Clarkson on the new M3 Convertible
Discussion
Anyone seen Clarkson's review of the new M3 Convertible in The Sun today:-
www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002470459,00.html
Is it really that bad?
Shame as I like the look of the new M3.
Cheers.... Andrew
www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002470459,00.html
Is it really that bad?
Shame as I like the look of the new M3.
Cheers.... Andrew
I do have to say the hardtop version of the M3 is one serious driving machine. Loads of practicality and some serious power make it one of the best cars I've ever been in.
But saying that I do agree with Clarkson in wondering what the hell the point is in removing the roof off and turning it into a tart mobile. In my eyes convertibles are fine, as long as it been designed from the very start like that you can expect the driving experience to be uncompromised by the lack of a roof. (TVR, Lotus)
However, taking a brilliant car and compromising everything that made it great in the first place seems bonkers? I also agree with his opinion on the F1 style paddle change. I have driven an Alfa 147 fitted with it, admittedly no M3, but every upchange in the car was a nightmare. It can blip the throttle when going down, which is fab, but apparently smoothly blending in power on an upshift is quite beyond its abilities.
But saying that I do agree with Clarkson in wondering what the hell the point is in removing the roof off and turning it into a tart mobile. In my eyes convertibles are fine, as long as it been designed from the very start like that you can expect the driving experience to be uncompromised by the lack of a roof. (TVR, Lotus)
However, taking a brilliant car and compromising everything that made it great in the first place seems bonkers? I also agree with his opinion on the F1 style paddle change. I have driven an Alfa 147 fitted with it, admittedly no M3, but every upchange in the car was a nightmare. It can blip the throttle when going down, which is fab, but apparently smoothly blending in power on an upshift is quite beyond its abilities.
The only paddle shift I have tried is on the 360 Modena. And I *hated* the delay on the upshifts; this was when keeping my foot planted and pulling for the next gear. Makes you look like a nodding dog. A number of those who have F1s defend them to the hilt, saying it takes months to develop the 'technique' to drive them smoothly, though don't ask me what this technique is. His remarks about 3 point turns, hill starts, reversing etc. seems to be on the money, though exaggerated.
Whether he's right about the rest of the car who knows? Personally, I'll make up my own mind. JC's in the entertainment business, and his articles make me laugh, and this thread shows that he stimulates people to talk about what he's written. I bet I'm not the only one who's bookmarked "The Sun", or who opened up that crap 'page 3' link either
Whether he's right about the rest of the car who knows? Personally, I'll make up my own mind. JC's in the entertainment business, and his articles make me laugh, and this thread shows that he stimulates people to talk about what he's written. I bet I'm not the only one who's bookmarked "The Sun", or who opened up that crap 'page 3' link either
Whaaaazzaaaa???
I drove the SMG2 last week and the system is absolutely fantastic!! The gear is changed in 8 milisecs (like to see Mr. Clarkson performing this)
& for the shifter to rest at the Steeringwheel ..ehrm.
where do you want it to move then?
Try again, this gearbox deserves more respect.
I drove the SMG2 last week and the system is absolutely fantastic!! The gear is changed in 8 milisecs (like to see Mr. Clarkson performing this)
& for the shifter to rest at the Steeringwheel ..ehrm.
where do you want it to move then?
Try again, this gearbox deserves more respect.
He's not the first to criticise the rigidity of the new M3 Convertible though. Although its a huge improvement over the E36 one, its nowhere near as good as the Coupe version. OK, so some owners may not notice the difference on their trips to and from the hairdressers, but a number of magazines have slated the convertible for this. Clarkson is just saying the same thing but in the usual Clarkson way of saying things.
As for the shifters moving with the wheel I thought this was a good system. I had a "moment" in the first 355 paddleshift car i drove and I was braking and turning in for a corner and I couldn't find the levers to change gear as they stay in the same position on the steering column.
Oh yeah, even M3 owners admit it takes a while to really appreciate the SMG2 box as its a clutchless manual rather than a true auto, which many people seem to get confused about when test driving it.
As for the shifters moving with the wheel I thought this was a good system. I had a "moment" in the first 355 paddleshift car i drove and I was braking and turning in for a corner and I couldn't find the levers to change gear as they stay in the same position on the steering column.
Oh yeah, even M3 owners admit it takes a while to really appreciate the SMG2 box as its a clutchless manual rather than a true auto, which many people seem to get confused about when test driving it.
He's not the first to criticise the rigidity of the new M3 Convertible though. Although its a huge improvement over the E36 one, its nowhere near as good as the Coupe version. OK, so some owners may not notice the difference on their trips to and from the hairdressers, but a number of magazines have slated the convertible for this. Clarkson is just saying the same thing but in the usual Clarkson way of saying things.
As for the shifters moving with the wheel I thought this was a good system. I had a "moment" in the first 355 paddleshift car i drove and I was braking and turning in for a corner and I couldn't find the levers to change gear as they stay in the same position on the steering column.
Oh yeah, even M3 owners admit it takes a while to really appreciate the SMG2 box as its a clutchless manual rather than a true auto, which many people seem to get confused about when test driving it.
As for the shifters moving with the wheel I thought this was a good system. I had a "moment" in the first 355 paddleshift car i drove and I was braking and turning in for a corner and I couldn't find the levers to change gear as they stay in the same position on the steering column.
Oh yeah, even M3 owners admit it takes a while to really appreciate the SMG2 box as its a clutchless manual rather than a true auto, which many people seem to get confused about when test driving it.
