I don't understand big, heavy, powerful sport coupes (or sedans)
Posted 06-16-2008 at 11:43 PM by blueone
A friend got a new M3 a few weeks ago. I saw it for the first time today. The Coupe. He foolishly ordered Jet Black, against my advice. It'll always look swirled, just like our Jet Black X3. With Red "extended" leather. A striking combination.
The seats are great. So is the steering wheel. Lots of power... winds forever. Awesome engine. The usual pretty good BMW shifter and horrible clutch, with what feels like the de rigor delay valve in it.
The car is absolutely awesome, except for perhaps the ugly Bimmer dash that doesn't measure up to what Ford does lately. And the entire time I was in it I kept thinking... so what?
If you putter around in the M3 it feels mostly like any other 3-series. It is big; about the size of a new Mustang. You can feel the 3700lbs, which is what a 5-series used to weigh. Perhaps it would make a good choice for a road trip, which the CS wouldn't, IMO, but otherwise I can't figure out what it's good for. It's too nice to park at a resturant or at the market. I wouldn't consider taking it to Costco. Or driving it in an Oregon winter.
The M3 also doesn't feel anything like a sports car. On a winding road it felt like a mid-size car trying to act like a sports car, and I didn't care. It didn't feel special at all. It's not the kind of car I'd save for nice days, or take it out for a drive to nowhere, just to drive. I wouldn't stand in the garage and stare at it, like I did with my old M Coupe, or I do with the CS.
So the M3 is yet another high power sedan or big coupe that I can't figure out what I'd do with it. The M3 is more competent than the CS in some ways... that engine... but I'd rather drive a Cayman down a winding road a lot more than the M3. I'm at a loss for how cars like the M3 or the C63 or even the GT-R fit. For going to the grocery I'd rather have a 328i, so I wouldn't care so much. For a drive I'd really rather have a Cayman.
Too bad that V8 doesn't come in the Cayman, though. That's a nice engine.
The seats are great. So is the steering wheel. Lots of power... winds forever. Awesome engine. The usual pretty good BMW shifter and horrible clutch, with what feels like the de rigor delay valve in it.
The car is absolutely awesome, except for perhaps the ugly Bimmer dash that doesn't measure up to what Ford does lately. And the entire time I was in it I kept thinking... so what?
If you putter around in the M3 it feels mostly like any other 3-series. It is big; about the size of a new Mustang. You can feel the 3700lbs, which is what a 5-series used to weigh. Perhaps it would make a good choice for a road trip, which the CS wouldn't, IMO, but otherwise I can't figure out what it's good for. It's too nice to park at a resturant or at the market. I wouldn't consider taking it to Costco. Or driving it in an Oregon winter.
The M3 also doesn't feel anything like a sports car. On a winding road it felt like a mid-size car trying to act like a sports car, and I didn't care. It didn't feel special at all. It's not the kind of car I'd save for nice days, or take it out for a drive to nowhere, just to drive. I wouldn't stand in the garage and stare at it, like I did with my old M Coupe, or I do with the CS.
So the M3 is yet another high power sedan or big coupe that I can't figure out what I'd do with it. The M3 is more competent than the CS in some ways... that engine... but I'd rather drive a Cayman down a winding road a lot more than the M3. I'm at a loss for how cars like the M3 or the C63 or even the GT-R fit. For going to the grocery I'd rather have a 328i, so I wouldn't care so much. For a drive I'd really rather have a Cayman.
Too bad that V8 doesn't come in the Cayman, though. That's a nice engine.
Total Comments 2
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I guess that I look at all of these cars as a compromise of sorts. Four doors, maybe kids to take along, but yet you like a car that handles reasonably well that maybe you'll take to the track a few days per year. The Cayman is a compromise too. It handles really well but it's not a race car.
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agreed, sedans always seem like family cars to me - something to take to the grocery store or put the dogs in. it is the "practical" "sports car" the wife backs.
plus, M3s are like ants out here, just all over the place and always getting up on my tail on the highway - *irked* we thought about a Z4, but it just did not feel right to us. |
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