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      08-18-2015, 09:57 AM   #1
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2015 F80 M3 vs. C63 S AMG and ATS-V instrumented comparison test by Car and Driver

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2015 M3 vs. Mercedes-AMG C63 S, Cadillac ATS-V comparison test by Car and Driver
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In its latest comparison test, Car and Driver pits the M3 versus the closest rival sedans currently available - the C63S AMG and the ATS-V. With its direct rivals ever improving, can the M3 stave off the impressive competition?

Read the full results and review at Car and Driver.

Here is what they had to say about the 2015 M3, along with the instrumented test results and final rankings.

Quote:
We love the M3 because we love the formula to which it doggedly adheres: a practical upscale sedan, only faster. As far back as the 2002, BMW has been at its best making small, somewhat-boxy cars with lots of glass and tall roofs. The M versions were the same—but with more perform*ance. About 30 years after the original M3, the idea still draws.

BMW gives you something special. For example, this is the only car here with unique rear-quarter-panel stampings, a ridiculously expensive manufacturing vanity shunned by the others. But the flared arches make the M3 sit right and look both serious and sensuous. Free of fuss, the cabin is an efficient workspace, the controls in perfect placement, and the delicate three-spoke steering wheel the only rim in this test that doesn’t look like some design intern’s idea of hyperspace.

The many buttons in the M3 mean it is all about choices. You get three modes each for the throttle response, the steering feel, the shock firmness, and the shift speed. Play race engineer if you like or just let the car do its thing. Either way, the M3 is a marvelous travel companion. Stiff in the timbers, swift to respond to whims, and intently stable in motion, the M3 can charm the dungarees off its biggest critic with its marvelous rightness in almost any driving situation.

We’d love to say that it wins on outright performance or sublime handling, but it doesn’t. It was outsteered by the Cadillac and outbraked by the heavier Benz. Indeed, the BMW’s brake pedal had disconcerting free play that we guessed was air in the system, and we know from our long-termer, which also has ceramic brakes, that the first bite on wet discs is a scary one. The only stats where the M3 shines are curb weight, lightest by 192 pounds, and observed fuel economy, at 20 mpg. It’s also the loudest car, the inline-six crescendoing at its 7500-rpm redline with a glorious racing rasp augmented by a subtle bass line from the stereo system. We pulled the radio fuse, No. 123 on the electrical box in the trunk incidentally, to see how the M3 sounds sans electronics. It sounds tough, though with some of the tinniness of the E46 M3 that, with the fuse back in, gets softened.

Certain things about contemporary BMWs bug us, like the car’s on/off button, which always needs multiple pressings before you can exit. In compensation, the second-shortest wheelbase has the most comfortable back seat, and we enjoyed the ship’s-bridge visibility in all directions. Interior details include seriously comfortable seats with illuminated M3 logos in the backrests. The central display tells you both the tire pressures and the tire temperatures.

Faster than its power ratings would suggest, the squared-up, relatively pragmatic M3 still feels right for this job, even as its competition closes in.
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      08-18-2015, 10:07 AM   #2
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Another close race. Good on BMW M for taking this one.
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      08-18-2015, 10:12 AM   #3
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This is a big one to take. Good for the BMW.

We are so lucky to have all these options.
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      08-18-2015, 10:13 AM   #4
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Some great competition.

I am amazed what GM has been able to do with the ATS chassis. That is impressive.
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      08-18-2015, 10:18 AM   #5
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The very quick 19.8s to 150 and 122 trap really sticks out for the ATS-V.....as does the hideous looks which, from a this potential buyer's standpoint, nullifies the aforementioned stats.
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      08-18-2015, 10:33 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by auf Deutsch View Post
The very quick 19.8s to 150 and 122 trap really sticks out for the ATS-V.....as does the hideous looks which, from a this potential buyer's standpoint, nullifies the aforementioned stats.
^ this. The looks are a real head scratcher. Seems in Caddy's mind everything needs to look like an escalde to sell. For near enough as makes no difference money the M3 is way better looking than the other two. They are all so close when it comes to performance on any track it's likely not much more than a drivers race. All in all a good time to be an enthusiast in this segment.
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      08-18-2015, 10:37 AM   #7
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the angle of the ATS-V on that picture makes it look really big.
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      08-18-2015, 10:57 AM   #8
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Rear seat room.

This was the biggest selling point for me. My kids are getting bigger and will be my size in a few years. I had to make sure they could sit behind me. I set the drivers seat in an ATS and hoped in the rear seat behind it. My '06 G35 was more roomy and comfortable. Not an upgrade in any respect in my eyes. The M3 on the other hand
Honestly, I was close to getting an M5.
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      08-18-2015, 11:00 AM   #9
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Steering

A BMW outsteered by a Cadillac?

