Discussion
After my M3 CSL, which I owned and loved for 3.5 years, I really struggled to find the right car.
I initially bought an E92 M3, manual, but it wasnt right for the time, I didn't sit right in it, so that lasted a few months, being part-exed for a 123d, which served as a useful stopgap for a year, after which I jumped into a Gen II Cayman S, which delivered the driving thrills that I'd missed since the CSL.
However whilst the Cayman ticked the boxes from the drivers seat, it lacked space. With my photography gear, and clothes for a weekend, there would not be space for a passenger - let alone their luggage. This was novel for a while, but grew tiresome.
So last week that was sold, and this week I returned to the M fold.
My previous E92 as mentioned was manual, it was also a 2007 build car, despite being first registered in 2009, so fairly early in terms of spec... and I liked it, but never gelled, despite some fun antics...
The one I picked up today was a '10 car, so with new i-Drive, and also is a DCT - as having driven a few M3s since my own, and also loved the SMG box in my old CSL, I felt I ought to go with that.
I don't know if its a combination of updates on the car, the colour, me growing older or what, but my new car seems to fit around me like a glove, and for the 200 miles I've done today since picking it up, feels fantastic!
Good to be back in an M car
cpufreak said:
After my M3 CSL, which I owned and loved for 3.5 years, I really struggled to find the right car.
I initially bought an E92 M3, manual, but it wasnt right for the time, I didn't sit right in it, so that lasted a few months, being part-exed for a 123d, which served as a useful stopgap for a year, after which I jumped into a Gen II Cayman S, which delivered the driving thrills that I'd missed since the CSL.
However whilst the Cayman ticked the boxes from the drivers seat, it lacked space. With my photography gear, and clothes for a weekend, there would not be space for a passenger - let alone their luggage. This was novel for a while, but grew tiresome.
So last week that was sold, and this week I returned to the M fold.
My previous E92 as mentioned was manual, it was also a 2007 build car, despite being first registered in 2009, so fairly early in terms of spec... and I liked it, but never gelled, despite some fun antics...
The one I picked up today was a '10 car, so with new i-Drive, and also is a DCT - as having driven a few M3s since my own, and also loved the SMG box in my old CSL, I felt I ought to go with that.
I don't know if its a combination of updates on the car, the colour, me growing older or what, but my new car seems to fit around me like a glove, and for the 200 miles I've done today since picking it up, feels fantastic!
Good to be back in an M car
Mermaid said:
Good story and nice images.
How does the M3 compare to the Cayman? Or is there no comparison.
Cayman was like a go kart in many ways. It was very precise, very rewarding to drive both on track and on the roadHow does the M3 compare to the Cayman? Or is there no comparison.
The Cayman's engine from 5000->7300 is a gem, with a really lovely howl, but sometimes despite the 320hp, it didn't feel that fast - particularly 2 up, and all my camera gear onboard.
Driving sensibly, i.e. at 75mph avg I could do Fulham->Nürburgring (420 miles) on 1 tank of fuel.. so about 32mpg overall average when I had it was about 23mpg.
There was quite a lot of roadnoise from the tyres, in the Cayman which whilst not enough to give a headache might cause you to feel tired after some time driving.
My only real grip was the lack of space for all my camera gear.
M3 is a different beast. when cruising its so comfortable, so refined you can forget you're in a performance car...particularly with the DCT gearbox.
On motorways, doing the speed limit you can coax it up to about 27mpg, more than that felt difficult.. so range of about 370miles is doable for a long journey. I've done a tank an a half in the 300 miles I've had it so far though
When pushing on, the M3 comes alive. The engine is savage, greedy for air, and fuel as it charges up to the 8400 limiter... with the "M" button engaged, I've it set: DCT->Manual, Speed5, EDC->Normal, Power->SportPlus, DSC->MDM.... and it feels like a different beast altogether.
The steering weights up too - probably some other setting I've not looked at, and whilst not quite with the telepathic nature of the Porsche, there's a decent amount of feedback through the michelins, so you can have confidence threading the car along windy roads.
The size of the M3 seems to shrink as you do so, it doesn't feel like a big car and at night the adaptive headlights are amazing for enabling you to see and choose your route ahead!
So they're very different cars.
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