/AFTERDRIVE: A New M3 or That?

"Vandelay Industries" (jerrycostanza) 12/14/2013 at 15:19 • Filed to: None

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First off...My name's not Mike Spinelli. However,I am Italian, live in NYC and make bad jokes regularly...3 out of 4 ain't too shabby.

Mike did something I found very interesting on AfterDrive. I was never a huge fan of the BRZ as I always thought there were more exciting cars to buy that presented more bang for your buck. So I really enjoyed the "BRZ or That?" segments.

I'd like to phrase the same question to the much anticipated and recently released BMW M3.

This car has been talked about for a while, practically since the E92 came out.

Here's what we do know about the car: 430Hp, Bi-Turbo 3.0L inline 6. DCT & 6 Speed available and factory listed 0-60 4.5 (DCT tested in 3.9-4 range:RUMORED)

The biggest number is saved for the price tag.

MSRP: $56-58K Pounds ($80K USD)

*This price is estimated at base level, I imagine carbon roof, DCT, etc. will all add up...quickly

You can read more about the new M3 on Jalopnik here !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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and here !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!

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Full Disclosure: My initial take on the new BMW is disappointment. TheE46 was/is one of my favorite cars of all time. I expected this new M3 to be a "poor man's" super car. i.e. Active Aero, Some Chassis Dynamics, Borderline Super Car performance. etc. I might have had unreal expectation or just to much wishful thinking. I just imagined the performance being way ahead of the previous generations and I'm not sure it is. Why? you ask...Even the rumored 0-60 of the DCT at 3.9 is the same as the CSL from a decade ago and I can't see how the new car possibly handles better than the stripped down/stiffened up CSL...

And more importantly at $80K+ USD BMW is sneaking up on the dangerous territory owned by the new 991 beetle from Stuttgart.

In the neighbor hood of $80K what immediately comes to my mind is a 997 Turbo S, V8 Vantage/DB9/DBS, GTR/ F430/ Gallardo...and actually if BMW ever decided to reproduce it and bring to the US..I would absolutely buy a brand new E46 M3 CSL for the list price of $58K pounds.

So I ask you...New M3 or what?

Brian Silvestro > Vandelay Industries 12/14/2013 at 15:27

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V6 S?

Vandelay Industries > Brian Silvestro 12/14/2013 at 15:45

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yep...that's a winner.

Vandelay Industries > Vandelay Industries 12/15/2013 at 12:58

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bueller?