MOTOR TREND Says New M3 is Best Ever

JRobUSC submitted on 07/13/2007 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 1:19 PM
from: www.motortrend.com

Tags: BMW M3

BMW M3

MOTOR TREND Says New M3 is Best Ever

Just wanted to show the new M3 a little love since everyone has been so quick to blast it recently with any little negatives they can find. Seems the M3 might be a little more grown up than before but it's still more of a performance machine than other vehicles in the class.

Some quotes (and I'm not ignoring the bad and putting the good, the worst thing they said was the Servotronic steering was slightly disappointing):

"The rear end starts to drift, but that's okay -- your backside feels hardwired into this thing, and you know within a quarter inch how far it's going to step out."

"It's quick and precise; beautifully balanced and brilliantly responsive; deeply confident and inspiringly competent when you ask it the big questions. Yep, the new BMW M3 is everything the BMW faithful have been waiting for -- and then some."

"Some hardcore M3 purists will find that a little hard to get used to. And they will be missing a key point about this car: that it has more depth to it -- more layers of expertise -- than any previous M3. It might seem a little too well mannered, but it is faster around the Nurburgring Nordschleife than the V-10 powered M5 sedan, says M GmbH boss Gerhard Richter."

"On almost any given stretch of twisting blacktop this M3 is 911-fast."

"The new BMW M3 goes on sale here in the U.S. in spring 2008, with a pricetag tipped to be in the low $60,000 range. Some of the purists might grumble, but the reality is the M3 has grown up. It's no longer an edgy, race bred sport sedan, but a fast, civilized GT with a useable (occasionally) rear seat, and a trunk that holds more than a couple of soft bags. You don't have to be a hero to approach its limits, and when you do overstep the mark, it will look after you.

There are those who want to be challenged by a car: those who want to conquer white knuckles and sharp intakes of breath; those who take pride in taming the beast and swallowing their fear. For the rest of us, though, the new M3 makes us look about as good as it gets on the road, and not too shabby on the racetrack, either. Which is why it's the best M3 yet."
Read Article

Comments:

Images hosted in your AgentSpace can now be posted in the comments section using the following syntax (case matters):
[img]IMAGE URL[/img]
Example: [img]http://agent004.myautospies.com/users/150/Sample-Gallery/sample1.JPG[/img]

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/13/2007 1:36:14 PM

0 Boost

I see. I'm starting to see his point here.

reply to this comment

SupraNeverBack - 7/13/2007 1:40:25 PM

-4 Boost

A BMW PR.

Cannot beat the old gun RS4. How good it can be?

reply to this comment

BM3W - 7/13/2007 1:47:49 PM

+4 Boost

The M3 is better on the limit and for track work. For those wanting a track car the M3 is the best. For those wanting and allrounder the RS4 is the best. Either way, which ever car you pick, you end up with a bloody great car - isn't that all that really matters?

JRobUSC - 7/13/2007 1:53:43 PM

-1 Boost

of course, it's all BMW PR when a review has something good to say, and all "BMW sucks" when they say something negative. There's no truth anywhere, unless of course the truth is that BMW sucks. Because that's all BMW is actually good at, right? Sucking and paying off magazines to say they don't suck?

Incidentally if you go to Motor Trend's site, right by the link to this article saying this M3 is the best M3 ever there is a link to a comparison where Motor Trend gave the G37 coupe the win over the 335i Coupe. I guess that BMW PR money you speak of wasn't enough?

SupraNeverBack - 7/13/2007 1:59:53 PM

0 Boost

No, I was not saying MT is a BMW's PR machine, but rather saying the main content of the article is from BMW PR directly.

henbmw - 7/13/2007 2:01:01 PM

+5 Boost

Yeah, I'm so tired of people crying bias whenever BMW wins a comparison. Maybe, just maybe, they produce some spectacular cars.

Htay7500 - 7/13/2007 2:00:56 PM

+3 Boost

it looks great in white.

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 7/13/2007 2:05:16 PM

+4 Boost

Did someone mention the RS4? Here's a quote from Car and Driver:

"Check out the torque peak differences: the V-10, 6100 rpm; the V-8, 3900. This makes the M3’s engine feel far more flexible and it often doesn’t even need a downshift for passing, responding so strongly on the highway that a couple times we mistakenly thought we were in fourth gear when we were still comfortably in sixth. Throttle blips under heel-and-toe downshifting are spectacular and happen almost naturally. But, not surprisingly, the best part is the shrieking crescendo from 6000 rpm all the way up to the 8400-rpm sweet spot. Sorry, 420-hp Audi RS 4; this one sounds better and pulls harder.

Dropping the hammer from a standstill, we blasted to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds, 0.4 second quicker than the previous car, with the quarter-mile dispatched in 12.9 seconds at 111 mph, an even larger, 0.7-second gain. The surface wasn’t ideal, however, and we expect even better numbers once we get one to our usual test track. Even so, that’s already enough to outrun the $69,785 Audi RS 4."

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 7/13/2007 2:08:23 PM

+5 Boost

and another from Car & Driver, this time regarding the chassis:

"Amazing Chassis

The heavily massaged M chassis, on the other hand, is brilliant; even better than we expected. The rather brittle ride from the last-generation M3 is replaced by one that is amazingly supple considering the M3’s ever-planted suspension and utter lack of body roll, squat, and dive. We spent a couple hundred miles in the M3’s comfortable and supportive saddles, tearing up the tangled mountain roads in Spain—many of which have 50 km/h (31 mph) speed limits that we may or may not have exceeded by large factors—in a fruitless search for imperfections."

moto - 7/13/2007 4:44:22 PM

+3 Boost

What engines are you comparing, Rob? C&D was writing about BMW's V10. Both the new M3 and the RS4 have V-8 engines, and C&D seemed to have equally favorable reviews of the Audi engine. Read their September 2006 report of the RS4.

The torque curve on Audi's 4.2l V-8 is practically flat from 3300 RPM up to 6500. Reference: http://www.rri.se/popup/performancegraphs.php?ChartsID=281

Car & Driver wrote about the Audi's engine, "The engine pulls smoothly from idle, with abundant thrust available from 2300 rpm. In fact, 90 percent of the car’s peak torque is available between 2250 and 7600 rpm." That's every bit as tractable as the BMW engine, even if the BMW has a slightly higher redline. Until the cars are compared head-to-head, we won't know which is the "better" engine. C&D tested the Audi at high altitude in hot conditions, the BMW near sea level this spring. C&D's reference to the "8400-rpm shriek from BMW’s highest revving (and best) engine" doesn't make it the superior engine by my standards. Performance driving requires shifting just past the horsepower peak, not at redline. NOBODY should be redlining their engines on the street.

The new BMW V8 is almost certainly a fantastic engine. But that alone is not enough to separate it from the competition. Power has to be put to the ground. On a dry track, the better-balanced BMW coupe should handle better than the heavier RS4 sedan, whereas the better grip in the Audi lends it better track times on a non-ideal surface. The more telling comparison will be the forthcoming Audi 5-series coupe against the BMW 3-series.

Both are phenomenal cars, and although I have always prefered Porsche for the track, you can't go wrong with any German or high-end car on the road. American makes, too, are getting their stride back. The sport compact car market is better than it ever has been. But please let's stop posting biased, cherry-picked quotes in an attempt to discredit another vehicle. Both Audi and BMW offer very sharp cars with slightly different formulas for achieving the performance that would only be realized at the limits by a professional driver on a closed track. I personally choose the Audi for driving on the public roads in 4 seasons. Congratulations for enjoying your BMW.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/13/2007 5:11:36 PM

+3 Boost

"Sorry, 420-hp Audi RS 4; this one sounds better and pulls harder."

Considering BMW has A LOT more experience with the high-revving engine concept I think this is pure logic.

JRobUSC - 7/13/2007 5:28:43 PM

0 Boost

moto, I'm just providing some counterpoints to the several threads about how the new M3 is a disappointment. As for which engine I was comparing, I wasn't comparing either, someone else mentioned the RS4 first. Since C&D mentioned the RS4 as well I included the entire C&D quote, which started off comparing the new V8 to the M5/6 V10, but ended with "Sorry, 420-hp Audi RS 4; this one sounds better and pulls harder." And then "that’s already enough to outrun the $69,785 Audi RS 4."

JRobUSC - 7/13/2007 2:11:53 PM

+2 Boost

and the brakes, which folks were saying faded:

"And the brakes—massive single-piston units with huge cross-drilled 14.2-inch front and 13.8-inch rear discs (significantly larger than even the brakes on the E46 Competition Package)—are phenomenal, with progressive feel and never once fading during our track time or extended mountain-road abuse."

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 7/13/2007 2:48:39 PM

-2 Boost

and one last C&D quote, a really good one:

"With V-8 competitors like the upcoming 451-hp Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and 400-plus-hp Lexus IS-F, and the 420-hp Audi RS 4, we’re leading up to one heck of a showdown—one that, based on our drive, the M3 has a very strong chance of winning."

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/13/2007 5:18:08 PM

0 Boost

I just read a German review about the M3 and they say it is nothing short of amazing. At first they were a bit dissapointed because of the 'softer' side of the M3 but that's just an illusion. The M3 has grown-up but still can be driven with the very same madness!

The M3 is back, and it is as good as ever.

Hwany - 7/13/2007 2:13:52 PM

+3 Boost

Not trying to bash but I still think E46 is the king of all M3's.

reply to this comment

M53R - 7/13/2007 2:14:51 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

JRobUSC

thanks alot. :)

Some people here like SupraNeverBack thought that because it doesnt have a sharp steering that matches the e46, it means its rubbish.

New M3..... the return of the king :)

reply to this comment

SupraNeverBack - 7/13/2007 2:18:31 PM

-1 Boost

haha... C&D and BMW, no need to say more.

M53R - 7/13/2007 2:30:26 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Maybe you can tell me abit more since I dont know C&D as much as you seem to know?

Chip - 7/13/2007 4:36:50 PM

0 Boost

Props JRob, these people going on and on about the flaws on the E92 M3 have every right to be so scared and insecure. The M3 is king, has been, and always will be. The car keeps getting better with each generation.

I cant wait to drive one of these monsters.

henbmw - 7/13/2007 7:14:53 PM

+5 Boost

Do some damn research before you make retarded assumptions. For your ignorant C/D-BMW association:

-Test between M5-S6-E63, places:
1. e63
2.s6
3.m5

-Test between bmw 750, audi a8, m-b s550, and others:
1.s550
2.a8
3.750...

-Test between bmw 550, lexus gs450h, infiniti m45, mb e550....
1.m45
2.550i
3.e550

You idiots ruin this site.

answer - 7/13/2007 2:21:35 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Who was blasting the new M3?

I mean intelligent points not fanboy BS.

Every M3 has been special and fun. That's why it sucks so much to see morons slap an M badge on their regular 3.

New M3 is very cool. Not as cool as that new GT2 911, but cool.

reply to this comment

M35MT - 7/13/2007 2:31:28 PMView My AgentSpace

-1 Boost

"There are those who want to be challenged by a car: those who want to conquer white knuckles and sharp intakes of breath; those who take pride in taming the beast and swallowing their fear."

...that's what I think a true sports car is. All luxury makes, Audi, BMW, etc. are "taming" their cars it seems. Not in performance, but in actual driving experience. I'm only 23 so this car is not in my sights. It's interesting that they comment on how it's not as 'edgy' as it has been in the past. Somewhat of a shame, I always loved that about the M3.

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 7/13/2007 2:51:03 PM

+1 Boost

they'll have a CSL for folks who want hardcore. This new M3 might be less edgy but it's a lot more capable than the old one and much more comfortable, and it'll appeal to a larger audience.

7msynthetic - 7/13/2007 2:52:42 PM

+1 Boost

WOW a finally two good reviews

1. from MT - the most credible automotive source out there!
2. from C&D - didn't C&D just propose to BMW? Where are they getting married - Tokyo? NOT!

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 7/13/2007 3:34:39 PM

-2 Boost

and, presto, we're back to the "if someone says something good about a BMW it's BS from a BS source and if they say something bad it's because BMW screwed up." That didn't take long.

SupraNeverBack - 7/13/2007 4:00:08 PM

-2 Boost

But they forgot to tell the boss that the M3 is slower than 335i sometimes. ;)

reply to this comment

rg12345 - 7/14/2007 12:09:34 PM

+1 Boost

335i is the new king, at least among BMW ... Chip it and you have the new M3 with a 335i badge on its ass.

reply to this comment

ICON - 7/14/2007 2:07:00 PM

+1 Boost

Rice- You are an idiot. Nothing of substance to add to the dialogue...go play with your Transformer collection and don't come back until you grow some....

reply to this comment

M53R - 7/14/2007 2:42:14 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

rq12345

Thats a retarded comment. The 335i doesnt handle better than the M3, doesnt look as good, and doesnt have an 'M' engine.

reply to this comment

Yonder7 - 7/13/2007 4:03:10 PM

0 Boost

BMW 335i 5.1 0-60
BMW M3 4.6 0-60
MT numbers.
What you see is that for Bimmerphiles if MT is saying something good then the magazine is good, but if it is bad, then the magazine sucks.. >:-(...

