RE: BMW M4 Convertible: Review
Discussion
Wow, I was convinced I'd see the swathes of M fanatics praising this cars abilities/presence.
I'm of the definitely not interested variety, and especially don't want to have engine sounds pumped into the cabin - although understand that's for coupe and not this one - via sound ducts (I mean seriously, what the hell!?).
How can they have screwed up the noise soo much?
And also why are cars continuing to lose weight at such a (s)low rate?
I'm of the definitely not interested variety, and especially don't want to have engine sounds pumped into the cabin - although understand that's for coupe and not this one - via sound ducts (I mean seriously, what the hell!?).
How can they have screwed up the noise soo much?
And also why are cars continuing to lose weight at such a (s)low rate?
I'll just leave this here... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lWsfloXtNs
Can I be first to say that I actually quite like it!
Yes its heavy, and of course its going to be a compromise, and of course its not the driver's choice, but lets face it, its hardly slow.
Its lighter than the previous M3 Cabrio and a sizeable proportion of sales of that were of the Cabrio model.
Yes its heavy, and of course its going to be a compromise, and of course its not the driver's choice, but lets face it, its hardly slow.
Its lighter than the previous M3 Cabrio and a sizeable proportion of sales of that were of the Cabrio model.
Edited by GTEYE on Monday 1st September 17:19
What colour is this?
I think the car looks fantastic. Who cares how much it weighs if it drives well?
It does make me laugh the comments people make when a new BMW comes out.
One thing though...
And cabrio owners all know, there's a certain speed that you can drive and still not get wet. For the avoidance of doubt a restricted 11mph is definitely the wrong side of this threshold. Which gives you the curious dilemma - slow down and definitely get wet, to get dry? Or speed up and get less wet, but definitely not completely dry. The choice is yours!
Ayyy???
I think the car looks fantastic. Who cares how much it weighs if it drives well?
It does make me laugh the comments people make when a new BMW comes out.
One thing though...
And cabrio owners all know, there's a certain speed that you can drive and still not get wet. For the avoidance of doubt a restricted 11mph is definitely the wrong side of this threshold. Which gives you the curious dilemma - slow down and definitely get wet, to get dry? Or speed up and get less wet, but definitely not completely dry. The choice is yours!
Ayyy???
All this talk of being too heavy but the article speaks positively of performance and handling.. Perhaps it could be even better if it were lighter but this would mean sacrificing all the creature comforts. At this price point people want creature comforts. They would sell very few if it were a stripped out sports car. M3's and now M4's etc are fast, comfortable and well equipped cars. If you want a go kart buy a Lotus or something. Alternatively they could build it all out of carbon and add another 40k to the price tag.
I saw a new M3 (or M4?) the other for the first time in the flesh the other week and had to double take it wasn't a 6 series because it was that damn big!!
Having owned a E46 M3, i could not believe just how big and fat the new model was.
I don't know if the guy in this pic is a dwarf but he looks tiny in it and the wingmirror is bigger than his head
Having owned a E46 M3, i could not believe just how big and fat the new model was.
I don't know if the guy in this pic is a dwarf but he looks tiny in it and the wingmirror is bigger than his head
Lozw86 said:
All this talk of being too heavy but the article speaks positively of performance and handling.. Perhaps it could be even better if it were lighter but this would mean sacrificing all the creature comforts. At this price point people want creature comforts. They would sell very few if it were a stripped out sports car. M3's and now M4's etc are fast, comfortable and well equipped cars. If you want a go kart buy a Lotus or something. Alternatively they could build it all out of carbon and add another 40k to the price tag.
Spot on!You're always going to get the BMW haters though.
Lozw86 said:
All this talk of being too heavy but the article speaks positively of performance and handling.. Perhaps it could be even better if it were lighter but this would mean sacrificing all the creature comforts. At this price point people want creature comforts. They would sell very few if it were a stripped out sports car. M3's and now M4's etc are fast, comfortable and well equipped cars. If you want a go kart buy a Lotus or something. Alternatively they could build it all out of carbon and add another 40k to the price tag.
Nonsense, it doesn't need or have to be stripped out to be relatively light.....The BMW's of today are just fat, even a 5 series base models weighs about 1800 kg's....
Why does BMW deliver the M3/M4 with a cf roof when at the same time specs it with fully electric seats as standard (yes weight high up...), nobody needs it, but could save 30kg's (??) of weight. And for the people that do want them they can deliver them as an option. And in his day and age (BMW i3, i8) an M3/M4 should come with a LI battery, a Renault Megane RS Trophy R has it, and it saves another 15 kg's. And speaking about a cf roof, why not add a carbon fibre bonnet and booth, at least another 25 kg's saved,...that's 70 kg's with some minor changes....
