Living with an M4 Coupe...
Discussion
s2000db said:
It's pretty good tbh, even takes a fair bit of dirt before it needs a clean, however you only get the is it orange or red questions, in good light when sparkling..
If we were buying and cruising around in Dubai or California, then I think Sakhir might get the nod.. but since we're in Scotland, I think it'll be Alpine White. 
Cheers,
Grant
Rude said:
I'm just over three months in and 2.5k miles. To be honest, I'm loving it. I think I may be a bit of a Miss Daisy most of the time and just Poole around, but my weekly commute allows for a few miles of fast driving, it is immense. The way it piles on speed is hilarious, I personally love the noise at full chat, the grip and balance are great and it is a lovely place to see the world go by from. Mine is black and the only thing I wish I'd specc'd was the carbon brakes, only because I saw an identical one to mine and had caliper envy...
Awesome, glad you're enjoying it... we're really looking forward to an extended drive of one so we can really get a feel for it, rather than having a 20-30 minute drive with a salesman talking to you and hanging onto the Jesus handle in the back. 
LOL @ caliper envy!!
Cheers,
Grant
Bit of an update on this too, the car which we were going to be supplied by BMW UK for an extended test drive this week (to try a manual gearbox as well as see how well an M4 would suit our needs) was involved in a bit of a bump before we got it... and once fixed, it's mileage was deemed too high to go out for another extended test and so removed from the available fleet. 
So, looks like we'll have to accept that trying an M3/M4 with a manual gearbox is unlikely but still going to be getting a DCT car on test at some point. Pretty frustrating really, however, the dealership have been really good and any displeasure felt is with BMW UK rather than them.
Cheers,
Grant
So, looks like we'll have to accept that trying an M3/M4 with a manual gearbox is unlikely but still going to be getting a DCT car on test at some point. Pretty frustrating really, however, the dealership have been really good and any displeasure felt is with BMW UK rather than them.
Cheers,
Grant
cringle said:
The EVO review agreed with my opinion that the M4 is a pig in the wet..also happened to pop in to local dealer today who told me two customers wrote their cars off in the recent heavy rain...
How is it a pig in the wet?Nearly 100hp and 140lb/ft MORE than my M3 (which isn't exactly slow)?
I'd say it just needs to be driven with respect - something which modern drivers seem to have less and less of, people want their car to be better and faster than their last, yes in a straight, dry line it may well be, but rain and physics sort out the men from the boys!
You're local dealer basically said two people couldn't drive the thing and wrote theirs off - which kinda backs up my statement!
The M4 is definitely a "pig in the wet" if you give it full beans at every opportunity, was out in the wet and coming off roundabouts with traction control on and then accelerating aggressively, the car squirms quite violently, enough to stop you pushing harder, TC takes about a few milliseconds to catch up with it.
But drive it normally the car behaves fine in the wet.
God knows how people write these cars off if they leave the TC on...
But drive it normally the car behaves fine in the wet.
God knows how people write these cars off if they leave the TC on...
I'm just one month in with my f80 and it's my first rwd motor, I was a bit concerned about that much power in the wet and seeing things like top gear spins outs on a wet straight didnt help...
So after just 3k what can I say? The car is awesome, certainly puts a grin on my face! Put it in efficent/comfort/comfort (my M1 setting) and you cruise around effortlessly, quietly, getting 32mpg average (mainly motorway driving) which is a bonus!
I tested the car on some wide wet roundabouts with traction fully on and it cut the power and kept everything tidy enough! So as posted previously, if some people managed to write theirs off in heavy rain, they may have been playing silly buggers with tc off! It could easily bite you in the wet in tc off or even in mdm if you're driving beyond your abilities! Same with any car really
But on a dry day, in sportier settings, the noise is just right (yes it's no E90
and I have unplugged at ASD) and it pulls like a flipping train!! In a straight line faster than my FQ400 as you'd expect, but on the twisties, no way. However, i like the fact this car moves around more than the evo when pressing on, although the F80 steering isnt as good, but i think the beemer is a bit more of a compromised ride, which suites me
Looking forward to seeing how it handles on a track blast or trip to the ring
So after just 3k what can I say? The car is awesome, certainly puts a grin on my face! Put it in efficent/comfort/comfort (my M1 setting) and you cruise around effortlessly, quietly, getting 32mpg average (mainly motorway driving) which is a bonus!
I tested the car on some wide wet roundabouts with traction fully on and it cut the power and kept everything tidy enough! So as posted previously, if some people managed to write theirs off in heavy rain, they may have been playing silly buggers with tc off! It could easily bite you in the wet in tc off or even in mdm if you're driving beyond your abilities! Same with any car really
But on a dry day, in sportier settings, the noise is just right (yes it's no E90
and I have unplugged at ASD) and it pulls like a flipping train!! In a straight line faster than my FQ400 as you'd expect, but on the twisties, no way. However, i like the fact this car moves around more than the evo when pressing on, although the F80 steering isnt as good, but i think the beemer is a bit more of a compromised ride, which suites me Looking forward to seeing how it handles on a track blast or trip to the ring
I test drove one today. What an awesome power train. It was a 'bit GTR' in its feel, which isn't surprising given the engine & DCT combo. It was 23 degree, with warm tyres and in a straight line, and still the traction control light came on in 3rd and 4th!
It's step up in nearly every way from the E92 M3 I run, except it can't match the character and sound of the V8. It really doesn't sound good. I know it has turbos, but was hoping it'd have more of the straight 6 sound of old. I don't think it feels quite as special at low speed, either. It feels a more standard 3 series, which I guess in one way is more impressive as it has more of a range.
Tough choice.
It's step up in nearly every way from the E92 M3 I run, except it can't match the character and sound of the V8. It really doesn't sound good. I know it has turbos, but was hoping it'd have more of the straight 6 sound of old. I don't think it feels quite as special at low speed, either. It feels a more standard 3 series, which I guess in one way is more impressive as it has more of a range.
Tough choice.
Pip1968 said:
It was not the Pistonheads one was it - ?
Pip
No idea what car it was, we never even got a sniff of it. Pip
I think I'm comfortable with what is being said about the wet weather handling; if you're careful, drive within your limits and respect the car/conditions then you shouldn't have an issue... but turn the TC off and things will get very fruity, very quickly regardless of the conditions!!
Another update on our situation... order has still not been placed as we have still been unable to drive an M4 Coupe for an extended 48hr test drive despite being told it'll be no problem to organise. Have even given the dealership the option of sourcing a DCT-equipped car so that we can at least have a good chance to see if the cars road manners, visibility, etc are acceptable/suitable for us and just throw the semi-loaded dice that the manual gearbox will be fine.
Seriously considering finding a more helpful dealership and after reading the 'M3/M4 Discount' thread, doing so might actually yield a better deal anyway.
Cheers,
Grant
Granfondo said:
Was speaking to someone who had just driven to Tuscany in an M4 and he is no stranger to powerful RWD cars and he said that the car was very unnerving in the wet on autobahn to the point he pulled over to check tyres!
Careful on the autobahn then, but on the Motorway(uk) @ a ton in heavy rain, no problems here.Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff