Still deciding whether or not to buy a GTO or M3....

Maybe some kills might help me make my decision?!!!

Simply compare the numbers,

GTO - 3725 LBS, 350HP, 365 TQ/ 400 HP 400TQ
M3 - 3415 LBS, 333HP, 262 TQ

Well, I've lined up against them and none of them have kept up. I've never had to go over 1/2 throttle - so I don't know if they are racing or not though. There's numerous stories out there of M3's not hanging with GTO's when they've known they are racing - and a guy on ls1tech who traded his M3 in to buy a GTO.

I know of an M3 owner saying it was a little too "rough".


Wouuh....666 posts :frankie:

Originally posted by 04GOATGERM@Dec 14 2004, 07:35 AM
Wouuh....666 posts :frankie:
Lmao, that's awesome.

Good to know...i really thought the M3 would be quicker...probably easier on the gas....but who buys a car to save on gas?

This is a hard one with a simple solution....

When I get to Chicago in January i am going to take out an M3 and a GTO for a test drive and see who wins!

Well there ya go.

I think an 05 would hang with or beat an E46 M3. An 04, probably not. The older E36 M3s, those are slow these days...

Thing about an M3 is that they have good handling, so maybe they are faster around the track?

Do you consider modifying? Thing is at over 100hp per liter a 3.2 V6 is really stretching an engine to its power limits. Not like a GTO where bolt ons give you an easy extra 50hp.

I was talking to my dad about the BMWs he said a M3 was faster but i said like hell it is. I know some of them are but most arn't.

If you can keep the M3 out of the shop I am sure it is a nice car. I'll keep my GTO thanks.

Originally posted by TheJizzer@Dec 15 2004, 08:55 PM
If you can keep the M3 out of the shop I am sure it is a nice car. I'll keep my GTO thanks.
True that.

Look at the torque nomber 268tq M3 365torque GTO a big jusmp over 50%

Tried to get one to go but he didn't have the stomach for it. The sound of the LS1 V-8 must have scared him!!!!!

I've spanked numerous M3's, but the majority were of the early 2000 period. I haven't rolled up on a 04 or 05 M3, but they sure as hell don't scare me. Even if the newer ones were able to beat me, it wouldn't be by much. Think about it, an M3 owner pays almost $25,000 more then what I paid for my GOAT and my car will spank his a** silly or be pretty much even! :hysterical: Man, think of the mods you can do to a LS1 GTO for $25,000?? $5,000 in mods alone on a LS1 GTO will get you well over 400 RWHP easily!

EDDIE

The new M3 is strong enough to make it a driver's race. Seems that they hook up better than we do. Combine that with a few hundred pounds less weight to offset a little less horsepower (I'll let you do the weight/power calcs) and it is definitely not a car to be taken lightly.

04 GTO's I assume you mean.

Originally posted by Nocturn@Jan 17 2005, 08:51 PM
04 GTO's I assume you mean.
Yeah but...

3725/350=10.5
3725/400=9.3
3415/333=10.2

Not huge differences...

True but HP/weight ratio is not the only statistic that matters, look at the torque differences.

Very true but then again, BMW has recorded 0-60 times of 4.8 seconds. The car is an incredibly well-dialed little machine with more tire in back than we've got and a truly sweet suspension. Torque is majorly important (trust me, I recognize that - I'm a physicist by training, remember) but sometimes finesse counts a good deal, too. I honestly believe this is the car Pontiac was targeting with the GTO and it will be my benchmark (not pony cars) when I start making mods.