At the end as I told before, we need to wait for the compares and we will know the true.
You will get what you enjoy, An screaming track star performer (M3) or a Jikel and Hide (the quiet monster) C63. Those cars have a personality, and I feel that even than we know that Lexus ISF will be good, in the deep of our hearts we know that it lacks of the Human part that we see in the Benz and the Bimmer due Japanese are always puting function over all and a computer will create almost the whole design.

reply to this comment

henbmw - 7/13/2007 7:24:03 PM

+3 Boost

Comparing that 6.2 liter V8 to an American pushrod is almost as bad as comparing it to a Toyota 'performance' engine. Pure blasphemy.

BMW995 - 7/13/2007 4:44:22 PM

+1 Boost

IMO only one real flaw in the new M3.
The linkage of the manual 6 speed trans.
Travel is too long and the feel is notchy.
Solution: A couple of very good aftermarket short-shifter kits are/will be available soon.
My son installed one on his 330i with sports pkg. and it transformed the car.

reply to this comment

7msynthetic - 7/13/2007 5:08:44 PM

+1 Boost

Transformed into what? A Honda civic?

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/14/2007 3:42:09 AM

0 Boost

BMW will have a short-throw kit. Shorters up the linkage with about 30%, just like you can get on Porsches.

Audi4Life - 7/13/2007 5:05:01 PM

+1 Boost

i really dont know what to think of the new m3, i wait till i actually see it in person but from all these judgements of one review saying that it is good the other that it is not just makes me realise of how little some people know how to test cars that they cant even base their review on a same opinion instead it has to be totally different

reply to this comment

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/13/2007 5:34:00 PM

0 Boost

http://www.caranddriver.com/carvideos/?bcpid=627028702&bclid=686997774&bctid=1111621669

Nice video. I love the way this V8 sounds. Just like the old straight-six you can hear the induction screaming. Just perfect.

reply to this comment

EL34 - 7/13/2007 5:57:48 PM

0 Boost

BMW continues to kick butt.

reply to this comment

henbmw - 7/13/2007 7:26:45 PM

+3 Boost

Time to update your assumptions. BMW's don't fall apart anymore, old-timer.

reply to this comment

MrGunFun - 7/13/2007 9:00:07 PMView My AgentSpace

+5 Boost

You DID NOT mention Lexus again on M3 thread.

How pathetic.

I don't see your point either.

reply to this comment

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/14/2007 3:45:14 AM

+5 Boost

Fuckbush, you are talking absolute rubbish! I know plenty of people who still drive an original 635 CSi or E27s, E28s, ..etc and NOT one is falling apart!

reply to this comment

1995e34 - 7/14/2007 9:26:41 AM

+3 Boost

yes, they practically give away 13 year old 5 series. not unlike they give away ANY car after 10 years.

and those 13 year old series are classics. no collectors are searching for a 13 year old GS.

reply to this comment

JRobUSC - 7/14/2007 11:40:48 AM

+4 Boost

"where i'm from you can get a 13 year old 5 series for free."

Yes, and I'm sure where you're from 1994 Lexus's sell for huge money and are made out of rainbows cast from the Holy Grail itself.

Here's a tip smart guy, unless it's a collector car, any 13 year old vehicle is worth very little compared to what it was new.

reply to this comment

SupraNeverBack - 7/14/2007 12:13:19 AM

-3 Boost

I just browsed through C&D's first drive. Don't understand why some of you fan boys get so excited about that.

Basically, they said the car has dead steering feeling (even felt dangerously light for high speed driving) and the M3 is a seriously gas sucker, 14mpg for non track driving (hopefully that was not UK mpg).

It reads that C&D love 335i even more only if it could come with LSD.

reply to this comment

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 7/14/2007 3:49:54 AM

+1 Boost

The steering is not dead, it just has a numb point on initial turn-in. Setting it to sport mode solves this for the most part. Again the E46 M3 and E36 M3 all had different steering columns than their normal siblings and they were all critisized for it. Yet now we all think those M3s had brilliant steering. History is repeating itself, but offcourse you weren't even born back then.

