Just a quick comparison from my 500 mile drive home yesterday.
M3 is an ‘08 manual, with 130,000 miles (sold to my brother).
SS is a ‘17 manual, with 1300 miles (not a typo - I’ll double the miles these first few weeks...).
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Low-speed acceleration: SS
High-speed acceleration: M3, just barely (and this is just a feeling)
Throttle response: M3, but SS is quite good
Transmission: SS (yes, really)
Rev-match satisfaction: M3 (revs so fast!)
Pedal placement: M3 (might have to get an aftermarket solution for SS to bridge the gap)
Handling: M3 (slight edge)
Steering feel: M3, but SS is quite good
Ride: SS (MagneRide is Magic Ride - just eats the miles on a road trip)
Braking: SS - big Brembo binders!
Visibility: M3 (slight edge)
Seats: M3
Interior volume: SS - it’s a significantly bigger car with a roomy back seat
Interior materials quality: M3
Interior tech: SS (2008 M3s have old version of iDrive)
Customizability of dynamic drive settings: M3
Heads-up display: SS has one
Ergonomics (other than seats): both quite good, but I like the SS’s steering wheels controls better - never liked cruise on the separate stalk in the M3
Sound: calling this a tie - both very good, but very different. SS’s off-throttle burble is great, but nothing sings high in the rev range like the S65...
Exterior design: M3 (personal preference, of course)
Weight: M3 is lighter by 200-300 lbs, but SS drives “smaller” than it is
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These are both very, very good cars. I’m very fortunate to have owned them both; looking forward to the SS feeling more like it’s actually “mine” soon.
