With my new 02 s2k purchase a couple of weeks ago, I had to unload my other vehicle so I made a trip down to Carmax to get a wholesale estimate. While I was waiting for them to check my old car out, a nice salesmen let me test drive an 01 M3 Conv on the lot. This car was really my dream car (I thought) but in this economy I opted to save 20K+ and buy my second choice, the s2k. My opinion after driving the M3 - I made the right choice. The M3 is without a doubt more luxurious, esthetically; the interior is well done and comfortable. The top seems almost like a hardtop when it up, it is about an inch thick, some sort of double insulation (kinda cool). Performance wise, OK it is fast, very fast, but not the difference I would have expected at 330 hp, the car is heavy and you can feel it. I was not impressed with the manual transmission at all. After driving the s2k, the BMW seemed like I had a mile to travel with the shifter. That surprised me; I have had 2 911

 

i thought the same thing, i like the car and all but i will rather have my stook and wait a while and do the new upcoming M5 which will be redisigned and that would be me first dream garage, my ultimate garage would be an M5 (black/silver/white) and a F50/60 ( in yellow/black)

its fast in a straight line but the tossability of the stook is as good as it gets, since there is not a lot of torque i think its easier to take it to its limits. My 2 cts of course. Dont get me wrong i love the M3 but with 25-30k extra i can mod and rip most production cars on the road, and the element of surprise in my opinion is what is all about, you pull up to a ferrari you are expecting to get smoked , you pull up to a stook you are expecting a fair competition , pull up to a heavily moded stook and you could be in for a surprise!!! i like it like that

 

Do you know when the new M5 comes out? That is my next car.
Nix

 

the M5 is an awesome machine, plus now i beleive that it will resemble the 745 style in 5 series size, that should look good and better than current, m3 conv is about 60 nicely equip i rather spend an extra 10-13k and get the monster M5, what color do you like it in? M5 and Stook in my garage and i wont bother with cars for a long long long time. Plus i think they are boosting up the power to the high 400s on it, cause of the audi and jaguar competition.

 

I personally like them in the dark blue and black. I was originally planning on getting an M5 in a year, or maybe an M3, but I think I may wait 2 years now and enjoy the S for a while longer. I would love to have both in the Garage, but not sure if I can afford it!

Nix

 

so carmax offer test drive like that?
man~
i wouldn't mind taking a M3 for a spin ...

 

"STOOK"

 

Hum.........? Actually I'm about to sell my 2002 S2000 and getting a 01-02 M3. Don't get me wrong; I love my S2000! But driving down here in the busy traffic of Atlanta, I'm kind of tired revving the engine high just to inch the car forward. I'd loved to drive on the open highway and VTEC the engine for what's intended for. I have been taken my car to track events (DE days at Road Atlanta, Little Talladega, Roebling Road, and just recently at Atlanta Motor Speedway). I have been to at least 6 events, but I'm still not a great driver yet; at least I think I can control my car and enter the corners smoothly and exit it out fast smoothly. Some times, I need to down shift to 2nd in order to have a good exit speed (little low on low and mid-range power!). Soon as my tires gripped entering the curved banking at AMS, I'm on to the straight at over 130 MPH! It's great car for the track, but my S2000 is still a semi-daily drive. Especially down here in the south during Summer time; I have my A/C blast up high (power lose right there! And I didn't expecting the cold air from a small 4 banger; but with top down I really can't feel the cool air?) I have to rev above 3000 just to get my car moving, otherwise the car feels like a Civic. Sorry guys, this car had to be driven at high rev. (like above 6,000 RPM!)
Another problem is my better half. he, he............... She's more into comfort than handling. She prefers smooth ride (soft rides). and all the luxuries and conveniences in a luxury car. Plus all my other cars are two-seater; I really need something that can hold a bit more. I'm not auguring which car is the best. Everyone has their own preferences; some prefers convertible, some prefers sports car, some prefers comforts, and some prefers economy. I might get a used S2000 few years from now and strip it down into a track only car, or wait for the 2nd generation S2000.

Okay, now back to the M3's.

DZSV3X,
The M3Ci which you have test drive from CarMax weighs 3781 lbs, at 333 Hp@7900 RPM and 262 ft/# @4900 RPM. That equals to 11.35 #/Hp.
The M3 Coupe weighs 3415 lbs, at 333 Hp @ 7900 RPM and 262 ft/# @ 4900 RPM; which equals to 10.25 #/Hp.
and our S2000 weighs 2809 lbs, at 240 Hp @ 8300 RPM and 153 ft/# @7500 RPM; which equals to 11.7 #/Hp.
Clearly the weight to power ratio shows both M3's comes ahead. Personally, I haven't driven a M3 yet. So, I can't really say any thing, but this is just from the numbers on paper. The heavy feeling must came from the steering? But like I said before, I have to test drive the M3 to make a true "feel" comparison.
I live right next to the Norcoss CarMax, is that where you test the M3? I might just stop by and check it out! And let you know how it feels!
Just curious, did you turn on the Sports mode switch on the M3? I hear that makes a lot of difference in power! The sports mode switch will fully open the throttle butterflies in the intake and feels totally different than driving without switched on. Plus DSC, did you turn off the DSC control on the car? The DSC only helps the car control in the wet or bad weather. These are some of the convenience features that I really like to have. I have the ability to turn them on in the public road for safety, and turn them off at the track for fun!
Well, I still have my S. I'm going to test drive a M3 to make my decision. Auguring on the Internet is not going to help me to get the car that suits my driving. BTW, the M5 is way to heavy for track; it's best to leave it on the street. (Over 2 tons! and the 0-60 time is about the same as the M3. It's just a bit too pricey for my taste. he, he.............If you got the money, go for it! But I think on the track, the M3 will be more fun than the M5!)

No flames, please! I just need some inputs and advice to see if I should go with the M3 Coupe? (and get a S2000 track car later)

 

I agree with you 100%. You gotta rev the S2000 way too much to get the power out of it. I would have gotten an M3, but I can't afford to spend $60,000 on a car yet. I have 2 options at the moment.

1) Pay off the S2000 in 4 more years, keep it, and then buy a used 2003 Range Rover

2) Sell the S2000 in about 2 years and buy a used 2001 M3 convertible.

But as far as your delimma, I say get the M3. You can get much more usage out of it. I bought the S2000 mainly becasue I wanted a convertible, not becasue of the power, so I am happy. But if I would have bought this car thinking that it was a "power" machine, I would have been disappointed.

However, after thinking about why many people aren't happy with the torque of the car, here is what I have come up with.

Most people do not measure the torque of a car when they decide on what they want to buy, everyone measures the performance in HP. Why, because, many car companies have made the decision simple, Hp and torque are usually have similar numbers, with torque trailing behind Hp at about an average of 10% So if you have a car with 200 hp, you expect torque around 180 or so, give or take of course. So if you jump from one car company to the next testing their cars, you can not really tell the difference in torque for the same hp. Not until I drove the S2000 did I realize what a difference torque really meant. I drove an IS300 and was really impressed at the power of the I6. I felt like I was being moved. Of course, the high end power starting lacking after about 115 mph, but who really drives over 115 mph on a regular basis? So after driving my S for almost a year now, I have come to the realization that I am not the type of driver who wants to keep revving the car to stay within the narrow power band. I'd rather trade it for the low end power, or better yet, find a car that can produce both... the M3, Z06, 350Z, RX8...

 

M5 will get a 500hp v-10 as well as the m6