M3 to a 360?

Both cars need are need to be wrung out to really use the power band properly, but the 360 is a much different car, and a true sports car, so yes you should have noticed that in a test drive, I am very surprised you did not.

 

You check out a Ferrari CS, that will make you happy

 

Try a 550 / 575. Totally different animal to a 360.

 

Good suggestion. While not as sharp a handler as the 360, the 550/575 has a lot more power and torque. Definitely worth a test drive.

 

I have owned 3 M3's and am M5 and have an M Roadster with the S54 engine (same as in your Z4M). Like Porsches, Ferrari's have never been about horsepower. They are about finesse and corner speed and will do more with less. On the track, an M3 will not stay with a 360, though the new one might.

 

Agreed spend the extra 20% on a CS. Much better car IMO

 

Go to a 430 or a Scud - that will make you happy

 

I test drove an M3 (2009) and a 360. Bought the 360! I'm all smiles. To me there is no comparison.

 

No insult intended but if you didn't feel much difference you weren't driving the 360 very hard. They are night and day. I have a Z3M and I have driven several Z4M. Those two cars aren't much different; the 3 is much more twitchy but power is similar. Z3M is still my daily. My 360 is MUCH faster and a total kick to drive. Thinking about a 550 to replace the roadster but haven't convinced the wife that we need 2 Ferraris yet.

 

1+
Im in the same boat!!

 

I came from a dyno'd 560bhp M6 to an F430 F1. What can I say? They are totally different cars. I can't stop smiling ever since I bought my first F car. It still gives me the shivers after each drive, and I treat the car with a level of respect I never once believe I could outdo when I had the M car. So it's not all about BHP. It's the driving experience, the ownership of an F car, the lifestyle ghat comes with it, the recognition, all things that other Marques lack.

 

+1, only as an F owner will you know what he is talking about here. It is a complete jump up in your lifestyle.

 

Left stall F430 spyder
Right stall E90M3 sedan

F430 - 5000 miles since Apr and counting

M3 - sits on battery tender

Any questions?

 

You absolutely nailed it on the nose - it is a whole life style - especially if you start tracking with friends - a whole world to its own - as far as not convincing the wife that you both need two Ferraris(or more) - it will come - especially if you start socializing with other owners and their wives - on Memorial Day weekend i had about 30 owners at my house for lunch - what a blast

 

If it was about HP we'd all be driving Z06's.....
I'll keep the old 360 thank you.

 

Went from a 360 to M3 (ZCP new one). The BMW is not about horse power either and is very well balanced for track use. Altough not saying much (about my ability), I am pretty sure I can lap faster in the M3, its more forgiving and allows the nanny controls to be dialed down in several ways the 360 can't. Also there was that pucker factor when looking at an off track excursion in the Ferrari that you don't get quite as bad in the M3. As far as driving experience, the 360 is way more exciting and fun, and looks way better too. Comments about the life style are true, but if you don't want the attention that can be a detriment. I would have liked to have kept the 360 as it is a classic, the M3 is more of a tool that will get replaced eventually.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005-FERRARI-SUPERAMERICA-ONLY-1-300-MILES-LIKE-NEW-/330480660975?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item4cf22eb1ef

 

I have both 6spd 360 and 335i coupe with Juice box stage III. The 360 is quicker than the chipped 335i. On the other hand, the CLK500 or stock 335i will absolutely not be able to come close to keeping up. The power to weight ratio is not even close, they are both less powerful while being a lot heavier.

In fact, 360 with high flow cats and no pre-cat can actually keep up with GT-R (not heavily modded) from both roll and dead stop far better than anyone would had expected. A lot of my friends have GT-Rs and they were pretty surprised. I have driven many GT-Rs and hopefully will soon replace my 335i with a GT-R as new stable mate to my 360.

360 really is a fantastic car for the money, it is not the most powerful car out there. But it is timelessly beautiful, great all around performer, and ridiculously fun to drive.

 

Neither the M3 or the Ferrari are drag racing cars. If that's all you want, there is lots of iron available for that. I have an E46 M3 and humiliate much more powerful cars on twisty roads and tracks. That car is such a brilliantly balanced package. I own an ECU tuning company and have massaged some more h and tq, but kept the balance. I also have a CS and if you think you feel connected with your BMW, you will be absolutely hard wired in a CS. It is a hugely different car to drive than a standard 360.

I originally was interested in a standard 360 or a Gallardo. Between those two, the Lambo was the better car. Then I drove a CS...... done! Sold! The CS is the best driver's car Ferrari has made since the F40, and I have driven most of them. Spring for the extra dosh. You won't regret it.

 

the 360 is a much more refined car. One thing you may not feel is the power curve since its much more linear than the low down tq of the m3. Lots of cars this way give a false sense. Reason why is cause its made for higher rpm for twist turns. Forget drag racing.. if you want to do that, get a car made for that. All the people say oh beat a ferrari with such and such car is cause they are both different and people don't understand that.

But the 360 is amazing stock, and lots of R&D went into it to be the way it is. Not many cars can give you that for the price it is. Like the clowns that put down people who own ferraris that have turbo civics dont realize the NSX is the same thing and priced very high, for what it is.. with less hp as well! So i think the ferrari is a bargain in comparison since the small lil 8cyl puts out way better numbers than most cars who have big displacements.

Besides there is something about the engine in the back that you can see from the rear view mirror haha

 

I got my 360 for 2 years and I just got a 08 E92M3 last month.
I will always chose the f360 if I have 0 or 1 passenger.
I will dirve the M3 only if I can't fit all the passengers in the 360.
I will take the 360 out for a impulsive drive just for fun.
I will prefer the M3 on a day I am feeling sick and tired and just want to get home quick.
If I can only keep one car, I will chose the 360, because I work hard and deserve to have some fun.

p.s. My Dino GTS has been sitting in the garage every since I got the 360.