also,
- where do you live? if u live northen states, r u plan to use this car al yr long?
- u plan to do track days?

same boat as u, last yr. I picked evo....in term of performance, no question evo is better. no just straight line, but on the road course. for u r reference, sports compactcar magzine did a comparsion between evo, 911 carrare s4, s4, m3, and vishnu modified evo with $4g upgrades. stock evo is bit slow than 911 on the road course. but vishnu killed all the field with very minor and inexpensive mods. from personal experience, I did a few track days with local bmw club. my car is totally stock. ran with e46 m3 people with simliar of amount track experience, i was consistently faster. also there are stis and another evo onl the track againist m3. they were also faster than m3s. it could be drivers, other factor....but just look at the spec. m3 is heavier, less torque, and not all wheel drive.

 

had both, and loved them both. if you get the M3 absolutly get the perfomance pack with the CSL brakes, 19s, quicker steering ratio. that is key. the standard steering is too slow on the m3 and that is a big advantage for the evo. if you are going to mod, the evo hands down. evo is infinitely more responsive to mods. M3: 15K for cams, airbox, software, full exhaust nets you only 50hp, and FI is no better. for the track a IX MR will probably be quicker even on high horsepower tracks like the glen. BUT the M3 is a very balanced, forgiving car. when driven at limit you steer it as much with the throttle, as you do the steering wheel. engine is great on the m3 also. loves to rev, sounds great, amazing throttle response in performance mode. i miss the sound of the exhaust echoing off highway dividers when i would heel-toe downshift. overall all i think the evo is just more fun though.

 

for the record: m3 csl on the nuerburg ring 7.50 (sport auto test meg)
lancer evo 7: 300hp. 8:25 (same driver, same test)

admittedly there is a tire issue.

...btw: i just test drove & bought a mr evo9 today. will pick the car up next friday...anybody in boston to help me with my first things?

me happy.....

boost gauge only scales up 15 psi though, ( i hit 13-14 in forth once)...what happends on tuning?

 

^^^but the MR boost guage reads in ATM not PSI. i don't understand your question.

 

..oh me stupido.... then fifteen was 1.5 BAR (!)
as was the temp gauge in celsius......

I should think before i write.....

 

From a tech's point of view the M3 is not as sturdy,the motor is close to being maxed out.New M3 owners have said the cars handling at the track is deceiving compared to the 1st and 2nd generation models.The M3 platform has issues with cracked rear floorpans,fit and finish issues at the body lines.M3 has a sweet sound and good handling on the street,can be tricky in the wet.Also expensive to modify.Proper preventive maintenance will make just about every car last.

 

I disagree. Not only do Evos handle better out of the box than the M3, but they are cheaper to modify; much cheaper. You can stomp an M3 for nothing in an Evo.

If you want luxury with some sport, get an M3. If you want something that's geared more towards performance, then you can't go wrong with the Evo.

Pick your poison. Is it gonna be performance, or luxury?

 

yeah i agree sinister, The evo is a much better performer and cheaper but then you have the m3 which is more luxury. So it all comes down to your personal opinion of what you want.

 

Hey I have owned both. I had a 2003 M3 SMG that ended up hevely modified (dinan s2 tc klein rigid mount, HRE 546s) ect. I now also have a 2006 MR that is also undergoing extreem mods. so ask away, but you are comaring apples to oranges. both are amazing cars

 

Depends on what you want to do with $20,000, spend it on the difference between the price of the MR and M3 and spend the change waxing your M3 regularly, or modify the EVO and run about 20 track days in the next year.

 

I disagree, those were my two finalists, and the m3 in question was the zcp. in the end after driving the m3 i didn't like the gear box, and the motor was pretty much maxed out on hp unless you have some serious cash and ***** to modify a $55,000 car with about $20,000+ in parts and labor.

so now after its all said and done your most likely in your car for over $80,000 cause we all know misc. **** adds up. i know the dinan says that they will cover the car and it won't void your warranty but that's bull (just check out the m3 forums). so yes the m3 is a great car and if i could leave my car stock i would of bought one but that's not in my nature......so i got the evo.......awd, turbo......i got to go change my pants now

 

u think M3's dont have problems, think again. Every car will and if there is an m3 site u can bet ur @ss someone will complain. Like they all said u want luxury go with m3, u want cheaper,fast, very easy to mod car go with evo but to be honest they are both in 2 very different classes. But dont get me wrong the M3 is also a great performance car as well but u will pay for it and when it breaks down u will pay for it cuz u cant those part at checker. The M3 is the ultimate car for me and one day i will get one and if i were u and had the money i would get the m3, jsut my .02.

 

LOL!

 

M3

 

I cant help you... I would get both! I would probably get the evo first m3 second