Put deposit down on 2018 M3, but now have concerns

[NewM3owner123]

So I put a 3k deposit down on M3, but now got this strange concern. I've been reading a lot online how M3 looses grib in the rear and in the corners, causing oversteer. Is this a concern for anyone here? Because I certainly do not want a car that is hard to control. Right now it is hard to picture how it will daily drive, but I am coming from Civic, which had no such issues.

Any comments on how it handles in corners during daily driving? Snow?

I certainly don't want to loose 3k deposit cause of that hearsay!!

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by NewM3owner123

So I put a 3k deposit down on M3, but now got this strange concern. I've been reading a lot online how M3 looses grib in the rear and in the corners, causing oversteer. Is this a concern for anyone here? Because I certainly do not want a car that is hard to control. Right now it is hard to picture how it will daily drive, but I am coming from Civic, which had no such issues.

Any comments on how it handles in corners during daily driving? Snow?

I certainly don't want to loose 3k deposit cause of that hearsay!!

To have trouble in the corners, you'd have to turn traction control off, and drive like someone who didn't even know what a Civic was.

They are awesome as daily drivers. I have never lost grip mid corner, but then I'm not trying to pretend I'm a racing driver. To lose grip in the back end, you have to be pushing this car WAY faster than any average driver would ever consider pushing a car.

Fear not. You have not wasted a deposit. You will love it.

[LOW4LYF]

Easy to handle daily car. Nothing to worry about.

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by dinonz

To have trouble in the corners, you'd have to turn traction control off, and drive like someone who didn't even know what a Civic was.

They are awesome as daily drivers. I have never lost grip mid corner, but then I'm not trying to pretend I'm a racing driver. To lose grip in the back end, you have to be pushing this car WAY faster than any average driver would ever consider pushing a car.

Fear not. You have not wasted a deposit. You will love it.

Oh - but coming from Texas, I cannot comment regarding snow. General consensus is "it's not great" but if you invest in a good set of winter wheels and tyres, I have seen people posting they drive theirs in the snow with no real issues - just don't be a dick.

[NewM3owner123]

Originally Posted by dinonz

To have trouble in the corners, you'd have to turn traction control off, and drive like someone who didn't even know what a Civic was.

They are awesome as daily drivers. I have never lost grip mid corner, but then I'm not trying to pretend I'm a racing driver. To lose grip in the back end, you have to be pushing this car WAY faster than any average driver would ever consider pushing a car.

Fear not. You have not wasted a deposit. You will love it.

Thanks! You put my mind at ease!

Here I was sitting contemplating switch to WRX STI

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by NewM3owner123

Thanks! You put my mind at ease!

Here I was sitting contemplating switch to WRX STI

Don't do it!

Trust me - you'll be fine and you'll love it.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Might take some adjusting if you've never driven RWD with a lot of power. I take it you know your Civic is FWD? But at daily driving speeds you shouldn't really be having traction issues especially with DSC on. Weekend driving on mountain roads and snow, DSC off, well maybe. Definitely should get winter tires for snow if you've never driven summer tires in snow.

[damnitBobby]

$3k deposit?? Seems a bit excessive no?

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by damnitBobby

$3k deposit?? Seems a bit excessive no?

That comment seems a little unnecessary no?

[NewM3owner123]

No never driven a car like this before but always wanted one.... just don't want it oversteer like crazy cause of all that hp/torque. I test driven and it was fine. But still a little worried

[Thescout13]

Also, you will not lose your deposit. Nearly all states are required to refund your deposit on a car purchase if you end up not signing the paperwork. Also, agree with poster above $3k was excessive, $1k is usually enough, however if you are okay with that amount do not let anyone tell you different, it is your car and your purchase.

[NewM3owner123]

Originally Posted by Thescout13

Also, you will not lose your deposit. Nearly all states are required to refund your deposit on a car purchase if you end up not signing the paperwork. Also, agree with poster above $3k was excessive, $1k is usually enough, however if you are okay with that amount do not let anyone tell you different, it is your car and your purchase.

Yep it was 3k, and I signed the paperwork saying it was non refundable. So backing out would be pretty hard.

[itrocks4u]

DON'T back out.

The efficient mode is quite decent. No slip at all. I drive my M3 all year. I have the competition package with 20" in the summer and 19 Vorsteiner in the winters. People typically do 18s but I love the look off the VFF103s. You just have to make sure you avoid sudden sharp turns.

In the summer even with all the nannies on its very hard for it to slip. Then there is MDM mode which gives you some linenacy. Finally you can turn everything off and that's when it definitely will slip. It's fun in empty parking lots but otherwise avoid.

Bottom line, you'll have no problems. But just take your own safety measures like you would in your civic.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by dinonz

That comment seems a little unnecessary no?

No $3k does seem excessive and non-refundable. You should be able to order without any deposit.

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by pheerlx

No $3k does seem excessive and non-refundable. You should be able to order without any deposit.

He didn't say "order" anywhere?

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by dinonz

He didn't say "order" anywhere?

Does one usually put a deposit on a dealer stock car? Wouldn't one just make the downpayment? I'm genuinely asking. I've always ordered.

[RickFLM4]

Is this thread real or did I drink too much at dinner?

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by RickFLM4

Is this thread real or did I drink too much at dinner?

I'm jealous I haven't had dinner yet.

[RickFLM4]

Originally Posted by pheerlx

I'm jealous I haven't had dinner yet.

Capital Grille + bottle of Don Melchor Cabernet =

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by pheerlx

Does one usually put a deposit on a dealer stock car? Wouldn't one just make the downpayment? I'm genuinely asking. I've always ordered.

I wasn't reading that much into the distinction. According to Oxford Dictionary, a deposit is:

"Pay (a sum) as a first instalment or as a pledge for a contract"

and a down payment is:

"An initial payment made when something is bought on credit"

I am not a lawyer, so to me both are pretty much the same thing.

[GrussGott]

Ignoring the deposit issue for the moment ...

I've noticed a new group of buyers coming into the forums ... they typically don't understand how mechanical things work (and therefore don't have an intuitive sense), haven't ever driven an MT, and ask questions like, "is my car supposed to be doing [whatever]?" Occasionally you even get the person who doesn't understand why their car slips so much now that it's snowing out.

We all have to start and learn somewhere, but my point is, if that's you above, an M4 probably isn't the best car to learn on for lots of reasons.

With that said, given you may have a non-refundable deposit, if you think you are that person with zero rwd / mechanical experience, then you should immediately get some light training by someone who can talk you through it, because the danger is you drive with the nannies, think you got it, turn down the nannies or up the power, and uh oh. First mod: fix the loose nut behind the wheel and all that.

And if that's you you're lucky to live where there's snow because there's no easier way to understand a rwd car than to go to a snowy parking lot, shut off the nannies and give it a shot. If you have any talent whatsoever, you'll get schooled up fast.

Keep your stick on the ice, I'm pulling for 'ya, because we're all in this together.

[TahoeM3]

I don't know if the people here have a different car than I had, but my M4 had major traction issues. With stock tires it would fishtail down the street under hard acceleration. Even with upgraded 295 rear tires, it was not easy to get off the line without major wheelspin. On more than one occasion I had it go sideways on me when I got on the throttle a bit too much in a turn coming out of a parking lot or when changing lanes. I got to the point where I just didn't trust it, so I sold it.

To the OP, if you're coming from a Civic, I'd definitely suggest driving this car to make sure it's a good fit. It's a very good car in many ways, but traction is definitely not its strong point.