Prizefight: 2008 BMW M3 vs. 2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG

Round 2: Performance

Car	Wayne	Antuan	Brian	Average for round
2008 BMW M3 Convertible DCT	5 Love the DCT, which is actually adjustable for harder or softer shifts. Other nice acronyms are EDC and MDM--all part of what makes the M3 handle fantastically well.	5 The BMW has exactly the right amount of power to elicit ear-to-ear grins, but not so much that the vehicle feels unbalanced. The M3's suspension is the reference against which all luxury sports cars should be judged.	4 What a motor! The DCT gearbox is a huge improvement over the SMG, but still carries some balkiness in everyday driving. If you really just drive on the track, ignore this gripe.	5
2009 Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG	4 The roar of this engine leaves no doubt about its power. Responsive handling makes the twisties fun, and the seven-speed automatic does its job, albeit with less panache than the DCT.	5 The C63 is an absolute torque monster, which makes it more fun to drive at low speeds. Handling is slightly less precise than that of the M3, but the Merc makes up with loads of grip, tons of power, and the sexiest V-8 growl I've ever heard.	5 Power delivery is obscene and the exhaust note is second to none. Yeah, it's an automatic, but a REALLY good one with plenty of cogs. With my bias toward real-world driving, it's not a liability.	5

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