Fifth Gear: M3 GTS vs Porsche GT3 RS

[Neema]

Bump

[Kayani_1]

Based on the looks alone I would take the M3 .....the Porsche on the other hand looks like a muscular VW Beetle

I also like the fact that the M3 GTS has an air conditioner and radio/cd player. Also, formula one like high revving V8 with sky high 8400 rpm or flat 6 with 7900 rpm. I think i'll take the V8 sound track and high revving furry. Is the GT3 RS wearing cup tires and M3 was not?

I also think they both should have drove each car once and then compared the track times. They agree that M3 was easier to drive. Either way 1 sec. on a huge race track is not enough for me to pick uglier car with no AC. or radio nor the sky high revving V8 sound track.

[Dennis911]

I LOVE BMW, especially the M3, but I could not pass on the 911 GT3 RS(MkII).

You have to give it to BMW though. Considering the 911 is always set out to be a sportscar in any of its versions, while the M3´s base is a normal 3 series, the M GmbH´s product is a tremendous achievment with lots and lots of character.

[MDivPower]

both cars are great!

[dnvrdrvr]

Saw a blue E93 out at HPR yesterday AM. Will be out with ilis today with PCA.

[Overboost]

Two different drivers, one drifting one not. Not a good comparison. Top gear would have done a better job IMO

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by JoLo

ill bet if she was only a second off the gt3 in the gts tiff could match the gt3 time with the gts. Driver advantage was huge for the gt3. Tiff

also, very unscientific timing. They were using a in car manual stopwatch, that error and driving difference very well could add up to 1 second difference. Let's call both cars equal on the track, until we see the same guy driving the same car on the track timed by a track timer.

[PKumarM3]

Originally Posted by Kayani_1

Also, formula one like high revving V8 with sky high 8400 rpm or flat 6 with 7900 rpm. I think i'll take the V8 sound track and high revving furry.

Either way 1 sec. on a huge race track is not enough for me to pick uglier car with no AC. or radio nor the sky high revving V8 sound track.

the gt3 rs has an 8400 rpm red line



the gt3rs comes with a/c, radio, hell even Navigation.

[bavarian19]

I would imagine the GT3 would do much better than the GTS.

[joshg120]

With all due respect that was a terrible comparison..

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Agreed both are nice automobiles (the kind of cars we like), I have to agree with most posters here that this was not a real comparisons at all. I like to add ...

1) Two different drivers.

2) Two different driving styles.

3) Male and Female ... come on now

4) The M3 heavier then the Porsche

I'm sure there are more points one can add here ... and yes Top Gear would have done a better job to begin with used the same driver

As far as I am concerned I love my M3 just the way it is ....

Here are 2 drivers and it is nice to see the M3 keeping up nicely with the Porsche ....

Click for the video

[Malek@MRF]

Comparison had too many variables, but honestly, does it really matter?

Both cars are absolutely phenomenal. Most people that own these cars would never be able to touch those lap times and the car far exceeds the drivers talent.

One thing I really do enjoy though is that BMW with little effort made a GT3RS fighter.

In an ideal world I would like to own both, not one or the other.

[M12Power]

Not really surprised by the results, although they should've swapped cars, and Vicki should've drifted less in the GTS.

I'm sure this has been posted before already, but Autocar's comparison with a regular GT3 had similar results. The GT3 is just a tad more composed with better rear end grip.

[PKumarM3]

Once again - car journalists skills may vary substantially.

[TK-421]

Originally Posted by PKumarM3

the gt3 rs has an 8400 rpm red line



the gt3rs comes with a/c, radio, hell even Navigation.

+1

[bobbyd1961]

GT3 for me 1 second faster . of course he may have been the better driver. but she is hot

[devo]

Originally Posted by Kayani_1

Based on the looks alone I would take the M3 .....the Porsche on the other hand looks like a muscular VW Beetle

I also like the fact that the M3 GTS has an air conditioner and radio/cd player. Also, formula one like high revving V8 with sky high 8400 rpm or flat 6 with 7900 rpm. I think i'll take the V8 sound track and high revving furry. Is the GT3 RS wearing cup tires and M3 was not?

