What should I get. Opinions Please.
Discussion
RobM77 said:
Urban Sports said:
RobM77 said:
Urban Sports said:
With regards to the M135i Rob there's no way I'd spec one without the 8 speed auto, no chance it'd be lumpy then 
I know it's been said before but that gearbox knocks spots off a manual BMW and I've only ever owned manuals, my next BMW 330d or M135i will be an auto.
I've heard a couple of times recently that it's a good way to avoid the typically lumpy manual transmissions from recent BMWs... It's such a shame because the E36 and E30 had such a lovely gearchange and a nice clutch - BMW then fitted clutch delay valves to help the 10% of drivers who can't use a clutch properly and somehow made their gearchanges awful and obstructive at the same time. My wife borrowed my 3 series the other day and said the gearchange and clutch dominated the whole driving experience, which I can quite believe and it's such a shame for a car with such a good chassis (which goes for the 1 as well - I'm a big fan).I know it's been said before but that gearbox knocks spots off a manual BMW and I've only ever owned manuals, my next BMW 330d or M135i will be an auto.
Never thought I'd say that as a manual lover!
Urban Sports said:
Gaz. said:
Urban Sports said:
My biggest gripe with the steering was that it doesn't adjust, apart from that I found that the gear box overshadowed the steerings inadequacies.
I can imagine how that would annoy, it is perfect for me so I'm happy it's just one less thing for someone else to move. I honestly do not know what I'll replace it with. The only thing remotely on the radar is a Corvette and they are only increasing in value. A BoxsterS/911 cab appeals and I'm really unsure about a Z4M.
However the engine in the S2000 whilst absolutely amazing at what it could produce at the time is still nowhere near the masterpiece in the Z4M and M3.
Terrible mistake.
The S was fun between 1 mph and 120mph.
The BMW was only fun around 80+, anything less and it was just a generic bmw.
I also really missed changing gear.
If your getting a predominantly road going car, get one that's fun at legal speeds.
Edited by Snowboy on Thursday 28th November 08:36
My 2p on the ones I've driven.
S2000 - Driven on road and track, and the only car I've ever spun in the dry. So yes it's snappy at the back, but you've got to be really really pushing it! Inside a lovely place to be and get a hard top with it and you have the best of both convertable and not. Lovely summer car! I liked the engine but you do need to wind it up a bit.
GT86 - only driven one on track. This, IMO is a genius car. Pokey enough for the road and with the traction control half off it's a wonder to drive. Gives you just enough to get a bit of slip.... Nice enough inside, looks good (to me) outside and is more practical than the S2000.
S2000 - Driven on road and track, and the only car I've ever spun in the dry. So yes it's snappy at the back, but you've got to be really really pushing it! Inside a lovely place to be and get a hard top with it and you have the best of both convertable and not. Lovely summer car! I liked the engine but you do need to wind it up a bit.
GT86 - only driven one on track. This, IMO is a genius car. Pokey enough for the road and with the traction control half off it's a wonder to drive. Gives you just enough to get a bit of slip.... Nice enough inside, looks good (to me) outside and is more practical than the S2000.
0a.
Just don't think I'm brave enough to risk having a massive bill when something breaks.
As I've said before, if I had a spare 2k to allow for this I'd buy one in a heartbeat!
Riknos.
This does reassure me a touch. I'd like to think I'd respect the car on the road then take it to Blyton or somewhere and push the car hard to see how it behaves. Hopefully I'd learn from the mistakes I make and apply this to driving it on the road.
I don't mean I'd drive it on the road like I would on a track. Simply that, I'd know where the limits of the car are and how it reacts to certain inputs. Can't say that the red mist won't overcome me when VTEC kicks in "yo!".... ;-)
greygoose.
I prefer NA. but there is something about the 1M that attracts me to it. It's good to hear yours has been reliable. I could be wrong here but the values of them don't seem to have dropped much over the last couple of years. Just don't like the idea of buying one on tick though.... :-(
Urban Sports.
Glad you never got killed to death! I wouldn't have been able to get all the good information/advice off you then. ;-)
Gaz.
Could you compare the steering to an EP3? People used to say bad things about the steering on those but I didn't really have a problem with mine.
