drove the new M3 today

[911teo]

Chris Harris with the new M3 at the Ring

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.aspx?AR=229373&CT=V

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by Dottore

A few more words about the M3....

There's another factor here too. The M3 is the more honest buy than the 911. The M3 is hand built by BMW, and I read somewhere that BMW's profit on these things is less than 10% a copy - probably much less. Porsche's profit on a well optioned 911, according to the same article is between 40 to 50% - and that surely borders on the mendacious.

My friends M3 has no options except for a high-end sound system. Everything else he wanted deleted. And unlike Porsche, which charges more for stripped out cars, BMW actually charges less. (He paid 80K Euro - but it will be a lot less in the US)

I know of no other car that fills so many roles so perfectly, and that fills each of those roles without compromise. Stealth hot rod, family sedan, sports car, grand tourer, daily driver. You name it. And I don't think there is more useable fun out there.

Oh yes, today I discovered the little "power" button on the console. You push this thing and a different bit of software suddenly alters the cars character completely to a super rorty track car. It's like adding a Steve Wong chip, SSI's and a straight muffler to your SC at the push of a button. A gimmick perhaps, but what a fecking perfect little gimmick!

Porsche charges $960 for the Sport Chrono Package. Can you imagine charging that much to unlock the full potential of the engine and add a stupid stop watch?

Porsche pricing is ridiculous. It's nice to see BMW did the right thing with their sports sedan.

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by 911teo

So where did you find the new M3 better than the older one? I have read some comments about the new car having lost some of the edge.
As if the car is too good now and performance is so easy that is less rewarding....

This is a very subjective response. The old M3 I drove was slightly tricked out, had some serious miles on it, and I never got it up to any meaningful speed. The M3 I've been playing with these past 2 days had 3,500km on it (now 4,100!) - and is stock.

The new car felt much more "of a piece", tighter all around, and much more powerful. It is a car I could live with, whereas the old M3 felt like much rougher around the edges somehow, a weekend toy at best.

Just vague impressions. Nothing to take seriously. But I certainly wasn't smitten by the older car. I certainly wouldn't have contemplated swapping my Porsche for the older car. But now? Well I just don't know.

I enjoyed the Chris Harris video. But I can't believe the comment that he didn't find the car "communicative". Maybe I misheard this or misunderstood the context. I found the car more communicative than my wife - and that's saying something.