Chris Harris F80 M3 review testing notes

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Year's_End

Not sure if that's the best way to put it. There are plenty of non-biased journalists out there (that don't get enough credit)

Like Guido from The Getawayer

I think he's great but that's because I don't track and drive on German-type back/canyon/mountain/country roads for my fun ... but at the end of the day this is 80% a DD for me and that's how he reviews a car.

I get more of a sense of my experience with the car from him than any other reviewer.

1.) Guido
2.) Chris Harris
3.) Carlos Lago / Randy Probst

for me.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Like Guido from The Getawayer

I think he's great but that's because I don't track and drive on German-type back/canyon/mountain/country roads for my fun ... but at the end of the day this is 80% a DD for me and that's how he reviews a car.

I get more of a sense of my experience with the car from him than any other reviewer.

1.) Guido
2.) Chris Harris
3.) Carlos Lago / Randy Probst

for me.

Never heard of him, but I'm always open to new journalists. Thanks for the tip.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by solstice

He says it's precise. It mirrors what all of them say. Precise and communicative is not the same. It also loads up well, again not the same a communicative. He doesn't say numb straight out but it's there between the lines so to say.

You're just a glass half-empty guy all the time.

[Juswokap]

Always love his way of smashing the cars

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

People spend thousands of dollars on aftermarket exhaust systems to improve the engine note.

Chris Harris thinks engine note is not important on a dd. Lol

I would take exception to that. Love my E92 with Eisenmann. Will likely be looking for aftermarket improvement from what I've "heard."

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by funkahdafi

30 MPG? Never! I don't believe that.

Imperial gallons, I presume.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Tonymiabmw

I value his option on color more than some of the sad people on here. The people that couldn't fathom any other color than white or guys that are controlled by their wife's that won't allow them to get a bright color. So yes him saying it looks good means something to me.

If Warren Buffet likes the same stock I do, hey, that's a +1 because he sees and analyzes a helluva lot more stocks than me.

I'm not getting the YMB, but I'd be proud to hop in with anyone that is ... including Chris Harris.

[ChrisMT79]

After re-reading this review and others regarding the throttle response, I am left pondering back to my initial days with my brief but thorough stint with an 2010 Audi B8 S4. I bought it new and it was supercharged, but for some reason I just couldn't help but feeling like the throttle was holding back something. I mean the response was okay and the engine was great, but it got me into researching and eventually lead to coding. Well long story short, I was able to program in the modification to adjust to the throttle response. Low and behold, that was it! From that day forward, it's been stuck in my head that these engines nowadays are simply a code/tune away from perfection (depending on your preference). I wonder if this would hold true for this engine as well? I can almost guarantee there will be a performance package of some sort not far off that aims to correct this.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Koldun

Nice mini-review, but YMB is the worst BMW color ever.

Ummmm....

[IMrMark]

^^

[M6-Coupe]

Great review. I'm happy to see a fantastic M car is coming soon to join his family. I was not too worried about drivetrain since I knew this M car is following his bigger brothers technology even the S55 would be similar to S63 except the amount of power and torque. I just was worried about handling and that amazing feeling when you are behind the wheel of an M car!


I like this part a lot

Originally Posted by M4 JTD

Would you?
Absolutely. I loved my E92, but it was surprisingly limited as my daily driver. Opportunities to enjoy that motor beyond 7,000 were predictably limited, the lack of torque left you exposed to turbo hot hatches and, well, you know my thoughts on the range.

This car rights all of those wrongs. In isolation, the motor gets blown into next week by the current C63 507 for pure noise and theatre, but on the road the BMW's fuel consumption and massive torque would swing it for me. Sounds boring, but that's what matters in a daily driver.Not to mention the transmission which makes the Merc's feel pretty antiquated now. And I still think the powertrain feels special enough for an M car.

The rest of the package is BMW M at its best. I think it's a truly special car. It made me smile for the two days that I drove it. When the video comes out in the next few weeks, watch the section where we talk through the level of modification over standard 3er. This car is 50 per cent new.

Can't wait to watch the video and see the smile on his face. Still I watch his last video reviewing Mercedes Benz E63 AMG S vs Jaguar XFR-S vs BMW M... and love how he enjoyed driving BMW M... specially the drag race part

[KKM3]

Originally Posted by ChrisMT79

After re-reading this review and others regarding the throttle response, I am left pondering back to my initial days with my brief but thorough stint with an 2010 Audi B8 S4. I bought it new and it was supercharged, but for some reason I just couldn't help but feeling like the throttle was holding back something. I mean the response was okay and the engine was great, but it got me into researching and eventually lead to coding. Well long story short, I was able to program in the modification to adjust to the throttle response. Low and behold, that was it! From that day forward, it's been stuck in my head that these engines nowadays are simply a code/tune away from perfection (depending on your preference). I wonder if this would hold true for this engine as well? I can almost guarantee there will be a performance package of some sort not far off that aims to correct this.