Maybe I'm used to cars with rubbish steering though. My Clio at the moment telegraphs very little feel. You have to be going flat out on a track, and then it seems to come alive slightly.
RobM77.
As I've stated earlier. I just don't like the risk of the money involved if repairs come into the equation.
Saying that makes me feel like a bit of a wet and not a proper petrol head though. I was reading through a thread on here the other day about people having the right or wrong car for their age.
Loads of guys my age (26) had M3's, M5's. Some guy had been through an XF-R and an M6 to name a couple. Makes me think F*** it, I've got to man up and take the plunge.
I think when it's time for me to buy and I find a suitable E46, I'll have to make a snap decision there and then.
Leins.
I think the M3 CSL is too old for me to take a loan out just to buy one. Most of them are around the £25,000 mark with 60k+ miles on them. Too much for me and when you take into account the problems E46 M3's have, just don't think it's a good idea. Most importantly though, you can't get them in manual.
Snowboy.
Are they actually fun just nipping about out of the power band? I thought you had to be 'on it' to get the grin going?
chrisp84.
Completely agree with what you're saying about the '86. That's why it's on my list.
Well. I've booked some test drives for next weekend.
Starting off in a 370z, it's an automatic though.... I just want to see what the car feels like and if the V6 provides enough punch.
Then onto a GT86. With it being a serious contender on my list, I want to find out what the hype is/isn't all about.
Finally an S2000. At the moment this is the one I'm leaning towards the most. The nearest Car to me is at a dealer in Bradford though. Probably the worst place to go for a test drive but it's the best I'm going to get at the moment.
Just don't think I'm brave enough to risk having a massive bill when something breaks.
As I've said before, if I had a spare 2k to allow for this I'd buy one in a heartbeat!
Riknos.
This does reassure me a touch. I'd like to think I'd respect the car on the road then take it to Blyton or somewhere and push the car hard to see how it behaves. Hopefully I'd learn from the mistakes I make and apply this to driving it on the road.
I don't mean I'd drive it on the road like I would on a track. Simply that, I'd know where the limits of the car are and how it reacts to certain inputs. Can't say that the red mist won't overcome me when VTEC kicks in "yo!".... ;-)
greygoose.
I prefer NA. but there is something about the 1M that attracts me to it. It's good to hear yours has been reliable. I could be wrong here but the values of them don't seem to have dropped much over the last couple of years. Just don't like the idea of buying one on tick though.... :-(
Urban Sports.
Glad you never got killed to death! I wouldn't have been able to get all the good information/advice off you then. ;-)
Gaz.
Could you compare the steering to an EP3? People used to say bad things about the steering on those but I didn't really have a problem with mine.
Maybe I'm used to cars with rubbish steering though. My Clio at the moment telegraphs very little feel. You have to be going flat out on a track, and then it seems to come alive slightly.
RobM77.
As I've stated earlier. I just don't like the risk of the money involved if repairs come into the equation.
Saying that makes me feel like a bit of a wet and not a proper petrol head though. I was reading through a thread on here the other day about people having the right or wrong car for their age.
Loads of guys my age (26) had M3's, M5's. Some guy had been through an XF-R and an M6 to name a couple. Makes me think F*** it, I've got to man up and take the plunge.
I think when it's time for me to buy and I find a suitable E46, I'll have to make a snap decision there and then.
Leins.
I think the M3 CSL is too old for me to take a loan out just to buy one. Most of them are around the £25,000 mark with 60k+ miles on them. Too much for me and when you take into account the problems E46 M3's have, just don't think it's a good idea. Most importantly though, you can't get them in manual.
Snowboy.
Are they actually fun just nipping about out of the power band? I thought you had to be 'on it' to get the grin going?
chrisp84.
Completely agree with what you're saying about the '86. That's why it's on my list.
Well. I've booked some test drives for next weekend.
Starting off in a 370z, it's an automatic though.... I just want to see what the car feels like and if the V6 provides enough punch.
Then onto a GT86. With it being a serious contender on my list, I want to find out what the hype is/isn't all about.
Finally an S2000. At the moment this is the one I'm leaning towards the most. The nearest Car to me is at a dealer in Bradford though. Probably the worst place to go for a test drive but it's the best I'm going to get at the moment.
The S2000 is fun just to be in.
The whole seating position and cockpit is enjoyable.
