is the new GTO supposed to go after M3's?

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Dec 31, 2002 | 10:21 AM

#16

BigDarknFast

Registered User

Joined: Nov 2000

Posts: 2,139

From: Commerce, mi, USA

Quote:

I'd bet that you have never driven an M3. I haven't had the pleasure of driving the newest one yet...but I base my impressions on the last one.

I can say this much...if someone drives an M3 and doesn't feel absolutely blown away by it, or worse considers it a "turd", then I must conclude that they don't have a "gearhead" bone in their body.

Everything on it works darned near perfectly. The steering, the awesome brakes, the precise and smooth shifter (which is, BTW, positioned perfectly), the effortless power and smoothness of it's I6, the incredible dynamics and sophistication of it's chassis. All wrapped in a high quality interior.

I'm not terribly impressed overall with the M3. Sure - it puts down great numbers. I imagine the fit and finish are great. But why an I6? Those things sound like a blender. The M3 suffers from the I-look-like-every-other-BMW syndrome. The price tag is obscene. There have been major quality problems including catastrophic engine failures, which have forced BMW to extend the M3 powertrain warranty to 100k miles for owners. I recently checked over at edmunds.com and the street value of a 2001 M3 has dropped $10k in the last year alone.

For these and other reasons I believe the new GTO will lure away a lot of M3 and 3 series intenders.

Dec 31, 2002 | 12:22 PM

#17

guionM

Registered User

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 13,713

From: The Golden State

Maybe not going after BMW per se, but more along the lines of offering a BMW M3 type car at a far lower price. Ford went along this tract with Cobra.

People who want to buy BMWs will buy BMWs, regardless as to how good and cheaper an alternative is. But there are people who wouldn't mind having a M3 if it wasn't so ridiculously overpriced. Those are the ones who I think will be GTO's targeted customers.

Jan 2, 2003 | 05:54 PM

#18

MunchE

Registered User

Joined: Jan 2002

Posts: 599

From: Inland Empire, CA

Quote:

Originally posted by guionM
Maybe not going after BMW per se, but more along the lines of offering a BMW M3 type car at a far lower price. Ford went along this tract with Cobra.

People who want to buy BMWs will buy BMWs, regardless as to how good and cheaper an alternative is. But there are people who wouldn't mind having a M3 if it wasn't so ridiculously overpriced. Those are the ones who I think will be GTO's targeted customers.

As usual, guionM says what I want to say, but sooner and better.

Damn you.