RE: Super-fast for £50k | Six of the Best
Discussion
I'll just drop this here........ 668bhp and 659 lb-ft @3600 rpm, can be found with a Manual Box as well, I know the interior is a bit naff but what a thing.....
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/7...
But if it has to bought in the UK then this hits the price band and is a better all round car than most of the six.....
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404078...
https://www.autotrader.com/cars-for-sale/vehicle/7...
But if it has to bought in the UK then this hits the price band and is a better all round car than most of the six.....
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202404078...
CG2020UK said:
Glenn63 said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Glenn63 said:
Correct, but Iv had a C63 the older 6.2 though and the M140 better in every way bar sound.
M3 here is identical interior, almost identical drivetrain same 3ltr 6, handle handle better out the box but If also modded suspension and it’s been faster than F80’s on track.
QV I’d really fancy as a new daily and GTR as always been an itch to scratch, but with the performance I have for half the price it doesn’t make sense to change. Except for something completely different like the Caterham.
Except it isn’t the same 3ltr 6. Or the same drive train. They’re incomparable. And yes, I’ve had both. M3 here is identical interior, almost identical drivetrain same 3ltr 6, handle handle better out the box but If also modded suspension and it’s been faster than F80’s on track.
QV I’d really fancy as a new daily and GTR as always been an itch to scratch, but with the performance I have for half the price it doesn’t make sense to change. Except for something completely different like the Caterham.
Probably fair to say if you have modded an M140i to match a proper M car you are looking at brakes, cooling, tuning, suspension, LSD etc which is going to cost a good few £K. Enough to take your M140i to more than the cost of an M2/M4 in which case you would have an even better base to start with and just do the whole remap thing. It’s a never ending rabbit hole that gets silly to the point where the cars are nothing like the original. Start going down those rabbit holes and there is M2s doing 7min12 on the Nurburgring.
I’d imagine there are quite a number of cars where the right person could go faster than your M140i for half the cash again. Anyone who has done trackday knows how fast some hot hatches can go. There’s even an MX-5 that’s done a 7min33 on the Nurburgring
My comment was simply, for half the price of the M3 including cost of mods my M140 as it sits with engine, brake, suspension mods, would be quicker.
If the thread was fast for £50k with more luxuries, toys, space, curb appeal, residual value, liveability then yes I’d probably go for the M3, but as mentioned your not getting a vastly different driving experience.
Go caterham or Porsche for instance even GTR, ‘fast’ aside the driving experience is completely different.
I’m one of those who likes to fly ‘under the radar’ as much as possible so the Alfa, in grey, would be perfect, as it ostensibly looks like any other saloon car.
The Merc smacks too much of what our local 20-something drug dealers drive about in, if they’ve moved up from the ubiquitous Audi S or RS3 that they seem to like.
The GTR always makes me think it’s just too big and heavy to be fun nd chuckable (I haven’t driven one so it it only my perception)
The Caterham, well I’m too old and the mount of nice days I could possibly use it probably wouldn’t be enough for me.
The BMW is perfect for me but I would probably be more than happy with the ‘non-CS’ version, and save myself some money.
And the 996, again, possibly perfect for me, although again I’d want grey rather than silver, and defiantly a manual as the Tiptronic gearbox just doesn’t do it for me.
Then again, as someone said earlier, you’re also into the realms of an AM V8 Vantage….
The Merc smacks too much of what our local 20-something drug dealers drive about in, if they’ve moved up from the ubiquitous Audi S or RS3 that they seem to like.
The GTR always makes me think it’s just too big and heavy to be fun nd chuckable (I haven’t driven one so it it only my perception)
The Caterham, well I’m too old and the mount of nice days I could possibly use it probably wouldn’t be enough for me.
The BMW is perfect for me but I would probably be more than happy with the ‘non-CS’ version, and save myself some money.
And the 996, again, possibly perfect for me, although again I’d want grey rather than silver, and defiantly a manual as the Tiptronic gearbox just doesn’t do it for me.
