Tested the M3 e92: unconclusive

[bher]

Yesterday had a 1/2 hour drive with the dealer and I have to say I am a bit disappointed.
I really love the car for its dual caracter (quite discreet series 3 and V8 420 bhp beast with high rev potential)
In fact the weather was really poor (little rain on very greassy-fall tarmac, no real open roads,... As it was an little test, dealer was in the car.
I must compare with last week end porsche test: dry, more than 1 hour with wife and nicer roads.....

I appreciated the band of torque from the V8, just relax passing speed bumps in second and then giving some throttle in a soft and efficient manier
and the comfort of the car (even if I did not spend enough time to find the perfect driving position)

For the rest I remain doubtfull: I was expecting more grunt above 5000 rpm but electronic cut it, the noise is very polite, a little too soft for me. As it was my first try with front engine and RWD I did not try anything really sporty and feel frustrated. I read in EVO that you need to balance the rear to really understand what this car is and I tend to believe that. So far and that is the reason for my present feeling: this is not a sport coupe but a berline with 2 door and a big engine Please, please tell me I am wrong.......

What should I do? Ask for a new test or this pitfalls are really part of the car whatever the conditions

Edited by bher on Saturday 1st December 06:39

[LittleBro]

Take the Porsche out again on a miserable day

Personally, I dont think you can judge any car during a 30 minute drive with the salesman in the car. I'd try again, but if you're just not "feeling it", and the Porsche felt better, then there's your answer

Best of luck.

[Pugsey]

As has been said - take the Porsche out again on a miserable day............and you'll find it handles the conditions BETTER than the M3. Again, as has been said, short test drives are purely about 'feeling it' and it sounds as if your heart is with the Porsche. You're right - the M3 is a very fast quite heavy saloon car. The Porsche is more a sports car. The choice is yours!

[JezF]

I think it's a little unfair to compare a Porsche to a M3. Price might be similar, but they are in a different market in many respects.

[Pugsey]

JezF said:

I think it's a little unfair to compare a Porsche to a M3. Price might be similar, but they are in a different market in many respects.

Not in this case as poor old bher IS trying to compare decide which way to jump. In fact come to think of it I know a few people - myself included - who've moved between the two and on more than one occassion.

Edited by Pugsey on Saturday 1st December 12:37

[RS4john]

I think the porker would be a better bet, the M3 will not give many thrills in the sub-6K rpm region, and once in the power band you are above the legal limit, so thrills at a risk/price, the porker will be more drivable lower down IMO. Wet roads and the new M3 don't go well together.

[edb49]

bher said:

So far and that is the reason for my present feeling: this is not a sport coupe but a berline with 2 door and a big engine Please, please tell me I am wrong.......

What should I do? Ask for a new test or this pitfalls are really part of the car whatever the conditions

Why not take a 335i out for a test drive then immediately before/afterwards the M3? This should give you an idea of the difference between a fast 3 series and a genuine M car. The car can be deceptively fast if you rev it from 2k to 8k because the engine is very progressive; try putting it in 2nd gear and holding at 5k RPM, then nail it to the red line.

It's a hard choice, I ummed and ahhed between a 997S and the M3 for ages. Thing that threw it for me was the 911 is everlasting, I thought I may was get the M3 now and a 911 when there's nothing else interesting around.

[bher]

edb49 said:

Why not take a 335i out for a test drive then immediately before/afterwards the M3? This should give you an idea of the difference between a fast 3 series and a genuine M car. The car can be deceptively fast if you rev it from 2k to 8k because the engine is very progressive; try putting it in 2nd gear and holding at 5k RPM, then nail it to the red line.

It's a hard choice, I ummed and ahhed between a 997S and the M3 for ages. Thing that threw it for me was the 911 is everlasting, I thought I may was get the M3 now and a 911 when there's nothing else interesting around.

It is easy to explain: Facts are that I look for a sport car I could use during weekend (third car in house) to drive kids (12, 9 and 6 y-o) to hockey club, parties,... AND to do real sport activities as Rallye de Paris (www.rallystory.com where I finished 6th last year, great fun BTW), some track days,....
If I go the porsche way (2+2 seats) I know I will less use my toy but be more efficient on "track"
If I go for the M3 (which I like more for the concept Dr jekill/ Mr hide), I will use it a lot more (even sometimes to go to work) but at the expense of the sport feeling....
On the other and I am only 39 and the Porsche may wait next time.
Regarding the 335i, if it is to take the series 3 coupé , in my eyes it has to be the top of the range
Question question ????

[edb49]

Sorry, I didn't make my point very clearly. You were saying you were worried that the M3 was just a 2dr saloon with a big engine instead of a serious sports car. I suggested trying a 335i then M3 so you could compare and contrast a 3 series with a big engine and a proper M car. You may feel the M3 doesn't move the game on enough from the 335i for your liking, in which case get the 911.

[bher]

edb49 said:

Sorry, I didn't make my point very clearly. You were saying you were worried that the M3 was just a 2dr saloon with a big engine instead of a serious sports car. I suggested trying a 335i then M3 so you could compare and contrast a 3 series with a big engine and a proper M car. You may feel the M3 doesn't move the game on enough from the 335i for your liking, in which case get the 911.

Thanks for replying.
I was basically waiting for that test to decide to order it but the weather-conditions were poor and I remain in doubt about the real potential of the M3 (Which appeals me more than the porsche)
My post is more to reassure me about the car than to deny it

[edb49]

Well I'm really enjoying mine. It does the sensible/practical part of life really well, and on single carriageways it is very quick. It's not a car that instantly makes you feel good about it; I would try and get a 24hr test drive before you make your mind up. (That being said, a month into owning mine I am still finding out more about it...)

[Pugsey]

edb49 said:

Well I'm really enjoying mine. It does the sensible/practical part of life really well, and on single carriageways it is very quick. It's not a car that instantly makes you feel good about it; I would try and get a 24hr test drive before you make your mind up. (That being said, a month into owning mine I am still finding out more about it...)

I'd second that. The first time I felt really good about my M3 was after a 400 mile round trip to the West Country in lousy conditions. The speed and ease which it dispatched that journey was deeply impressive. I think this car will often impress me - but maybe it's a 'head' not 'heart' car whereas the 911 is more 'heart'.

[Pugsey]

RS4john said:

I think the porker would be a better bet, the M3 will not give many thrills in the sub-6K rpm region, and once in the power band you are above the legal limit, so thrills at a risk/price, the porker will be more drivable lower down IMO. Wet roads and the new M3 don't go well together.

Can't agree with that The M3 has more low down grunt than the 997S - fifth or sixth gear overtakes will do in the M3 where you'd need to down shift in the Porsche. In reality to be moving much faster than most traffic around you you rarely need to exceed 5,000rpm in the M3. The M3 becomes quite wayward - but a lot of fun - if you choose use all the revs and disable it's various aids in the wet. But why would you? Leave a decent level of aids on and watch your right foot and it will cover ground VERY quickly indeed in the wet.

[bher]

Thank you edb49 and Pugsey for your kind opinion.
Will let you know the final decision