But lets face it, an M3 just like any other car, is a car build on a budget to deliver pre-determined specs...not the ultimate driving machines that BMW wants to let people think it is....
Edited by DeltonaS on Monday 1st September 17:55
Ahh good old BMW fans, you can always rely on them to play the "hater" card when someone implies that they might not absolutely adore everything about a new BMW. 
Having said that, I don't really view the weight as a problem in this market. It's a big fat fast GT, the driver's choice of the BMW lineup (in so far as there is one) should be the M2 when that turns up.
Having said that, I don't really view the weight as a problem in this market. It's a big fat fast GT, the driver's choice of the BMW lineup (in so far as there is one) should be the M2 when that turns up.
Edited by kambites on Monday 1st September 17:57
kambites said:
Having said that, I don't really view the weight as a problem in this market. It's a big fat fast GT, the driver's choice of the BMW lineup (in so far as there is one) should be the M2 when that turns up.
An M3/M4 is about performance first and foremost, with some minor changes they could've made it better......without even compromising on the GT side of the car......DeltonaS said:
An M3/M4 is about performance first and foremost, with some minor changes they could've made it better......without even compromising on the GT side of the car......
I don't agree that it's about performance "first and foremost". I don't think it's about anything first and foremost - the whole point of the M3/M4 is that it blends all sorts of abilities - performance, handling, comfort, practicality, etc. in roughly equal measure. If you want to make a car that's primarily about performance, you don't start with a four seater and you certainly don't chop the roof off.
Edited by kambites on Monday 1st September 18:26
Thought that the perspective from a current owner of the V8 convertible might be useful. I've had the car for 3 years, and for the money there is nothing that strikes the best compromise for a fast enjoyable daily drive convertible. Yes it weighs more and yes you can feel it, but when you have 2 kids and all the journeys associated with family life, ultimate performance/handling is only relevant a small percentage of the time. Interior space/quality, boot space, rear legroom, ease of parking, ground clearance, etc, are all just right and with the roof up it sounds and feels pretty much as solid/refined as the coupe, if not as agile of course. Roof down the V8 sounds absolutely fantastic (admittedly better with M performance exhausts which my car has). It draws just enough positive attention in most situations but without overtly looking like a yob in the school car park.
Running costs have also been very reasonable, although depreciation is a slightly different matter.
Performance for the UK roads is more than enough and whilst the new turbo six might be faster, if it sounds average, I just wouldn't be interested as for me that is a huge part of the appeal and thus a deal-breaker. On top of that I don't think that the new m3 front end appearance has nailed it like the last either.
For the one-car-for-all-occasions approach you are inherently going to be making a compromise, if someone can point me to a better alternative than the V8 convertible, I'm all ears. Save yourself the trouble if your response to that is buy two separate cars.....not an option for me.
Running costs have also been very reasonable, although depreciation is a slightly different matter.
Performance for the UK roads is more than enough and whilst the new turbo six might be faster, if it sounds average, I just wouldn't be interested as for me that is a huge part of the appeal and thus a deal-breaker. On top of that I don't think that the new m3 front end appearance has nailed it like the last either.
For the one-car-for-all-occasions approach you are inherently going to be making a compromise, if someone can point me to a better alternative than the V8 convertible, I'm all ears. Save yourself the trouble if your response to that is buy two separate cars.....not an option for me.
kambites said:
DeltonaS said:
An M3/M4 is about performance first and foremost, with some minor changes they could've made it better......without even compromising on the GT side of the car......
I don't agree that it's about performance "first and foremost". I don't think it's about anything first and foremost - the whole point of the M3/M4 is that it blends all sorts of abilities - performance, handling, comfort, practicality, etc. in roughly equal measure. If you want to make a car that's primarily about performance, you don't start with a four seater and you certainly don't chop the roof off.
Edited by kambites on Monday 1st September 18:26
If you want a blend of "all sorts of abilities - performance, handling, comfort, practicality" then a BMW 335i or 335d M sport (in saloon or touring shape) would make more sence.
Given BMW and BMW M(otorsport)'s history, An M3 should emphasize the performance side of the 3 series, so you would expec a little more focus and determination of the M devision in for instance the latest Motorsport technology and/or light weight materials/solutions (hence the carbon fibre, LI batteries, non electric seats).
Instead, the M division nowadays seams more focused in offering all kinds of tacky wheels, tuning parts and body kits.
Edited by DeltonaS on Monday 1st September 19:01
Edited by DeltonaS on Monday 1st September 19:02
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