Then again, as someone said earlier, you’re also into the realms of an AM V8 Vantage….
Glenn63 said:
Oh for sure that’s why I love track days and all the variety of cars/ drivers that you see in the pits, think nothing of them then get smoked by them later on
My comment was simply, for half the price of the M3 including cost of mods my M140 as it sits with engine, brake, suspension mods, would be quicker.
If the thread was fast for £50k with more luxuries, toys, space, curb appeal, residual value, liveability then yes I’d probably go for the M3, but as mentioned your not getting a vastly different driving experience.
Go caterham or Porsche for instance even GTR, ‘fast’ aside the driving experience is completely different.
Honestly- an M3 feels nothing like a 140 with mods. It feels mechanically completely different - steering, change, noise, feel, suspension, handling, whatever. You can mod your 140 all you like and it won’t feel like an M car. My comment was simply, for half the price of the M3 including cost of mods my M140 as it sits with engine, brake, suspension mods, would be quicker.
If the thread was fast for £50k with more luxuries, toys, space, curb appeal, residual value, liveability then yes I’d probably go for the M3, but as mentioned your not getting a vastly different driving experience.
Go caterham or Porsche for instance even GTR, ‘fast’ aside the driving experience is completely different.
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Glenn63 said:
Oh for sure that’s why I love track days and all the variety of cars/ drivers that you see in the pits, think nothing of them then get smoked by them later on
My comment was simply, for half the price of the M3 including cost of mods my M140 as it sits with engine, brake, suspension mods, would be quicker.
If the thread was fast for £50k with more luxuries, toys, space, curb appeal, residual value, liveability then yes I’d probably go for the M3, but as mentioned your not getting a vastly different driving experience.
Go caterham or Porsche for instance even GTR, ‘fast’ aside the driving experience is completely different.
Honestly- an M3 feels nothing like a 140 with mods. It feels mechanically completely different - steering, change, noise, feel, suspension, handling, whatever. You can mod your 140 all you like and it won’t feel like an M car. My comment was simply, for half the price of the M3 including cost of mods my M140 as it sits with engine, brake, suspension mods, would be quicker.
If the thread was fast for £50k with more luxuries, toys, space, curb appeal, residual value, liveability then yes I’d probably go for the M3, but as mentioned your not getting a vastly different driving experience.
Go caterham or Porsche for instance even GTR, ‘fast’ aside the driving experience is completely different.
For me I’d rather the faster car and save £25k or go for a completely different driving experience.
The caterham would be even better than the M3 for all things you mention but at the huge sacrifice of practicality.
Glenn63 said:
I have no doubt it does, but the threads fast for £50k not feel for £50k. Noise is worse imo, standard suspension/handling will be better but better than well set up Bilsteins and 300kg+ less weight?
For me I’d rather the faster car and save £25k or go for a completely different driving experience.
The caterham would be even better than the M3 for all things you mention but at the huge sacrifice of practicality.
You've made your point your modified bmw is the fastest thing you've ever owned lol. Trouble is at a car meet no one will be interested in looking at it, roll up in one of the others and they might. I took a guy I know out in my GT4 and he couldn't believe how much better the traction and handling were compared to his 400bhp modified 140, literally blew him away altho he said his was faster, it probably was, but he'd have been in a ditch trying to keep up on country lanes and my brakes were far superior he said. For me I’d rather the faster car and save £25k or go for a completely different driving experience.
The caterham would be even better than the M3 for all things you mention but at the huge sacrifice of practicality.
Sometimes you've to try new things and have an open mind, these lists aren't always great but the cars tend to tick some boxes generally.
Glenn63 said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Glenn63 said:
Oh for sure that’s why I love track days and all the variety of cars/ drivers that you see in the pits, think nothing of them then get smoked by them later on
My comment was simply, for half the price of the M3 including cost of mods my M140 as it sits with engine, brake, suspension mods, would be quicker.
If the thread was fast for £50k with more luxuries, toys, space, curb appeal, residual value, liveability then yes I’d probably go for the M3, but as mentioned your not getting a vastly different driving experience.
Go caterham or Porsche for instance even GTR, ‘fast’ aside the driving experience is completely different.
Honestly- an M3 feels nothing like a 140 with mods. It feels mechanically completely different - steering, change, noise, feel, suspension, handling, whatever. You can mod your 140 all you like and it won’t feel like an M car. My comment was simply, for half the price of the M3 including cost of mods my M140 as it sits with engine, brake, suspension mods, would be quicker.
If the thread was fast for £50k with more luxuries, toys, space, curb appeal, residual value, liveability then yes I’d probably go for the M3, but as mentioned your not getting a vastly different driving experience.
Go caterham or Porsche for instance even GTR, ‘fast’ aside the driving experience is completely different.
For me I’d rather the faster car and save £25k or go for a completely different driving experience.
The caterham would be even better than the M3 for all things you mention but at the huge sacrifice of practicality.
I’m not missing any point really, I happily admitted other cars have much better driving dynamic’s especially out the box and correct there are many other things than outright speed to a ‘drivers’ car but the list isn’t about drivers cars it’s about fast for £50k and a remapped 335d wouldn’t be faster round a track. If you have £50k to spend to go fast whether down a road or track and you buy a slower car because of steering feel then your not spending the money go to fast it’s for driving dynamics and driving fun. Hence why people buy low powered caterhams etc.
Iv been slower round track than much cheaper lower powered cars that have been highly modified but they won’t have these ‘superior driving dynamics’ of the M3 but they don’t care as they’ve spent the money for maximum speed/ lap times.
Last time I was at Anglesey a caught and passed a GT4 driver who came over in the pits to ask what I’d done to my car, I have no doubt the GT4 has superior handling and traction but it was still slower round a lap (obviously could be driver) so if your aim is fast you could be faster for much less. And yes I’d still take a GT4 if I had such funds but for other reasons than ‘fast’. And a GT4 wouldn’t catch my eye at a car meet either, that would be some old American pickup probably
And when this 140 goes il be trying something completely different regardless of how ‘fast’ it is, a lotus hopefully!, as an M3 is just to similar
Iv been slower round track than much cheaper lower powered cars that have been highly modified but they won’t have these ‘superior driving dynamics’ of the M3 but they don’t care as they’ve spent the money for maximum speed/ lap times.
Last time I was at Anglesey a caught and passed a GT4 driver who came over in the pits to ask what I’d done to my car, I have no doubt the GT4 has superior handling and traction but it was still slower round a lap (obviously could be driver) so if your aim is fast you could be faster for much less. And yes I’d still take a GT4 if I had such funds but for other reasons than ‘fast’. And a GT4 wouldn’t catch my eye at a car meet either, that would be some old American pickup probably
And when this 140 goes il be trying something completely different regardless of how ‘fast’ it is, a lotus hopefully!, as an M3 is just to similar
Edited by Glenn63 on Sunday 12th May 18:45
Glenn63 said:
I’m not missing any point really, I happily admitted other cars have much better driving dynamic’s especially out the box and correct there are many other things than outright speed to a ‘drivers’ car but the list isn’t about drivers cars it’s about fast for £50k and a remapped 335d wouldn’t be faster round a track. If you have £50k to spend to go fast whether down a road or track and you buy a slower car because of steering feel then your not spending the money go to fast it’s for driving dynamics and driving fun. Hence why people buy low powered caterhams etc.
Iv been slower round track than much cheaper lower powered cars that have been highly modified but they won’t have these ‘superior driving dynamics’ of the M3 but they don’t care as they’ve spent the money for maximum speed/ lap times.
Last time I was at Anglesey a caught and passed a GT4 driver who came over in the pits to ask what I’d done to my car, I have no doubt the GT4 has superior handling and traction but it was still slower round a lap (obviously could be driver) so if your aim is fast you could be faster for much less. And yes I’d still take a GT4 if I had such funds but for other reasons than ‘fast’. And a GT4 wouldn’t catch my eye at a car meet either, that would be some old American pickup probably
And when this 140 goes il be trying something completely different regardless of how ‘fast’ it is, a lotus hopefully!, as an M3 is just to similar
You can put money on the GT4 driver not being as capable as his car, rest assured. Iv been slower round track than much cheaper lower powered cars that have been highly modified but they won’t have these ‘superior driving dynamics’ of the M3 but they don’t care as they’ve spent the money for maximum speed/ lap times.
Last time I was at Anglesey a caught and passed a GT4 driver who came over in the pits to ask what I’d done to my car, I have no doubt the GT4 has superior handling and traction but it was still slower round a lap (obviously could be driver) so if your aim is fast you could be faster for much less. And yes I’d still take a GT4 if I had such funds but for other reasons than ‘fast’. And a GT4 wouldn’t catch my eye at a car meet either, that would be some old American pickup probably
And when this 140 goes il be trying something completely different regardless of how ‘fast’ it is, a lotus hopefully!, as an M3 is just to similar
Edited by Glenn63 on Sunday 12th May 18:45
Anyway, each to their own, you really should test drive a few genuine sportscars.
Maybe but also decent chunk down on power and possibly a touch heavier. Brakes far superior. I’d like to think a GT4 is dynamically better than an old golf but doubt it be quicker than that fella (Nigel I think) with the pinderwagon around a track.
The m140 isn’t out of choice as I prefer it to sports cars, it’s the fastest dailyable practical car I could afford hence my original post, hopefully a lotus will be on the drive soon.
The m140 isn’t out of choice as I prefer it to sports cars, it’s the fastest dailyable practical car I could afford hence my original post, hopefully a lotus will be on the drive soon.
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Honestly- an M3 feels nothing like a 140 with mods. It feels mechanically completely different - steering, change, noise, feel, suspension, handling, whatever. You can mod your 140 all you like and it won’t feel like an M car.
And even an M3 of that generation doesn't feel that special - steering is dull, engine is powerful and does the job, but it's pretty boring. Nice cars, and fast, but that's where it ends from my experience of ownership. BMW M cars have become less and less desirable for petrolheads, IMO. Uncle_Dave said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Honestly- an M3 feels nothing like a 140 with mods. It feels mechanically completely different - steering, change, noise, feel, suspension, handling, whatever. You can mod your 140 all you like and it won’t feel like an M car.
And even an M3 of that generation doesn't feel that special - steering is dull, engine is powerful and does the job, but it's pretty boring. Nice cars, and fast, but that's where it ends from my experience of ownership. BMW M cars have become less and less desirable for petrolheads, IMO. cerb4.5lee said:
Uncle_Dave said:
Billy_Whizzzz said:
Honestly- an M3 feels nothing like a 140 with mods. It feels mechanically completely different - steering, change, noise, feel, suspension, handling, whatever. You can mod your 140 all you like and it won’t feel like an M car.
And even an M3 of that generation doesn't feel that special - steering is dull, engine is powerful and does the job, but it's pretty boring. Nice cars, and fast, but that's where it ends from my experience of ownership. BMW M cars have become less and less desirable for petrolheads, IMO. If you can’t have fun in an M car then unfortunately you as the driver are the problem.
GTR too much like driving a computer
Caterham - done that not really very useable
BMW M - too obvious, too cliched, too souless
For me the Alfa or the Merc, probably the Alfa because its steering is the nearest I have come across to Lotus steering on a 4 door saloon. And - it looks stunning, its rare and almost has a Ferrari engine.
Caterham - done that not really very useable
BMW M - too obvious, too cliched, too souless
For me the Alfa or the Merc, probably the Alfa because its steering is the nearest I have come across to Lotus steering on a 4 door saloon. And - it looks stunning, its rare and almost has a Ferrari engine.
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