I also think they both should have drove each car once and then compared the track times. They agree that M3 was easier to drive. Either way 1 sec. on a huge race track is not enough for me to pick uglier car with no AC. or radio nor the sky high revving V8 sound track.

The RS does not have a radio or stereo because the person who ordered it CHOSE to delete those options. GT3s and RSs have AC/Stereo. Refer to post #25.

Each car has a redline of 8400/8500, iircc. The fact that the RS's power may fall off @ 7900 is rather moot because you would never know it. I'd be more concerned about the superior power to weight and torque advantage of the RS.

As if the RS or a GT3 doesn't have high revving furry! Hey, you like the "formula one LIKE high revving V8" as opposed to the venerable Mezger GT1 Porsche engine with countless race victories over several decades which is fine but get some facts straight first.

The GTS looks rather lame behind the RS in the aforementioned video feature.

Did you also forget how big the gap was between these cars at the Nurburgring: 7:33 vs. 7:48, respectively? That's a large margin. Add to this equation that the GTS costs more than the RS.

[crackberry]

Originally Posted by devo

The RS does not have a radio or stereo because the person who ordered it CHOSE to delete those options. GT3s and RSs have AC/Stereo. Refer to post #25.

Each car has a redline of 8400/8500, iircc. The fact that the RS's power may fall off @ 7900 is rather moot because you would never know it. I'd be more concerned about the superior power to weight and torque advantage of the RS.

As if the RS or a GT3 doesn't have high revving furry! Hey, you like the "formula one LIKE high revving V8" as opposed to the venerable Mezger GT1 Porsche engine with countless race victories over several decades which is fine but get some facts straight first.

The GTS looks rather lame behind the RS in the aforementioned video feature.

Did you also forget how big the gap was between these cars at the Nurburgring: 7:33 vs. 7:48, respectively? That's a large margin. Add to this equation that the GTS costs more than the RS.

You said everything I was going to say -- point by point.

Imagine how the rs 4.0 would do. I love the current m3, but no m3 variant can hold a candle to any variant of the gt3. lol, and the m3 gts is more expensive than a 3.8 in the UK. Kind of looney if you ask me.

[TK-421]

Originally Posted by crackberry

You said everything I was going to say -- point by point.

Imagine how the rs 4.0 would do. I love the current m3, but no m3 variant can hold a candle to any variant of the gt3. lol, and the m3 gts is more expensive than a 3.8 in the UK. Kind of looney if you ask me.

that's crazy. to be completely honest, the only reason i drive an M3 is because i can't realistically afford a GT3 yet. i can't imagine someone walking past a GT3 so he/she can pay more for an M3

[PKumarM3]

the problem i have with owning a GT3 is that there is no where on public roads in the US that I could enjoy the power and precision of that car. i would have to take it on the track.

at that point, i wouldn't feel comfortable tracking a 100K+ car.

plus there is nothing like passing porsches.

[devo]

Originally Posted by crackberry

You said everything I was going to say -- point by point.

Imagine how the rs 4.0 would do. I love the current m3, but no m3 variant can hold a candle to any variant of the gt3. lol, and the m3 gts is more expensive than a 3.8 in the UK. Kind of looney if you ask me.

[crackberry]

Originally Posted by devo

Cheers

Originally Posted by PKumarM3

the problem i have with owning a GT3 is that there is no where on public roads in the US that I could enjoy the power and precision of that car. i would have to take it on the track.

at that point, i wouldn't feel comfortable tracking a 100K+ car.

plus there is nothing like passing porsches.

These cars are built to be tracked, so don't be afraid to open up the engines on the track. I've tracked my m6, but its fat, smg sucks, brakes are too small, and etc. But, I knew that going in and wouldn't trade anything for the s85 engine.

Originally Posted by TK-421

that's crazy. to be completely honest, the only reason i drive an M3 is because i can't realistically afford a GT3 yet. i can't imagine someone walking past a GT3 so he/she can pay more for an M3

N'ring times
997.2s - 7:50
m3 gts - 7:48

It is depressing that the English have to pay more than the rs 3.8, but get performance that barely edges out the 997.2s. Forget any gt3 variant. The gts is neck and neck with a carrera. What was bmw thinking when building this "no compromises" car? Oh well, I guess people can say the same about my car.