The BMW M8 Competition is, at its core, a Grand Tourer used to conquer continents in utmost luxury – this is true with the normal M8 and the lesser M850i. With the M8 Competition, however, BMW tuned everything up to eleven so that the car can embarrass some cars outside of its class, notably supercars.
Supercars are machines engineered to do one thing brilliantly, to be exciting. With this goal in mind, manufacturers who build supercars are usually forced to compromise in various aspects of ‘livability’ such as making the suspension stiffer for better handling, sacrificing standard interior options for better weight distribution, and not insulating the occupants from all the noises present when driving a car fast. These are all good points for when a car is hooned around a racetrack, but when it comes to driving the car back home, the lack of comfort may become annoying.
This is where the BMW M8 Competition comes in. It is a super GT car with supercar power and speed. The M8 Competition retails at $130,000 before options, but that still makes it a bargain in terms of performance compared to these more expensive supercars.
10 Audi R8 V10 Performance ($143,000+)
Since the Audi R8’s introduction in 2008, it has always been considered “the thinking man’s supercar” due to its easy driving style, according to Jeremy Clarkson. Not only does it provide stress-free driving, but it offers everyday usability. With the current (and possibly last) iteration of the R8, the philosophy hasn’t changed.
The R8 V10 Performance has a 5.2L naturally aspirated V10 making 600 hp and 428 lb-ft of torque, mated to a 7-speed double-clutch transmission, sending power to all four wheels. It is blisteringly quick and the engine howls as the revs are building.
The M8 Competition, however, does the job of daily driving better. It is more luxurious, more economical, and makes just as good a noise from its V8 with the sports exhaust fitted.
9 Honda/Acura NSX ($170,000+)
The Honda/Acura NSX is a car that many people have been waiting a long time for. When it was reintroduced back in 2016 as the everyday supercar, it caused quite a stir due to its hybrid drivetrain. It doesn’t hold its own in regards to interior build quality especially against its German and British rivals, although the exterior stands in no way back against the competitors.
This makes the M8 Competition hands-downs still the better choice.
8 Lamborghini Huracan ($205,000+)
The Lamborghini Huracan is the name everyone thinks of when the word ‘supercar’ is uttered. It looks awesome, goes like a raging bull, and has a price tag to match. It is a good car for arriving in style but still misses out on the comfort department. It is one of those exclusives that one wants to be seen in on the weekends when the daily driver is taking a break.
The M8 is a car to be seen in and drive every day, making it a better choice. Plus, the M8 isn’t any slower than the Huracan in day-to-day traffic.
7 Porsche 911 Turbo S ($207,000+)
Out of all the options on this list, the 911 Turbo S is probably the most sensible opposition to the M8. It is comfortable, relatively economical, brilliantly made, and supremely fast – both in the 0-60 mph and top speed-wise. It looks great and is considered by many to be the king of the sports car segment (although the Turbo S is faster than most supercars in a drag race).
The only reason to buy the M8 Competition over the 911 Turbo S is because the M8 has a V8. And that is, of course, a good reason.
6 Maserati MC20 ($210,000+)
The Maserati MC20 isn’t even out yet, but the M8 Competition is a better alternative already. The MC20 is Maserati’s new supercar, loosely based on the upcoming Ferrari 296 GTB, and will apparently be more track-focused than its cousin from Maranello.
It features a twin-turbo V6 derived from a Ferrari V8, with similar characteristics as that of the V6 found in the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.
5 McLaren GT ($220,000+)
The McLaren GT is the first car McLaren has built with the focus of luxury and comfort in mind. With that, it features more sound-insulation, fancy leather, and more infotainment than any in the McLaren lineup. It is also much heavier than the other cars, resulting in reviewers criticizing its ‘un-McLaren-like’ handling. It is based on the 720S platform, which is a car that can embarrass a P1 – indicating the issue with it. Making a GT car out of an almost-hypercar compromises it in every way.
The BMW M8 is a car purposely built as a GT car, which makes it the obvious option for what it was designed to do.
4 Ferrari Portofino ($240,000+)
The Ferrari Portofino is the latest in a long line of convertible GT Ferraris. With the introduction of the more recent Ferrari California in 2008, Ferrari opened the market to more ‘affordable’ cars and has been continuing this trend since.
However, with the latest iteration of this philosophy, the Portofino still costs $240,000 before any options have been ticked. This is a lot of money for the ‘entry-level’ Ferrari (if such a thing even exists). For much the same performance and comfort, but for $100,000 less, the M8 Competition is the obvious choice in this one.
3 Ferrari F8 Tributo ($277,000+)
Another Ferrari, but this time the run-of-the-mill option. The F8 Tributo is an evolution of the 488 GTB, with the upgraded drivetrain from the 488 Pista and some restyling on the exterior. Many criticized the car for being a 488 facelift instead of a new Ferrari, and they were all correct.
Whilst the exterior looks more elegant, it seems Ferrari couldn’t decide what the car wanted to be, thus it is rarely talked about. The M8 Competition, on the other hand, is talked about quite often, either because of its performance, or its styling.
2 Aston Martin DBS Superleggera ($315,000+)
The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera is a mouthful to say, but it is a truly amazing car. It is the flagship in the Aston Martin fleet and their most luxurious GT. The car comes with a 5.2L twin-turbo V12 producing 715 hp and 665 lb-ft of torque going to the rear wheels, making it more powerful than a McLaren 720S.
The issue with the DBS is that it has a higher starting price than a 720S. For this reason, and this reason only, the M8 Competition is a more sensible choice.
1 Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series ($325,000+)
The upcoming AMG GT Black Series looks to be the most hardcore car AMG has ever produced. It has the 4.0L twin-turbo V8 from the standard AMG GT; however, it has been completely revamped. It features higher boost from the turbos and the cross-plane crankshaft has been replaced with a flat plane for better performance and a different sound.
The AMG GT Black Series produces 720 hp and 556 lb-ft of torque and has a massive wing on the back. It is brilliant for track-days – as proven by its 06:43:16 lap of the Nurburgring Nordschleife – but lacks the everyday comforts that a normal AMG GT has. It is also almost three times the price of a standard AMG GTS, which is ridiculous.
For that reason, we’d have the M8 Competition over the Merc any day.