this article is poorly written… i dont understand anything.

Overpriced, just like the RS4.

——>lol asiminator, that article was simple 1+2 math. It was very precisely written, given that they didn’t even give the conversion rates…….

———>and i’m with homeboy234, its worth ever single penny…but i got one question: WHAT ON EARTH does this car have to do with a PONTIAC G8???

They’re probably looking at how much Porsche is getting for the Caymen S.

The 3 series is getting to be awfully boring. Particularly because there’s so many of them around. And you could simply change the ECU software in a 335i and make it just as fast, if not faster than a M3, but the 335i is already doing 0-60 in 4.8 seconds so there’s really no need. I just really don’t see the point in a M3 anymore.

Just my opinion but if i wanted to spend 60 + grand on any vehicle, it wouldnt be the M3 there so much better for the money.

Homeboy, for another $30k, the M3 should be leaps better than the G8! What kind of idiotic comparison is that? Your rabid GM hate has destroyed your ability to have a decent debate, me thinks. I’ll also bet you can’t respond to this without some moronic spew about sucking my inbred brother’s/father’s **** or some ****.

As for the article, wow, you really forget sometimes how much the Brits get screwed over.

Fun to drive for sure, but for 65k I’ll skip the notorious quality problems.

I think it’s priced right. It’s competing with the Z06, Cayman S and new GTR.

Wow, the brits are getting screwed.
isn’t the echange rate like 1.9 or 2.0 ?
A 82,000 GBP car is really a 164,000 GBP car in the US but we get it for 99,000 dollars. Which in turn is 49,430 GBP. Dayum that’s a markup.
Personally I find it hard to get excitred about the 3 series cars.
They all look quite alike to me. I don’t want my 60k M3 car looking like the 30k 325.

It just goes to show how much we get things cheaper than the rest of the world.

Sometimes it is good to live in the US.

It is cheaper to buy a Triumph motorcycle here in the US than it is to buy one in the same town that they are munufactured in in England.

Get a clue Mr. homeboy, you sound like an idiot. Your post is flawed, it reeks of bias and little fact.

That “****ty G8″ is designed to spank cars much more capable than some POS BMW. If you’d actually look outside your little world you’ll see that people are fed up with BMW, they are fed up with German cars in general and the G8 as well as any other Pontiac will be right there waiting for the upgrade.

If you like BMW so much, wait a couple of months. When the G8 appears, BMW prices will drop like a ton of bricks. You’ll be able to steal one of your beloved posuermobiles cheap becuase it won’t be half the car Pontiac can build. I’d be embarrassed choosing a BMW over a hot new Pontiac. But then again, judging by your posts you’re not too bright anyways.

What makes you think that changing the ECU of a 335i will make it “as fast if not faster than an M3″? Seriously flawed logic, considering BMW thought of that 3 years ago in the early stages of the 335i’s development. The M3 will be faster, lighter, nimbler, more responsive and more aggressive than the 335i in all aspects. And the ECU can also be tweaked. Expect tuners to come up with 500+hp M3s in the near future.

what in the kind of crap is this. 65 thousand for an m3 that will get demolished by a 65 thousand dollar z06! oh come on. anyone who buys this is reallY retarted.
1. z06 smokes it
2.z06 is much cheaper to upgrade and tune.
3.z06 parts are found mostly anywhere, unlike bmw where they are nearly impossible to find and cosat an arm and a leg.
4.and dont give me crap about quality because BMW is having their issues with that too!

An accusation of bias from the American basher who has to use a $65,000 car to badmouth a low-$30k GM product, priceless.

1. How could you possibly know the Z06 will smoke the E90 M3?
2. M3 aftermarket parts are readily available, and yes, they do tend to cost more.
3. I’m sort of excited to see the G8 and how it drives, but not even in the same league as the E90 M3.

answer to #1 is: less weight more power

On top of the $60K+ price tag will also be the dealership markup as well. Ah well… 335i for me then!

Z06 ??? where did you come from…….

The Z06 is a very nice a car and may be the performance bargain of all time. It is far from perfect.

All Corvettes have vague steering compared to BMW. Which on a track means a lot.

Also, a track buddy of mine saw a Z06 lose it motor when it lost oil pressure during hard cornering.

All that power and grip, but no dry sump…….

You gets whats you pays for.

Yea, the day the G8 “puts the smack down” on any BMW, hell will freeze over. Anyway, $60-65K is a lot for the M3… Base should be more like $55K.

wow, some fuzzy math skills in this article

“I think it’s priced right. It’s competing with the Z06, Cayman S and new GTR.
Comment by Fletch, posted on April25 at 10:43 am ”
No, it’s not competing with any of those cars. The Z06 and Cayman are 2 seat sports cars, and the Z06 will absolutely obliterate the new M3 in every performance metric. The new GTR will sort of compete with it, but with AWD and a higher performance level, not really.

