M3 to '18 M2 or '17 GT350?

[iBoosted]

Originally Posted by dparm

The curious thing is that I have been lurking the Corvette sites and a lot of the "new owner" posts are 1LT, auto, GT seats, no Z07, and very few options. I think I've seen two that were equipped with the Z07. I really don't understand that...why not just get a regular Stingray if you aren't going to use the extra performance? Are they getting it purely for looks & cruising around?

Mine will get out to the track where I can use the car's full performance potential.

There is no need to get the Z07 package unless it's only seeing the track. The only addition are the Cup 2's, adjustable magnetic suspension and carbon ceramic brakes.. the normal Grand Sport has brakes from the base Z06 not Stingray.

[Move Over]

Originally Posted by dparm

The curious thing is that I have been lurking the Corvette sites and a lot of the "new owner" posts are 1LT, auto, GT seats, no Z07, and very few options. I think I've seen two that were equipped with the Z07. I really don't understand that...why not just get a regular Stingray if you aren't going to use the extra performance? Are they getting it purely for looks & cruising around?

Mine will get out to the track where I can use the car's full performance potential.

Absolutely. I had plans to do that with the 09 Z06 i bought, til i drove a GS. They have just the right amount of power. Doesn't feel like the car is trying to kill you when you put your foot in it.

Have you driven the new Z06?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by iBoosted

There is no need to get the Z07 package unless it's only seeing the track. The only addition are the Cup 2's, adjustable magnetic suspension and carbon ceramic brakes.. the normal Grand Sport has brakes from the base Z06 not Stingray.

I thought the Z07 gives you additional aero?

My car does see the track often. I use public transit down here so the time spent doing DD work is fairly limited. It's not really clear to me if the Z06 steel brakes are drastically better than the Z51's. I did some reading on Corvette Forum and most people seem content with the stock Z51 brakes and just swap pads at the track. There are some aftermarket discs available, too. One thing I like about the Corvette is that the running costs seem to be fairly low: replacement Z51 rotors are like $120 each. The Z06 steel ones are more, around $400 each.

Originally Posted by Move Over

Absolutely. I had plans to do that with the 09 Z06 i bought, til i drove a GS. They have just the right amount of power. Doesn't feel like the car is trying to kill you when you put your foot in it.

Have you driven the new Z06?

No, but I have driven the Z51 quite a bit. I don't have any interest in buying the Z06. I'd love to drive one once just to see how crazy the power is.

[ClothSeats]

I would rather be replacing steel rotors than carbon ceramics.. that's just me anyway.. I drove the GS non-Z07 and liked it quite a bit apart from the 7 speed.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by ClothSeats

I would rather be replacing steel rotors than carbon ceramics.. that's just me anyway.. I drove the GS non-Z07 and liked it quite a bit apart from the 7 speed.

You don't need to replace CC rotors unless you are outright abusing them. There is considerable, deep technical discussion about this on various Porsche forums. You can have the discs refurbished for around $450 which is far cheaper than replacement. For a guy like me who doesn't drive his car in the winter, this is an easy proposition: remove the discs as soon as you get the car put into storage, send them in, and reinstall once you get them back in the mail.

BTW, the Corvette CC rotors can be replaced for about $1200 each if you shop around. They don't suffer from the hilarious Porsche tax.

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by iBoosted

Thanks everyone for voting and providing input. Turns out the decision is neither of these cars... the final winner for me is the Corvette Grand Sport. Haven't found any with the specs I want so will be placing an order and holding on to the M3 till it arrives.

Surprised how many votes for the GT350, must be us V8 lovers since it gets no love on the M2 forums.

Too funny. Had this poll included the Grand Sport that would have been my vote. That car is high on my list when I eventually replace my M3. While I really like the GT350, it's heavier than my M3 and I think I'd lean towards a lighter car not a heavier one.

Chevy has nicely tiered the various Corvette flavors.

It's like you'd look at the Stingray and say, well, for a bit more, I can get the Z51 with Magnetic Ride. Then go, hmmm, for just a bit more, I can get the base Grandsport (which I understand, adds the Z06 wide body and some suspension and brake bits). Then for even more, you could add Z07 package. All told though, the GS with Z07 is significantly more than the base Stringray; however, it's very tempting to keep escalating at least to the base GS.

[iBoosted]

Originally Posted by dparm

I thought the Z07 gives you additional aero?

Nope, the aero bits are an additional option. You can get the aero in frp or carbon.

Originally Posted by dparm

Too funny. Had this poll included the Grand Sport that would have been my vote. That car is high on my list when I eventually replace my M3. While I really like the GT350, it's heavier than my M3 and I think I'd lean towards a lighter car not a heavier one.

Chevy has nicely tiered the various Corvette flavors.

It's like you'd look at the Stingray and say, well, for a bit more, I can get the Z51 with Magnetic Ride. Then go, hmmm, for just a bit more, I can get the base Grandsport (which I understand, adds the Z06 wide body and some suspension and brake bits). Then for even more, you could add Z07 package. All told though, the GS with Z07 is significantly more than the base Stringray; however, it's very tempting to keep escalating at least to the base GS.

