I would never have thought about comparing these 2 cars.
Honda NSX-R vs BMW M3
| Category | BMW M3 (E46) | Honda NSX-R |
|---|---|---|
| Engine layout | 3.2 l R6 | 3.2 l V6 |
| Max power (ps / bhp) | 343 / 338 | 294 / 290 |
| Max torque (Nm / lb-ft) | 365 / 269 | 304 / 224 |
| Curb weight (kg / lb) | 1570 / 3461 | 1261 / 2780 |
| Power / tonne (ps / bhp) | 218 / 215 | 233 / 230 |
Lap Times
| Track | BMW M3 (E46) | Honda NSX-R |
|---|---|---|
| Nürburgring Nordschleife | 8:22.00 | 7:56.73 |
| Tsukuba | 1:06.82 | 1:04.20 |
| Hockenheim Short | 1:16.30 | 1:14.60 |
Acceleration
| Speed & distance | BMW M3 (E46) | Honda NSX-R |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - 80 kph | 3.5 s | 3.5 s |
| 0 - 100 kph | 4.8 s | 4.4 s |
| 0 - 140 kph | 8.5 s | 8.6 s |
| 0 - 180 kph | 13.7 s | 14.3 s |
| 0 - 200 kph | 16.8 s | 18.2 s |
| 1000 m | 24.1 s | 33.2 s |
| 60 - 100 kph (4) | 5.7 s | 4.9 s |
| 60 - 100 kph (5) | 7.0 s | 6.1 s |
| 80 - 120 kph (5) | 6.5 s | 6.2 s |
| 80 - 120 kph (6) | 9.2 s | 8.3 s |
| Est. 100 - 200 kph | 12.6 s | 13.6 s |
| 0 - 100 mph | 11.2 s | 11.2 s |
| Est. 1/8 mile | 9.5 s @ 90.7 mph | 9.1 s @ 93.2 mph |
| 1/4 mile | 13.0 s | 12.7 s |
General performance
| Category | BMW M3 (E46) | Honda NSX-R |
|---|---|---|
| Top speed | 280 kph (174 mph) | 280 kph (174 mph) |
| Est. max acceleration | 0.59 g (6 m/s²) | 0.67 g (7 m/s²) |
| Fuel economy | 7.9 l/100 km (30 mpg US / 36 UK) | 13.9 l/100 km (17 mpg US / 20 UK) |
| 100 kph - 0 | 35 m (114 ft) | 35 m (115 ft) |
Summary
| Category | BMW M3 (E46) | Honda NSX-R |
|---|---|---|
| Track Performance | 89 | 100 |
| Straight line speed | 100 | 92 |
| Overall | 96 | 100 |
Verdict
NSX-R is the fastest by a small margin.
This comparison has been viewed 6.3k times.
Acceleration graph
Frenzyhero 10y ago
I wonder why the laptimes are that close at Top Gear but so far at Tsukuba.
BR2+ 10y ago
These things were incredibly cheap in 2003 in the UK, 55k starting price, Although 290Bhp doesnt seem like alot since you can get a 20k Nissan with that, But back then it was still a god amount, And even by todays standards it will keep up with a GT 5.0. But this was back when cars were cars, Not computers.
E92 10y ago
By the way the NSX aftermarket price is much higher as well ! That should be considered 2.Both car is close to perfection but Honda has the reliability (and yes that counts a lot !)
FastestLaps 17y ago
If I was in Japan, I would probably take the M3 as well (but still not very likely). But since I am not in Japan and BMW 3-series (including all kinds of M cars) are popping up on every corner, I would take the NSX in an instant. Without even thinking about it.
And objectively, the NSX is a better sportscar than E46 M3. The NSX can be even considered a supercar.
