s2000 vs. e46 m3 handling
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From: bloomfield hills
Originally Posted by nastinupe1,Jan 16 2008, 11:01 AM
The E46 does handle better.
My definition of handling is how stable a car is when hits a corner. Not how fast it hits the corner.
Say I am traveling from point A to point B, which has only one 45 degree curve between the points and I am comparing two cars. I take car #1 and hit the 45 degree turn and the car stays on all four tires and doesn't sway then take car #2 and hit the same turn and the car comes up on two tires and almost loses it's back end. Both cars make it from point A to point B at the same time. That doesn't equate to both cars handling equally.
Car # 1 handled better in the curve than Car #2, although both cars went through the curve at the same speed.
This is why I say that the E46 handles better. It is more stable in the turns.
I know this for a fact because I have driven on the same roads with both cars and I have to put in a great deal more effort to keep the S2000 from going astray than the E46... but that's what makes driving the S2000 so much fun. So it's a trade off.
My definition of handling is how stable a car is when hits a corner. Not how fast it hits the corner.
Say I am traveling from point A to point B, which has only one 45 degree curve between the points and I am comparing two cars. I take car #1 and hit the 45 degree turn and the car stays on all four tires and doesn't sway then take car #2 and hit the same turn and the car comes up on two tires and almost loses it's back end. Both cars make it from point A to point B at the same time. That doesn't equate to both cars handling equally.
Car # 1 handled better in the curve than Car #2, although both cars went through the curve at the same speed.
This is why I say that the E46 handles better. It is more stable in the turns.
I know this for a fact because I have driven on the same roads with both cars and I have to put in a great deal more effort to keep the S2000 from going astray than the E46... but that's what makes driving the S2000 so much fun. So it's a trade off.
1. S2000. The loop I go through has two extremely tight turns that the S2K agility and lighter weight made for the most fun. It was my 2004 S2K and suspension changes for that year made the car more stable and less nervous the the 2002 that I had.
2. NSX. No description unless asked for since this is an S2K vs E46 M3 thread.
3. M3. The car by no means embarrasses itself ,but in tight turns it's weight is apparent to the driver. There wasn't any/minimal body roll and since this was on the street I wasn't driving so fast that the car was going to push.
M3 feels very agile if your getting out of an SUV ,but compared to smaller lighter cars it just feels stable. I've taken all the cars to the track and although the order changes the M3 still comes in last. I traded the M3 to get the wife a SLK 55 AMG ( which I personally don't care for ,but hey she's happy ) and have really just now started to miss it. E46 M3 styling is much more exciting in person to me than the new E90 M3 so as soon as prices drop I will pick up another E46 M3. When I sold my S2K neither the NSX or M3 could replace it's light nimble feel. Not having the S2K put me into withdrawal.. LOL
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e46 m3 = wide fender flares = can fit bigger tires = coupled with BMW M suspension = more grip = greater corner exit speeds
i wouldn't be surprised if the s2k can hold its own against the bmw with meatier tires in the corners though
i wouldn't be surprised if the s2k can hold its own against the bmw with meatier tires in the corners though
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