C8 Z51 vs M3 lol

[Bartledoo]

Going to sell the track M3 at some point this year for the C8 Z51 I’m on a waitlist for. The floor is open for argument… Vybz

[SYT_Shadow]

The Vette has a nice NA engine, a DCT and seems to drive pretty well. It's a nice car for sure.

[14_deltaM3]

I don’t think you did wrong - the c8 platform is fantastic and the engine has a ton of character (and power). It really does offer the experience of much more exotic cars, with genuine day to day useability.

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by 14_deltaM3

I don’t think you did wrong - the c8 platform is fantastic and the engine has a ton of character (and power). It really does offer the experience of much more exotic cars, with genuine day to day useability.

I’m pretty psyched for the platform. After tracking several mid and rear engined cars FR seems so mundane. I will honestly never drive it on the street, so I’ll toss some MCS 2ways on it and wider wheels.

[Bucki14]

I hope to get a C8 Z06 in this decade but one will see!.

Share some feedback as soon as you get it!

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by Bucki14

I hope to get a C8 Z06 in this decade but one will see!.

Share some feedback as soon as you get it!

That would be dope. I doubt that I’ll ever get a chance to own one of those, but I think I’ll definitely get some chances to drive them on track

[e90335e36m3]

Is the M3 a six speed and do you drive it away from the track?

If yes, on the track I think you'll find the C8 is better in every conceivable way and you want DCT, it's just more fun and efficient. Away from the track it will be like every other super capable performance car and you will miss the soul of the 6 speed M3.

If no, you'll still find the C8 better on a track in every conceivable way and you'll find it better away from the track.

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by e90335e36m3

Is the M3 a six speed and do you drive it away from the track?

If yes, on the track I think you'll find the C8 is better in every conceivable way and you want DCT, it's just more fun and efficient. Away from the track it will be like every other super capable performance car and you will miss the soul of the 6 speed M3.

If no, you'll still find the C8 better on a track in every conceivable way and you'll find it better away from the track.

6spd which I love. I don’t drive it outside of to and from the track really. I actually hate street driving and have a Tesla for that haha.

It will definitely take a bit of modification to be as good on track as my M3, but the platform is for sure a better base.

And who knows, I may decide not to sell the M3. It really is special and such a great car as it stands. People literally trade me track drives in 300k+ cars, so I shouldn’t take it for granted.

[kyrix1st]

I couldn't live with a track car that doesn't rev over 7500.

[414bhp]

I test drove the C8 Z51 against the 2016 AMG GT S. (I replaced my E90 M3 with the AMG GT S.) I highly prioritize steering feel and engine feel, the C8 disappointed me in both regards vs. the M3 and the AMG GT S. The C8 Z51 steering is heavy and numb, and the engine power doesn't challenge the chassis in the least. (My blogged review is here.)

Where I found the C8 Z51 to shine is in daily-driving comfort and build quality. It is super cosseting and well put together. But if you want a track car, these things don't matter too much!

So, personally I'd wait for the C8 Z06 or pick up something else that is used, depreciated, and brimming with feel and feedback. Heck, even a Camaro Z/28 or ZL1 seems more fun!

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by 414bhp

I test drove the C8 Z51 against the 2016 AMG GT S. (I replaced my E90 M3 with the AMG GT S.) I highly prioritize steering feel and engine feel, the C8 disappointed me in both regards vs. the M3 and the AMG GT S. The C8 Z51 steering is heavy and numb, and the engine power doesn't challenge the chassis in the least. (My blogged review is here.)

Where I found the C8 Z51 to shine is in daily-driving comfort and build quality. It is super cosseting and well put together. But if you want a track car, these things don't matter too much!

So, personally I'd wait for the C8 Z06 or pick up something else that is used, depreciated, and brimming with feel and feedback. Heck, even a Camaro Z/28 or ZL1 seems more fun!

Nothing I can afford will beat the steering and engine of the M3, so I have to put that on the back burner. Daily driving has no interest to me either. I don’t even enjoy driving sports cars on the street. It doesn’t really tell you anything about their sports car characteristics, anyways.

Waiting for a Z06 is not really a thing for me. They are far more expensive and supposedly every one that will be built is spoken for.

As for a camaro…hell no. I should’ve mentioned I have no interest in sports cars with engines in the front anymore, and the C8 is already heavier than I’d like. I want something fast, reactive, and challenging when the nannies are all off, and potentially with a warranty while I track. I think the C8 with MCS and wide rubber should meet the criteria, albeit at the expense of the perfect feel and engine I’ve come to love in the M3…I may have to hold onto it as well though…

[414bhp]

How about a Lotus Evora 400? They appear to be about $70k these days, which is similar to the C8 Z51. I assume better steering feel than the M3, but with a slightly less exciting engine? No warranty though...but Toyota engine! :P

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by 414bhp

How about a Lotus Evora 400? They appear to be about $70k these days, which is similar to the C8 Z51. I assume better steering feel than the M3, but with a slightly less exciting engine? No warranty though...but Toyota engine! :P

I haven’t seen one as cheap as a Z51 1LT, and I would love to test one out, but they are just so far down on performance. There is something like 10-11mph trap speed difference between the two. I bet they are great to drive though. I just would wipe the floor with them on track with the M3 unless I did some serious work.

[414bhp]

Yeah, it seems the $70k Evora 400 was an automatic. Oops. The manuals are more expensive. (What are the C8 Z51 cars going for?)

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by 414bhp

Yeah, it seems the $70k Evora 400 was an automatic. Oops. The manuals are more expensive. (What are the C8 Z51 cars going for?)

My spec will be 70XXX

[akkando]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

That would be dope. I doubt that I’ll ever get a chance to own one of those, but I think I’ll definitely get some chances to drive them on track

Z06 or nothing.

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by akkando

Z06 or nothing.

Lol of course.

[MattMD]

C8 is great. I may be biased

[Bartledoo]

I guess I should update this by saying that on track my minimally modded C8 (MCS 2wnr, girodisc rotors, track pads and fluid) is definitely faster than my modded M3 was, but the M3 did so many track days without hiccup, and the C8 transmission failed on the way home from the first track day lol (Sub 2k miles, with break-in procedure follower perfectly, and not one single launch ever done to the car).

Also, the C8 is much more challenging to drive as long as you turn all of the autosave BS off, particularly in high speed sections with elevation change and generally on corner entry. This is a positive for me, but negative for others. Also, there is essentially zero feel through the brake pedal and wheel. My friend and I swapped cars just driving around last night, and his 992 GT3 immediately reminded me of what steering feel is like.

I love the car though. Totally sucks that it lasted under two months before being down for three weeks, and now I have to do another break-in period to keep my warranty intact, which took over a month to do the first time. Was hoping to get some kind of warranty extension like others suffering early transmission failure have received for their troubles, but nothing so far.