To buy, or not to buy a V8 M3????

[Stu160]

So, whats your thoughts? Had a wee run in the back of one last year, and I have to say, I was so surprised, so much grip, but it was being driven by (2) awsome drivers.
My nephew is trading in his E 90 4 door manual.....


Stu

[pete]

On the upside the noise.

On the downside the image.

[Mike Scib]

Nearly the perfect family car, if only they done a touring!

[Scotty C]

Nearly the perfect family car, if only they done a touring!

[Doc883]

Nearly the perfect family car, if only they done a touring!

A 335i touring avec remap would be just as effective a weapon possibly without the full on soundtrack.

[gdr]

Had one back to back with 330i a couple of years ago with intention of keeping it as daily driver and selling on 330i. Fearsome bit of kit when you want to go quick (as in go to jail quick), but in day to day driving 90% of the time preferred 260hp, a bit more compliance and 6 lazy cylinders. V8 just felt too highly strung and precious for my typical short commute so punted it and kept the lesser car. Not a financial reason, just preferred it.

[martins]

I went a long way down the road to selling the Exige with the intention of getting an M3 just as described and for the same reasons. Bottled it at the last minute and upset 2 prospective buyers of the Exige. Not my finest hour I have to admit, but in the long run the M3 would not have been a substitute for the Q3 and/or Exige. Now if I had the room/could afford the Q3, and M3 and Exige, I would have one in a heartbeat. This one or a similar saloon would do nicely....

M

[steviej]

Out of interest has anyone compared it to or driven an Audi RS 5 ?

[martins]

Different league.

I did RS5, RS4, C63 and M3 pretty much all back to back. The M3 is a completely different beast from all of the others. They are all fast but it is the only one that once you stiffen everything up and give it beans really feels like a proper drivers car. It just feels right at speed. Nimble, light and responsive. Positive. Plenty of feel from all 4 corners. Put it this way, all of the cars tested can pick up their skirts and go but the C63 is a like a 50 year old, the RS5 and RS4 are in the 30's but the M3 is an 18 years old who pulls her skirt up off over her head and discards it with all her other clothes before spinting off into the distance.

That said the Audi's would probably be the fastest point to point in the wet, but this sprint would be technology led and although you would smile, the smile would be wider in the M3. In the dry I reckon there would be little in it between the Audi's and the M3.

Did the back to back over 2 days in Aberdeen. Same roads, slightly different conditons. Had the RS4 for a couple of hours so spent most time with it.

M

[Mikie711]

There was a 600bhp RS4 for sale in the NE but think it's sold now. That would be fun

[Mike Scib]

Nearly the perfect family car, if only they done a touring!

A 335i touring avec remap would be just as effective a weapon possibly without the full on soundtrack.

Or the flared wheel arches and bonnet bulge

Couple of roof bars for the bike racks and I think I could make do with a 4 door

[Sanjøy]

The only kicker is your daily car being sub 30mpg.

[m3rrd]

Use mine as a daily driver, does everything I could ask of it, only downside is the mpg - averaging 19 - 20 over 3 years.

[steve_weegie]

The only kicker is your daily car being sub 30mpg.

Beats sub 20, trust me

[Dominic]

Did you buy it yet Stu?