2009 BMW M3 Sedan: Versus GT-R

Numbers are nice, but the M3 would be my pick to own...I'd pick a lightly optioned sedan and keep the price well short of the GT-R's as well.

M3 Sedan
Price: $67,370
0-60 mph: 4.8 seconds
1/4-mile: 12.9 @ 111.0 mph
Slalom: 71.8 mph
Skidpad: 0.93 g
Service: 4-yr/50,000-mile free scheduled maintenance
Cost to date: $500.00 (@ 12,000 miles)
Tentacle hentai design language: No

GT-R
Price: $73,165
0-60 mph: 3.8 seconds
1/4-mile: 11.8 @ 118.6 mph
Slalom: 74.0 mph
Skidpad: 0.93 g
Service: Pay as you go
Cost to date: $8,000.00 (@ 30,000 miles)
Tentacle hentai design language: Yes

M3 all the way.
Reliability=priceless
plus, the M3 is awesome in its own right.

Oh goodie, another apples to oranges comparison.

One is a piece of state of the art engineering, the other is a crappy BMW

Both are equally likely to be driven by jerks so it's a fair comparo

The GT-R has exclusivity that would seal the deal for me if I had $70k to blow on wheels. Even if it looks like a hermaphrodite Transformer

GT-R is moar expensive now than what it was when Edmunds bought it. $80,000 is the new base price right? $84,000 for the Premium model?

I will take the M3 coupe.

@Mikeolan- More like state of the shart engineering.
And I wouldnt say apples to oranges, both are (probably) going to be out on the track at some point in there lives, and they are both cool cars in there own way. I guess I'm just a little disappointed at Nissan for their errors, but I suppose that happens to other companies as well

I haven't driven a GT-R so I can't really say, but I never really thought of these cars as pricing out very closely. My M3 coupe is $71K (no M-DCT... 6MT only for me please) and the GT-R Premium is $84K. If I drove the GT-R and felt it was worth $13K more then maybe I'd take it.

What a silly comparison. The GT-R will destroy the M3.

One of them is mentioned in the same company as Lamborghini and Ferrari, the other isn't (BMW).

BMW doesn't even have a car that can compete with the GT-R, let alone Lexus's upcoming LF-A.

I'll take an M3 coupe manual.

Having driven both I would hands down take the M3.

The GT-R is the most awe-inspiring vehicle I have ever had the priviledge of piloting. It's speed is impossible to convey in words and its level of grip gives new meaning to "corners like it's on rails". It's the kind of car that can make novices look like pros. And that's why I would never buy one.

The M3, on the other hand, despite all its state-of-the-art electronics is a truly honest performance vehicle. It isn't even in the same ball-park for speed, but it is VASTLY more enjoyable to drive hard and takes skill to extract its true potential. It communicates every minute detail of the road through the steering wheel so you always feel confident about what the car is doing.

But most importantly, the M3 is fun regardless of how you drive it; the GT-R is only fun at 8/10s or above: at low speeds it rides like a subway car, is excessively loud, and just feels enormous. I don't expect everyone to feel this way, but for me the decision is obvious.

Without even having to think about it I would take the M3. It's got everything you want with out really sacrificing the things you need in a daily livable car.

The performance differences are negligible in daily driving situations.

That said, the M3 is cheaper, available with a 6-speed manual,is rear-wheel drive, more comfortable, and more practical.

The GT-R is a wonderous piece of engineering, but its' service history is deplorable, it's higher maintanece than Paris Hilton, and NO third pedal. Even this car's "Super Special Silver" Paint has known quality issues that are very tough, if not impossible, to fix. Then there's the launch control issue, INSANELY high-priced parts (if you can get them) and service costs.

Even if I could afford to put a GT-R in my garage, I'd always have lingering doubts that my trip would end in me calling Triple-A.

I say Bimmer, by a landslide.

Free service for 5 years FTW!

Even though I like the M3 coupe much more than the GT-R, I'd still say M3. The difference in base price of the two models mentioned is almost negligible, however the fact that the M3 is available with a manual transmission and has a rockin' service plan makes this almost a no brainer.