I ran an E46 convertible M3 for about a year. It many ways it's a fantastic car, but not a ptach on the coupe from a driving experience. The scuttle shake on b-roads is appalling and the additional weight dulls the acceleration much more than was the case with E36. However you do still get the fantastic high rpm induction note
It is really funny the 3 series convertible is praised for its rigidity yet the M3 is criticised by JC ??? Top Gear were actually quite positive about the M3 cab see the link below.
The M3 cab has very very little scuttle shake and very little body flex, there are very few open topped cars that can better it, certainly it almost as rigid as our Porsche Boxster S which was designed as a convertible and is generally praised for its rigidity. Scuttle shake is when the front bulkhead of the car shakes and is usually manifested by instruments you car see shaking because the scuttle is moving independantly of the car the M3 cabs don't do this to any noticeable extent.
It is slightly less rigid than the coupe and will produce a few more rattles and a bit of body flex over the very worst surfaces.
The SMG gearbox is a fraction better than the one I tried in the Mazza 4200gt it reacts a bit quicker and doesn’t change you down to 1st when you get to 12mph. The SMG system is really good and improves the driving experience once you get used to it and most people end up being quite a bit smoother than in a manual once you get used to it.
Read the Top Gear Mag test from September 2001 since then the car has been fitted with a strut brace making it even stiffer. “But, roof up or roof down, it’s as calm and collected as those behind the wheel could wish to be. It dispatches lumpy tarmac with typical BMW contempt. Over more severe surfaces you can feel more shudder through the steering wheel but only if you really look for it. There’s no ungraceful swagger, no creaking or groaning.”
Link
[url]www.topgear.com/servlet/tg?DEST=/content/jsp/individualRoadTest.jsp&EVENT=1010&MAKE=BMW:A4&MODEL=3%20Series:E2&roadTestNumber=15.html[/url]
Now read the Short Test from top Gear December 2001 “The interior is superbly bolted together and ergonomically excellent, while there’s little body flex over rough roads”
Link
[url]www.topgear.com/servlet/tg?DEST=/content/jsp/individualRoadTest.jsp&EVENT=1010&MAKE=BMW:A4&MODEL=3%20Series:E2&roadTestNumber=21.html[/url]
As for Convertibles being "tarts cars" yes well the girls do love them and it is a problem keeping them out the passenger seat, but they also are a lot more fun to drive with the roof down giving a far more involved driving experience on the road or track.
Incidentally during this track day I swapped cars with the drtiver of the R34 Skyline,(this car had been modified to 400bhp and had the suspension tweaked by Middle hurst) The Skyline R34 is one of the stiffest cars around and yet bothmyself and the chap had both the cras cornering within a couple of miles per hour of each other and the chap was very impressed by the rigidity of M3 and its performance.
Heres another link showing the instruments as the car goes from 0-157 with the hood down, note the lack of jerk from the gear the SMG gear changes and the lack of shake from the chassis (and this was on rutted concrete !).
[url]www.geocities.com/mrjumjum/0-157mph.WMV[/url]
The M3 cab has very very little scuttle shake and very little body flex, there are very few open topped cars that can better it, certainly it almost as rigid as our Porsche Boxster S which was designed as a convertible and is generally praised for its rigidity. Scuttle shake is when the front bulkhead of the car shakes and is usually manifested by instruments you car see shaking because the scuttle is moving independantly of the car the M3 cabs don't do this to any noticeable extent.
It is slightly less rigid than the coupe and will produce a few more rattles and a bit of body flex over the very worst surfaces.
The SMG gearbox is a fraction better than the one I tried in the Mazza 4200gt it reacts a bit quicker and doesn’t change you down to 1st when you get to 12mph. The SMG system is really good and improves the driving experience once you get used to it and most people end up being quite a bit smoother than in a manual once you get used to it.
Read the Top Gear Mag test from September 2001 since then the car has been fitted with a strut brace making it even stiffer. “But, roof up or roof down, it’s as calm and collected as those behind the wheel could wish to be. It dispatches lumpy tarmac with typical BMW contempt. Over more severe surfaces you can feel more shudder through the steering wheel but only if you really look for it. There’s no ungraceful swagger, no creaking or groaning.”
Link
[url]www.topgear.com/servlet/tg?DEST=/content/jsp/individualRoadTest.jsp&EVENT=1010&MAKE=BMW:A4&MODEL=3%20Series:E2&roadTestNumber=15.html[/url]
Now read the Short Test from top Gear December 2001 “The interior is superbly bolted together and ergonomically excellent, while there’s little body flex over rough roads”
Link
[url]www.topgear.com/servlet/tg?DEST=/content/jsp/individualRoadTest.jsp&EVENT=1010&MAKE=BMW:A4&MODEL=3%20Series:E2&roadTestNumber=21.html[/url]
As for Convertibles being "tarts cars" yes well the girls do love them and it is a problem keeping them out the passenger seat, but they also are a lot more fun to drive with the roof down giving a far more involved driving experience on the road or track.
Incidentally during this track day I swapped cars with the drtiver of the R34 Skyline,(this car had been modified to 400bhp and had the suspension tweaked by Middle hurst) The Skyline R34 is one of the stiffest cars around and yet bothmyself and the chap had both the cras cornering within a couple of miles per hour of each other and the chap was very impressed by the rigidity of M3 and its performance.
Heres another link showing the instruments as the car goes from 0-157 with the hood down, note the lack of jerk from the gear the SMG gear changes and the lack of shake from the chassis (and this was on rutted concrete !).
[url]www.geocities.com/mrjumjum/0-157mph.WMV[/url]
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff