AMV8 as a daily driver..?
Discussion
jus said:
Practical? Any experiences, things to look out for, wear issues (leather?), reliability issues? I currently use an E46 M3 as my daily car and love it to bits.
I'm essentially trying to decide whether I need to keep the M3 or not.
I'm essentially trying to decide whether I need to keep the M3 or not.
Edited by jus on Tuesday 20th February 13:19
Yes it can easily be a daily driver. I'm still thinking about one and it will be used every day if I do. But loads on here using their AMV8 daily!!!
jus said:
Practical? Any experiences, things to look out for, wear issues (leather?), reliability issues? I currently use an E46 M3 as my daily car and love it to bits.
I'm essentially trying to decide whether I need to keep the M3 or not.
Keep your M3 by all means - you won't drive it much though! Apart from extra seats V8 will be as useable as M3, but much more special. I'm essentially trying to decide whether I need to keep the M3 or not.
Edited by jus on Tuesday 20th February 13:19
I've had a couple of E46 M3s ... and they are more practical (if you need passengers - doh!), but apart from that, the boot size is almost as big in an AMV8. They do 'a to b' in similar fashion...
... but there the similarity ends.
In a Beemer you are the devils spawn, never to be let in, one of the pack.
In an Aston, people wave and smile, and gather round (sad but true) and the whole drive is more of a thrill.
It's also so much more 'hands on' as a drive, so much more fun and planted - especially on the twisties. You really need to spend a day or so testing the V8 to get what I mean.
Also, there is a sound issue. Which, I'm sure you will be well aware of.
Do it, you won't regret it.
... but there the similarity ends.
In a Beemer you are the devils spawn, never to be let in, one of the pack.
In an Aston, people wave and smile, and gather round (sad but true) and the whole drive is more of a thrill.
It's also so much more 'hands on' as a drive, so much more fun and planted - especially on the twisties. You really need to spend a day or so testing the V8 to get what I mean.
Also, there is a sound issue. Which, I'm sure you will be well aware of.
Do it, you won't regret it.
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 20th February 16:46
70 miles return each day (Guildford / London City) - after first week dashboard gremlins sorted she hasn't missed a beat though fair to say my ticker stopped a few times with the lunatic mopeds cutting in and out. Had the normal experiences so many other AMV8 owners have seen - kids waving, photos taken by tourists and general upturn in the mouth region as pedestrians see the car. Nice place to be and great way to start and finish the day.
chumley-warner said:
Don't want to rain on any parade, but I wouldn't use as a daily driver. My customers wouldn't appreciate it, wouldn't like leaving it hanging around either - but I get everywhere.
Haven't got any other reason though.
Haven't got any other reason though.
That's not rain.... just an inconsequential drizzle
jus said:
To those who've owned E46 M3s before... is the Aston noticeably quicker, or not really?
Should give it a good test drive shortly...
Should give it a good test drive shortly...
It's a little while since I had my M3, but from my recollection there really is not much in it - guess the Aston is marginally faster and has a better power to weight figure, but you'd both have to be going some to prove the point!! I do prefer the handling of the Aston though - feels much less nose heavy to me.
I think that Steve (he with the lovely blue Vantage) might have gone from his M3 to his V8, so could probably offer a better back to back comparison than me....
Ed.
jus said:
To those who've owned E46 M3s before... is the Aston noticeably quicker, or not really?
Should give it a good test drive shortly...
Should give it a good test drive shortly...
I've had 2 E46 M3s (amongst other stuff) and now have the Vantage. I'd say there was nothing in it point to point (you can of course fit twice as much in the M3). But I know which one I prefer driving. If you don't need rear seats and can afford the financial hit, the Aston wins on almost every count.
MUCH more rewarding to drive, look at and listen to.
I still own an E46 M3 as well as a Vantage.
I agree with the above and add that the Vantage seem to have a more useful 1st gear. It seems to run out further. Also where the M3 beats the Aston hands down is responsiveness in the lower rev range. You tickle the throttle of the M3 and it leaps out from under you (in a good way), something I attribute to it having 6 throttle bodies. As for handling etc - line ball IMO. Having said, the the Vantge is supposed to do the Nurburgring (Nordschleife) in close to 8 minutes whereas the M3 takes 8:21
I agree with the above and add that the Vantage seem to have a more useful 1st gear. It seems to run out further. Also where the M3 beats the Aston hands down is responsiveness in the lower rev range. You tickle the throttle of the M3 and it leaps out from under you (in a good way), something I attribute to it having 6 throttle bodies. As for handling etc - line ball IMO. Having said, the the Vantge is supposed to do the Nurburgring (Nordschleife) in close to 8 minutes whereas the M3 takes 8:21
mark, I'm surprised that you rate the low down torque of the M3. It was one of my main complaints with the car over a four year period. With serious revs then I'd agree but I lost count on the amount of times that the power just wasn't there when I needed it most and I wasn't the first to comment on this issue.
