Car and Driver Comparison Test: 2015 BMW M4 vs. 2015 Porsche 911 Carrera - The BMW Wins But the Comparison Is Anything But Even!

Another apples to oranges comparison. Why are they comparing the most performance focused 3/4-series with a dual-clutch automatic that is loaded with options to a base, non-sporting, manual Porsche 911 Carrera with very minimal options?

How does this make any sense? More importantly, who are the buyers cross-shopping these two vehicles that are optioned in this manner?

Here's a better idea: Compare a BMW M4 with dual-clutch to a Porsche Carrera S(V8) or 911 Turbo with dual-clutch.

Anyone want to bet if the M4 will win that comparison test?

I'm not sure what a Carrera S V8 is, but I know who would come in last place, though -- the Audi RS5. Just like it did to the E92 M3.

I know who would come in last place if the Audi R8 V10 was compared to a BMW M4 and Porsche 911 Turbo.

The BMW M4 :)

@GermanNut, the American consumer ROUTINELY cross shops on price so your disbelief shows your ignorance of what studies in the industry tell us.

The real question, MattDaringer, is whether consumers cross-shop across FUNCTION? As in will buyers routinely cross-shop two cars that maybe the same price but have different intended FUNCTIONS? The M4 is designed to carry 4 passengers with more trunk space. The 911 is designed to carry two passengers with less trunk space.

The answer to THAT question will give us more information.

@GermanNut They cross shop across function, type, brand and country of origin BASED ON PRICE. I'm sure you have some additional incredulous reply that is based on your unsubstantiated opinion. The CLA exists because the Lexus ES is such free money for Lexus so Mercedes did a vehicle in the same price points more or less.

Hey, NutterButter, here's an actually appropriate comparison -- the BMW M4, Porsche Cayman S, and Audi RS5.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/4-series/87781/bmw-m4-vs-porsche-cayman-s-vs-audi-rs5

I'll give you a hint, the winner has a roundel on the hood, and last place has four rings. But maybe they'll let Audi sneak in that R8 V10 next time, you know, so it's fair.

http://www.autospies.com/news/CAR-WARS-Has-BMW-Done-The-UNTHINKABLE-And-Created-A-911-BEATER-M4-Squares-Up-Against-The-Mighty-Porsche-911-81895/

A more fair comparison would have been a Cayman S with options than a sparse 911.

And here is that comparison:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/bmw/4-series/87781/bmw-m4-vs-porsche-cayman-s-vs-audi-rs5

I will take the low end torque of the BMW anyday over the 911, I am hooked on that stuff from them turbo thingamajiggers :)

JRob, enjoy BMW's winning formula in this segment and the 3-series segment because outside of that BMW is trailing Audi.

The old Q7 still does a number to the X5. The Q5 dominates the X3. The A8 dominates the 7-series. The new TT will wallop the Z4.

To top it off, Audi will take the global sales lead out of BMW's hands.

Oh how the mighty have fallen. Gone are the days where BMW was the consistent winner in comparison tests and pretty soon its "World's Best Selling Premium Brand" title will be gone too.

Oh well, we all saw it coming. It's what happens when you call yourself the Ultimate Driving Machine and launch models like the 2-series Active Tourer, have your M models (with the exception of the M3 and M4) go soft and launch a flood of new models but fail to make clear what exactly the purpose or differentiation is between these models and leave consumers utterly confused.

Watch Audi closely because it will execute its model proliferation strategy much better and BMW will be left in the dust both in terms of sales and comparison test results!

Just out of curiosity , in what way does the Q7 beat the X5, the Q5 beat the X3, the A8 beat the 7, and the A6 beat the 5? Because it's not in sales. All those BMW models outsell the corresponding Audi models. For someone who shouts from the mountaintop constant about Audi sales numbers, I bets that just eats you up inside.

you make me laugh, your bias is so overwhelming I can barely read some of your posts, but thanks for the giggle, good luck to Audi as they make their strides, no harm with strong competition I say

I think the idea of making an "all in one" comparison is fundamentally wrong. The final result becomes skewed. This is particularly true when comparing vehicles of high performance. The Porsche is clearly the better driving car in virtually every category except in this case straight line performance. It is also obvious that the BMW is going to have more interior room. Therefore a truer more accurate way to compare is do a 3 category comparison. Driving performance, livability and price(dependent and independent). This presents a much more honest approach. It also gives either the reader or buyer the ability to weigh and make up their own mind which attributes of a said vehicle have more value to them. The overall score then is meaningless as it glosses over which vehicle is better or worse in a certain category.

It is obvious that these two cars are not in the same class - and real automotive journalists would NOT attempt to compare the two of them. This is not even apples to oranges - it is worse.

This would be like comparing a Ferrari and A Ford Fusion as vacation vehicles and putting the Ford ahead of the Ferrari because it had more trunk space! Or comparing a new Alfa design to a Tesla that is actually produced as well. It is Headline journalism at its worst.

the m4 is a great car for the money and is very capable, i just dont think its better than a 911 and ive had 3 m3's.
ill take a 911 any day over an m4 even though i think the bmw is clearly the more practical choice ( cheaper maintenance, real 4 passanger, fast enough...