And 14 mpg US for hardcore track use AND brand-new preproduction cars isn't actually that bad. The new V8 is actually slightly more fuel efficient than the old L6. I except 12-13 litre per 100 km to be a realistic figure.

JRobUSC - 7/14/2007 11:49:06 AM

+2 Boost

true, but you're going to see when the 2008 RS4/5, C63, IS-F, etc. come out and they have to carry the new EPA ratings that none of these cars are going to be winning any awards for gas mileage.

SupraNeverBack - 7/15/2007 1:23:20 AM

-1 Boost

IS-F will be the only one in the segment that has no gas guzzler tax. I guess its FE should be around 18city/27highway.

enthusiastx11 - 7/15/2007 1:48:08 AM

+2 Boost

yes...gas mileage is the primary purchase criteria for a high performance coupe. i guess we'll all get the IS-F. oh, wait, it doesn't come in a coupe...or a convertible....oh, and nobody has ever driven a lexus performance car....

Kinger - 7/17/2007 9:15:03 AM

+1 Boost

The combined fuel economy figure for the new M3 is 22.8mpg, higher than the RS4 at 20.9. That gives it an 15.8urban/30.7extra-urban figure. Pretty impressive.

johnct - 7/14/2007 12:36:08 AM

0 Boost

This article is pointless. We all know that when Lexus introduces the LS-F it will smoke everything. My proposal to MotorTrend is that they stop publishing this rubbish and postpone all reviews until the Lexus comes out and can be crowned champion of the auto world.

With the LS-F being driven by every rationale enthusiast, the LS-450H driven by all rich Sierra Club members, Tundra's hauling tractor trailers full of groceries instead of obnoxious Kentworths and the Prius becoming the car of the masses because of governement regulation, my life will be complete.

reply to this comment

gsh23 - 7/14/2007 3:54:50 AM

-2 Boost

i would still take a regular carrera...

reply to this comment

M53R - 7/14/2007 9:45:05 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

...while everyone else takes his M3. :)

enthusiastx11 - 7/15/2007 1:49:33 AM

+1 Boost

that's great if you have the extra $25,000. a reasonably well equipped 911 runs around $90,000

amazinBimmer - 7/14/2007 11:16:17 AM

0 Boost

why compare this car witht e rs4?. the audi is handily beaten at every point in its existence.. at every stage for any car it makes. maybe except the r8, but that will happen soon as well. you just cant make a sports car froma fwd VW and put a nice interior on it. its a dog anyway you look at it.

reply to this comment

EnnNorak - 7/14/2007 2:28:26 PM

-1 Boost

Best ever? Perhaps, but still inadequate leg room for rear passengers. It might as well have been designed strictly as a two-seaater.

reply to this comment

M53R - 7/14/2007 2:43:19 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

The rear leg room is quite acceptable compared to other cars in this class.

JRobUSC - 7/14/2007 3:03:25 PM

+1 Boost

you have obviously not sat in the new 3-Series coupe. The backseat isn't huge but it's certainly usable, more so than the A5 or G37. And if you want more rear seat room get the four door.

minimalist - 7/14/2007 9:32:40 PM

0 Boost

at $48k, people wanting the performance of a porsche without the high cost were able to pick up a new e46 m3. consider that at an estimated $62k, people now also have the option of actually getting a porsche.

so in addition to the competition of the rs4, rs5, c63, isf, and soon to be skyline, consumers now can choose from a 997.

its gonna be a lot harder to be king now that there are more players, eh?

reply to this comment

enthusiastx11 - 7/15/2007 1:53:15 AM

+1 Boost

have you looked at porsche prices lately?

the stripped down 911 starts at $72,000 with plastic manual seats, a generic stereo, non-metallic paint, manual climate control, etc. etc.

a reasonably well equipped BASE 911 runs $90,000. prices fly over $100,000 once you get into the the 4s and Ss.

ashramboy - 7/15/2007 3:21:38 PM

+1 Boost

I will take the 911 carrrera. E46 is the king of all m3's

reply to this comment

1995e34 - 7/15/2007 5:48:41 PM

+1 Boost

why is e46 king?

Kinger - 7/17/2007 4:43:09 AM

+1 Boost

I would think the original e30 M3 is the king of all M3's, seeing as it started the whole genre of performance saloon cars. Plus it's the most successful saloon car racer of all time. :)

To post a comment for this story, you must first Login.

If you do not have an account, you will need to Register (It's Free!).