5th gear tonight
Discussion
Not really a fair comparison. Lets remember that was an e36 she was following - a car that was released in 1991 with the M coming out in about 94 I think. We're now 14 years later so I would hope that a modern powerful diesel in a modern chassis would give an older M car a run for its money. But couldn't get past! 
If anyone can be ar$ed to watch this, I'm guessing the E36 wont be on the racing line very much. VBH is no mug, so it's more likely to be a reflection of the pilot than car.
Saying that, I recently had the misfortune of following some plebs in an E36 M3 'Track Car' around Croft. They were worse than crap, getting thrown off the TD by the organiser in the end for such poor driving too, so the idea of VBH keeping up with one doesn't shock me at all. I've managed to surprise a few people in my chipped 2.0 td E46 compact round there though, so laugh at your peril as they can be pedalled quite effectively and as said, have great chassis and reasonable brakes as standard.
Saying that, I recently had the misfortune of following some plebs in an E36 M3 'Track Car' around Croft. They were worse than crap, getting thrown off the TD by the organiser in the end for such poor driving too, so the idea of VBH keeping up with one doesn't shock me at all. I've managed to surprise a few people in my chipped 2.0 td E46 compact round there though, so laugh at your peril as they can be pedalled quite effectively and as said, have great chassis and reasonable brakes as standard.
mikez328 said:
5th Gear is poo - just like Jeremy Clarkson's c**p Top Gear. The presenters sell their soul to the devil (through their agents - to the highest bidder). They are no different to our corrupt representatives (MP's...) in the House of Commons.
If Jeremy wants a Ford GT40 & tells national TV it's the bees knees he gets it. Then when he throws his teddies out of the cot because it broke down on him several times between the Cotswolds & his London studio he keeps VERY quiet.
Have you read Richard Hammond's "On the edge"? What a load of poo! Most chapters are written by a ghost writer on behalf of his wife, Mindy.
All these presenters are trying (successfully) to leap onto the multi-million pound band-wagon of the Press.
Clarkson, Hammond & May are utter W*****S - & they & their producers know it - but because they produce ridiculous motoring programmes the public love it. But morons also watch Eastenders, Coronation Street & Emmerdale.....
Geeze Mike, have a wIf Jeremy wants a Ford GT40 & tells national TV it's the bees knees he gets it. Then when he throws his teddies out of the cot because it broke down on him several times between the Cotswolds & his London studio he keeps VERY quiet.
Have you read Richard Hammond's "On the edge"? What a load of poo! Most chapters are written by a ghost writer on behalf of his wife, Mindy.
All these presenters are trying (successfully) to leap onto the multi-million pound band-wagon of the Press.
Clarkson, Hammond & May are utter W*****S - & they & their producers know it - but because they produce ridiculous motoring programmes the public love it. But morons also watch Eastenders, Coronation Street & Emmerdale.....
k or something 
i saw it last night on www.five.tv. TBH it was not really a race, I was rather disappointed because it was only like 5 mins long and with the comments in this forum I was expecting some sort of race! the M3 driver just was not bothered at all. not worth watching.
andye30m3 said:
Cheers for the links
Wasn't really a race, Quite please to see my £5k worth of M3 should keep up with £35k worth of car and looks like it would be more fun at the time.
I guess the good thing it shows is that we can now buy a new diesel junior exec car which has near on identical track performance to the E36 M3 (was it an Evo?) and on the road it delivers 50mpg combined.Wasn't really a race, Quite please to see my £5k worth of M3 should keep up with £35k worth of car and looks like it would be more fun at the time.
As for £5k vs £35k well thats a totally different kettle of fish - the £5k car will need a huge amount of cash spent on it servicing wise while the 330d is very cheap to service & insurance the E36 M3 killer is a non issue for the 330d.
Pity it was such a short review & no road test along with it & real world MPG.
i know which one i would rather have, taking a diesel on a track day! what is this world coming too! i cant imagine the diesel being all that fun to drive, when will people realise that cars are a passion for some people, servicing, running and insurance costs should not be the ultimate factors, how big a smile it puts on ur face should be. M3 all the way
Edited by rampz on Wednesday 11th February 12:00
Edited by rampz on Wednesday 11th February 12:01
rampz said:
i know which one i would rather have, taking a diesel on a track day! what is this world coming too! i cant imagine the diesel being all that fun to drive, when will people realise that cars are a passion for some people, serving, running and insurance costs should not be the ultimate factors, how big a smile it puts on ur face should be. M3 all the way
Thats the beauty about humanity were all different like different things can afford only certain things. Edited by rampz on Wednesday 11th February 12:00
You ever been to a Truck race?? 1000bhp Diesel racing limited to 100mph is an amazing experiance. I prefer the noise of a V8 GT car (not that keen on high reving 4 pots)
Welshbeef said:
andye30m3 said:
Cheers for the links
Wasn't really a race, Quite please to see my £5k worth of M3 should keep up with £35k worth of car and looks like it would be more fun at the time.
I guess the good thing it shows is that we can now buy a new diesel junior exec car which has near on identical track performance to the E36 M3 (was it an Evo?) and on the road it delivers 50mpg combined.Wasn't really a race, Quite please to see my £5k worth of M3 should keep up with £35k worth of car and looks like it would be more fun at the time.
As for £5k vs £35k well thats a totally different kettle of fish - the £5k car will need a huge amount of cash spent on it servicing wise while the 330d is very cheap to service & insurance the E36 M3 killer is a non issue for the 330d.
Pity it was such a short review & no road test along with it & real world MPG.
Do 330d's really do 50mpg or in the real world is it closer to 35-40? my e36 M3 Evo averages 28-30
I'd also happy pay the extra £300 insurance and let some one else have the 330d's devaluation.
Its all down to personal choice at the end of the day, but I'd always take the M3
Too many variables to give a meaningful answer. The M would have to have very low miles on it's dampers/bushes and probably a recent geometry setup too if it was to be a fair comparison in the twisty bits 'cos I guess the 330D would be a press car and certainly not "tired"
5th Gear have done shootouts between older machines such a R5 Turbo and a Mk2 Golf GTI and their newer equivalents. It would be interesting to see Tiff or Jason compare the new 330D and "properly maintained" E36 M3.
5th Gear have done shootouts between older machines such a R5 Turbo and a Mk2 Golf GTI and their newer equivalents. It would be interesting to see Tiff or Jason compare the new 330D and "properly maintained" E36 M3.
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