The interior of a high end bmw is just like a low end one - give or take a bit of leather and some logos.
But the S is a compact little cockpit.
In terms of driving it's much more fun in VTEC.
But you can be in VTEC from about 15mph up to 120.
Under about 7k revs it's a regular car.
Over 7k up to 12k revs it's an accelerating monster.
You can drive A roads at 50-70 mph dropping between 2nd and third gear and it's fun.
The car has no torque at all in high revs.
You have to constantly change gear to keep the revs high - but that's part of the fun if driving it.
In rain or snow just keep the revs under 7k.
The whole seating position and cockpit is enjoyable.
The interior of a high end bmw is just like a low end one - give or take a bit of leather and some logos.
But the S is a compact little cockpit.
In terms of driving it's much more fun in VTEC.
But you can be in VTEC from about 15mph up to 120.
Under about 7k revs it's a regular car.
Over 7k up to 12k revs it's an accelerating monster.
You can drive A roads at 50-70 mph dropping between 2nd and third gear and it's fun.
The car has no torque at all in high revs.
You have to constantly change gear to keep the revs high - but that's part of the fun if driving it.
In rain or snow just keep the revs under 7k.
ECG1000 said:
yonex.
If I were to go for a Lotus it would have to be an Exige, but only as a weekend/track toy.
Did you find the S2000 was just too nervous and fidgety on the bumpy roads, stopping you from enjoying yourself.
Yes. You need to try one for yourself really but I have driven three different cars and they all had a similar trait. For me a car needs to be predictable, there is only so much fun wondering when something will bite. I enjoy twisty roads and exploring new routes. On an unfamiliar road an S2K isn't much of a friend. The rear of the car IME never felt totally settled which didn't give me the confidence to get on the gas. It was a strange feeling, I felt like I was managing a situation rather than being involved in the drive. Compared to every other RWD light cars I have owned the Honda stood out as a bit of a pup, a frustrating experience overall. My Caterham was more composed on rough stuff, better ride as well. As for the engine, after a DC2 it didn't blow me away really. Smoother and faster but I guess most people who go straight to VTEC for the first time would like it, for me it's not as raw as it should be. And there's the rub. It sits in a bizzare position. It can't out Elise the Lotus or offer anything like the ride or creature comforts of the Boxster. So what's it actually good at?If I were to go for a Lotus it would have to be an Exige, but only as a weekend/track toy.
Did you find the S2000 was just too nervous and fidgety on the bumpy roads, stopping you from enjoying yourself.
I know I will get shot down in flames for this but it just isn't a very nice drive. There are recognized gains with the geo along with changes to suspension etc but factor a £1K in plus another £500 as a contingency and suddenly its not such a bargain (for me). As a £5K track slag I would, road car, no.
One guy in particular I always recall. Years back when I had the DC we were discussing the S2 after I had posted a less than glowing report about how it was a handful. He maintained that a. I couldn't drive, b. didn't 'understand' the S2K and c. that they were 'fine'. That year he was involved in a pretty serious crash in the wet when the car went into snap oversteer. He wasn't doing much wrong.
So there you go. Try one, you might like it. But treat it with respect in the cold/wet and get the geo checked by cetregravity or similar. Lastly, they have one of the nicest gear changes I have ever experienced.
HTH
Have you seen Harris' comparison on the GT86 vs 370Z (vs Cayman)? The way he described the 370 was virtually as the impressions I had of my 350. So i'd also pick the 86, though having test driven one i just hope I could live with the lack of torque. It's surprisingly fine lower rev range and there's enough power top end (despite my E36 328 feeling quicker), but it's the middle range that means the overall delivery feels a bit flat. I've heard they've tweaked the map to get rid of the 4k flat spot but that might have just been internet hearsay? Otherwise it's a real gem of a car and woukd be my choice!
Gruber said:
Your concerns about the e46 M3 are fairly easy to address. Vanos units very rarely fail on these S54 engines. And it's not difficult to find one that's had the subframe done already.
The e46 M3 is the only car I'd buy off your list.
+1The e46 M3 is the only car I'd buy off your list.
Had 3 E46, my 7th, 8th, and 9th BMWs.
The E46 is the very last of the "ultimate driving machines". E90 is utter rubbish comparatively.
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