Almost.

What would make this truly a difficult decision for me would be location, location, location. Location in which I'd do most of my driving because if its all highway, sure one less second in 0-60 is cool but does it really matter if your ride was basically unbearable. Location in which I'd do most of my driving because I imagine a GT-R attracts a lot of bad attention from cops or street racers, and an M3 might as well be a Civic in many locations given the 3-series popularity.

GT-R. I don't want to set off Clarkson's cock-o-meter. But really, the M3 is nice, but isn't me. The GT-R kinda is.

@johnnyr3

Haven't you heard, BMW's are cool again. Only blokes with bluetooths and Audis set off the cock-o-meter now.

I'd feel a lot more accomplished owning an M3 over a Nissan.

Plus, if I had enough cash to own and maintain a GT-R, I would get a 911. It seems like it's one of those cars you get before you retire.

The GT-R is the better car, no doubt. Its in a different league than the M3 in fact. But I'd still rather have the Bimmer. It looks better and is more of a stetement of where I am in my life right now than the "boy-racing" days of my early twenties. The M3 is a grown-up's car even though the GT-R would undoubtedly dismantle it in every way on a racetrack...

I will take the "crappy" BMW any day over the hanger queen GTR. How fast can you really go? The M is a real car meant for everyday driving.

M3 for me too because of its everyday utility (nevermind that it actually runs whenever you want to). It looks like the M3 wins this poll so far.

I need a true four seater, so I'd go with the M3. If I want a dedicated track toy I'll get a GT3.

Looks alone are enough to disqualify the Nissan from consideration. Although that M3 in white is mighty bland.

Clearly one is an expensive exotic toy and the other is a perfectly practical family sedan -- a real car. With a proper manual gearbox, too.

"Cost to date: $8,000.00 (@ 30,000 miles)"

That's an alarming figure, and one that would weigh heavily on my decision. That's a high maintenance relationship right there, and I generally try to avoid those.

Which would you choose?
Depends. Either one will be high maintenance, but for different reasons.

If I wanted to pull Gs, the GT-R.
If I wanted to pull goldiggers, the BMW.

It'd get the GT-R, drive it for a year, and then "downgrade" to the M3.

Having said that I'm surprised by the percentage of people who'd go with the M3 over the GT-R.

M3 sedan all the way.

The original question was which one would you choose, right?

Okay, the M3.

I'm surprised at the overwhelming preference for the M3. Very little love for Godzilla here.

I think there is plenty of Godzilla respect, but no, not love. The reliability issues are too great to ignore if you're talking about owning it yourself.

How about this: 2002 E46 M3 or a 2009 E9X M3? I don't want to highjack the thread, but that is a good question too.

Godzilla is a pricey toy that would likely be tiresome after 2 years. At least the m3 is something you could live with for the long term.

If you love the car than the cost does not matter because you buy it for the experiance, not to be a cock or for the prestige .If i had the money I would take both because both cars are awesome in there own ways that aside from price cannot be compared. Both have great tech the differance is price and a matter of opinion GTR all the way

I can't handle it. This is the one decision that I wish I could make right now. I have honestly been pricing them for about 3 months. I have set my budget, I have prepared my girlfriend and taken her out to sit in the GTR, drive the M3, and the S5. Maybe its the unknown, but I feel like I would be settling for an M3. (Which I LOVED driving.) The commitment seems overwhelming. Ultimately, I can't imagine paying 60-80 thousand... I guess (in retrospect) I have decided that I hate cars!!!

I choose the yaris, and a life filled with the mundane...

perhaps a better question is: which car would Carmax give you more money for on a trade-in?

sounds like you like the M3 thgir_evom if you love it than get it dont second guess otherwise you might end up regretting it... of course there is always the yaris :)

M3 - four doors, seating for five, and a real manual transmission.

Add another M3 choice.

Totally different cars for 2 totally different purposes. M3 is good for daily commute. GTR is good for weekend fun.

