M4 GTS Tested by Jeremy Clarkson on The Grand Tour

[schnell325]

I own an F80 M3, and have a GTS enroute. (This will be my eighth BMW, and fourth M car)

Did I ever cross shop a mustang, camaro, GTR, or any variant of a 911? No, I didn't. Why?

Because I honestly don't care if X is faster in the 1/4 mile, or Y is quicker around Green Hell ( )



Call me a fan boy, or what ever the internet term is these days, but I'll be a BMW driver for the foreseeable future. Am I blinded? Perhaps. But I'll take what I know.

[Captain Unknown GT4]

I accually jump in between Porsche and Bmw, Corvette I would never even consider. I dont care if it cost 10.000 dollars and is faster than most.

Still I was very close to buy a Z06, as it was so raw With that racecar aero and mecanically grip levels. I only drive track With My cars, hence I did drop the Z06 when friend of mine could only do a few laps on track then it when in to limp mode. Wtf, thats not a god price level car what ever how cheep it is. Thats poor development.

GTS is not the fastest car, but so much fun and Will repeat fast laptimes over a great time. As Well porsch.

[schnell325]

Originally Posted by Captain Unknown GT4

I accually jump in between Porsche and Bmw, Corvette I would never even consider. I dont care if it cost 10.000 dollars and is faster than most.

Still I was very close to buy a Z06, as it was so raw With that racecar aero and mecanically grip levels. I only drive track With My cars, hence I did drop the Z06 when friend of mine could only do a few laps on track then it when in to limp mode. Wtf, thats not a god price level car what ever how cheep it is. Thats poor development.

GTS is not the fastest car, but so much fun and Will repeat fast laptimes over a great time. As Well porsch.

We'll get no feedback for a few days, most haters are on Christmas break

[Towerworld]

Originally Posted by jml

Does anyone have a new argument to make? You can say that about most cars that cost over 100K.

Talk to Z06 owners who tried to track their cars...most got rid of the Z06 real fast due to overheating issues. GT350r is about the same speed as the GTS and motor is to die for, but they went for well above MSRP as well (can't wait to see what they ask for the race model). Grand Sport is humiliating virtually all super cars at the moment, not just the GTS. Why buy a mclaren 570s when you can go faster in a grand sport....why buy a NSX, why buy a GT3RS, why buy a Huracan.....

I was more responding to Captain GT4's posts where he's insulting other cars and saying that a GTS is a better value than porshe's for instance. I never meant to say that a GTS is pointless or a bad car, its intended for die-hard bmw fans who want the ultimate M4 track day special but its not a bargain by any means I don't think any supercar is.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by schnell325

Call me a fan boy, or what ever the internet term is these days, but I'll be a BMW driver for the foreseeable future. Am I blinded? Perhaps. But I'll take what I know.

There is a big difference between with being a fan and a "fan-boy". I also consider myself a hardcore BMW ///M fan, I really enjoy their products and am loyal to the brand. But a fan also keeps an open mind, is able to remain critical of the product and be open to rational discussion.

A "fan-boy" will remain oblivious to any facts or objective discussion and will try to rationalize irrational thoughts to justify his unconditional love for a product.

I don't believe you fit that later category

[schnell325]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

There is a big difference between with being a fan and a "fan-boy". I also consider myself a hardcore BMW ///M fan, I really enjoy their products and am loyal to the brand. But I also keep an open mind. I am able to remain critical of the product and be open to rational discussion.

A "fan-boy" will remain oblivious to any facts or objective discussion and will try to rationalize irrational thoughts to justify his unconditional love for a product.

I don't believe you fit that later category

And I thank you sir

Your posts here and in other forums have gained me much knowledge

[jml]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

There is a big difference between with being a fan and a "fan-boy". I also consider myself a hardcore BMW ///M fan, I really enjoy their products and am loyal to the brand. But a fan also keeps an open mind, is able to remain critical of the product and be open to rational discussion.

A "fan-boy" will remain oblivious to any facts or objective discussion and will try to rationalize irrational thoughts to justify his unconditional love for a product.

