And BTW if I wanted a car that can perform as well as an M3 and I cared ONLY about performance... I would just go ahead and get a LS3 Vette.

 

Personally, I think the base E90/E92/E93 335 is such a great platform that bolting on light mods will make it even more spectacular. If you buy the basics like ecu flash, coilovers, sway bars, etc. you can be as fast or even faster than the new M3 in the straights and possibly the corners.

If you can't tell, I've been hanging out on E90post for awhile now

 

both cars look sick!

 

Exactly!! My M3 didnt get anywhere near 70k. Negcamber said it well on his testdrive. "If those things are your number 1 priority, stick with the 328i"

That GTR interior is sooo gross. The BMW dosent look that much more inviting but the materials look to be better.

 

Although the new M3 is a great car, it really is in a confusing predicament. It's not a performance/luxury value (not bargain) as it was perceived to be before. It's not the fastest car in its price category by any means and is outclassed by almost a handful of cars, thus losing its credibility. Im gonna put my neck out there, the gtr may be a nissan, but Im sure if you were to stand it next to an m3, people will probably look towards the over the top gtr, so the m3 may not have the curb appeal. I'm just glad no one brought up "oh, but itll have a better feel than the GTR/Z06."

 

Seems like another essay justifying your continued deprivation of a car you really want. Buy one if you like it, if not they'll have no problems selling every one they make.

Trying to rationalize value of a premium product like an M series or GT-R only invites frustration...you have to really want it, logic be damned!

 

Man, that GTR interior was really put together like a college kid organizes his closet, just put it where there's space.

 

There are WAY too many buttons in the GT-R cockpit. And the pic of the M3's interior isn't the $70k M3 that everyone apparently wants.

Is bluetooth seriously a necessary option? I can account for $5500 of options that are completely frivolous from the OP: Bluetooth, 19" rims, i-pod connector ($400 to connect a damn ipod - thats ridiculous) Dual Clutch - I'll shift my own gears, thank you very much. Heated Seats are awesome- but at $500....I think ill just let the car warm up for 4minutes and blast the heat.

So that leaves me with a window sticker of $64,900 before 8.625% sales tax. Walking out the door at $70,500

$70k for a sports coupe, you start to enter a new field of play at that much money.

Can't knock the car though, its beautiful engineering.

 

As with most Euro cars the options add up fast. I dont think you can find any euro cars without any options .. its just not thinkable. I mean yes there are a few few with the bare essentials but 99% of the market has the gadgets up the wazoo because people do not buy BMW for it's rawness like a lotus. They want comfort along with performance.

BMW also is known to NEVER have a pleasing interior .. maybe they just make it their point just like AUdi is known to have a sweet interior. I believe BMW just trades off their "performance" with the interior and AUdi vise versa lol.

Dont get me wrong.. i loved my E46 M. BUt the fact is back when the E46 was introduced it did not have anywhere near the number of "other choices" as the E92 will face. With that IMO I dont think the E92 will dominate like the E46 will.

 

I know all the options are not essential.

the M3 is not a race car, it's a street car but for people that want more sport than a 335i (not just about power) but also want some luxury. I am quite sure a base M3 has a lot of both in spades, meaning it has HIDs, cruise, stereo, etc..

A few points, I do not say I want I-drive. But the only way to get the M drive button is to get a whole bundle of options which include active shocks, nav, comfort access and i-drive.

-->>click to read about MDM

The M drive button is (IMO) should be standard on the M3. It's not like it's an expensive piece of equipment. But from my reading it's one of those features that is almost essential to the M3. It is the only way to get M dynamic mode (MDM) which is a type off stability control. With the base car you can turn stability control off or leave it on, but the MDM it's kind of on but lets you have more fun. While the basic on mode may be too apt to step in. It's a shame that BMW forces you to get a $3200 package to be able to have two levels of stability control.

About somebody wanting comfort access (keyless-go) it's really a convenience feature. I know keys have been around for ages but that does not mean that's the best or only way to turn a car on. It would be like people saying CD player is fine so nobody needs a ipod. That's true but that does not mean an ipod is not better in many ways.

About the ipod integration, it's not just an aux-imput which probably is a no-cost feature. This is ipod integration which allows you to control your ipod from the steeringwheel controls as well as displaying the info sont titles etc. on the radio display. Again I do not say this is life or death but for $400 it's not like a make or break deal but just a feature many people will add. Heated seats same thing, most will ask if they need it probably not but for $500 out of a $65K car why not?

About the dual clutch, I'm sure many people will be fine with the regular MT. I never said anyone needs the dual clutch tranny, but that it may be a nice feature and (it has launch control.). Just if you are going for the M3 it's $2700 option while the GTR is standard.

I am not saying the M3 and GTR have to be compared, just that once the M3 gets close to $70K the question will be why'd you get the M3 and not the GTR?

If BMW had given some content (ie. M-button) as part of the base price or even have it as a small option, instead of with the i-drive and navi. I believe a lot of people don't want the i-drive or navi. But the only way to get M button and keyless start is to get it with the package with the navi, i-drive and active shocks.