This confirms my suspiscions that the M3 S54 motor remains very hard to beat, even with 4.3 litres and 2 more cylinders! Its breadth of torque is still phenomenal given its nature (high rev, "small" capacity six). I would however expect the Aston to be more torquey lower down and mid range, thanks to the larger capacity and V8... surely?
One of the M3s best tricks is pulling hard all the way to 8000rpm. Does the Aston have longer gears perhaps? (it only runs to 7000rpm I believe?).
I've no doubt in my mind that the AM will look, feel and sound more special, and be a more purposeful sportscar, which is exactly why I'm interested. But the M3 still tugs at my heart strings as its not only served me well but my previous one saved my life in a big crash... and it's just too good to part with... few cars with such useable boot space and four decent seats can match it! I may just have to keep both.
To the gent who has done so, do you find you still use your M3 much at all, or is the temptation of the Aston everyday too great and the BM is ending up gathering dust?
One of the M3s best tricks is pulling hard all the way to 8000rpm. Does the Aston have longer gears perhaps? (it only runs to 7000rpm I believe?).
I've no doubt in my mind that the AM will look, feel and sound more special, and be a more purposeful sportscar, which is exactly why I'm interested. But the M3 still tugs at my heart strings as its not only served me well but my previous one saved my life in a big crash... and it's just too good to part with... few cars with such useable boot space and four decent seats can match it! I may just have to keep both.
To the gent who has done so, do you find you still use your M3 much at all, or is the temptation of the Aston everyday too great and the BM is ending up gathering dust?
jus said:
To the gent who has done so, do you find you still use your M3 much at all, or is the temptation of the Aston everyday too great and the BM is ending up gathering dust?
I sold the M3 to pay for a tank of fuel in the Aston
Still have a soft spot for them though.... (BTW - limited to 155 mph my ar5e - many times went faster than that without even changing into top).
Regardsing Aston V8's - you really need to get up the rev range for it to sing, but the car will pull in 6th from 1k revs (which I only did once on the test drive!) but it's pretty impressive that you can go from about 15 mph to 180 mph without changing gear.
I can confirm, my M3 also runs past the 250km/h (155mph) mark, but not by a helluva lot according to the GPS. Approx 270km/h indicated on the speedo. I think it was in 5th gear even...
In this pic, where I tested on an airstrip, I had changed up into 6th... plenty of revs left as you can see, and it's still pulling hard enough for you to feel the 'bump' of the speed limiter engaging. I've no doubt it could run to the end of its clock at 300 indicated and perhaps even further.
The reason I'm interested in the Aston is:
a) I find it absolutely achingly beautiful. Modern automotive porn at its best.
b) The noise.
c) I want something really special. The Aston oozes specialness, feelgood factor and is a real event.
d) Apparently it's not a half bad drive.
I'm not after ultimate speed because this would be more of a daily car. As far as I'm concerned, the M3 is fast enough for the vast majority of my travelling, so if it's only marginally faster then that's fine, really. For an ultimate speed toy I'm considering things like the Noble M400, etc.
I have an X5 4.4i V8 to use as a practical/utility vehicle, so I don't need to be too overly concerned about practicality issues. And besides which, I'm young and unmarried, so while I don't need to give too much of a stuff about that sort of thing I should make use of it
In this pic, where I tested on an airstrip, I had changed up into 6th... plenty of revs left as you can see, and it's still pulling hard enough for you to feel the 'bump' of the speed limiter engaging. I've no doubt it could run to the end of its clock at 300 indicated and perhaps even further.
The reason I'm interested in the Aston is:
a) I find it absolutely achingly beautiful. Modern automotive porn at its best.
b) The noise.
c) I want something really special. The Aston oozes specialness, feelgood factor and is a real event.
d) Apparently it's not a half bad drive.
I'm not after ultimate speed because this would be more of a daily car. As far as I'm concerned, the M3 is fast enough for the vast majority of my travelling, so if it's only marginally faster then that's fine, really. For an ultimate speed toy I'm considering things like the Noble M400, etc.
I have an X5 4.4i V8 to use as a practical/utility vehicle, so I don't need to be too overly concerned about practicality issues. And besides which, I'm young and unmarried, so while I don't need to give too much of a stuff about that sort of thing I should make use of it
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