Evo M4 review.....not a 5 star car
Discussion
Mermaid said:
But will you test drive the M4?
Possibly, but I love V8's. I would always wish it had one. Very close minded I know but I can't help it. Only other engine configuration with less cylinders I like is a Flat 6.
If Merc have sorted their gearbox response times on the next C63 AND it still sounds great then it's game over for me.
-Z- said:
If Merc have sorted their gearbox response times on the next C63 AND it still sounds great then it's game over for me.
That's a hell of a big 'if' where the gearbox is concerned. I had my SLS upgraded at Affalterbach with their latest and greatest 'GT' software and, whilst hugely improved and well worth the money compared to how bad it was to start with, it was a long long way from BMW's 8 speed ZF, never mind the DCT which is almost from the future in comparison. Quite simply, Merc cannot (currently) do transmissions as well as the best of the rest, which is a shame - I'd have liked the new AMG S Coupe to replace my M6 next year, but even that car isn't getting a DCT...despite it supposedly being the greatest demonstration of their tech, it's making do with their now archaic MCT!
There's reports talking about how the new M3's engine isn't up to the standard of the current 6.2 AMG, and that's probably the case for sound (although I'd bet that in almost every other performance measure, the BMW's engine is more favourable). Yet there's no mention of how poor the current C63's transmission is in comparison, or how wallowy and less structurally stiff it is. Don't get me wrong, I loved my C63's but much like seems to be the case with the latest M3, they were a world away from perfection.
selym said:
I agree with the above. Drive it, like it or don't like it. It matters not a jot what a motoring journalist thinks; his opinion is as relevant you you as yours to him.
Perhaps it is only a 4 star car.
This, most reviews were pretty favourable for the E92 M3 overall but when I bought one I didn't rate it much at all, reviews and vids are pretty meaningless you have to make your own mind up about a car as anyone can spout whether a car is good or bad but not until you own it or experience it can you truly know what its like. Perhaps it is only a 4 star car.
except we all like to have our choices confirmed by others, and even better if it's 'knowledgeable' and influential voices doing that. Nothing wrong in listening to the opinions of others, and many motoring journalists are good at their job, meaning a 4* car will be missing that little something that gives it 5*'s. Now, whether that may actually matter to you in everyday driving is another matter, and it's also true that you should try to make up your own mind. But part of your mind is your knowledge of what others may think, so we shouldn't dismiss it completely.
Read all the reviews, read the reviews of the alternatives - then drive them all and choose the one that's best for you. IMHO, that's the ideal way.....
Read all the reviews, read the reviews of the alternatives - then drive them all and choose the one that's best for you. IMHO, that's the ideal way.....
There is though a fairly good chance that a professional motoring journo will have driven a wider variety of cars than I, and in more challenging circumstances. I understand some of them are also pretty good at it! I agree that evo's 5 stars aren't the be all and end all, but I've never been disappointed by any of the cars they rate most highly. I'll reserve judgement on the M4 until I've had opportunity to drive one.
Dom.
Dom.
Palmball said:
That's a hell of a big 'if' where the gearbox is concerned. I had my SLS upgraded at Affalterbach with their latest and greatest 'GT' software and, whilst hugely improved and well worth the money compared to how bad it was to start with, it was a long long way from BMW's 8 speed ZF, never mind the DCT which is almost from the future in comparison.
Quite simply, Merc cannot (currently) do transmissions as well as the best of the rest, which is a shame - I'd have liked the new AMG S Coupe to replace my M6 next year, but even that car isn't getting a DCT...despite it supposedly being the greatest demonstration of their tech, it's making do with their now archaic MCT!
There's reports talking about how the new M3's engine isn't up to the standard of the current 6.2 AMG, and that's probably the case for sound (although I'd bet that in almost every other performance measure, the BMW's engine is more favourable). Yet there's no mention of how poor the current C63's transmission is in comparison, or how wallowy and less structurally stiff it is. Don't get me wrong, I loved my C63's but much like seems to be the case with the latest M3, they were a world away from perfection.
Agreed, I really am hoping they sort it though. Quite simply, Merc cannot (currently) do transmissions as well as the best of the rest, which is a shame - I'd have liked the new AMG S Coupe to replace my M6 next year, but even that car isn't getting a DCT...despite it supposedly being the greatest demonstration of their tech, it's making do with their now archaic MCT!
There's reports talking about how the new M3's engine isn't up to the standard of the current 6.2 AMG, and that's probably the case for sound (although I'd bet that in almost every other performance measure, the BMW's engine is more favourable). Yet there's no mention of how poor the current C63's transmission is in comparison, or how wallowy and less structurally stiff it is. Don't get me wrong, I loved my C63's but much like seems to be the case with the latest M3, they were a world away from perfection.
I have the M5's DCT in the harshest manual mode about 90% of the time, even pootling around with the wife and kids.
Too much focus on the physical shift time instead of response to command which is more important IMO.
At Mercedes World Brooklands the instructors just leave them in Auto on track - not good enough!
always,always drive them to make your mind up ,and never believe the first reviews ,you will usually find down the line another review with an opposite view .
The mags are not even able to make sense in their own articles sometimes ,the evo comparison of the last gen m3 vs the c63 had the entire article talking about how the bmw steering was better (which it isnt) and at the end in summary it praised the merc for having the best steering ???
The mags are not even able to make sense in their own articles sometimes ,the evo comparison of the last gen m3 vs the c63 had the entire article talking about how the bmw steering was better (which it isnt) and at the end in summary it praised the merc for having the best steering ???
Franki68 talks a lot of sense. Make your own mind up..we all live with different compromises.
i drove M3s on road and track before buying a c63. For me the steering and throttle response along with instant linear grunt and the soundtrack make it the best car i ever owned. The gearchange in Manual is absolutely fine for me...i also didn't have an issue with smg in m3/5 i owned..there is a technique ...although their reliability did scare me out of the m5 a year too early..
the current generation of hyper saloons leave me a little cold. Electric steering and turbos right now just not as sharp...i am sure they will improve, but lets not forget the m3 and c63 are really hard acts to follow....
we have been spoiled.....
i drove M3s on road and track before buying a c63. For me the steering and throttle response along with instant linear grunt and the soundtrack make it the best car i ever owned. The gearchange in Manual is absolutely fine for me...i also didn't have an issue with smg in m3/5 i owned..there is a technique ...although their reliability did scare me out of the m5 a year too early..
the current generation of hyper saloons leave me a little cold. Electric steering and turbos right now just not as sharp...i am sure they will improve, but lets not forget the m3 and c63 are really hard acts to follow....
we have been spoiled.....
I guess from my viewpoint there are two interesting aspects to the EVO review (whether you agree in detail or not):
a) That they have not rated the M4 more highly (generally I have always thought EVO as being a proponent of M cars)
and
b)How much they rave over the F-Type ("it feels like I've jumped into an Elise")- which seems extraordinary high praise.
My thought that follows is - Is this the first semi review of an F-Type V6 S Coupe? Maybe this is the sweet spot of the F-Type Coupe range - as most of the reviews I have seen have all seemed to focus on the V8 versions?
a) That they have not rated the M4 more highly (generally I have always thought EVO as being a proponent of M cars)
and
b)How much they rave over the F-Type ("it feels like I've jumped into an Elise")- which seems extraordinary high praise.
My thought that follows is - Is this the first semi review of an F-Type V6 S Coupe? Maybe this is the sweet spot of the F-Type Coupe range - as most of the reviews I have seen have all seemed to focus on the V8 versions?
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