F80 ZCP vs E92M vs Z4MC vs 981 Cayman S

[BGR]

Hey All,

I finally had a chance to get some track driving in on my relatively new M3 with comp pack. I know a lot of this has been said/compared before, but hopefully someone finds my thoughts entertaining/helpful. I currently own the Z4MC and F80, and previously had owned the e92 and Porsche. Be prepared, because this is a fairly long summary.



Cars
2016 M3: Competition Pack, 6MT, bone stock, stock Pilot Super Sports
2011 M3 Coupe: Competition Pack, 6MT, KW lowering springs, OTS Pilot Super Sports
2006 Z4 M Coupe: Dedicated track car, stripped, stock powertrain, full coilovers/camber, frozen rotors/race pads/lines/fluid, R888
2014 981 Cayman S: PASM, PTV, 6MT, 20" Carrera wheels, bone stock, OTS Pilot Super Sports


Grip/Chassis
I need to start by saying how impressed I am with both the front and rear axle grip on the F80. Unfortunately I don't have comparable time in a non-ZCP, but there is some voodoo magic going on with this chassis, even in bone stock form.

Initial turn in and bite is impossibly high, and the way it puts power down coming out of the corner is ridiculous. Where the e92, and even the 981 would understeer, the F80 just grips and grips. You can adjust your line if needed without feeling like you are asking a DMV clerk to do you a favor. The Porsche turns in a little quicker, but doesn't feel as balanced and planted through the corner (and dat mid-engine snap oversteer!).

Coming out of a corner, on the e92 I could feel the M-Diff modulating and adjusting to get power down. On the F80, it is MUCH smoother and more predictable. I am guessing some of the rear grip is attributable to wider tires, but the Porsche had I think 295s in the back and didn't feel that planted. The Cayman did better than the e92 but not to the level of the F80.

All that said, wringing the Z4MC coupe around a track is just giggly fun. With -3 degrees front camber (and aggressive toe/caster), all you have to do is lean and the car will turn and hold. Coming out of a corner, the F80 still has the edge though.

Winner: F80


Power
I love the torque down low to push the F80 around, but I miss the way the e92 builds steam to a screaming top end. The Z4MC and 981CS actually feel similar in terms of power/power delivery, but on the track I would probably choose the feel/sound/throttle/delivery of the S65. I would absolutely love that motor in the F80 chassis. It is hard to beat getting 30mpg (calculated!) with the S55 on the highway though.

Winner: Tie between F80 and e92M


Steering Feel
Bah. I have been such a hydraulic steering rack snob, but honestly both the Cayman and F80 are more than good enough. When I think of bad EPS racks I've driven, I think of the Subaru WRX, and almost every new Audi/VW. The Porsche edges the F80 out in terms of natural on/center feel, but not by much. Maybe VAG should trickle some of that steering tech down...

Winner: Tie between all four


Brakes
Not terribly impressed (nor disappointed I suppose) with initial bite and feel in the F80 (steel rotors). Yes, they stop the car well, but I got some fade. I am going to bleed and put some better fluid and pads on to see if that improves things. That said, they are better than both the e92 AND the Porsche (Porsche faded pretty bad surprisingly).

Unfortunately for the rest of this group, the brakes on the Z4MC could slow a 747 down repeatedly and without fade. Aftermarket in this area is key.

Winner: Z4MC


Fun To Drive
It kills me to say this, but I prefer the e92 for fun factor over the F80. A lot of it has to do with the engine/throttle response I'm sure, but better visibility out of the e92 helps. The F80 seems almost "too good," as if it were designed on a computer and without fault. Sometimes, that little bit of fault is charming, engaging, and fun (unless it is in a Kia).

That said, Porsche wins this category hands down. The combination of its N/A flat six feel and sound, smaller size and weight, and driving position are just a few of the reasons. In the Porsche, you feel like you are part of the car, while the BMWs you feel like you are piloting the car.

Winner: 981 Cayman S



In summary, the F80 makes for an awesome, comfortable, fairly efficient, very practical daily driver, that is a true weapon on the track. It is perfect for what I need now, and will be for the foreseeable future. It is so good that I am actually considering selling the Z4MC track car and taking the F80 to the handful of events I attend each year. If I didn't need four doors though, the decision would be a lot tougher.

Maybe I'm wrong, but the only similar cars I can think of on the market with four doors, over 400hp, and with an available manual transmission is the Chevy SS, M5, and soon to be (maybe...) Alfa. I would choose the F80 8 days a week over the others.

[trey100]

Very nice summary - thanks for posting!

[W///]

Fantastic summary, thank you! All 4 cars are relevant to me and would love to own all of them (got an e92, will order F80 CP soon enough).

A Porsche will happen in the very distant future

[qspring]

Thanks for your review! Funny - The way you feel about the P-car is the same way I feel about my M4. I love P-cars, hopefully it will be my next purchase!

[Xtabi]

I love that Cayman! That will be my weekender pick one day.

Thanks for the insight.

[BwoodBMW]

Pics of the MC!

[BGR]

Originally Posted by BwoodBMW

Pics of the MC!

It was the one where a gentleman had a 100+ page build thread on it...

[BGR]

Track day

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Interior

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Interior