Cobra gets my vote... BUT

I agree with the hammer/scalpel arguments, but I already HAVE arguably the best scalpel that's not a 6-figure supercar, IX MR (Ok fine Exige and Atom got me, but they're pretty exotic and not-everyday). I'd LOVE to round out my garage with a badass Cobra. I have to carry a towel because testosterone squirts out of my pores all the time.

Don't get me wrong, I am in love with my Evo, but the Cobra has a few things that the Evo can never have, like "muscle car" status, amazing exhaust note, and ungodly straight power. I'll never sell the Evo for something like this, but I'd still like it.

Yeah, if it's going to be your only car and your DD, I might go with the M3 for the overall package (but the price... ).
BTW, M3s are kind of overrated for track use... People think they'd be good on the track because they drive so well, but they actually get kind of crappy times on a lot of tracks I've seen.

 

M3 with a healthy shot of nitrous

 

For pure raw power, mod-ability, 1/4 mile runs - the Cobra.

Everything else the M3.
Including the exhaust. I love mustang exhaust, but if you've ever heard an M3 with race cats; wow. Sounds like an F1 car and can be sooo loud. And that's with cats still.

Sounds like you're talking power; so I voted the Cobra as a better 'toy' to have. The M3 is probably 5-10k more depending on the year, so not all is even.

 

They are two completely different platforms, but to answer your first question, the answer is yes, it can be made to outhandle an M3 on a road course. Springs and full-length subframe connectors absolutely transform the ride and handling of a Cobra. It is night and day different. It will still feel heavy, b/c it is a heavier car, but it can be made to handle very well.

With bolt-on power mods, the car has so much more power under the curve and at the peak that you don't even need to use all of it on a road course and you can compete with everything. You just can't go around flooring it in the curves or you will in fact kill yourself haha. That is what makes EVO/STi/M3 much better suited to the curves initially b/c you can run it all out with less skill in the corners.

 

^ good point.

So "Mustang" Cobra can really handle though?

 

M3's are clean. I have friends with both cars. The Cobra is way faster. But for some reason I like the M3 more. Its all in what you want I guess.

 

I vote for the Terminator. Mean looking, not seen so much on the streets, and costs buckets less than the m3; and if modded properly and dialed in, can outperform 99% of the cars on the street and track. The m looks nice and chicks like them, but they can be expensive, and a Cobra will rape it consistently in a straight line, and with the right suspension set up, can be just as good to much better than an m3.

 

If it was stock to stock i take the m but if your talking about adding aftermarket onto the car then the little horse wins it. Only if Bmw would make performace stuff for their cars.

 

E46 M3 is pure sex.