I think you'll have to drive them all and decide on yourself and get ideas from previous owners. But we all have different tastes and criteria.

I think the most fun will be the GT3 or Cayman, GT3 too harsh for the road.

Best performer ZO6

but best all around for carrying people, comfort, all weather conditions, and good performance is the M3.

gt3 too harsh for the road

[Team Plutonium]

Originally Posted by devo

gt3 too harsh for the road

Yeah, you've been driving it wrong.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by shift@red

I never had any evo keep up with me on any back road, at the track or in a straight (and that was in my 2006 Cayman S, newer ones are much faster in all respects). Not a stock one at least.

And here, confirmation of that.

http://fastestlaps.com/comparisons/p...tion_x_se.html

Evo got spanked by 5 seconds at VIR and is significantly slower in a straight.
Not many cars can corner like a Cayman can and an Evo certainly cannot or else it wouldnt have be giving up 5 seconds to the Cayman S on a relatively 'fast' track.

In my experience, I have yet to have any Cayman S keep up to me on the track in either a straight or cornering. I will say my car was not stock. But it has mods that you can count on one hand and cost less than $3000 total. RE11 tires, HKS coilovers and a reflash is all that is necessary for 380hp and some very fast cornering speeds. 10 years of track experience also helps a bit.

The Evo really shows its strength when modified. But even the stock car is really fast. In this review, it killed the 911 Carrera, Lotus Elise SC on the mountain roads.

http://www.insideline.com/nissan/gt-...the-world.html

As it sits, it flat spanked the $85,000 Porsche and walked all over the little Lotus.

With its stability control switched off and its Super Active Yaw Control precisely directing drive to the appropriate contact patch, the Evo found itself 2nd only to the GT-R in the fastest segment on the mountain road. Its peak speed through this section of road was 1.5 mph faster than the R8. There's more confidence here through fast transitions than in any other car.

Jeremy Clarkson praises the Evo on backroads again. Saying an F430 can not shake it. He goes so far as to BUY an Evo because he liked it so much.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/dri...cle3812271.ece

Then there’s the speed. Yes, a Ferrari 430 is full of brio and passion but get an Evo X on your tail and I guarantee that, unless it’s being driven by a complete spanner, you will not be able to shake it off.
...
It’ll serve as a constant reminder of what cars can, and should, be like.
...
Verdict: Eye-wateringly brilliant

Once you modify it with some bolt-ons, then everything goes out the window. GT-Rs are fair game.

http://www.insideline.com/mitsubishi...mprobable.html

In the C&D Lightning lap, it is within 1 second of the Cayman S, hardly a big difference on a huge 3 minute course at VIR.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...to_2011_page_8


But then we are kinda going OT here...

[Team Plutonium]

^ where to begin...

[Z K]

There was actually a Road and Track print article back in 2006 that compares the Evo and Cayman S directly.

Here's a video:
http://mfile.akamai.com/26193/wmv/ha..._cayman_hi.asx

[devo]

Originally Posted by SehrSchnell

Yeah, you've been driving it wrong.

Ha! Last weekend was wicked!!!

I know you know this, but it is not that a gt3 is too harsh at all, it is that most everything else is too soft, lol. I was thinking the other day that maybe I need Motons to stiffen up the front end in those > 1G corners. Just kidding!