First impression M3 test drive

[Vigilant]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

I have 19" and passive suspension. It is a DD. I think the ride is great and not too harsh at all.

Ditto. No issues with 19s and passive suspension. It really depends on how "connected to the road" you want to be. The passive suspension is set between sport and sport plus on adaptive settings.

I drive 50+ miles per day for work with mixed highway and city street driving. You just have to be mindful of the craters in front of you.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

My point is I think ///M cars, while meant to serve a dual role, have lost their "character" so that personality and need for seat time to extract its potential is gone.

I respectfully disagree. I owned an E46 M3 for 8 years and now have an M4. I think that it takes as much, if not more seat time, to extract the potential. I have had my M4 for 10 months and am still learning everytime I drive it.

[Vectors2final]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

My point is I think ///M cars, while meant to serve a dual role, have lost their "character" so that personality and need for seat time to extract its potential is gone.

Cheers,
e46e92

You pretty much contradict what everyone has said about this car, to include many, many reviews. I don't think a single review has said this car was easy to get to its full potential out of the box.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

NO DISRESPECT to the OP but the entire review is that of someone looking for a fast DD at best, and ///M cars were supposed to have a more focused purpose that is still no completely useless as a DD.

Basically, they are now making tuned 550s and 335is. They are fast, but will continue to soften because I believe the OP's view and take on cars is the majority, not the minority.

Cheers,
e46e92

I think the F80 is the most focused the m3 has been in a while (especially brake and cooling system heat capacity). Not sure where the comment that it has been softened is coming from.

F30 though.... That is definitely softened up for the "masses"!!

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

Basically, they are now making tuned 550s and 335is. They are fast, but will continue to soften because I believe the OP's view and take on cars is the majority, not the minority.

Umm, how is the F8X "softer" than the E9X? Because it actuality, BMW did more to make this car more track oriented than that of previous generations.


And a shout out to NavyBeeker for being a fellow Hornet driver.

[NavyBeeker]

Originally Posted by Jockey

And a shout out to NavyBeeker for being a fellow Hornet driver.

Thanks! When are you getting your M3? Like your color choices!

[m34m]

Originally Posted by e46e92love

NO DISRESPECT to the OP but the entire review is that of someone looking for a fast DD at best, and ///M cars were supposed to have a more focused purpose that is still no completely useless as a DD.

Basically, they are now making tuned 550s and 335is. They are fast, but will continue to soften because I believe the OP's view and take on cars is the majority, not the minority.

Cheers,
e46e92

No way, you're totally off base. You're understandably jaded by the softening of other models like the 3 series. The F80/2 is an absolute weapon, meticulously engineered. BMW was well aware of the criticism of the 3 series. and could not and would not screw up such a hugely important model. Cars that are getting "soft" typically also get bigger and heavier. This car got bigger and lighter! A testament to the engineering and detail that went into these cars. This car is a home run by any measure. I think you're dead wrong on this one.

[stressdoc]

Pardon me for commenting on a common misperception:

The real functionality of Adaptive Suspension is not the 3 settings, but the independent micro-second adjustments that it makes in response to road conditions. Incredible technology that makes the F80 much more of a road racer IMO.

[Warranty P]

Originally Posted by secretariat

I don't understand how you can take a test drive of a warmed-up F80 M3 and not go over 60 MPH.

I hear that. When I took delivery of my car I was over 100 MPH 3 minutes after I left the dealership.

Some people are just conservative by nature.

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by NavyBeeker

Thanks! When are you getting your M3? Like your color choices!

Hopefully in July. A couple months before my 6th deployment. But had to do it this way since it seems BMW is ending the stateside military program.

I hope the SS interior holds up after sitting in a dirty ejection seat all day.

[secretariat]

I agree with stressdoc, and respectfully disagree with shortseller. I have adaptive and 19's and believe me when I hit that pothole I tighten my grip on wheel and cringe for impact and then curse. Besides the potholes the adaptive suspension and 19's are absolutely no problem for DD.

