Quote:
Originally Posted by conradb
I'm a bit disappointed by this.
Rather than engineer a new M engine for the M3, BMW gives us some reworked N55 engine. It's the same story with the M5/6 engine from the X5/6M line. BMW is really cheaping out on the R&D of these engines.
Ya, it'll produce some good power and torque, but it's nothing special in any regard. It will probably be a 3.6L TT I6 making 450HP and redline at 7k. Not impressive at all. When you're starting to charge prices near the GT-R for your car, you need to up the performance ante here; espsecially when $30k American Muscle keeps up with you on the track. The GT-R now gets 545HP from a 3.8L TT V6, and is called the Baby Veyron/Godzilla for a reason. If you're gonna cheap up on beautiful NA racing engines and high red lines, you better bring us more power instead. 450HP is barely worth noting in the performance world today.
After saying all this, I will probably end up getting myself the F80 and doing ED on it. I just worry that BMW is becoming too soft and pandering to the crowds rather than their diehard niche. You win over the crowds by winning over the niche people; that being us performance enthusiasts for M division.
Time will tell.
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We agree on the topic of skimping on R&D. I'm holding my judgement until it releases but if there isn't much new technology in there, or if the engine isn't different enough (higher displacement), I'll be disappointed.
But first, how can you say the price is near the GT-R which starts around 100k where this car will start around 60k? That's a nearly 40% difference and I can say I might be in the market for this vehicle and DEFINITELY not a GT-R due to the price alone.
About the American muscle, I feel like a lot of people buy these high performance german cars and not their american counterparts because I feel like a lot of people are looking for the total package. Some American cars match these cars in performance but dont provide the total aural experience and luxury. How many times have we heard people complain about the cheap-o interior on american cars?
Remember an M3 is not a go-fast machine, it's a highly emotional and high precision tool (or at least we expect it to be lol). My E46 M3 is dated as many "regular" cars have 333 horsepower now. To top it off it's a vert so its not the fastest car out there. But I don't get the same feeling driving my friend's Camaro that I get from driving mine. Its just different man.
I'm not sure if I'll buy this new one though unless it gives me that same feeling.