Re: 2001 M3 vs. 2000+ Vette ? (archive)

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: > If you go with the vette, you will sacrifice, among other things, handling. The difference in the handling between the m3 and the vette goes way way beyond "suspension upgrades". It just depends on what's important to you in a automobile, and your driving habits.

: I'm not sure what you mean by sacrificing handling. I'd bet both cars handle well, the driver more then makes up for any difference. I've seen very good drivers in Neons best far superior cars in autocross being driven by lesser drivers. Seems to me attending driving school would be more of a benefit then a minor difference in handling.

That's exactly what I mean.
I'm not saying a m3 will necessarily beat a vette in autocross; naturally the driver makes a difference. But with a better handling car, the driver doesn't have to do as much. Sure, going to racing school will enable you to combat situations like oversteering, bodyroll etc, but that's exactly what you don't have to do in a better handling car (vs a inferior car)! Knowledge of race-car driving is different from actually having to practise it right?
Bottom line, the driver can certainly compensate for any difficiences in the handling attitude of the automobile, but given a choice, would you want to have to do that? As an extreme example, say you are Michael Schumacher, would you rather drive a car that handles like a hummer or a F1 racer?
Having said all that, I'd be incline to agree that the differences in handling between the m3 and the vette is probably minor when it comes to everyday driving for most people. Personally, I can still feel a difference which is significant enough for me to want the m3 over the vette (among other reasons). That is still each person's preference...
One final note, don't forget the infamous article where the m3 was pit against the likes of ferraris and porsches, and was voted the "best handling car for over $30 grand" :-)

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