The M3 competes with the Audi RS4, AMG C-class, Cadillac CTS-V, etc. Luxury performance GT’s with back seats, in other words. Not sports cars. The M3 is not a sports car.

“All Corvettes have vague steering compared to BMW. Which on a track means a lot. Comment by Renton, posted on April25 at 12:37 pm ”

Not really. Depends on the driver – some drivers have no problem with vague steering. It is a subjective thing. There isn’t a BMW made for sale in the U.S. that can come close to track times of a Z06 (Nurburgring or otherwise), even with its numb steering. Fact.

“Also, a track buddy of mine saw a Z06 lose it motor when it lost oil pressure during hard cornering.

All that power and grip, but no dry sump…….”

Wrong. All Z06’s since 2006 model year with the 505hp LS7 have dry sump oil systems. My ‘02 Z06 does not, and you have to overfill the crankcase oil by 1 quart for track use, as per the owner’s manual. I do that, track mine, and never had a problem.

“You gets whats you pays for.”

With a Corvette, yes. With a Porsche or BMW, not exactly.

Just like you.

You sound way too immature to be writing on a GM fansite. Don’t you have a Honda or Toyota site to crap on?

“THE ZO6 IS VERY VERY MUCH LIKE AN AIDS INFESTED WHORE. ITS CHEAP NASTY AND GIVES CHEAP THRILLS WHICH ARE NOT WORTH ****.

Comment by homeboy234, posted on April25 at 12:45 pm ”

homeboy234 – you sound like you speak from experience with AIDS infested whores. Sucks for you.

LOL! Homeboy, you’ve got me rolling, dude =p

Point number 1.) the new M3 is an awesome piece of engineering that will do honor to its namesake.

Point number 2.) the C6 Z06 is an awesome piece of engineering that enhances its namesake several-fold.

Point number 3.) The C6 Z06 and the M3 are not competitors. Whether you think the Z06’s thrills are “cheap” or not, it stands to reason that the Corvette’s top model beats the M3 in everything except driver comfort and interior amenities. Braking? Check. Handling? Check. Acceleration? Check. Top speed? Check. Lateral G’s? Check.

You get our point? There’s nothing wrong with the E92 M3, but demonizing the Z06 because you’re a BMW fanboy is utterly ridiculous.

I agree, BMW has a cost vs quality problem to solve.

BMW should worry NOW about if Toyota or Honda ever get serious about fast cars.

I think the 60-65 prediction is accurate. In the past M3’s have cost slightly more than a decked out top-of-the-line 3 series (non M line). A fully loaded 335 coupe has an MSRP of about 57. So 60-65 is a reasonable estimate. Probably closer to 60 than 65.

On a personal note, unless you are tracking the car the harsh ride of an M3 on the street is not worth it. A 335 gives a better street ride and more than enough power for US roadways.

Can I ask everyone something: Why do you have to hate the Z06 in order to like the M3, and vice versa?

There’s a reason why people pine after Corvettes and Z06’s and end up settling for a BMW.

They can’t afford the real car…

Wait till the G8 and next gen G6 come to the market. BMW will even more of a joke than they are now.

GM_Sales, you’ve lost a little bit of your touch. People are going to start seeing through you pretty soon, and then you won’t be able to stir up more anti-GM sentiment using your little character. Pity.

Me personally, I’d rather wait for the G8 to be released, order in the GenTT twin turbo kit used with the Commodore, and still save money overall. 600-700rwhp Pontiac sedan with a stick? What Pontiac should’ve been all along? Oh yes, please.

I love both the Z06 and th eM3, but I can only have one, and my little man needs a back seat.

I like my new 335i better than the old M3 as a daily driver and as a torque possessed passing machine.

its funny how people are talking **** about the Z06 without even have driven one.

GM_Sales you are soo clueless that I don’t know where to begin. so I’ll take them in order.
“If you’d actually look outside your little world you’ll see that people are fed up with BMW”

Are you serious? Pontiac is the number two fleet sales leader and people are fed up with BMW’s? Check the resale value of any Pontiac VS any BMW in the last 5 years.

Point 2
“BMW is an econobox with an overhyped reputation performance”

Have you checked the SCCA touring division lately? Let alone the GT division where the M3 GTR used to battle Porsches? Have you ever driven a BMW to actually speak from experience.

Point3
“You sound way too immature to be writing on a GM fansite.”
This is a car fan site not a GM fan site. Read the meta data

“There’s a reason why people pine after Corvettes and Z06’s and end up settling for a BMW.”

Its called practicality. Sometimes you need a backseat. The choice does not make the Z06 a better car or the BMW a lesser car. And which BMW are we talking here? Who’s to say they didn’t choose an M6 which costs more than a Z06?

