[drivethemachine]

Just theoretically speaking, if (if!!) you were to upgrade from a 2 series to an M car (excluding the M2 for now), would you take an M3 or an M4?

I personally prefer the shape of the M3..... but, the M4 looks more badass. To me the M3 says "drive me", and the M4 says "I'm fast".

(And then there is the M4 convertible, which looks even better in my opinion.)
Would you consider anything else? A C7 maybe? Or a 911 base model?

[kd0t]

M3. Simply because of its wider rear fenders!

[Cyberdemon]

A base model 911 starts at $90k, not sure that factors into the equation unless you're getting the M4 fully loaded with every option and aftermarket feature possible.

I cross shopped the M3 but in reality it was more car than I needed, and there's no fun to have a 400hp+ car that you can never use because you're sitting in commuter traffic. Realistically I would've taken the 228i coupe over all of them, but my wife and I wanted a convertible and the extra power makes up for the extra weight.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

I cross shopped the M3 but in reality it was more car than I needed, and there's no fun to have a 400hp+ car that you can never use because you're sitting in commuter traffic.

+1

It goes beyond commuter traffic. With 425 HP under the hood, you can go from joy to jail in a matter of seconds. In other words, all of that extra power is not all that useful in the everyday world of driving on public roads and highways. Even the M235i can get you into serious, go-to-jail trouble, real quick.

And then I read about the 600+ HP monsters from various manufacturers and think, where can you really use the power? Track, I guess.

No thanks. I'm happy with 320 HP and 32 MPG on the highway, thank you very much.

[overcoil]

I'd really like a M3 wagon.

[BentZero]

No tracks near me, so I'd feel like the car is going to waste. If I HAD to pick one I'd go for the M3. The 4 series just looks too big to me since I prefer my coupes to be small. M3 looks good from a proportions standpoint.

[Merc for hire]

M3 because it's $1000 cheaper than M4.
Both look very similar, same front end and rear end. Mechanically identical.
I'll prefer the 4 door in this case.

But given the choice of M235i vs 335i, M235i wins. Cheaper, lighter, faster.

[SteveInfante]

M3, no comparison. The M4 is like an expensive stripper with no hips. On the other hand you can tell that the M3 was made for the business from the back. And no, I'm not drunk. Ha!

[DanG]

Neither. I prefer my M235i. I could have bought either one but they are too big for my taste.

[uberspeed]

CPO 911, preferably an S. If you need more comfort, then the M3.

[chattanooga240]

One of the rare times in history that the sedan looks better than the coupe, so the 3 all the way.

But the way the prices are looking, the 2 is going to be the better buy.

[xantdieselx]

M3. BMW got the proportions wrong on the 4 series.

[blanquito]

Originally Posted by xantdieselx

M3. BMW got the proportions wrong on the 4 series.

+1. I typically like coupes but the M3 grew on me and I found the scales tipped more to the M3 only as of recently. If I were ordering tomorrow, M3 in YMB.

[B_Rice]

I look at both cars all day long and I can say for sure that the m3 definitely has more presence just because of how much the rear fenders come out compared to the non-M models.

[squintz]

M3 has too many doors... So M4.

[pz619]

M3, it's a better looking car in my opinion. Looks like business.

Anecdotally, I've heard the M3 drives slightly better, but I'm sure we're splitting hairs at this point.

[qnet]

I'd pick the M4. I've always prefered the coupes over the sedans in the M series.

[gunnersfan10]

I'm in the M4 camp as well. That car just looks mean in person and I love coupes. I'll have mine in Yas Marina Blue with black interior thank you very much.

[huma]

M3, prefer sedans over coupes. Would've purchased a 4 dour 2 series if they built one.

[mc3456]

Originally Posted by drivethemachine

Just theoretically speaking, if (if!!) you were to upgrade from a 2 series to an M car (excluding the M2 for now), would you take an M3 or an M4?

I personally prefer the shape of the M3..... but, the M4 looks more badass. To me the M3 says "drive me", and the M4 says "I'm fast".

(And then there is the M4 convertible, which looks even better in my opinion.)
Would you consider anything else? A C7 maybe? Or a 911 base model?

My GF has an M235i and I have an M3. First off, the M3 looks better than the M4 in my opinion. Secondly, I am always impressed by her tuned M235i when I drive it. Honestly, I'd be pretty satisfied if I drove an M235i instead of my M3. My only beef is with the 2's steering. Prefer the steering on the M3 by 5x.

[Transfer]

Neither. Watch the new Motor Trend head to head Camaro vs M4 and you'll go all flaccid for the M.

I'd go back to an E9x M3.

[ABPReader]

M3 on a daily basis baby please ! If it's alpine white or silverstone 2, it's the perfect sedan
But the M4 looks also great !