Porsche 911 GT3 vs BMW M4 CSL: Track Battle! | 4K

We haven't seen the CSL badge in 20 years, but can BMW's latest offering stack up against Porsche's GT3 variant of the 911? Rory Reid and Alex Kersten put the cars head to head and find out.

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[ludda]

The GT3 with a manual might be the best car on sale

[I-gs]

I’ve always thought 911’s look too ordinary, but that GT3 just looks epic.

[davidbillberg]

33 seconds ago let's goooo.... I'll take the Porsche.

[khetheloshabangu]

No way Rory is comfortable with his seatbelt like that but the car makes you forget that 😅

[StevenYanni]

I love that you were on the top gear test track. This should be the top gear we have now. Maybe with Chris as well

[gw]

The fact that there's an incarnation of the current M4 being seriously pitted against a GT3 shows just how much M cars have left behind their traditional competitors.

[Marc-ncyv]

I feel for you guys, always cold and raining. So hard to do track car reviews. Great job

[sesvid]

Power/torque vs weight is one thing. But don't forget to consider aero drag, which the GT3 has more of it. This may be the main reason for the M4 being able to catch up with the GT3 on higher straightline speeds.

[fisalalmannai]

Honestly, I’m here just to see more of the gt3

[QeeQee]

M4 CSL in US marker now is $300, 000 which is completely ludicrous!

[BrendanEvan]

As long as you could actually get either of these I think the weight alone makes it an easy choice for me! GT3!
But I’ve never driven the BMW so who knows for sure

[christophernissen]

I know most reviewers put these two against each other, I don't believe it should be.

[Paul-uetn]

Porsche are on top of the game in recent years. They just feel like they were designed from the outset to be a sports car, as opposed to a multi platform car that was designed to take the family to the zoo, supermarket, commuting etc as comfortably and cheaply as possible, but with sports car components and performance added to it.

[TKSouthAfrica]

I am just impressed that we can now talk about a bmw and a porsche as real competitors, well done bmw for pushing a normal road car to GT3 standards I would go with the bmw just for its sheer driving pleasure and most importantly ITS A LIMITED ADDITION it may be expensive but compared to the GT3 it has better value for money

[nimish]

I am not sure who is gonna buy CSL over freaking GT3

[jean-pierred]

Yes, the GT3 is the better car but it costs twice as much in the US in today’s market. Not a really fair comparison. The 911 carrera GTS is the one to compare it to.
Also I would love to see you guys test on dry roads for once…

[AutoalexCars]

I actually had to throw my knickers in the bin after this shoot - ruined.

[grabir]

Which one generates the most error codes.

[OkulSmoK]

Great test! Can't remember any gen of GT3 losing duel, maybe except of 991 to 458 speciale. But to me it's always been Porsche.

[MOTOMAD]

Great review! Shame the UK press M4 CSL does not have the proper CSL seats in it. They make a difference (Once set up for you) and are far better than the Porsche "918" buckets, in my opinion (I own both). I don't think anybody would buy a CSL instead of a GT3, I have love how completely different they are to drive. The GT3 disappears around you, and it feels like you're flying along the road, whereas the CSL demands constant thought, mainly managing traction and speed, as on the road it's a LOT faster than the GT3 in real situations like 40 mph out of a tight corner into a short straight where the GT3 will hit 80 mph and the CSL is at 95 mph. Overtaking is more effortless with all the torque and less likely to offend people in the CSL as it is very quiet. The GT3 is much easier on its tires, I took my CSL on track (Thruxton) on worn Cup 2 R's, and it shredded the rears to the canvass in 7 laps, but wow, what a fun seven laps!