The M3 is a much better built vehicle and more refined than the Tesla. Second the M3 is much quicker than the Tesla around the Nurburgring. Three the M3 comes with a manual transmission.
M3 vs M3. $55K vs $120K. Who ya got?
- Thread starter JeffKeryk
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The M3 is a much better built vehicle and more refined than the Tesla. Second the M3 is much quicker than the Tesla around the Nurburgring. Three the M3 comes with a manual transmission.
High powered AWD cars are more likely to be quicker off the line vs RWD. If the BMW M3 were RWD then it would be comparatively slower off the line because of wheel spin.
The BMW makes around 540 hp and putting that through an AWD system with sticky tires allows for a good launch.
Note: Tire compound matters a lot here as well.
I watched the beginning of the video again because the MP3 acceleration was off. They put the Tesla in track mode, which is simply wrong in a race like this. Track mode limits the battery output and drops the power.
This race would not have been close.
This race would not have been close.
What 'ring times are you seeing? I have not seen any Highland M3P times and the M3 times seem to be on track rubber. The BMW brakes are a huge advantage, for sure. Even this race shows the BMW stopping superiority.
Then again the BMW costs more than twice as much...
I wonder how many BMWs, Teslas, whatever see time on a race track?
Funny you say that. At Road Atlanta during HPDE events I mostly see Porsche and BMW with a smattering of Ferrari and VW. You should roll on over to Laguna Seca and see what's out there!
not gonna lie, i gotta go with the M3
30 years ago, the E36 M3 started at $35,000. I bought the Car and Driver magazine with it on the cover because I wanted one so bad. I probably could have swung it, if I didn't make a regrettable decision to get married at 24.
$35,000 in 1995 dropped in an online inflation calculator is $72,041.11. That's a big delta to 120K. https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/
Oh sure the modern car is probably way more capable, but there's something to be said about how BMW is less mainstream than they used to be in the last millenium. They were never a cheap car, but, it was less of a steep climb from a normal car, and in the 80s and 90s they were a lot better drive than most normal cars.
Anyway.
That's true of most every new BMW...+1
That new BMW M3 is difficult to look at.
I no longer have my E90, but will have another BMW eventually. It will be RWD, inline-six, and manual, but probably older than my E90 was.
They are likely out of my price range, but I'd love an E12 M535i.
The new one can’t do a lap apparently.
https://www.drive.com.au/news/video-tesla-model-3-performance-nurburgring/
Some forims put BMW owners that track their car at 5 plus percent. I think alot of this has to depend on if you have a dedicated track car or not. Not many people realize that if you have an accident at a racetrack with your streetcar insurance won't cover it as they consider that "offroad driving. " A Model S plaid driver found this out the hard way after stuffing his car into a tire barrier after the brakes overheated then posting the aftermath on social media.
I would be surprised if more than 1% of owners track their cars. Of course the number is hard to quantify.
BMW is heavily involved and invested in motorsports offering high performance driving events (hpde) along with track days to customers. I think bmwcca who should have a good number says 5% or a little higher. Mostly m3/ M4 but 335i, 1M etc. Apparently not many M5 owners track their cars But could. A number of years ago a friend of mine went with his dad to a bmw track day event and one instructor was driving an X5M at a quick clip lapping some of the cars on the roadcourse.
There are several companies that offer track day insurance. I've used Lockton, but Hagerty is also good. I'm an instructor and I've never made a claim so my premium for a weekend is very reasonable; the valuation of the car will have the greatest effect on the premium.
I've been to the BMW Performance Center in SC several times; I sent my son to their two day teen school. My son and I also attended a BMW track day at Kentucky Speedway. Lapping the oval (in an M8) was a lot of fun except for the fact that several participants were much too timid to be on the track:
We are going to the full-day M Intensive school at Indianapolis next- where we don't expect slowpokes to be an issue...
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
BMW will prepare your car for a track day.
Most common vehicles on track are Miata and BMW's. You can always see brand-new ones. So, it is hard to quantify, but it is part of culture.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
They are, but currently, E82 128 with the manual is probably the most sought-after BMW for track purposes.
