First Drive: 2011 BMW M3 with Competition Package

If it is able to outperform the Nissan GTR on the Ring.....then nothing wrong with that statement.

This car can not and is not meant to go against the GT-R, as it competes against much higher level cars.

lol if the M3 can't match or outperform the GTR how can it compete against other "higher level cars"?

I think he meant by prestige since the GT-R is "technically" an econo car, which is somewhat true but with exceptional value. Great engineering at such a "cheap" price. The M3 doesn't compete with the GT-R, LF-A, 911 turbo, R8, 458, Gallardo yada yada yada but it's still a fantastic car. However, it just proves that the M3 has snob appeal.

"I think he meant by prestige since the GT-R is "technically" an econo car"

- And the 3-series based M3 isn't?

This car can not and is not meant to go against the GT-R, as it competes against much higher level cars.

LOL, I guess my statement was confusing. The GT-R competes against higher level cars. The M3 is lower level and competes against things like the RS5.

Where is the rest of the story?...it had nothing to do with driving the car...did I miss a link somewhere?

I just came back from a test drive of the a M3 6 speed with the competition package. The car has everything except torque and it doesn't feel particularly quick vs my C2S. Also, the Porsche is at a different level when it comes to driver connection with the road. But for the money, the M3 is fantastic. As far as the GT-R, the only thing it is superior to with respect to the M3 is the acceleration - nothing else. The GT-R is the Japanese corvette

I'm not sure why the M3 with Competition package does not compete against the GT-R since a fully loaded version is going to be in the same ball park for pricing.

Mainly because the GT-R is a supercar and the M3 is a performance coupe, there is a big difference.

I'll have to disagree on that. I always thought of the GT-R as a performance coupe. If it considered to be a supercar, then how would you classify the Viper ACR and the C06 Corvette? Since they can both run with the GT-R. are they considered to be supercars?

It depends what country you are from. The 911 Turbo is considered a super car in many countries. It's just the Americans don't/can't accept it as one. If Jeremy Clarkson is a die-hard Ferrari fan and calls the Porsche a super car it must mean some thing. Not only that but many journalists. It all boils down to the pricing. If the 911 was 200K then surely the Yankee's will believe it's a true 458 competitor (which it really is). Deboost me all you want folks, arrogant or naive which one is it?