You bash homeboy for being biased but you are THE biased GM fanboy on this site. You are the GM_fanboy that cannot admit that GM does not create the greatest thing since mana from heaven.

Don’t talk **** about the Z06. That is a work of art, but this is definently NOT a GM fan site. And a BMW would smoke a Pontiac, and by GM SALES saying otherwise is in effect calling every single car magazine and car person in the world liars, stupid, and that they don’t know ****. When infact, YOU don’t know ****!

These comments have gone way off topic. The article is not about Pontiacs, Z06’s or other brands/models.

Lets stick to commenting on the article subject which is the potential US cost of the new M3.

I think the writer is close to actual 2008 M3 pricing.

Man, the person who wrote this article doesn’t have much else to write about.

I’m guessing the M3 will debut at $59,990 in the US, then jump up to $64,990 when the M version of the 1-series coupe arrives in 2010 at approximately $47,990.

Increased displacement and equipment = higher prices. The new M3 is hardly comparable to the old, in fact the future M1 will be much more comparable to the current M3 but forced to wear a lower price point being a “lesser” 1-er.

I do love this site.
Any article on a particle vehicle always breaks down to them against us argument.

Back to the article I agree that the price will come in around 57.5-67k.

For myself I can’t wait for the M1 or M2. That will be more in my budget.

This makes sense, actually, considering a 335i coupe with options can reach 50K, they must price the M3 higher, not to mention it performs at a higher level than its predecessor.

LamborghiniZ, a fully loaded 335i can actually reach almost US57k. I too agree a US60k base price seems reasonable.

gm_sales get your tongue out of gm’s asshole.

I don’t like the price, I would have rather that they kept it in the same range as the previous one, even if they had to make it less powerful/scratch the carbon roof. I mean, we’re getting an M1…but still. 60k is a lot of money.

Man! 60k to 65k is alot of money. I’d rather get a Mitsu Evo X which will be about half the price of this car, will most likely handle better, and will most likely be a quicker car. It’s just a guess, but I’d say it’s a good one, why? Because last year’s Evo IX, has better numbers the new M3:

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=6&article_id=2163&page_number=1

Seriously guys, the new M3 is just overpriced.

Why the hell are you guys comparing a M3 with a z06? They’re not even really in the same category. The z06, despite its price tag, was designed to compete with much more expensive cars like the viper and 911turbo. And have you ever shopped for a new z06? The price tag is NOT 65k like some of you suggest. The base MSRP is actually 70K, but in reality you probably won’t be able to find a base z06 for lower than 80k.

You should be comparing the M3 to cars like the Audi rs4, MB 63AMG, or Lexus IS-F instead. The M3 will perform and be priced more similarly to those cars. 60-65k is actually a very good price since the M3 is similarly powered compared to the 66k rs4 and the M3 will also be lighter. Dealers will surely mark up the price for an M3, but this can be avoided if you get on the dealer’s waitlist, which guarantees an MSRP price tag.

Hey Toy Yoda, the new M3 has yet to be tested by roadandtrack.com, so how can you say that the Evo IX has better numbers than the new M3?
While the Evo performs well and costs significantly less, it just doesn’t offer anything beyond its track performance. People buying M3’s don’t just want performance, they also want refinement, reliability, and status image; that’s why i don’t think they mind paying the extra dough.

I don’t have a barbie doll you idiot.

I have a Anna Nicole doll.

I win.

hahah, so which gm dealership you work for?

That’s true, people looking to put their money into reliable cars DO go to Honda or Toyota.

Ego Freaks who need to show off go to BMW.

Foolish people go to GM and Ford.

Nobody goes to Chyrsler.

Get Real, so where do you get your idea of reliability from? Because it sounds like you just buy into the usual misleading Japanese vs. Everything Else debate. It amazes me that people just parrot the usual Consumer Reports bull**** and don’t bother to check the facts themselves.

I and my family have had Fords, Nissans, Toyotas, GMs, etc. You know which cars we had problems with? Every single one of the Fords and Toyotas. Guess who we never had a single problem with? GM and Nissan. And that’s with 6 or 7 GM cars to account for from Pontiac to Buick to Cadillac.

But it’s okay, keep towing the Consumer Reports line. Who cares about the truth, right?

Toyotas are no better reliability wise than Ford and certainly nowhere near as reliable as the GM’s from the last few years. Get your head out of your ass you biased idiot.

leelemon,

You’re right. I sacrificed specifications for brevity. What I meant to say is the Evo IX is faster to 60 by roadandtrack than the BMW sales pitch I read for the new M3. As far as handling is concerned, it’s from experience of test driving the existing M3 and the Evo IX, and reading and talking to what others have said about both cars.

