[QUOTE]Originally posted by Nixlimited
[B]

 

I am trying to get the plastic surgeon and author of Tattoo to take his beautiful 2002 M5 to Buttonwillow next month. My son is anxious to get a track ride along in the car of his dreams.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Prolene
[B] I am trying to get the plastic surgeon and author of Tattoo to take his beautiful 2002 M5 to Buttonwillow next month.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by nastinupe1
[B]I agree with you 100%.

 

Nah............... Notice I was looking for something a bit larger? I rather keep my S2000 than get a M Roadster! I have driven a 99' M Coupe before; Even though they only had 240 Hp, but they have torque way down low! I test drove that car before I got my first S2000. It didn't feel that heavy with the low end power to move all that weight. you can get the power out of that thing even at 3rd or 4th. The car will move! As for top speed? I'm not sure. But I still love the way the S2000 handle around the corners! Plus my better half don't like to ride with me in the S, because it is too rough and not comfortable for her. She gets scared when I push the car a little. And I really hate to drive her 4 cylinders, automatic, 4 door Accord; it handles like Crap! And it's slower than my CRX!
BTW, I can also find used M3 Coupe around $43k-$51K.

Yes! Bigger car is what I'm looking for right now. I guess I might have grown tired of the small convertibles here down South in Atlanta city traffic? Plus those huge SUV and Soccer Mom's Mini van drive so ever slow and can't not see me sometime; and almost ran me over! (I used to have a VW Kamann Ghia Convertible, 7 Fiat 850 Spyder) The heat and the pollen some times kills me too. Plus, I usually have the top up during my track events. I really think the car will go faster with the top up! (More aero dynamic)

So, I think my NEAR future dream is to have a M3 Coupe and a 2nd Generation S2000 in my garage and still keep my CRX and Porsche 914!(both cars are still being restored and modified) Since I'm not as rich as some of you, I'll just have to save money and aiming for my distance dream car later! Porsche Carrera GT V-10

Anyone knows anything about the SMG-II on the M3? Are they better than the manual? One of the tuner told me to get the Manual transmission! Do SMG have the clutch at all? I heard that it's hydraulic? Will it cost more to repair (then Manual) later? And how will it drive on the track (I heard you can't "heel-toe" anymore with that system!

 

You might want to PM loki about this in case he doesn't see your questions himself. He used to have a S2000 and now has a red M3 SMG coupe. The only bad thing I've heard about the SMG is the unknown cost of repair down the road. Over at Roadfly most of the people who have driven the SMG love it. They do say it takes a little getting used to, but once you do they really enjoy it. Quite a few of them were folks who only had owned manuals before, so I considered it to be pretty high praise indeed. Also several people remarked how the shifter in the M3 doesn't have the best feel, so it's not like you're trying to decide between a S2000s gearbox and the SMG. Anyway send a PM to loki and check out his webpage on M3 FAQs http://members.roadfly.com/loki/e46m3_faq.html

 

I have spent some pretty significant time in an M3 as a passenger (on track also). I think the ride is perfect. Exactly what most of us want to mod our cars to. Nice and firm but not jarring. Great engine, just flexible and smooth throughout. My friend bought his carbon black for $45k with 15k miles and pretty loaded.

I don't know if there really are better choices in that price range that gets you 4 seats. He has already taken the whole family to dinner in it (4 and 6 year old). It is not as nimble as an S2000 as it is not a 2 seat sports car. The shifter on most new BMW's is to vague and the same for the clutch (I drove a 330i). I think you need a ss and you can also remove the clutch delay valve. I did drive a new M Coupe and the clutch and tranny were pretty nice. I do think the Coupes have a different linkage.

On track I too though it understeered a lot. I do think just simply running equal tire sizes would make a huge difference (I rode in a stock M5 on track with equal tires and it did not push bad at all) and maybe some camber plates. I wouldn't change shocks and springs if I drove one everyday. I have also driven the new M5 a few times. Wow. Just a perfect daily driver. Comfortable driving around town at the speed limit and ferocious when you want it to be. Nice fat steering wheel and the shifter and clutch also felt fine. You won't see the next generation until 2006 or so is my guess. If it looks anything like the new 7, I will take an old one thank you. Straightline speed isn't everything.

So I have pretty much decided that in a couple of years I will get a used 2000 or 2001 M5 for my daily driver and something cheap, light, rwd, and with at least 200hp for track days. By then, a 95-97 M3 should be about $10-$15k. I would love an S2000 if it had real roof--though I would track one with supplementary roll protection.

 

SMG-II (Sequential Manual Gearbox) is a standard manual gearbox, except no clutch pedal. The hydraulics (and servos?) handle the clutch operation. So, yes, it has a clutch.

Better than a manual? It shifts faster. It has 11 modes of operation (6 manual, 5 auto). The fastest manual mode shifts in 0.08 seconds. That is FAST! A lot faster than most anyone can shift. So in that regard, it is better. It also allows pure automatic operation if you choose. Say in stop and go. So in that regard, it is better. But it also (form reading) has a bit of lurch that you don't get with an automatic. Sort of like being a passenger in a manual. See Edmunds for their latest review on an SMG M3 convertible.

No need to heel-toe since it does it for you! When you down-change, it'll blip the throttle automatically.

Yeah, I expect it to be more expensive if/when things fail. It's a manual with an expensive subsystem of unproven durability.

A friend has one and loves it. But others say it takes getting used to. I'm on the fence. Plus, it does add $2400 to the bill (maybe in the noise to some).

 

Why are you going on your 3rd S2000 already?

 

Both cars are actually great values within their respective segments. I have been lucky enough to retain my S2K so driving it back to back with the M3 I can see where each vehicle shines. Although the M3 is quite heavy for a sports car the handling is still excellent. It has a nice weight to the steering and the feedback IMO is excellent. In addition the car has power all over the place which is definitely a plus. The s2000 from 6-9k feels like the M3 from 4-6k after that the M3 is really at the next level of acceleration. The SMG transmission is nice as it shifts very quickly and allows you to focus more on car control and inputs rather than shifting. As for the S2000, it definitely handles better and brakes slightly better as well. there is less body roll, the steering response is quicker and the car is much more nimble through transition and corners. Overall, I love them both.