Re: E46 M3 character- Long! (archive)

Well, there have been quite a few reviews of the M3 by now. If you read all of the articles carefuly, you can get a pretty good idea what the car is all about. On the positive note, the engine seems to be briliantly designed. All the articles agree that the car is very fast and the engine is very flexible with abundant hp and torque. Styling of the car is controversial with majority saying it is done in good taste and some saying it is understated. Interior seems to please most as well, with a few indifferent comments. Now on to the important stuff, the driving dynamics. The brakes are very strong with good feedback. The steering feel, which only a few reviews touched on, is "light" but very accurate and communicative. The gearbox is a carry-over from previous model and has no surprises other than the fact that it is still too easy to grab the wrong gear when doing fast downshifts!
One article mentioned the fact that the gap between 2nd and 3rd gears is too wide. The increased weight of the E46 chassis is definately noticeable. The suspension, in my opinion is the biggest controversy of all. Two articles specificaly said that the car will "push" (understeer) severely on tight, low speed corners. The blame for that blunder goes to the new differential which works too well. The suspension seems to be oversprung and underdamped. One article said, "you can get sea-sick in the M3 on the back roads". The overall impression I get is that the car is more capable and faster than the previous generations, but at the expense of being heavier, softer and less exciting to drive at everyday driving speeds. This is exactly what happened going from E30M3 to E36M3 and now to E46M3. This is what happened going from 993 to 996 chassis for Porsche as well. Even the Miata suffered the same fate with the 2001 model. We seem to be getting faster and more capable cars that feel exciting only being driven at 9/10 of their capability with really no place to drive at that kind of pace. Damn, I really miss the RX7 turbo, the MR2 turbo and even the old Miata. Why can't the auto industry understand that we need light, nimble cars that deliver fun being driven anywhere you go not just at the Autobahn or the race track! Give me a Lotus Elise and I'll be a happy man for the next 10 years!

YOu make some very good points...That's why I think that alot of folks should start considering how much more enjoyable the E36 M3 is with a Supercharger installed. We get all the excellence of the E36 chassis at just a tad over 3K lbs, but with 350 hp and 310 ft lbs.

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