I don't believe you fit that later category

And yes, I'm a bit of a BMW fanboi...starting to grow to Pcar too...

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by jml

Attachment 1545951


And yes, I'm a bit of a BMW fanboi...starting to grow to Pcar too...

Another excerpt from the Urban dictionary:

An extreme fan or follower of a particular medium or concept. Known for a complete lack of objectivity in relation to their preferred focus. Usually argue with circular logic that they refuse to acknowledge. Arguments or debates with such are usually futile. Every flaw is spun into semi-virtues and everything else, blown to comedic, complimentary proportions. Trolls the internet to spread the gospel.

Not sure you want to adhere to those definitions .

And to finish, a fun pictorial :

[Captain Unknown GT4]

To all them Clarkson fanboys, read this

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1337146


and you might learn a thing on the way in terms of car testing. You to Clarkson, read!

Sport auto supertest, they been doing this for 17 years now on Nurburgring, its a long read
The whole article. They make every car go true this level of testing.

Heck, even 10.000 post mastermind canautm3 might even learn something.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Captain Unknown GT4

Heck, even 10.000 post mastermind canautm3 might even learn something.

Nothing more to learn since I read it when it was first published back in October (being of Austrian descent, I am fluent in German)

[johnnylib68]

JC is certainly a knowledgeable guy, but as an owner of a GTS I have to disagree with a lot of what he says. Yes, I've owned and driven most of the other cars discussed in this thread and have found the GTS to be a quite nimble and remarkable car. I was about to sell mine since it does not have a clutch which I prefer, but after having driven it a bit more have decided to keep it and track it. The more I drive it, the more I can see all the things M did right on this car. I also agree with M3 Adjuster in his comments that there are a lot of ways to set the car up for the track and from everything I have seen, not one reviewer in the media has really taken the time to properly set up the car for their track.

It's not a GT3, but then again, it's not a GT3. Why compare them to each other? The GTS os a great car and I look forward to tracking it even without my beloved third pedal.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by johnnylib68

It's not a GT3, but then again, it's not a GT3. Why compare them to each other?

Simply because they compete in the same market segment and because BMW specifically identified the GT3 as a direct competitor.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Nothing more to learn since I read it when it was first published back in October (being of Austrian descent, I am fluent in German)

Bravo!

[IS3andME]

Originally Posted by Captain Unknown GT4

I accually jump in between Porsche and Bmw, Corvette I would never even consider. I dont care if it cost 10.000 dollars and is faster than most.

Still I was very close to buy a Z06, as it was so raw With that racecar aero and mecanically grip levels. I only drive track With My cars, hence I did drop the Z06 when friend of mine could only do a few laps on track then it when in to limp mode. Wtf, thats not a god price level car what ever how cheep it is. Thats poor development.

GTS is not the fastest car, but so much fun and Will repeat fast laptimes over a great time. As Well porsch.

There is always the Grand Sport

[GraveSmiles]

Originally Posted by cntzl

He compared it to GT3 RS and of course I didn't expect GTS to win the competition but quite honestly I also didn't expect to hear those horrible words Jeremy said about the GTS. He pretty much hated it. Here are some of his words:

"... Now, at this point, I would normally use the word 'however' and start talking about the car's good points. However, I can't because I'm struggling to find any. The engine for instance has water-injection which sounds cool but it means that every third time you fill the car with fuel, you have to fill the water tank in the boot. I don't know but I'm not sure this is very high-tech."

"And then there is the steering, which in comfort mode is horrid, and in sport setting is even more horrid."

"This is not a car that responds well to my rather brutal driving style. The problem is it doesn't respond well to delicacy either."

"This competition here between these two cars is like a boxing match between an actual boxer and someone who thinks they're a boxer because they're wearing satin shorts."

"How did BMW get this thing so wrong?... It's twitchy, it's unpredictable. And in the rain it's somewhere between spiteful and undriveable."



I was

I was on track in my GTS with a friend in his GT3RS recently. Obviously the Porsche is a better handling car. Straight line the extra torque of the GTS negated the lesser weight of the GT3RS.
Clarkson is a guy who tried to convince the world the c63 was a better car then there e92 M3, not a lot of credibility when it comes to reviewing ///M cars.

