The Lightning Lap, 2007: Part III of IV - Car and Driver

Round 2 of our performance benchmark at Virginia International Raceway, LL2: Cars $30,000-$60,000.

The Lightning Lap, 2007 - Feature http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/features_class...

The Lightning Lap, 2006 - Feature http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/sports_car_cen...

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• VIR
• virginia
• international
• raceway
• race
• track
• test
• c/d
• car
• and
• driver
• magazine
• caranddriver.com
• speedway
• chevrolet
• corvette
• bmw
• z4
• coupe
• 335i
• ford
• mustang
• shelby
• cobra
• gt500

[CJDUBstang]

@derbigpr500 hmmmm "derbigpr500" must mean total jackass, cause unless you are dumb or stoned, you'd realize that the S197 gen mustang has been laying a beat down on the 997 on the professional race track since 2005. That's spec cars, little different from the factory. Second, C/D are hostile to ford, always have been, why would they say a GT500 is as fast if it wasn't? Thirdly, and you're not going to know this: the track is one of the toughest technical tracks in the world: VIR "Grand" config.

[derbigpr500]

Also, what kind of a stupid show would test cars from 30-60k dollars...those cars arent in same class... comparing 3 series and Corvette? Might as well compare motorcycle with a bus.... why not compare cars from same class? This is a typical american show made to fool stupid morons who watch it, and make them think a certain car is better than other based on COMLETELY useless and unfair tests. Yes, 3 series costs as much as Corvette (and its worth it), but corvette is a sports car, 3 is sedan

[derbigpr500]

@CJDUBstang Yea, driven by american driven on american track on american show.... 997 is in different league.... Mustang is a piece of shit.

[MCJustinG]

well to those ppl who are talking about the 1 series and 3 series. just say, who cares! both are beautiful cars and they both symbolize BMW power. ///M power!!!!! :D

[MCJustinG]

@shircle i think its the driver.

[CJDUBstang]

lol GT500 same time as the 997 twin turbo..BAHAHAHAHA

[oldirtybastard213]

@shircle its not .... 135i is lighter and obviously faster. the 135i is from the M3 land.

Who ever said the 335 is faster needs to check himself

[comali2212]

The 3 series in BMW cars are the best in performance, in driving and the beauty of their design.

[shircle]

yeah thanks, i probably should ask them. i compared the two from the 2007 LL with the 335i and the 2008 LL with the 135i

[porsche911sbs]

well the 135i also gets worse gas mileage, so I'd image that it's gear ratios could be shorter (which affect performance). or its turbos could be tuned differently. the 335i I would think has a tighter suspension. In fact, it could be none of these things or all of them (or a mix). in any case, the answer to that question is probably complex, why don't you ask BMW?

by the way, what exactly is the 335i three seconds faster in (in other words, where are you getting this from)?