Settle down Francis.
I claimed to be an expert at nothing. I am only sharing my experience, just as you shared yours.
The 2005 M3 I drove felt considerably quicker than my car. I don't know how to say it any other way.
Heh.. I think it's a little more than that. I own an E46. Not the M3 though. There is a rather large difference between the Mazda 3 and the BMW. I won't further bastardize this thread other than state the differences are greater than the name alone. I like my Mazda more. The bimmer is a better trip car. The Mazda is more fun and more visceral IMO.
1987 BMW M3 8.1 16.1
1988 BMW M3 7.1 15.4
1995 BMW M3 6.2 14.6
1995 BMW M3 Lightweight 5.3 13.9
1996 BMW M3 Automatic 6.7 15.3
1996 BMW M3 Luxury 6.6 14.9
1998 BMW M3 Sedan 5.5 14.0
2001 BMW M3 Coupe (U.S.) 4.8 n/a
2001 BMW M3 Convertible (U.S.) 5.4 n/a
2002 BMW M3 4.7 13.4
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/13891/2001-bmw-m3.html
2001 BMW M3 4.7, 13.4 @106
http://www.caranddriver.com/shortroadtests/2029/bmw-m3-convertible.html
2002 BMW M3 Convertible 5.1, 13.7@104
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/2368/specialty-file-bmw-m3-gtr.html
BMW M3 GTR 3.4, 11.4@127
http://www.caranddriver.com/longroadtests/4227/bmw-m3.html
BMW M3 4.5, 13.1@107
The root of Haltech's comments stem from this thread:
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=123679614
I don't think it's a matter of "resident experts", I think it's simply a matter of having some time behind the wheel of an M3 and being completely honest.
You're the only fella I am aware of that can out launch an M3 in an S3..
You must be an amazing driver!
I'm sure he got bogged down when his engine started to moan is when I started pulling hence he wanted to go again because his DSC was on he said . Didn't know they had DSC ? Well anyway today I've noticed that my speed3 doesn't bog down anymore it cuts boost but not like it hit the brakes or something like it used to do when I first got it.
I took it . I won, wasn't about to give him a second chance : ) a tactical move