SIAP: 2015 Road & Track Performance Car of the Year (F80 M3 Invited)

[ybbiz34]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Winner: Porsche 911 GT3

The new F80 M3 was in the running.

"If, as some pundits charge, the M3's become a German answer to the Pontiac Trans Am, this is surely Munich's take on the rip-snorting, 400-cube, screaming-chicken variant used by the Bandit almost 40 years ago. It's a muscle car par excellence, warping the trees around its head-up display with what feels like an unlimited reserve of force."

"But is it too quick? Senior Editor Jason Cammisa thinks so. 'This car is nauseatingly fast. It's also unacceptably traction-compromised. Reducing torque output by 150 lb-ft would do wonders here.' He might be right. This car requires rheostat-precise use of the throttle to avoid unpredictable yaw. Or you can just leave the BMW's electronic nannies on, which might be smarter. Two or three generations ago, the M3 gave up on the idea of being the perfect modern 2002tii and decided instead to focus on power and track pace. If that's what you want, it's all here."

"The M3 is the only car to actually scare me at the Motown Mile. Going around the fast final turn, the torque spikes and sends me into a long, lazy, 100-mph slide that I don't recover until well down the front straight. Forget this being a German Trans Am; it's a German Corvette. 'This car is nightmarish to control under power,' concurs Cammisa. 'It's so much work, and there's no joy to be had as a result.' Having driven the M3 before, on a larger track, I suggest that it needs a bigger venue to shine. Cammisa agrees."

http://www.roadandtrack.com/features...ar-of-the-year

[gblansten]

Interesting take on the M3.

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by gblansten

Interesting take on the M3.

It certainly surprised me, that's for sure.

Each time I've driven the F8X, the TC light was constantly flickering whenever I got on the throttle. It felt even more tail-happy than my C63 (at least prior to tuning). That's not a huge surprise though. While the C63 has plenty of low-end grunt, the naturally aspirated motor facilitates a more linear power delivery. The F8X's torque just hits you like a brick wall.

I personally enjoy the copious amounts of torque the new M3 possesses. It's insanely easy to have fun with the car as a daily.

To those members here that have tracked their F8Xs, is the car really that difficult to corral around a circuit?

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

It certainly surprised me, that's for sure.

Each time I've driven the F8X, the TC light was constantly flickering whenever I got on the throttle. It felt even more tail-happy than my C63 (at least prior to tuning).

I personally enjoy the copious amounts of torque though.

I haven't driven one yet. I had a C63 and have an M5 though. I think the M3 will be a fun DD. I'll be interested to see how opinion unfolds for its track use.

[Needsdecaf]

They must think the M5 is like a 1967 GTO with TriPower on bias-plies if they think the M4 is traction limited.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

They must think the M5 is like a 1967 GTO with TriPower on bias-plies if they think the M4 is traction limited.

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by gblansten

I haven't driven one yet. I had a C63 and have an M5 though. I think the M3 will be a fun DD. I'll be interested to see how opinion unfolds for its track use.

The F8X definitely exceeded my expectations. Loved the new seats, the standard brakes, and the newest iteration of the M-DCT.

The F10 M5 is another car that I'm a big fan of.

[gthal]

Originally Posted by ybbiz34

To those members here that have tracked their F8Xs, is the car really that difficult to corral around a circuit?

It's no problem at all.

It is under tired for sure and needs careful throttle application but it is supremely balanced, very predictable and very easy to correct. It's also notably more stable than its predecessor through corners... especially on rough pavement... and has less understeer. I found it no more "difficult" to manage on the track than the E92 was and it is faster for sure.

[Doctor///M]

if it weren't for break in, I'd know exactly what they were talking about!! Now for the long wait post-ED.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by notan///m

if it weren't for break in, I'd know exactly what they were talking about!! Now for the long wait post-ED.

Where's the ED review???

[Doctor///M]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Where's the ED review???

Patience you have, my young padawan.

Off topic, but thanks for the service you gave to your country.

[solstice]

The new M3 is an RWD turbo car with 425 hp/ 400 TQ.
Here are two other noteworthy RWD turbo cars with similar power output:

Ferrari F40: 471 / 421
Porsche 993 GT2: 430 / 398

Great cars but they are no 458 or GT3 in characteristics.
In the same way this is not your regular M3. It's something very different, treat it accordingly and stop whining about it being under tired

[JS919]

I think the problem some people have with traction is the use of the sport + throttle setting. I drive with the traction control off and sport throttle setting all the time and find the traction better than any other M car I've owned. Put it in sport + and everything changes. It's not any faster in sport +, the throttle characteristics are just different. It seems that in the pedal position that gives you 50% throttle in sport, you get about 90% in sport +. You have less throttle pedal movement to modulate and control the power to the rear wheels. Alot of people think you need to put in sport + to get full power, that's not true. Sport + just give the illusion of more power because the pedal to throttle ratio changes and makes it more difficult to control the rear end traction.

[w00tw00t]

r-comps

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by JS919

I think the problem some people have with traction is the use of the sport + throttle setting. I drive with the traction control off and sport throttle setting all the time and find the traction better than any other M car I've owned. Put it in sport + and everything changes. It's not any faster in sport +, the throttle characteristics are just different. It seems that in the pedal position that gives you 50% throttle in sport, you get about 90% in sport +. You have less throttle pedal movement to modulate and control the power to the rear wheels. Alot of people think you need to put in sport + to get full power, that's not true. Sport + just give the illusion of more power because the pedal to throttle ratio changes and makes it more difficult to control the rear end traction.

Sounds like [sport +] is pretty much just good for 0-60 times, yes? 3.9 sec?

[Tornrider]

BMW lost it when R&T said the following about the Mustang GT-

The steering feel: leagues better than what pony cars traditionally have, capable of communicating minute differences in available grip without kickback or grittiness. It's BMW steering, the kind you don't get in a BMW anymore.

[See5]

Originally Posted by Tornrider

BMW lost it when R&T said the following about the Mustang GT-

The steering feel: leagues better than what pony cars traditionally have, capable of communicating minute differences in available grip without kickback or grittiness. It's BMW steering, the kind you don't get in a BMW anymore.

They lost it because they said something you don't agree with? Is the Mustang not allowed to have better steering feel than a BMW?

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by Tornrider

BMW lost it when R&T said the following about the Mustang GT-

The steering feel: leagues better than what pony cars traditionally have, capable of communicating minute differences in available grip without kickback or grittiness. It's BMW steering, the kind you don't get in a BMW anymore.

Others have gone through this, BMW just has to catch up when it comes to steering feel as they have abandoned haudrylics. I agree, they at points in the past had one of the best connects to the road I had ever experienced, it hooked me over 15 years ago.

[V1.47fan]

Wow The RC-F is M3 is within about half a second of the M3.
I didnt expect the 4,500 lb Hellcat to be within a second of the M3.

[V1.47fan]

The M235i ran 58.54 sec...the Golf GTI 60.35 sec.

[stressdoc]

Not surprising that the 2015 M3 is so much faster than the 2015 M4....

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

Wow The RC-F is M3 is within about half a second of the M3.
I didnt expect the 4,500 lb Hellcat to be within a second of the M3.

It'd also a second behind the viper.

I would take these numbers with a grain of salt. This is a really tiny track. A lot of these cars are a lot further apart on a real longer track