[macv sog]

Just watch Autocar review I think its great and I like the sound it different I could be tempted in years time !!!

[JustChris]

only live once....

[jusdorange]

Waiting for chris harris review

Although based on his twitter he loves it

[UK_]

Chris Harris video is online, criticised sound but even if it did sound better then I am sure they would always find something else wrong. You can't win, either a car is too civilised or it is too extreme for every day driving.

I remember reading a review of the E92 M3 a few years ago that criticised it for not feeling special enough and not enough low down grunt. The new M3 certainly fixes these areas.

You can't please everyone and critics have to seemingly earn their crust.

[macv sog]

agree you just carnt make everyone happy but things move on we carnt keep talking about how great E3O was etc ,etc

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by UK_

Chris Harris video is online, criticised sound but even if it did sound better then I am sure they would always find something else wrong. You can't win, either a car is too civilised or it is too extreme for every day driving.

I remember reading a review of the E92 M3 a few years ago that criticised it for not feeling special enough and not enough low down grunt. The new M3 certainly fixes these areas.

You can't please everyone and critics have to seemingly earn their crust.

Go on, so how many times have you watched it so far?

[JustChris]

Haven't seen it, is it under the usual Drive / Chris Harris on cars subscription ?

[UK_]

Originally Posted by ChesterM4

Haven't seen it, is it under the usual Drive / Chris Harris on cars subscription ?

Whoops, my mistake. Steve Sutcliffe (autocar) was the review I meant. These car critics all look the same :-)

[PrinceBarin]

Not all reviewers are equal

Keen to hear from Chris Harris and EVO...

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by macv sog

agree you just carnt make everyone happy but things move on we carnt keep talking about how great E3O was etc ,etc

Agreed wholeheartedly. The baggage that comes with the heritage is the biggest issue the M3 has to overcome.

The original M3 had a clear purpose - to be a superb race/track car for homolgation purposes. All the changes to the existing 3 series of the time were designed around that, and what that meant at the time. So that is overall engine and handling changes, not just those to make it a great sounding car with a screaming top end!

To me it looks like BMW have absolutely nailed that part of the new M3... the depth of engineering changes over a standard 3 series is incredible. A blown 6 is just the day and age we live in. I expect the next one in 7 years to have an electric motor for torque fill... which as seen on the P1 etc is the way forward for sports cars.

[rich100]

Never owned an M car but remains an aspiration.

Are the people that buy these generally likely to also use them for track days or do you think most generally buy them for road use?

Whilst I think it's undoubtedly an awesome thing to own would you get the most out of it if you just drive it on normal roads?

Also what's the general consensus regarding manual vs auto for an M car?

[macv sog]

I think with my e90 i got no where near the full madness of that v8 my opinion to exploit the depth of the six cylinder mpowers and the last v8 you need a track i take my hat off to m power division i think new ones a cracker i really do ������

[GEP77]

Originally Posted by rich100

Never owned an M car but remains an aspiration.

Are the people that buy these generally likely to also use them for track days or do you think most generally buy them for road use?

Whilst I think it's undoubtedly an awesome thing to own would you get the most out of it if you just drive it on normal roads?

Also what's the general consensus regarding manual vs auto for an M car?

The vast majority of people who buy an M car will not take it near a track.

The auto/manual debate is really personal preference. If in any doubt get an auto M3 and a manual M4.

[macv sog]

If think it does sound good though Rabid!!!!

[UK_]

Originally Posted by rich100

Never owned an M car but remains an aspiration.

Are the people that buy these generally likely to also use them for track days or do you think most generally buy them for road use?

Whilst I think it's undoubtedly an awesome thing to own would you get the most out of it if you just drive it on normal roads?

Also what's the general consensus regarding manual vs auto for an M car?

Mine is definitely for the road. Used to have a z4m coupe which was a little harsh for everyday use esp in winter.

I am an auto fan now esp bmw boxes. We all know how good the zf auto is in the F30. The DCT is cleaner and quicker plus adds launch control but it ain't cheap. Glad BMW still give the choice.

[JustChris]

Never tracked my own car before but will give it a whirl this time. I've gone DCT as I really want sub 4secs (that is insane acceleration) my cancelled 235i order was MT but I think this is too much now. Plus I couldn't bear ever stalling it, lol, cringeworthy

[macv sog]

I found six speed manual on E90 well pretty bloody awful very notch not smooth from 1st to second to get a smooth change i had to rev to at least 3,000 rpm ??? i also found when wanting to change down quickly through the box it use to bulk sort jam so spoil the change but this is just my view

[Wdaauto]

Originally Posted by macv sog

I found six speed manual on E90 well pretty bloody awful very notch not smooth from 1st to second to get a smooth change i had to rev to at least 3,000 rpm ??? i also found when wanting to change down quickly through the box it use to bulk sort jam so spoil the change but this is just my view

I pretty much agree with that. Was shocked myself how bad it was. Very underwhelming car all round in my view. My old E36 Evo felt twice as special (comparatively speaking).

[M4dski11z]

Originally Posted by Wdaauto

I pretty much agree with that. Was shocked myself how bad it was. Very underwhelming car all round in my view. My old E36 Evo felt twice as special (comparatively speaking).

My e91 was terrible too. Hated the manual box in that. The CDV made it a terrible juddery experience. Will never get a manual BMW again.

[jusdorange]

Originally Posted by UK_

Whoops, my mistake. Steve Sutcliffe (autocar) was the review I meant. These car critics all look the same :-)

A small Brown man is exactly how I would describe Steve sutcliffe

[zooberoo]

Originally Posted by jusdorange

A small Brown man is exactly how I would describe Steve sutcliffe

+1 I thought exactly the same thing when I read UK_'s "car critics all look the same" comment. Brilliant!

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by zooberoo

+1 I thought exactly the same thing when I read UK_'s "car critics all look the same" comment. Brilliant!

I have to admit he has gone way downhill as a car critic IMHO

His blogs are mostly less interesting than what most people write on a forum, and usually more self-indulgent.

I suspect that after too long in the job, many car journos lose touch with real-world motoring for the majority of their readers, and are spoiled by constantly driving new cars which they don't have to pay for, or live with every day for an extended period.