M4 vs. 911 Performance Comparison Review in Car and Driver

[Bluesummer]

I'm surprised they didn't consider trunk space; M4:8 991:2

The comparison itself is pretty meaningful but the scoring categories are completely pointless. I hope they only put it there to play a dumb joke lol

[See5]

Originally Posted by Blipit_

So what do they do when they do a comparo against a Z51 Stingray?

Give zero points for rear legroom and rear space...lol.

Yes, they did just that when they compared the 991S to the C7.

The C7 won that conparo so it will be interesting if they match up the M4 vs C7 later.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by See5

Yes, they did just that when they compared the 991S to the C7.

Are you kidding?!

That has got to be the dumbest thing I have heard from a magazine test. Car and Driver has lost any and all credibility.

[myzmak]

Originally Posted by Blipit_

Are you kidding?!

That has got to be the dumbest thing I have heard from a magazine test. Car and Driver has lost any and all credibility.

It is the problem with comparing any two cars that don't actually compare. The typical M3/M4 owner does care which is a better all around car (not all, but most) so it actually does matter if I can't fit 2 sets of clubs and luggage, or luggage for a family of 4 in the trunk.

...but it only goes so far. Witness the ribbing the dude who did an M5 vs M3 comparison did for noting trunk in M5 larger.

Bottom line: comparisons are useful in some respects. Most useful is two cars of similar size and similar performance. The more a car is a primary track car (C7) or Luxo-cruiser (M5) the less useful the comparison becomes.

For instance I can also predict the M4 out performs a Toyota Yaris but is less all around practical than a V60 estate. Who cares, though?

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Enjoy!! And let the debates begin for this comparo ;-)

[1stm3f80]

There is definitely something better than any one of these cars. That is simply one of each.

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Can't believe the LSD is optional on the 911!!!!

[spool twice]

the weight listed at car and driver would indicated that a manual version may reach below 3500 lbs, pretty cool, and even more so if there was less gas (IIRC they weigh with all fluids at full).


Also, 119mph trap is right in line with 420whp at 3700 lbs (with driver), so that supports recent independent dynos

[Sedan_Clan]

Go ///M!

[damnitBobby]

everything in the review was as expected

M4 passive suspension ride is rougher than the 911.. i wonder how the adaptive suspension would have been like in comparison

carbon ceramics are indeed overkill for most people that will own this car

i would rather take the cayman s over a 911.. the 911 looks kind of meh here where as the cayman has to be one of the sexiest cars in its price range

[dhoggm3]

Sweet. I love the top-gear acceleration numbers - not even in the same neighborhood. N/A Porsches do need revs to play, and that was one of the criticisms leveled at the E9X M3 V8.

Interesting that they found the Porsche electric steering to be better than the M4s - first review I've seen to say this. Most go the other way.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

Can't believe the LSD is optional on the 911!!!!

EVERYTHING is optional on Porsches.

E V E R Y T H I N G.

[bruce.augenstein@comcast.]

Originally Posted by dhoggm3

Sweet. I love the top-gear acceleration numbers - not even in the same neighborhood. N/A Porsches do need revs to play, and that was one of the criticisms leveled at the E9X M3 V8.

Interesting that they found the Porsche electric steering to be better than the M4s - first review I've seen to say this. Most go the other way.

The M4 auto kicks down. The Porsche was a stick. A PDK 911 would do better, but almost certainly still lose - just by less.

[FTS]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

EVERYTHING is optional on Porsches.

E V E R Y T H I N G.

Except the character of perfect chassis driving kinematics of rear engine and reliability are standard.

[toper]

not sure why they used a C2 instead of a C2S for the comparo, if it was because they wanted to get closer on price they might as well have used a Cayman S/GTS.

Also I don't understand the 5 for cargo space score that the Porsche got, you can't fit jack in the frunk.

[JoshuaKM]

I test drove a 2012 certified new generation base PDK 911 this weekend which was being offered at 80k .... about the same price as a loaded M3/M4. I loved the look of the 911... gorgeous styling, impeccable interior and I definitely enjoyed my test drive, but I have two comments, and I apologize to any Porsche owners on this forum but I am a novice driver so take what I say with a grain of salt...

(1) I didn't feel a sudden surge of speed and torque when I stepped on the gas pedal. After a few seconds the car would take off but I wasn't blown away by the acceleration.
(2) The steering felt incredibly tight and firm compared to my current 535i. Obviously the 911 is a sports car and is supposed to have firm steering but it felt like it took a lot of effort to steer this thing.

I wish I could compare to the M3/M4 but unfortunately my local dealer has not been able to get another demo in the showroom after selling the first demo within 12 hours of its arrival!

[Silvertige]

Originally Posted by Paul-Bracq-BMW

Can't believe the LSD is optional on the 911!!!!

Crazy but LSD optional on the base 911 but included as standard in the 911 S. Ridiculous on an 80K something starting price...

[Silvertige]

Originally Posted by JoshuaKM

I test drove a 2012 certified new generation base PDK 911 this weekend which was being offered at 80k .... about the same price as a loaded M3/M4. I loved the look of the 911... gorgeous styling, impeccable interior and I definitely enjoyed my test drive, but I have two comments, and I apologize to any Porsche owners on this forum but I am a novice driver so take what I say with a grain of salt...

(1) I didn't feel a sudden surge of speed and torque when I stepped on the gas pedal. After a few seconds the car would take off but I wasn't blown away by the acceleration.
(2) The steering felt incredibly tight and firm compared to my current 535i. Obviously the 911 is a sports car and is supposed to have firm steering but it felt like it took a lot of effort to steer this thing.

I wish I could compare to the M3/M4 but unfortunately my local dealer has not been able to get another demo in the showroom after selling the first demo within 12 hours of its arrival!

Yes, the 911 steering will feel tighter, more firm, and takes more effort to steer than a current 5 series... And thank God for that...

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by gthal

The 911S is, where I live, $25k more than the M4.

You mean more like $38k...

Start tickng a few options and it quickly becomes $100k more expensive than the M4 in Canada

[toper]

Originally Posted by JoshuaKM

(1) I didn't feel a sudden surge of speed and torque when I stepped on the gas pedal. After a few seconds the car would take off but I wasn't blown away by the acceleration.
(2) The steering felt incredibly tight and firm compared to my current 535i. Obviously the 911 is a sports car and is supposed to have firm steering but it felt like it took a lot of effort to steer this thing.

Regarding acceleration:
1. Did the car have the sport chrono package (aka the stopwatch "wart" on the dash)?
2. Was "Sport" or "Sport Plus" mode engaged during your test drive?

a NO to any of the above makes the throttle in the PDK seem more sluggish IMO, probably even more so in a non-S car.

As for steering, I'm not sure what you mean by needing more "effort"...was it physically harder to turn? The 991's actually use electric steering now, so I would've thought the opposite. I have driven my sister's E60 5series a couple of times, and her steering didn't particularly stand out to me either way (although I'll have to make sure to pay more attention to it the next time I drive it).

[dhoggm3]

"I don't imagine many 911 owners are looking over at an m3/m4 wishing that was their car (though I hope like me they can appreciate the car for what it is). But I dare say there will be a good few m3/m4 owners that pull up next to a 911 wishing they were driving that instead."

How about the other way around? When I pull up next to a 911 the other guy will be thinking, "OMG I'm about to be smoked by a guy with his two kids in the back seat who paid 1/3 less for his car than I did!"

[spool twice]

I can understand the scoring, as they are comparing the overall of the vehicle, so the M4 is a better "overall" vehicle (well-rounding), however, the Porsche is the better car to drive. Recent BMW's comparo's have been this way (328i vs. ATS 2.0T for example). I'm impressed by the M4's mpg, 22mpg average is nothing to scoff at, especially considering an enthusiast magazines spirited driving; that's almost 8-9mpg better in average mpg versus the E92.