Originally hadn't thought about the GS prior to making the poll. For me the GS without z07 pack is perfectly fine so the price difference isn't that bad. But the looks of the GS is much better than the Stingray for me so it's a no brainer.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by macdude357

It's like you'd look at the Stingray and say, well, for a bit more, I can get the Z51 with Magnetic Ride. Then go, hmmm, for just a bit more, I can get the base Grandsport (which I understand, adds the Z06 wide body and some suspension and brake bits). Then for even more, you could add Z07 package. All told though, the GS with Z07 is significantly more than the base Stringray; however, it's very tempting to keep escalating at least to the base GS.

Chevrolet has taken a page out of Porsche's book by making a zillion customizations available. If you are reasonable with your optioning and don't fall for the meme-tier "Jake" logos, stripes, accessories, etc, the GS is not that much more money than a nice Z51.

The base prices are super-low on the Corvette because plenty of guys are content to cruise around town at low speed in the 1LT. They don't really care about a leather dashboard, PDR, MRC, bigger brakes, etc. They just want the Corvette badge and the engine.

[UKJosh]

The GT350 prices I have seen have came back down to earth. I think CarMax currently has 5 in stock and have been sitting. A few months ago if they had 1 it would be gone in hours. The R might be a somewhat relatively different story but I doubt it given time. Yes it's a cool car but grossly underpowered in context with the cars it was made to compete with. Few people buying them will use them for the purpose you intend to and when you take away the tracking capabilities there really isn't much left. The new bodystyle is not so hot and the GT350 styling is mundane. I loved the car at first and now am indifferent.

[hpat]

I know that the GT350 is a much superior car than the M2, but I would personally still pick the M2 just due to the size.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by UKJosh

The GT350 prices I have seen have came back down to earth. I think CarMax currently has 5 in stock and have been sitting. A few months ago if they had 1 it would be gone in hours. The R might be a somewhat relatively different story but I doubt it given time. Yes it's a cool car but grossly underpowered in context with the cars it was made to compete with. Few people buying them will use them for the purpose you intend to and when you take away the tracking capabilities there really isn't much left. The new bodystyle is not so hot and the GT350 styling is mundane. I loved the car at first and now am indifferent.

Correct, the R is commanding a huge premium over MSRP due to scarcity. GT350s are not that hard to come by.

I just checked and some of the CarMax ones don't have the Recaros or the track pack...so that's a pass.

[c0rehax]

I was in the same boat that you were in. I wanted to choose between a 350r and a m4. I happened to go in to the dealership to schedule a DEF change in my x35D and was talking to my salesperson who sold us the x5 about driving a x5m that just came in. He tells me come around the corner to check it out and i happened to also find an m2 tucked away in a corner. Conversation switches instantly from the x5m to m2 and it turned out someone ordered and ended up not taking it, 3 days later i did.

While i respect the 350/350r and everything it can do, i ended up staying in the family with the m2. Either way you're going to like both cars and the one you choose, i just saw the m2 as more of a dual duty car versus the Ford's.

[KwlAznKid]

i test drove a gt350 a few weeks ago and i would pick my old e46 m3 over it to be honest, it was just not a well made car imo, felt really cheap and the handling did not feel good at all..

flame suit on.. i guess?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by KwlAznKid

i test drove a gt350 a few weeks ago and i would pick my old e46 m3 over it to be honest, it was just not a well made car imo, felt really cheap and the handling did not feel good at all..

flame suit on.. i guess?

To be fair, it's still a Mustang underneath. It's not a luxury car like a BMW. Also, you can't really use that car's full potential on the street so it's hard to say if the handling isn't good.

[Killerfish2012]

Lexus RC-F?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

Lexus RC-F?

Big and heavy. It's more of a GT car. I've never seen an RC-F vs M4 comparison where the RC-F was declared the better driver's car. Yes, it's got a nice interior and still has the NA V8, but it's still over 4,000 pounds and just doesn't have the handling or "dynamics" of the M4.

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by dparm

Big and heavy. It's more of a GT car. I've never seen an RC-F vs M4 comparison where the RC-F was declared the better driver's car. Yes, it's got a nice interior and still has the NA V8, but it's still over 4,000 pounds and just doesn't have the handling or "dynamics" of the M4.

Yet it beat the M4 at the track when it came out. Albeit by 1 second, but still. I wouldn't touch an M4 for free. Down the line that M4 will be a big headache to keep on the road. 4 electric water pumps, 2 electric thermostats, etc. Awful car.

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

Yet it beat the M4 at the track when it came out. Albeit by 1 second, but still. I wouldn't touch an M4 for free. Down the line that M4 will be a big headache to keep on the road. 4 electric water pumps, 2 electric thermostats, etc. Awful car.

All the rest of that aside, it's almost 4 seconds slower than an m4 at laguna seca driven by randy pobst

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/laguna-seca-post-1988

1:39:69 m4
1:43:20 rcf

Even an e92 m3 was faster than the rcf

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by Black Gold

All the rest of that aside, it's almost 4 seconds slower than an m4 at laguna seca driven by randy pobst

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/laguna-seca-post-1988

1:39:69 m4
1:43:20 rcf

Even an e92 m3 was faster than the rcf

The first ever track test was done by randy pobst, and this was the result:

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

Yet it beat the M4 at the track when it came out. Albeit by 1 second, but still.

Hmm, I don't remember that. Link me.

[Killerfish2012]

Originally Posted by dparm

Hmm, I don't remember that. Link me.

see post #41 of this tread.

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by Killerfish2012

see post #41 of this tread.

The video in Post #41 shows the M4 beating the RC-F by 3/10's not the other way around:

RC-F 1:24.05
M4 1:23.73