[secretariat]

Jockey, you want to know what the M3 feels like at WOT. Don't get dirty sitting in an ejector seat, just EJECT, EJECT EJECT. LOL

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by secretariat

I agree with stressdoc, and respectfully disagree with shortseller. I have adaptive and 19's and believe me when I hit that pothole I tighten my grip on wheel and cringe for impact and then curse. Besides the potholes the adaptive suspension and 19's are absolutely no problem for DD.

That cool, it's all subjective anyway. Coming from rolling on rocks, ie RFTs with sport suspension, anything will be a huge improvement. So glad M division didn't go that way!

[NavyBeeker]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Pardon me for commenting on a common misperception:

The real functionality of Adaptive Suspension is not the 3 settings, but the independent micro-second adjustments that it makes in response to road conditions. Incredible technology that makes the F80 much more of a road racer IMO.

Thanks for reminding me of that continuous automatic adjustment -- Definitely another PLUS for why I'll choose the adaptive if/when I pull the trigger. Have heard almost universal praise for those who have driven with it - especially as a DD.

I also like the idea of the three settings:
- Comfort for those special evening outings to smooth the ride while still getting the "look at me" attention at a nice restaurant...
- Sport for my casual / when the mood hits me aggressive performance around town or on highway
- Sport + for some track work / performance driving tutoring (I'll be a student)

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by NavyBeeker

No disrespect taken. I flew FA-18s in the Navy and really miss the feeling of strapping on a powerful machine that becomes a virtual extension of your own thoughts in motion. The fast DD for me is kind of "been there, done that" at this point, still not completely satisfied - although the 550i has been a fantastic automobile.

I flew F-4 Phantoms in the Air Force and while they were not little sports cars like the F-18, they were still pretty high performance. Having said that, it has never given me a "been there, done that" feeling when it comes to high performance automobiles. Two different things.

[NavyBeeker]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

I flew F-4 Phantoms in the Air Force and while they were not little sports cars like the F-18, they were still pretty high performance. Having said that, it has never given me a "been there, done that" feeling when it comes to high performance automobiles. Two different things.

Attachment 1208028

Awesome plate!

I probably wasn't clear enough in my statement - meant that since I've had the 550i for 7-8 years, I'm now interested in my next car having more agility and feel for the road, not "just a fast DD".... so didn't mean to compare an automobile to an airplane.

[m34m]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

I flew F-4 Phantoms in the Air Force and while they were not little sports cars like the F-18, they were still pretty high performance. Having said that, it has never given me a "been there, done that" feeling when it comes to high performance automobiles. Two different things.

Attachment 1208028

Love the car and the plate. What's that peeking out of the garage?

[georgere]

Originally Posted by stressdoc

Pardon me for commenting on a common misperception:

The real functionality of Adaptive Suspension is not the 3 settings, but the independent micro-second adjustments that it makes in response to road conditions. Incredible technology that makes the F80 much more of a road racer IMO.

So does it help comfort it not?

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by m34m

Love the car and the plate. What's that peeking out of the garage?

It's a 2001 Z3 3.0i. It is a full Dinan serial numbered S-1. Ordered it in October 2000 and got it in December 2000. Has 61k miles on it.

[m34m]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

It's a 2001 Z3 3.0i. It is a full Dinan serial numbered S-1. Ordered it in October 2000 and got it in December 2000. Has 61k miles on it.

Awesome. How about a side by side with M? Please.

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by m34m

Awesome. How about a side by side with M? Please.

Don't have one of those at the moment, but there are pictures of the Z3 in "Garage List" under my avatar.

[Brosef]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

I flew F-4 Phantoms in the Air Force and while they were not little sports cars like the F-18, they were still pretty high performance. Having said that, it has never given me a "been there, done that" feeling when it comes to high performance automobiles. Two different things.

Attachment 1208028

awesome picture - Sakhir is one of my favorites.

question - how do you fighter pilots find driving these cars? I would think that with all of the agility and G-force intensity you've grown accustomed, that it must become somewhat difficult to get excited about driving cars (notwithstanding how incredibly fast they are by the standards of us everyday civilians).

my dream job was always a fighter pilot, but alas I was cursed with bad vision so had to give up. maybe I'll get to go for a spin in one someday.