By the way road and track expects the M3 to get 4.5 seconds to 60. 0.1 seconds slower than the old model Evo IX.

Now $30k for the other “stuff”, seems way too expensive. I can see reliability being legit reason to spend more, but $30k more? I bought a 6-series and my friend bought a Subbie WRX STi right aroundd the same time.

My 6 averages about 1 visit to the dealership every 1.5 months for some mechanical failure. My friend’s Subbie hasn’t been in zero times for mechanical failure, but only for maintenance. My friend drives his Subbie to the track at least 1-2 times a month. I’ve only done it about 3 times in my 6 series. He drives his car way harder.

So, I don’t buy the whole BMW reliability thing. And I should know, I have a BMW.

Status image? Okay, I can see that.

These comments should be moderated. Foulmouthed children shouldn’t be allowed to bring the quality of this site down with off topic posts.

Geez, idiots out in force today.
First off, those crying about “overpriced” BMW’s can’t afford them anyway.
Second, true cost is what you can buy one for, minus what you can sell if for X-amount of years later. If all of Pontiacs other vehicles are a clue, GMSALES beloved G8 will cost MUCH MORE than an M3. Parts, repairs, etc, aren’t a factor since BMW includes service and warranty for 4 years.
Third, there are many other factors in evaluating a car than performance statistics. If “vague steering” or “interior fit and finish” and “brake modulation” are terms you don’t care about, your not a true car enthusiast, your just a ‘boy racer’. Buy a bike.

Getreal,
Your dead right, except that Honda and Toyota don’t make cars in this performance category. Least till the new NSX comes out.

Last comment to “GMSALES”.
Hate to burst your bubble, but the G8’s 390hp will be pushing 4000lbs! It will NOT beat an M3, Period! I doubt it will even beat a 335i. What you DON’T know about cars is on par with what gwbush DOESN’T know about middle east culture.
And, BMW, along with all other German car makers, will turn a hefty PROFIT next year. Which is, BTW, the whole point of manufacturing cars.
Will GM??

Update question:
Leftlane states G8’s hp at 390, while several other outlets put it at 360. Anyone know which is right??
CarnDriver estimates G8 0-60 at 5.5sec. And this is supposed to smoke the M3??
And it’s not even American made.
This gets funnier all the time!

ppfftt, owning an M has always been an expensive ordeal, but its not like it has to be expensive to drive a nice sports car. im kind of glad the M3 will cost a few more beans than all the retards and posers commenting here have. and for those yuppies who will be getting the M3, congrats, but as usual there are better alternatives as you move up in price brackets. RS4 is still the car to beat. optioned and with tax most track junkies are going to choose the Z06 because well, no explanation needed. 997 turbo performance for M3 prices. lets not forget the GTR, C63, and IS-F.

Leelemon, that was to the general population of the forum. While I find it funny that everyone gets so riled up by GM#1, it’s rather sad at the same time.

PrimeGTP,
I agree, whatever GM#1’s personal motives are, we shouldn’t let people like that get to us. To avoid it from propagating further, this will probably be my last post on this particular comments board.

I liked the last gen BMW…..anything…I’ve hated BMW’s new styling (just like eveyone else) and i really hate what theyve done with the 3 series….
I’ll take an RS4 over this anyday…Or (even though in a different class) an Evo…..

My gf Tara has a new BMW. I think it’s a 3.25 with All-wheel-drive. It’s a nice car. We take it to the beach on the weekends and all the guys (and girls) take notice. I think it’s more interesting looking than the last one that’s for sure!

The M3 is an awesome vehicle. It just getting killed by price by the declining dollar. All of the M3 wannabes will be looking at the 1 series real soon.

Now if we can only get the Yen to strengthen as it should!

Z06ified: Your comments are so clearly biased, I can’t take them seriously. Only the snobbiest of the snobs say **** like, “The M3 is not a sports car”. Okay, technically, sure, but it’s not that deep, it’s enough of one for most everyone.

I have to say with all these hp numbers thrown around that this car has a very specifc purpose.The Audis and mercedes in this cars range are more gt cars than sports.Take either of them into a hard corner and you’ll run into loads of understeer,granted the Audi’s 4 wheel drive will stick it to the road especialy in rain but it will not fly through the turns rather fight through them.the carbon fiber roof lowers the center of gravity so the m3 can maneuver like a go cart.This is not a straight line car,it’s expeced to beat cars with more hp and torque using its cornering abilities.you pay for a car that will slide around sideways through a hairpin and give you plenty of driver input to play with it at will.I own a z06 and have driven the last m3 many times the steering on the bimmer is perfect it feels right all the time.This is a driver’s car not a get you from a to b comfortable and fast

I’d rather take a second hand Audi RS6 anyday. You can have 4 people in the vehicle and still smoke this M3.