ouch...
i am glad that i am not taking that route

 

not deserving the M badge is a bit harsh.

It handles great on the track. The gearbox is by no means great, the throws are long and its still notchy. 2-3, 3-2 is horrible.

its just moved in a different direction than the previous generations. thats either a good or a bad thing.

i would have to think hard about taking it over the E46, but i would take the E46CSL in a heartbeat.

 

I feel the same way. Drove a silver E92 M3 yesterday. It felt faster than my E46, but not by a huge amount, and it doesnt have the frenetic sound and power delivery of the E46 - more like just a smooth surge of power - that even though you are accelerating fast you dont feel it as much. I think a large component of the sensation of accelleration is the sound coming from the exhaust and this m3 just didnt do it for me. The chainsaw buzz of the E46 just cant be beat. The ride was much better though, with the 3 suspension settings you really had the choice of either true comfort or true sportiness at the touch of a button.
I am a big fan of how it looks, although I was surprised by how much that bonnet bulge actually sticks out - its almost like a rhinos horn.

 

E46 M3 is just a classic. I havnt driven the E92, but the feeling it gives me is that its alot more tamed then the E46. the car has been more refined. i'm more interested in seeing the E92 w/ M-DCT rather then the traditional 6MT.

 

So so true

again, so so true

 

Interesting. Thanks for the write up.

Mike, don't you have an M6 cab in your stable? If so, can you compare the acceleration?

Thanks!

 

many current bmw enthusiasts have been slamming the bangle-ized design, especially the new m3, including myself. don't believe me? look around on m3forums;

http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=183465

another thread showing which would be the next car;
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=182715

another thread showing that many would rather have a cayman s;
http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=163858

also you'll see a plethora of people on e46 and e90fanatics who aren't too crazy about the new m3, myself included, again.

 

Most of those show a love for the new M3 - the "next car" thread the M3 wins by over 40% of the next competitor (the skyline) which most people will NOT be able to purchase, because it will be a VERY limited production car as discussed in the concept car section of this forum and will be priced much higher (top of the line skyline) then the M3... so i dunno

 

the M6/ M5 feels alot more savage in its acceleration. Out of tight corners around the track, the v10's pulled alot harder.

 

Have to agree . .

I've been looking forward to the new m3 for years. .. I was hoping the new model would blow the doors off the competition the same way the e46 did.

AFter reading all the reviews, it appears that is/will not happen, and the new M3 may not be the benchmark sports car, that is was in the past.

We do have hope however ...for an m3 CSL - -could be more powerful, and weigh less, and god willing - be better looking.

Can only hope BMW ships them to the USA this time.

 

+1

BMW's arrogance and marketing hype have made this car unappealing.

Way way too much hype: unsubstantiated 'Ring times (too many quotes for it being X seconds faster than the e46 as well as the Canadian BMW 'Ring time that was once posted then removed on their own site), benchmark claims and comparisons, bloated weight, wet sump "racing" motor, etc etc...

They are trying way too hard to sell this new car to their last generation of soccer mom's and hairdressers who are ready to buy and quote the sales pamphlet. The real drivers already see right through this.

 

Hi jamie,
Yes, I was considering the new M3 before I bought the M6. The V10 definately pulls harder but other than for the perfomance - I'm glad I got it over the M3.

I even have more fun in my (S54)Z3 M Coupe AC Schnitzer!

 

Too bad. I predicted long ago that the new M3 would be a bloated, numb M5 mini me.

I see e46 M3's on the road and they still look hot and fresh.

 

yea true...but there are some naive bmw fans...that love it just bc its a bmw m3. im glad there are more like you, dave996tt, and i.

 

I am sure there will be plenty of buyers of the new M3 but imagine how many they would sell if they had managed to make it immediately attractive like the e36 and e46 were. There was an early pshop out there of a red M3 that if the car had looked like that concept I would have placed a deposit. The new M3 is like the girl with a great personality, excellent genetics in the family but sadly she didn't get those genetics. She is a little too fat, has a bulbous nose with strange nostrils and average looks. The kind of girl who has a mother and grandmother that are hotter than she is and leaves you thinking of what she could have been if only.....