[jpdchicago]

Just bought a gts yesterday at msrp. First impression coming from a 2016 M3 is WOW! Like driving a race car. Road feel is so much better and the sound....! And that is coming from M3 with MPE upgrade. No comparison.
Definitely harsher ride but still so luxurious in the details and focused. Definitely a track car but I plan to drive it to work every day from April to December. Between now and April will use on any winter day above 30 degree making sure to bring the tires up to temp... or might get winter wheel set. But no snow!

[D-Rock]

Originally Posted by mvigod

Sounds like I made the right decision to buy a GT3 RS and not try to get the M4 GTS!!!

duh

[jpdchicago]

Originally Posted by Killramos

This is the same Clarkson who thinks the competition pack makes the M3 worse. What did we expect?

Not only that but he chose the i8 over the M3 in an older top gear when comparing the two.

[Brindle101]

Clarkson is an ignoramus(sp?), he gets every high performance car review about as wrong as anyone can. The only business he has testing these cars is for entertainment purposes, not information. This has been my opinion for years. If you want real information, other than your own experience, Chris Harris is the man.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Simply because they compete in the same market segment and because BMW specifically identified the GT3 as a direct competitor.

Bingo - there is no avoiding GT3 in any review or comparison of a GTS.
There just isn't.
It's the elephant in the room.

And while track junkies appreciate GTS's improvements over base M4, it's would be hugely challenging to argue that GTS is a compelling alternative to GT3. At a similar price point to GT3, it just isn't.

Originally Posted by GraveSmiles

Clarkson is a guy who tried to convince the world the c63 was a better car then there e92 M3, not a lot of credibility when it comes to reviewing ///M cars.

I do recall that he loved black label C63, which was a very very good car.
Clarkson also liked M3 and raved about the M2, so no need to presume prejudice against ///M products.

Originally Posted by jpdchicago

Not only that but he chose the i8 over the M3 in an older top gear when comparing the two.

Frankly, so would I, and most of us here.
i8 is sex on wheels.

It's the best looking BMW car since the original M1.

M3 is great daily/track car.
Which is what I love about it.
But you will never get a complement from a woman about your M3. Teenage boys - sure. Women - not a chance.

i8, or even i3, attract a crowd.


a

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Bingo - there is no avoiding GT3 in any review or comparison of a GTS.
There just isn't.
It's the elephant in the room.

And while track junkies appreciate GTS's improvements over base M4, it's would be hugely challenging to argue that GTS is a compelling alternative to GT3. At a similar price point to GT3, it just isn't.




I do recall that he loved black label C63, which was a very very good car.
Clarkson also liked M3 and raved about the M2, so no need to presume prejudice against ///M products.



Frankly, so would I, and most of us here.
i8 is sex on wheels.

It's the best looking BMW car since the original M1.

M3 is great daily/track car.
Which is what I love about it.
But you will never get a complement from a woman about your M3. Teenage boys - sure. Women - not a chance.

i8, or even i3, attract a crowd.


a

Ehhh, I agree with much of what you said, but not the statement in bold. Sure, you might not have a woman comment on a riced out M3/M4 because it comes across adolescent and childish (..depending on the modifications), but I've had MANY women comment on every M3 that I've owned over the past 13 or so years...........up to, and including, my current Nardo Grey M4. Women love Nardo. They loved Yas Marina too.

[jpdchicago]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Ehhh, I agree with much of what you said, but not the statement in bold. Sure, you might not have a woman comment on a riced out M3/M4 because it comes across adolescent and childish (..depending on the modifications), but I've had MANY women comment on every M3 that I've owned over the past 13 or so years...........up to, and including, my current Nardo Grey M4. Women love Nardo. They loved Yas Marina too.

You just beat me to your comment about women and the M3. I had a 2016 YMB M3 and had a number of women ask about the color and compliment me on the car. May be the baby blue had something to do with it. I did love that color myself (only had blue M3s)
Just sold it for a white M4 gts (no blue available) and I am curious what the reactions (if any) will be from women to a white car with orange wheels and a wing...
Will keep you posted...