As a German guy once told me.

"Zis is shocking!!"


Usually Cadillacs have a rudder to help steer the boat.
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      08-18-2015, 11:11 AM   #10
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The 0-150 time for the Caddy is shockingly good - 3-4 seconds faster than the M3 or C63. That Caddy must be seriously underrated.
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      08-18-2015, 11:18 AM   #11
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Love the M3. Love the unique rear quarter panel!!
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      08-18-2015, 11:23 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlterZgo View Post
The 0-150 time for the Caddy is shockingly good - 3-4 seconds faster than the M3 or C63. That Caddy must be seriously underrated.
That's not what you'll be thinking though.
You'll be confused while you're driving it thinking why am I looking at the cluster of a Chevy cruze in a $70k car??
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      08-18-2015, 11:23 AM   #13
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Wow, talk about tight competition. I love that they take note of the unique body panels on the M3. That really makes the car's design stand out amongst the competition, IMO.

I really wish I had an opportunity to get some seat time in the ATS-V. After having spent a few days of quality time in an F80, I'm struggling to comprehend how the ATS-V can outclass the F80 in the steering department. While not particularly feelsome, the steering in the M3 goes exactly where directed. The F80 M3 felt almost telegraphic as I input steering. The ATS-V must be something special.
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      08-18-2015, 11:24 AM   #14
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dct or manual?

how's the transmission an 8?!
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      08-18-2015, 11:27 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pikkagtr
Quote:
Originally Posted by AlterZgo View Post
The 0-150 time for the Caddy is shockingly good - 3-4 seconds faster than the M3 or C63. That Caddy must be seriously underrated.
That's not what you'll be thinking though.
You'll be confused while you're driving it thinking why am I looking at the cluster of a Chevy cruze in a $70k car??
Ha, it's amazing, they rate the MB and BMW interior separated by solely a point but the Caddy is much, much lower.

Weren't Caddies known for their interiors decades ago?
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      08-18-2015, 11:27 AM   #16
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"It’s also the loudest car, the inline-six crescendoing at its 7500-rpm redline with a glorious racing rasp augmented by a subtle bass line from the stereo system. We pulled the radio fuse, No. 123 on the electrical box in the trunk incidentally, to see how the M3 sounds sans electronics. It sounds tough, though with some of the tinniness of the E46 M3 that, with the fuse back in, gets softened."

inb4 everyone complains about sound again.
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      08-18-2015, 11:38 AM   #17
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Can anyone tell me what a rear quarter panel stamping is?

I thought it was a crease or fold but I've seen lots of cars with that since I read this article a couple months ago.
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      08-18-2015, 11:39 AM   #18
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The thing I hate about these comparison tests are some categories are so subjective. Rear seat comfort, ergonomics, fit and finish, etc. can easily put one car over the other. and the outcome can be whatever they deem necessary and make the outcome seem as close or as far apart as they feel.
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      08-18-2015, 11:39 AM   #19
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This article was posted a while ago. Too much AMG/ATS-V talk, huh? lol
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      08-18-2015, 11:41 AM   #20
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"It’s also the loudest car," <- that was surprising, when considering the c63 has a V8. Kuddos to Cadillac, can't believe they are out-handling the germans.

The real winners today is us the consumers, all this competition brings the best out of automotive manufacturers
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      08-18-2015, 11:46 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JUSTIN335 View Post
Can anyone tell me what a rear quarter panel stamping is?

I thought it was a crease or fold but I've seen lots of cars with that since I read this article a couple months ago.
All body panels are stamped from a piece of metal nowadays, it can be a crease, fold, flare, etc
They're mentioning the rear 1/4 panel of the M3 because that wide flare is unique to the F80 and is not on the standard 3 series.
Compared to the competition the Ats-V and C63 use more carry over body work from the standard models to the performance models, less unique body parts
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      08-18-2015, 11:47 AM   #22
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I've seen the ATS-V in person. IMHO, this car by far, is NOT ugly in the least. The thing that got me was the sticker price being raised by about $30K over the base ATS cars that are around $35K. For the $70 large, the M3 made more sense (even if the cars tested were well above that). The Caddy is under-tired vs the competition and still pulled over 1g where the others didn't. This car is badass. I'd have one..just not at sticker or taking the depreciation hit that will come with it. And NOT in that color. I saw it in a deep blue with the trim black. It's pretty striking looking.
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