Here we go (loooong)
TD said:
Okay, I'll admit I've very eager to read your impressions. Come on... POST 'EM.
Okey doke, here we go. First, the short version of my story:
I want an E36 M3.
Now, the long version of my story.
Yesterday I went to Carmax in an effort to drive both cars in one session. Unfortunately, their '99 M3 was reserved for a possible sale. I later found out that the sale fell through, but that meant that I could only drive one car - a white '01 330Ci, PP/SP/etc. and so forth. I'm getting more comfortable with driving a stick, so I was able to really concentrate on the driving experience.
Here's what I think of the 330Ci: It's a fantastic car. It's powerful and very well mannered. The interior is creamy smooth and luscious. I was able to go WOT several times and test the car's responsiveness in a large empty lot. It's obvious to me that the car is capable of doing everything I want, and that it's possibly more than I can handle in some cases.
However, it's clearly a
luxury car first and a sports car second. I didn't really feel the road, even though I knew what was going on - it's like there was a damping layer that separated the wheels from my steering inputs. The throttle response felt okay to me, but it too felt muted. I'm guessing that it's the DBW interfering with the throttle response, although other cars have similar systems (like the C5's fully electronic throttle) with a more satisfying feel. And while I did appreciate the quiet cabin and lack of noise, it seemed almost too quiet. I like being able to hear a little engine noise when I step on it. All things considered, though, I loved the car for what it is.
Fast forward to today. I went to a dealer that specializes in pre-owned BMWs (Auto Advantage in Manassas Park, VA for those who are local). The sales staff had knowledge of all repainted areas of all their cars, among other things - I would recommend anyone to the dealership. Anyway, I set my eyes on a silver '99 M3 coupe with about 43k on the clock, contour wheels, and a fair number of options. The salesman handed me the keys and a suggested test drive route and left me alone with the car. Heh heh heh...
Once I left the parking lot, I went WOT to check straighline performance. I definitely believe the M3 is slightly faster than the 330Ci, but that's not the important part. The feedback from the car was vastly superior. I felt more confident going faster in this car than in the 330. The M3 was louder - the sound is not obnoxious, but more enthusiastic. In a straight line, though, I would have been happy in either car.
Instead of taking the suggested route, I then turned into an empty lot (I love empty lots
) to repeat my "autocross handling" test. I didn't push my luck but I definitely pushed the car harder than the 330. Why? Again, because I felt more confident in it. Vastly more confident. The car had less lean in hard corners and provided much more feedback through the steering wheel and pedals. I never turned off ASC (too many light poles around) but I was amazed at how intuitive the car was to control - I always knew when I was on the edge of losing traction. People say that a few hundred pounds don't matter - I say bull$hit. The M3 is DEFINITELY more tossable, easier to feel, and easier to anticipate. Conclusions: The M3 has a clear, obvious advantage over the 330Ci when it comes to twisting roads. Either car will do in a straight line, although the M3 is somewhat faster...keep in mind, though, that the number of miles on an M3 will eventually take its toll on performance. Not sure when that will happen, perhaps too far in the future to matter.
So in case you haven't already guessed, I would describe the M3 as a
sports car first, and a luxury car second. The "luxurious" touches on the E36 might have seemed nice a few years ago, but they're outshadowed by the E46 and even by the same-year S4. In reality, the luxury features on the E36 are just enough to make it a comfortable car, and not opulent like the 330Ci. It's pretty amazing what a few years will do to the perception of luxury, huh? On the flip side, though, the M3's athletic abilities leave the 330 in the dust. I don't consider myself to be a great driver yet, but I immediately felt like I was behind the wheel of a more capable machine during the second test drive. Yes, both cars are great, but the M3 is that much better.
Again, both cars are excellent. It's a matter of what you want. Do you want to be noticed, cruise from place to place, and still take on the occasional stoplight Grand Prix? Then get the 330. It's perfect for your needs, and it can be modded to improve handling and acceleration if you want to compete at autocrosses or track events. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the car, in my opinion.
On the other hand, do you want to drive hard most of the time, be able to drive anywhere you need comfortably, and feel more at home at an autocross or road course? Get the M3. It is not as "nice" inside as the 330, not by a long shot. But it's still heads and tails above other cars in the same class, and it will outdrive them all, too. It holds up very well in stock classes, and responds well to the tons of mods out there. At its core, it is a more pure performance-oriented vehicle. There's absolutely nothing wrong about this car, either.
For me, the choice is now obvious. I'm glad I went through the trouble of driving both cars over a single weekend. Unfortunately, my life is now more difficult - now I have to go find an M3 in great shape at the end of the '99 model run's lease return period.
Phew, what a mouthful! I hope I didn't leave anything out. Comments, anyone? If there are any serious objections, get 'em out now - I'm going to cancel my order with the dealer tomorrow. I'll do that regardless of what anyone says, though.
