Is the new 370Z faster then the E46 M3

01-06 M3 coupe_____________09 370Z
3.2 I-6 6spd man 3246cc______3.7 V-6 6spd man 3696cc
333 hp @ 7900 rpm __________332 hp @ 7000 rpm
262 tq @ 4900 rpm___________270 tq @ 5200 rpm
Redline 8000 rpm_____________Redline 7500 rpm
0-60mph 4.5-4.8_____________0-60mph 4.9
1/4mile 13.1 at 107mph-______13.4 at 105mph
13.5 at 106mph
0-130mph 20.1-21.2__________0-130mph 22.0
0-140mph __________________26.9
0-150mph __________________33.7
3,415 pounds________________3,373 pounds
Wieght distribution 50.1/49.9___55/45
mpg 16 city 24 highway_______mpg 18 city 26 highway
Now its 14 22
fueleconomy.gov

The M3 could be faster to its top speed

Pros
You get a good back seats the Z has no back seat period
Better brakes
.5 less CC
cast iron block
1 more hp
Better to look at a true head tuner

Cons
Lower mpg, but the observed mpg is better on the bmw
-8 Torque
+42 pounds

Conclusion
A used E46 M3 is still better car to buy then all these Infiniti Nissan G,Z cars and the skyline was beat by the new E92 M3 and also by a 4dr the E90 M3 sedan

Car and Driver Nissan 370Z dowload spec sheet
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/japanese_performance/2009_nissan_370z_road_test

Road and Track 2001 Bmw M3 dowload data panel
http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=3&article_id=142&page_number=1

Car and Driver 2001 Bmw M3 dowloads long term specs
http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/sports_car_central/2001_bmw_m3_long_term_road_test

Bench racing and math is all well and good, but step away from them for a moment. Real world application, the numbers are far to close to call. It will be a drivers race, really down to the driver's skill. They are faster than the Zs and Gs that came out in their respective years, but the 370s are damned fast, and so are the G37s. I love the E90/92. I want an E92 M. I would take one over the GTR. But the GTR loosing to the M3 in C&D was horse shit. It won because it had a bigger trunk? WTF?

Yea the GTR had better track times and seats 4. Its the faster car even though it weighed alot. But for the money the M3 would be my choice.