What cars did you compare before you bought your m3?

[3M TAPE]

335i

[Dntlvet]

another M3

[Polarstar]

Nothing else. I lusted for the M3 the entire 3 years I drove my 335i. No slight on the 335i, loved that car, but doesn't compare to the M3, for me.

[skierman64]

None, I was on the waiting list at my dealership before the first photos were even leaked.

[henryyxyu]

Maserati Gran Turismo (probably cant afford it in the long run)
Cayman S (decided i needed 4 doors)
used 911 GT3 (all the ones that i test drove felt a little werid...)
GTR (too many warranty this-and-thats)
new 550i (interior felt huge to me. I'm a pretty short/small guy )
C63 (too torquey for my taste)
ISF ( felt soft)
my old 325i ()

[TailHappyM3]

Compare? Let's just say I had the 335d (diesal) for a 9 month test drive before deciding I had to get back into the M3. I hated the auto tranny, 4 doors, and generic E90 looks of that car but truth be told it was still a great overall daily driver because of the diesal torque.

[toper]

topic is dejavu, but i looked at:
- 650i (wouldve been the same price, but test drive was meh)
- c63 (dark horse)
- isf (not impressed with exterior look)
- 5 series (really wanted a 2door tho)
- 335is (until i priced it)

i was sold on the m3 after the test drive...i knew when i got back to the dealer that i wasnt leaving the lot without it LOL...

[serge]

Corvette Grand Sport
Used Corvette C6 Z06
335iS
370Z
Camaro SS

[M3 Pilot]

360 Modena
996 GT3 CS MKII
R35 GTR
C63

First 2 not practical for daily. R35 too many warranty debacle.

C63 - Very attractive but the M3's 8 ITBs, DCT, lighter weight, wider profile tyres, CF roof won. Nonetheless, C63's exhaust turns my head all the time without fail.

[elm3]

1-350z
2-G35
3-G37
4-328i
5-335i
6-Z06
7-M3

The M3 is my dream car, like other has said. Test drove the Z06, amazing power, but interior is too cheap for my liking. The others I test drove before they anounced the release of the M3. I was going to buy the 335i, until I found out that the M3 was coming out.

[Dntlvet]

I drove S4 but the real comparison was M3 to another M3.
M3 was clear for me. I wanted DD and cost was ok for me by ED.

[RevFreak14]

Originally Posted by PortoM3

Audi RS4 and MB CLS AMG. maybe a 911 but hated the sales guy, which just turned me away from Porsche and waited patiently for the M to arrive.

I had a very similar experience with Porsche. I went in to see about a Carrera S, and I got one of those guys who for some reason acts like he's better than you. Not a good sales strategy. Then I asked for a simple test drive and he said they couldn't do it right now even though they had 2 Carrera S' sitting on the lot. It's not like I pulled up to the dealership in a Hyundai either, I was driving my E46 M3 so there was no reason to think I wasn't a legitimate customer. So I left, went back to BMW and about a week later I was driving my M3. The douchebag from Porsche called me about 3 days after that to follow up, I told him I've already purchased a new M3, thanked him for calling, and hung up before he could say anything. I don't know how people with that kind of attitude expect to sell anything, especially with the current economy. Then again, I live in Miami, where there is no shortage of aholes.

[sameh]

my old Infiniti G35 (2004)
a new Infiniti G37 coup sport
Audi S5
BMW 335 coup

[greycrx87]

RS4 and M3
M3 won.

[sawzall]

Nissan GTR
Porsche 997.2 S (2010 911S)
BMW M3

In the end, I went with the M3. While it was the slowest of the bunch, it provided enough performance to thrill me, and still retained some modicum of practicality (its amazing how handy that trunk can be).

[tuco44]

None. Had 12 BMW previously to the M3, but never had an "M" car.

Wanted one, bought it.

Best car I ever had.

[Gubbins]

What's this nonsense about "warranty issues" with the GT-R? They fixed the launch mode issue after the first year with a firmware update. This is equivalent to someone moaning on a GT-R board about the lag issue with DCT (which has also been corrected with time). I have not had a single problem with my GT-R, and believe me I beat the crap out of it.

Back on topic, I test drove M3, C63 (didn't like the transmission), GT-R. I went with the GT-R because of the raw power. But I have now come to my senses... and just ordered a 2011 M3 E90. I can't wait! I love my GT-R (will be keeping it), but the ride is always harsh, there are some rattles and the mediocre sound system always grates me if I turn that on to try drown out the rattles .

[jeffnnj]

Originally Posted by J08M3

I didn't - I bought my car before it was released in the USA. I knew once they put a V8 in the M3 I had to have it. Previously I wanted an E46 but didn't have the budget at the time so I bought a '05 GTO which was fun for the time. After a couple of years I decided I really wanted to look into a BMW again and was considering a 335 until I heard the news BMW was putting a V8 in the M3. That was it, I put a down payment on one.

If I had to do it all over again and I knew where the economy was headed a couple years ago I would've considered buying a 3 year old Aston Martin V8 Vantage. Although probably not as fun as the M3 to drive it looks a hell of a lot better and they were $130k cars going for about the same price as a new M3 with only about 5k miles on them.

But no regrets on the M3, I love driving it and if I had never owned one I'd feel like I missed out. Especially with the V8 in it.

I love the looks of the Vantage but the problem is that the cabin is extremely claustrophobic and visibility, especially out of the driver's side is poor at best. We took in '09 with about 4000 miles in trade at my last dealership that we ended up wholesaling out at around $70.

[J08M3]

Originally Posted by jeffnnj

I love the looks of the Vantage but the problem is that the cabin is extremely claustrophobic and visibility, especially out of the driver's side is poor at best. We took in '09 with about 4000 miles in trade at my last dealership that we ended up wholesaling out at around $70.

well I'd prefer a DBS but it's not in my price range haha. You could always do a convertible.

But yea, I can't believe the hit they took with the economy. That's a car worth picking up used.

[mdosu]

I didnt' test drive anything else, but I made decision against other cars on paper.

[Doctor J]

used E60 M5 -- Bangle butt killed it for me
used M6 -- looks like a sick guppy from the front
997s -- no useable cargo or rear seats, extras cost $$$$
GTR -- great car but for $100K CDN looks too Transformerish and warranty issues scared me away

[Leozap]

I compared the e90 M3 and e92 M3.