Thanks for all the advice... the reason i said the M3 is faster then the Evo, ive seen about 3 videos of the 2 cars racing.. with the M3 winning (highway) considering both cars were stock.

 

Honestly, I would choose the Evo over a new M3. I've driven an M3 and while it was fast and tight, it just doesn't give you the pure, raw driving experience that the Evo does. Yeah the BMW is more luxurious and on many levels more prestigious, but the Evo is a driver's car - plain and simple. It's a matter of personal preference, though. Get what you're going to enjoy driving more.

 

I had a 2002 SMG M3 for 3 years before my Evo and it has a lot more than just luxury over my 2005 Evo. The M3 is one of the most beauitiful sports sedans ever built, and, like most BMWs, it's built to last. The Evo build, steering, brakes, chassis in general feel somewhat tinny by comparison. The M3 gives you what was 3 years ago arguably the worlds best NA 6 cylinder ever. The sound and feel of that motor revving at 8000 was unbelievable!

For the money (~$50K), a new M3 is actually a great deal. That being said, my Evo will easily outhandle and out accelerate any stock E46 M3.

 

How did you like the SMG?

from what I've seen its actually slower than regular gear box, but I think for driving around in socal it'd be great when stuck in traffic.

 

My brother drives a 03 SMG M-3 convertible. His car is gorgeous, 19" factory optional rims, aluminium trim, Harman kardon sound.. it is a great car but the few performnace mods he added did not make much power and that is where the Evo 9 takes the lead.

Also the Evo outbrake and outhandle the M-3 by a little bit. I think either car will give you tons of fun.

Carlos

 

Yeah, the M engines are pretty tweaked out of the factory. You need to spend a LOT of cash to see significant performance gains.

Where as we just throw a flash and exhaust on our IX's and suddenly we're melting rubber.

 

M3 isnt faster than an IX anywhere...highway, light roll or a dead stop. Been there done that with my buds M3. It's not too bad from a 55-65mph roll but it's complete murder from a dead stop.

 

^^^^ ask Abner(Slowcar) he already lost to a M3 with his bone stock Evo 9 MR. The M3 is very quick from a roll. I would say a Evo 9 and the M-3 are very close from a roll.

Carlos

 

Driver is probably the difference here.

 

For me on the stock 05 turbo, even lightly modded M3's are a light snack.....

I go after M5's, older and current models...

after the 50 Trim gets installed and tuned, I'll have to go hunting for bigger fish

 

SMG is not slower than a manual unless you're a black belt in Kung-Fu. They say the 0-60 is a tick slower in the hands of a great drag racer, but at the road track it gives you a huge advantage. At the highest setting (S6, sport mode, DSC off) it shifts in less than a tenth of a second, and you don't need to take your hands off the wheel or worry about lifting the throttle or rev-matching. Also, it's idiot proof--no accidental mis-shifts from 5th to 2nd.

SMG rules, and I miss it.

 

^^^ lol light snack...

 

Yeah but Abners is no high school Evo guy either, this is his second Evo and he is in my opinion a great driver, mid 30's many years with license..

I personally line up with Abner one nigt in "Mexico" and all I can say is that I red line 5th on my MR and continue in 6th with Abner side by side on his 355whp Evo.


But yeah, he does not know if the M3 was stock either, that might be the difference..


Carlos

 

So does that mean you can pull mid corner shifts without having to lift your foot off the gas?

 

Well if you are content with the M3's power, then I would say stick with the M3. The car is like a track car and daily driver without much of the shortcomings like a super stiff ride quality or sacrificed driveability. The refinement in the M3 cant be matched by the Evo but then again both cars are for different target audiences, so which one are you?