Tangerine

Car manufactures are independent from traffic laws, by that I mean horsepower isn't regulated. Whatever helps car sell and that power numbers which is what people are interested in. Cars are getting heavier because of safety devices and electronic gadgets so they need a boost in power to make them a bit quicker. And I think there will be a limit. A car can only take so much poewr before it becomes out of balance.

KKelly

I believe the new M3 is less than 100lbs heavier than its predecessor. If they offered a stripped down car with no electronic nannies, navigation, etc. everyone would complain that you don't get as much for your money and Lexus offers way more for the base price. It is too bad but the market demands it. The people that want a new M3 lightweight or similar car from another company are in the minority. These cars have become quite nice luxury cars with some sport thrown in rather than a modern E30 M3.

Query: does the Benz come with a manual? Doubt it. It would not be on my list for that reason alone.