'11 M3 Coupe test drive

I really don't understand the GT-R from a driver perspective. It's awesome engineering and VERY capable, but it's too much tech for the race track. I took a ride in one at MSR and was impressed with its performance but that car barely needs the driver to get around the track. I'd much rather drive a base 911 or some form of C6 around the track. My lap times, while perhaps slower, would at least be more closely related to my abilities and not the cars... YMMV

If you feel that way you can always turn the VDC off. That is one thing I really like is that the VDC has three settings with one being 100% off.

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Originally Posted by ken o

This. Make your DD a tow vehicle. I just can't do it. But I am thinking about an X5 diesel.

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Now that would be an awesome daily driver - 425 lb/ft of torque, 6500 pound towing capacity, and 19/26 mpg fuel economy. Go for it!

Edit: Actually, as much as I dislike VW products, the TDI Touareg sounds like a better deal - it's $10k cheaper, it has basically the same power and fuel economy, and it can tow 7700 pounds.

Or maybe you should get that nice, safe, luxurious, BMW for your wife. If it just happens to be suited for towing a car to the race track... so be it :)

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Originally Posted by altiain

Now that would be an awesome daily driver - 425 lb/ft of torque, 6500 pound towing capacity, and 19/26 mpg fuel economy. Go for it!

Edit: Actually, as much as I dislike VW products, the TDI Touareg sounds like a better deal - it's $10k cheaper, it has basically the same power and fuel economy, and it can tow 7700 pounds.

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I looked at all of them and ended up with the re-done Jeep GC. Costs less than all of them, is built beautifully, runs on cheap regular gas, 390 ft/lbs, dodge 1/2 ton engine and trans (easy cheap service), 7200lb tow rating. The price delta was in the $10-20k range, that buys a lot of fuel. And there will be a diesel GC with similar specs in 2012.

ya the new Grand Cherokee is really nice.

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Originally Posted by altiain

Now that would be an awesome daily driver - 425 lb/ft of torque, 6500 pound towing capacity, and 19/26 mpg fuel economy. Go for it!

Edit: Actually, as much as I dislike VW products, the TDI Touareg sounds like a better deal - it's $10k cheaper, it has basically the same power and fuel economy, and it can tow 7700 pounds.

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I wouldn't mind either of them. The Toureg is a much nicer Cayenne than the Porsche, and the price isn't that bad, given the alternatives.

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Originally Posted by Titus

On Saturday, my friend let me take his brand new '11 M3 Coupe for a spin. I am not much for giving car reviews, but I thought I would share my experience.


Looks: I did not find this car particularly special in print, but it was stunning in person. Matt's is white and I love the look of the CF roof paired with white paint.

Power: Wow... Probably more power than you ever need, but the traction control does a great job of making you believe it isn't too much power. Nothing like a N/A V8 that revs to 8400 rpms.

Transmission: M Double clutch. I didn't have enough time to get good with the paddles, which really degraded my whole test drive experience. I am sure it is fantastic once you get used to it. I was really surprised by how fast and aggressive the gear changes were with the car in M mode.

Handling: I could really see how this car could get you into trouble. On the way in, I came through some twisties in the Miata at 60... the car was leaning badly and the tires were chirping. It was telling me thats enough. I took the M3 through the same s curve at the same speed and it really felt pedestrian. No lean or tire noise at all, just this feeling like the car was laughing at me and telling me that I needed to push it A LOT harder than that to see what it was capable of. Being my buddy's new $65k toy and not mine, I decided not to take it up on it.


Overall: I have never driven anything that felt so refined even while feeling like it was built for racing first. If I had the type of disposable income needed to own something like this, I think I would be shopping for one on my next day off.

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i present to you, a V10 that revs to 8200 :D
http://www.webwombat.com.au/motoring...w_m5_v10_3.JPG

oh how i miss thee

What about the new Durango?

How did this go from flappy-paddle BMW's M3's to Dodge SUV's?? :confused:

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

How did this go from flappy-paddle BMW's M3's to Dodge SUV's?? :confused:

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Us Miata drivers were frightened by the M3's power, so we backed down to SUV talk.

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Originally Posted by jrj512

Us Miata drivers were frightened by the M3's power, so we backed down to SUV talk.

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But an actual M3 owner was the one asking about the Dodge???

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Originally Posted by POS Racing

But an actual M3 owner was the one asking about the Dodge???

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to put the M3 on a trailer.

Now what about trailers?

Drove an E92 M3 at ECR for a couple of sessions. Excellent car. The power was great, the sound was intoxicating, the flappy paddle gear box was impressive, but the handling was not great. There just isn't enough tire on the front of this car. :(

It was on stock 245/265 Michelin PS2s. The car just didn't have enough front end grip. A set of 285s or 305s all around would be great.

I turned off the stability control, but not the traction control because I didn't want to destroy the owners rear tires. A little bit of power-on oversteer probably would have been a good fix for the push.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amRXHN_c-2A

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Originally Posted by ken o

to put the M3 on a trailer.

Now what about trailers?

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I know where an awesome custom, tandem axle, fully boxed steel deck trailer is for sale for a very reasonable price. I'll tell you all about it when we bring it back from hauling the STR car to Blytheville. :wink:

+1 on the trailer Iain mentioned. It is a very high-quality trailer in perfect condition. If I had any place to store it, I'd have already bought it, even though I don't really trailer often. It pulled like a dream behind my 92 chevy 1/2 ton, which isn't exactly a torque-monster.