Test drove an M3
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Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Gainesville
I test drove an M3 today, and thought I'd pass on my impressions.
The car was Leguna Seca blue (as are all the demo's) and it wasn't as bad a color as I thought it would be. Everyone here that has any interest at all has seen pics of the car, so I won't bore you with my impressions of the styling. If you've got questions, ask. Now, on to the driving impressions:
1) The engine is fantastic. There is plenty of torque at all RPM's to get you going without much effort. In other words, you don't have to downshift much. This car will allow you to be a little lazy.
2) The brakes on this car are outstanding. They're very easy to modulate, and are very confidence inspiring.
3) The shifter is nice, but not as direct nor are the throws as short as the S2000.
4) The clutch provides good feedback, and is easy to accomodate to. It does seem to "grab" better than ours.
5) The car sounds good, but it has a snarl to it when you "get on it" that I didn't expect and that doesn't seem to fit the car for some reason.
6) The interior is pretty much the same as any 3 series bimmer. I would have expected a "sportier" look. It IS nice though.
7) The car has a very nice ride. It is far more compliant than ours, and glides over bumpy pavement. In other words, it feels more luxurious.
8) The steering feel is very good, but it doesn't have that "point and shoot" feel I've gotten used to. It has a little more boost than I like.
9) You DEFINITELY feel the extra weight of the car in turns. There was far more body roll than I expected and it didn't feel anywhere near as easy to control in hard turns. I must note that the car never lost it's composure, I just didn't like the feel as much.
These are the main things I remember at this point.
The bottom line:
It's a very nice car, and would make a better daily driver IMO, but the "fun factor" just isn't as high as with the S2000. Others may feel different, but now that I've driven it, I'm in no hurry to go out and buy one (I was thinking about it).
The car was Leguna Seca blue (as are all the demo's) and it wasn't as bad a color as I thought it would be. Everyone here that has any interest at all has seen pics of the car, so I won't bore you with my impressions of the styling. If you've got questions, ask. Now, on to the driving impressions:
1) The engine is fantastic. There is plenty of torque at all RPM's to get you going without much effort. In other words, you don't have to downshift much. This car will allow you to be a little lazy.
2) The brakes on this car are outstanding. They're very easy to modulate, and are very confidence inspiring.
3) The shifter is nice, but not as direct nor are the throws as short as the S2000.
4) The clutch provides good feedback, and is easy to accomodate to. It does seem to "grab" better than ours.
5) The car sounds good, but it has a snarl to it when you "get on it" that I didn't expect and that doesn't seem to fit the car for some reason.
6) The interior is pretty much the same as any 3 series bimmer. I would have expected a "sportier" look. It IS nice though.
7) The car has a very nice ride. It is far more compliant than ours, and glides over bumpy pavement. In other words, it feels more luxurious.
8) The steering feel is very good, but it doesn't have that "point and shoot" feel I've gotten used to. It has a little more boost than I like.
9) You DEFINITELY feel the extra weight of the car in turns. There was far more body roll than I expected and it didn't feel anywhere near as easy to control in hard turns. I must note that the car never lost it's composure, I just didn't like the feel as much.
These are the main things I remember at this point.
The bottom line:
It's a very nice car, and would make a better daily driver IMO, but the "fun factor" just isn't as high as with the S2000. Others may feel different, but now that I've driven it, I'm in no hurry to go out and buy one (I was thinking about it).
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Joined: Oct 2000
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I also test drove the e46 m3. I found the car immensely competent and composed. It's extremely easy to drive crazy fast in it but it's the car doing the work. The engine characterstics are like the s2k and rev stronger all the way to redline. I have no doubt that anything short of a z06 will see it's taillights. But...I didn't have much fun. cruising along in 70mph felt like 35mph. even double the limit on the highway or cloverleafs at 80mph barely got the heart rate up. you just do not feel the speed without driving it in a way that risks a loss of license or a serious accident. I had more fun driving the s2k, but if you're more interested in going fast then the m3 might be the ticket. But for having fun around town without getting yourself or someone else killed, I'd give the nod to the s2k.
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