If you put the CSL's competition into perspective ($100K Porsche GT3, for example), it is not ridiculously overpriced. Sure $80K would be a more reasonable price tag, but this is a very limited production car and they will sell out.

As for the 155 top speed...all German cars are limited to that, except for Porsche. Look at all the performance models from BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, and they all are electronically limited to 155 due to a gentleman's agreement. A chip or in some cases a trip to the dealer can fix that.

I personally think the "regular" 996 911s (not including the GT3 and turbocharged models) are wastes of money. They are pretty boring to drive, feel like luxury cars, and don't feel fast at all.

 

The M3 CSL has lapped the Nurburing under 8 minutes. The new 04 Z06 has also done under 8 minutes. So the M3 CLS is on par (+/-) of the Z06.

I think it's 30 seconds faster than the regular M3 around the same track. So I'd say it's worth every penny of $99K. Too bad BMW isn't bringing it to the US.

 

30 seconds out of 8 minutes????

not sure about anyone else, but that would NOT be a reason for me to shell out an additional $30-40-50K......

especially when i have to pay additional for A/C......

 

i agree 100% and i'll add that they're not even cool lookin without the fat a$$

-Steve

 

I have to check to make sure that sounds like a big difference to me though. Also it's a limited edition and arguably the best M3 ever made so it will be a real collector car that will be worth a lot down the road.

 

no rai, i agree/acknowledge that it is a big difference, relatively speaking, but for me personally, i can't justify the extra cash....

for now, it may the best, but as we've seen in the past few years, performance is increasing/developing faster than ever before - exponentially almost....so it may not hold any "exclusivity" factor for too long.

 

30 seconds on a race track is A LOT!

For example, ~30 seconds is the difference between a 993 NA 911 Carrera Cabrio (285 hp), and a 996 911 Turbo (420 hp). Similarly, it's also the difference between a Lamborghini Murcielago and an E46 M3 or M Coupe. Or if you want, the difference between an SL55 and a Lotus Exige/Audi S4/JDM Integra Type-R...all on the Nurburgring, of course.

Yes...30 seconds is a BIG difference.

 

Sorry I made a little mistake the article I read said "more than 20 seconds faster than the regular M3 and just under 8 minutes"

Still more than 20 seconds is still a big difference. Also it goes to show the regular M3 is not a real "track tuned" car.

 

It's electronically limited according to BMW and my guess is that's false. I've seen 170 mph in my M3 which is completely stock and supposedly limited to 155 mph as well. I know it could be speedo error but the car wasn't done... I just felt that was fast enough for me. The M3 CSL is lighter and has more hp than the standard M3 but this argument doesn't matter. It will never make it stateside if for no other reason than the carbon fiber roof. BTW 30 secs. around a racetrack is an enormous difference.

 

There is no way that you can possibly be anymore inaccurate.