Im torn between the two cars.
How would you guys say the handling feel and precision is between these too cars.
Would you say the Evo is more rewarding to drive in terms of performance.
Any other opinions would be great.

 

I love the way my evo handles Im selling mine to buy an E46 M3. There is nothing to replace the power and handling of the Evo. You can make the evo much faster with less money. But the evo is not the car you wanna drive 120 miles a day like I do the only reason I want something a little better ride and quite and something a little more comfortable

 

I understand the Evo could obviously be a much much faster car. But im just looking for driving experience, road feel, responsiveness, confidence mid corner. Fun factor. The steering ratio really makes the evo fun, but then the 8k redline and rear wheel drive really makes the m3 with dcs off and sport on a real hoot.

 

well as far as all out speed, the EVO IX will beat the M3 stock for stock in both handling, and acceleration. stock for stock, or mod for mod the EVO is the faster car, and the easiest of the two to drive fast. the beemer is just sexier and more comfortable. if that's not important, then the EVO is the winner all day long.

 

Comfort is not an issue. But looks is to a certain extent. And im not saying i think evos are ugly, otherwise i wouldnt be considering one, but oh are e46 M's so sexy/

 

with that being said, also remember that when buying a bimmer, comes the bimmer price tag too :/

and the M's even the E46 isn't cheap. i know evo's have a price tag that follows them too, but having had a couple bimmers in my past... ouch

I will give bimmer their handling props tho... they are nice

 

As a owner of an e36 M3 and a 95 gsx, there is absolutely no comparison to handling and ride confortablitiy

The BMW is king, now for power yes the gsx is cheaper bang for your buck

the reason i bring this up is because these are the older brothers of your questions and i had a little input on them

The e46 M3 is more of a boat compared to the e36 m3, mide the fact that Car and Drive dubd the e36 M3 " the best handling car at ANY PRICE" so im a little spoiled when it comes to that cars abiltiy on the road

I have been in both the e46 m3 and the evo, the AWD of the evo makes it fun but the e46 M3 is balanced enough to be able to out manaver ( sorry on the spelling ) the evo. so to answer your qustion id personally go with the e46 on the ride and the cornering ability

power, practiability for us norther guys and witer time (AWD), is a different story, like the guys stated above you can out mod the e46 any day of the week with the evo, I think a good set of coilovers will get it close to the M3 but the ride will suck seeing as its a little rough to start on a stock suspension

tons of pros and cons as with anything

 

I've had both and it's night and day rear wheel drive compared to awd. The evo by far is the winner in performance and handling, but if your worried about interior M3 for the win.

 

Evo takes the cake. I can corner off an exit ramp at 60mph w/o a sweat. My M3 however, feels like a boat even with good suspension.

 

I make mince meat of e46 M3's on the track. No comparison, period.

On the street, however, is the M3 a better car? I'd agree it is.

 

One other thing you may want to consider is that if you drive the car in the winter the RWD of the M3 is gonna be a nightmare! If this is a 4 season DD then I say Evo all day long!!

 

Purely based on performance, the Evo wins hands down.

 

I had no issues driving my 330ci with blizzaks in the winter.

 

+1 performance wise evo better over e46 m3.

 

I haven't driven any bimmers, been on track with tons of them. Properly modded, they can be real fast. But so can the Evo. I flirted with the idea of an E36 track car until I saw the prices for parts (upgrade and OEM) for bimmers. Take a stock Evo IX and add $10k in mods then take a stock E46 and add $10k in mods and the Evo will murder it on the track. $10k in parts/mods for a Bimmer gets you very little.