My 2013 s4 feels almost as responsive as my outgoing e92 m3. The throttle response is instantaneous and is far easier to predict and modulate throttle inputs than a turbo set up and also sounds much better less muted than a turbo. I'm not sure an engine with forced induction will ever have the the throttle response of a car like the e92 and e46 m3 but a supercharger will get you much closer than a turbo ever could.

And here's a clip of my r8

[V1.47fan]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

The M3 has always been lauded as being the kind of car that you could take to the track, yet is livable day-to-day. Even with the E30 M3, it was a rather pedestrian 3-series, with an unflappable chassis. It wasn't even particularly fast from an outright speed perspective. It's most significant quality was that it was an engaging and superb drivers car.

Harris' notes seem to indicate that the F80 is more of the same.

The E30 M3 is very competitive in its class in various racing series, NASA, SCCA etc. A great momentum car like the Miata.
You're not going to be top 3 at the nationals in A stock class in an E9X M3 or F8X M3. There was a time when the M3 wasnt about drag racing at airports.

[Koldun]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Ummmm....

I'd take either over diaper blue. What color is that second one? Looks like it's been out in the sun too long. Another awful color, I place it just above YMB and right below the new Golden Shower Yellow. The green Z4 pulls it off with the tan softtop.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Boss330

And in his conclusion:

And I still think the powertrain feels special enough for an M car.

That's either a praise, or a veiled criticism. As in, "Hillary, you're likeable enough."

[Falafel Combo]

So I guess Chris is saying the f80 is a better DD than the e92? Cool.

[Boss330]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

That's either a praise, or a veiled criticism. As in, "Hillary, you're likeable enough."

I take it at face value and just read it as is

[UK_]

Thank you. Fantastic review, Steve Sutcliffe gets blown into next week by Chris Harris' excellent and insightful comments.

[Eau Rouge]

This was the most telling part of CH's views of the model reviewed. IMO, he makes a solid case that F8x is the ultimate daily driving M car to date, but what about logic and reasoning?

Would you?
Absolutely. I loved my E92, but it was surprisingly limited as my daily driver. Opportunities to enjoy that motor beyond 7,000 were predictably limited, the lack of torque left you exposed to turbo hot hatches and, well, you know my thoughts on the range.

TIL: Some M3 owners fear turbo hot hatches driven by individuals that would likely swap keys with M3 owners in a heartbeat.

CH's rationale: The rules of public roads leave drivers of high revving M cars, including Chris Harris, vulnerable to commuting or grocery-getting moments of embarrassment which is a very bad thing.

Solution: Insert an engine that's a reaction to said vulnerability at the "cost" of building a car that by Harris' own explanation is now much more focused on mitigating M3/M4 driver exposure to those lethal turbo hot hatches lurking at red lights and cruising boulevards in search of M car roadkill.

This car rights all of those wrongs. In isolation, the motor gets blown into next week by the current C63 507 for pure noise and theatre, but on the road the BMW's fuel consumption and massive torque would swing it for me. Sounds boring, but that's what matters in a daily driver. Not to mention the transmission which makes the Merc's feel pretty antiquated now. And I still think the powertrain feels special enough for an M car.

Better fuel consumption will please all, no doubt.
I'm not surprised CH would "think the powertrain feels special enough for an M car" as long as the main purpose of an M car is to deliver street boss performance to its daily driving owner.

The rest of the package is BMW M at its best. I think it's a truly special car. It made me smile for the two days that I drove it. When the video comes out in the next few weeks, watch the section where we talk through the level of modification over standard 3er. This car is 50 per cent new.

It's a blinder. I'll have the saloon, the dampers, the big brakes, the DCT, and probably the baby blue. So exactly the car I drove on the launch then.

Chris

Those first two sentences are certainly two thumbs up. His words convey a very impressed state. The last sentence is too vague to support a conclusion that he intends to do with this model what he did with the previous generation -- buy one -- which would be the ultimate CH product endorsement, and he stopped short of saying something like "This is THE model every M3 owner has always wanted", so I'll have to go find out for myself later this year.

[Falafel Combo]

I'm happy someone finally agrees that the e92 feels heavy and "slow". I've always said my f30 335i "feels" much faster than my e92 M3 did.


So I guess it's official. We are now allowed to openly criticize the e92 M3.

[Eau Rouge]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

I'm happy someone finally agrees that the e92 feels heavy and "slow". I've always said my f30 335i "feels" much faster than my e92 M3 did.


So I guess it's official. We are now allowed to openly criticize the e92 M3.

Some have been doing that for seven years.

[elitex]

Originally Posted by alpinweiss 335i

I'm happy someone finally agrees that the e92 feels heavy and "slow". I've always said my f30 335i "feels" much faster than my e92 M3 did.


So I guess it's official. We are now allowed to openly criticize the e92 M3.

It does when you get caught in the wrong gear. Happens all the time when you're just cruising around town.