Re: hi nate.
blackdawg said:
saw that CSL article and that's why i bought that issue of CAR yesterday.
first off: what a well-written magazine.
second: the CSL article was awesome because it also had an inset article about the nurburgring and the batmobile (original CSL) picture airborne was spectacular.
third: the e46 CSL is truly an awesome car. the question at the end of the day for most people is: is it worth the additional moneys over the standard M3? at that cost level, which is 911-esque, also: is it worth it? many will answer that for themselves for sure. it speaks highly of the standard 911 (2002 and newer) that it still holds it own against a carbon fibre-d one-off race car.
again: this is not in any way to detract from the normal M3, it's got limits most of us will never exploit; but the CSL is kinda what naive me expected in the first place. in the end, i say to heck with that, i buckled and bought an aircooled 993 because the pull was too great. knowing full well that the 996 is a far better car and that the m3 probably outdoes everything my car can.
Agree, CAR is incredibly well written.
I think that I would rather have the CSL over the 911, although most probably wouldn't.
The CSL, or any BMW, will never drive like Porsche. It is impossilbe to make a front engine 50/50 car drive like a rear engine car with a rear weight bias. That's why Porsches are so distinctive. What you mention about the standard M3 was also covered in the sidebar. It said that the regular model was 90% of the M3 that most would want. I would increase that to about 97%. It did say that the CSL performed better than the 911, in the end, I think that was BMW's goal. Build a 5 seat 911 killer, the regular M3 came close, but they got it with the CSL. It would be more informative when they get the produciton model in with the proper SMG settings on a dry track. Still, should be a great car.
btw, did you see this?
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=10583
I think you mentioned those tires before :dunno:
edit: Why did you get the cab 993? Most clubs don't allow cabrios on the track :dunno: