Ever since the E92 M3 was replaced with the new F82 M4 and the world caught wind of the specs of the new model, comparisons started pouring in. Sure, for the sake of presumptions alone, comparisons on paper stand at times but they mean absolutely nothing in the real world.
That’s because in the rear world the performance of a car is directly proportionate to the skill of the driver. You can have all the power and torque in the world but if you don’t know how to handle them (that’s especially true for rear-wheel drive cars) it’s all useless. Furthermore, it’s all really dangerous as well!
In the video below we have the two culprits going at it on the Nurburgring. The chasing E92 M3 seems to be properly prepared for a track with the interior completely stripped out, racing seats, short shift and a full roll cage in it. At the same time, the M4 seems stock. How do they compare?
The specs show the M4 as the clear winner
On paper the M3 shouldn’t stand a chance. The old car uses a naturally aspirated 4-liter V8 making 420 HP and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft) of torque. It’s also heavier in its stock guise, by around 160 kg (350 lbs) depending on each car.
The M4, on the other hand, uses a 3-liter twin-turbo inline 6-cylinder setup making 431 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque. It comes with either a manual 6-speed or a 7-speed DCT gearbox, depending on your preference. As you can see, the M4 seems like the favorite here but, as we said, the skill of the driver is essential here along with how familiar he/she is with the track.
In the video below, we can clearly notice that the M3 driver is not pushing his car to the limit. Most of the time, he stays behind the M4 on purpose, probably to admire its looks on the track. At the same time, the other driver doesn’t seem as skilled as the one in the pursuing car.
PS: the sound of that S65 V8 is still one of the best in the business!
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