M3 - screaming V8, telepathic handling, supple suspension, four doors, long-distance comfort, and four years / 50k miles of free maintenance. That's a winner in my book.

I agree with 337 that I would want to avoid Jeremy Clarkson's wrath so I would avoid the M3 but since I need a car that won't force me to sell my house after a handful of miles then I have to say I'll take my V8 Mustang and if the GT500 ever comes with a flappy paddle gearbox or a outright Auto I'll have it instead.

If I had a two-car garage--GTR and 5-series wagon with M-sport package.
Since I can only have one car, E90 M3 for me.
In regards to some posts above, no the M3 cannot realistically hold 5 people for any stretch of time.

I'd buy an E90 M3 Coupe over the GT-R.

@hybrid

Clarkson loves the M3. He says that the typical BMW driving douchebag has moved on to Audis, allowing those "who were willing to weather the storms of hate" to drive them.

Neither of these cars offer the right compromise for me.

An inline 6, 335 manual with no sport package - for everyday driving! Don't want the BMW V8 and the hard ride with the useless sport package, if I am going down potholed mid-west roads.

And I have never tracked, but when I do so, it will be in something light, with some natural poise. Like a Mazda Miata... or something from Porsche, when the budget grows.

I picked. So I have an M3 E92 coupe with MT.

I have a wife who doesnt want to be bounced around, I occasionally carry 4.

If the rear windows rolled down on the E92, it would be about the perfect car. The sedan is more practical but I could not get away from the looks of the coupe. And the tractability of the engine around town is something to behold.

thgir_evom says: I choose the yaris, and a life filled with the mundane...

Man that's sad! I seriously feel bad for you...!!!!!

Do we have to chose one or the other? They are both great cars in their own right. They are decidedly different (apple to oranges) but I think in the real world the GTR and M3 are cross-shopped very heavily.

M3, please. Such a lovely engine...

You know, I don't think that it is an apples to oranges comparison as others have said.

Personally I can count on one hand the number of times I see a M3 with more than one passenger in it.

The M is clearly the choice for the single car family of 3 or more or for the business person hwo needs to be able to pick up clients. But for the multi-car family, or a single driver, the 2-door GT-R is probably no less useful than the M3 90% of the time.

So, if you rarely need to carry more than 1 passenger, which to choose? I pick the M3. Nominal performance difference in real driving, likely more reliable, and a boatload cheaper to maintain.

I'd take the M3 over the GT-R any day of the week if I had to choose between those two. Both engines don't sound aggressive enough given the performance they achieve. I guess I'm just not into the F1 sound in a street car (M3) or the vacuum cleaner induction of the GT-R. If it were my money, I'd get a CTS-V automatic though. All the performance I could ever need in an overall better package than both.

My choices
1. Mercedes C63 AMG
2. Nissan GTR
3. BMW M3 Coupe
4. Nissan 370z
5. Infiniti G37 Sedan
6. Infiniti G37 Coupe
7. Cadillac CTS-V
8. BMW M3 Sedan

Thats right, I think the rear of the M3 Sedan is absolutely disgusting. The whole M3 sedan looks fat and bloated. The Coupe on the other hand is far better.

Either way I still think the C63's automatic transmission is much better than the M3. Plus in Houston, manual transmissions can really.... REALLY piss you off because we have some of the STUPIDEST FRIGGIN DRIVERS on our roads.

So if y'all are talking practicality, C63 trumps the M3 as well as the GTR.

I Drive a Nissan Xterra so I also don't want some cushed ride and don't mind the harshness of the C63 and GTR.

+1 on the M3 coupe over the sedan. The four door M3 does look a little bloated. I didn't really like the looks of the M3 coupe at first but compared to the sedan, it's looks better. The CF roof looks a little silly though- especially in certain colors. I'd get a sunroof to get rid of the missmatch look.

Driving a manual here is a no no as well. Way too much traffic not enough open road.

The C63's engine and exhaust note sound much better than the M3's so I'll give you that icecubefosho but a G37 over a CTS-V is just ridiculous. They are not even in the same league.

Neither! I will take a used Acura NSX with the pop-up lights!