Discussion
Well after a pretty horrendous drive, I'm home! The first 360 miles were nice and clear but just above Stoke-on-Trent the traffic was bad. Stop/start and on/off for over 100 miles. It took approx 2 hours longer to get home than it did to get there.
Overall mileage today was 616 - have never done more in a day before. Car took it all in its stride aside from asking for a 1L top up of oil! I did wonder whether this would happen on the trip as they usually like 1L of oil every 1500-2k miles. Fortunately the "top me up" message appeared 0.5 miles before a planned stop so that worked out well.
Overall holiday mileage was 1972.
Some pics from Thursday when I went over the Applecross Pass, then across to Torridon - the scenery was incredible. I did, however, hit a nasty pothole which caused an almighty crash through the cabin but seemingly no damage done. It'll be going for the new front tyres soon as well as those minor advisories, plus I'm going to get them to give it a thorough health check.
And now it needs a clean
The car was fantastic over the week away and I thoroughly enjoyed using it. It's definitely not as relaxing as my LS460 was, there is significantly more wind noise above 100mph or so, and there is also more tyre noise, but it's perfectly fine for long drives, and when the mood takes you, it is absolutely sublime to chuck around.
Overall mileage today was 616 - have never done more in a day before. Car took it all in its stride aside from asking for a 1L top up of oil! I did wonder whether this would happen on the trip as they usually like 1L of oil every 1500-2k miles. Fortunately the "top me up" message appeared 0.5 miles before a planned stop so that worked out well.
Overall holiday mileage was 1972.
Some pics from Thursday when I went over the Applecross Pass, then across to Torridon - the scenery was incredible. I did, however, hit a nasty pothole which caused an almighty crash through the cabin but seemingly no damage done. It'll be going for the new front tyres soon as well as those minor advisories, plus I'm going to get them to give it a thorough health check.
And now it needs a clean
The car was fantastic over the week away and I thoroughly enjoyed using it. It's definitely not as relaxing as my LS460 was, there is significantly more wind noise above 100mph or so, and there is also more tyre noise, but it's perfectly fine for long drives, and when the mood takes you, it is absolutely sublime to chuck around.
Edited by E90_M3Ross on Saturday 27th May 20:35
E90_M3Ross said:
The car was fantastic over the week away and I thoroughly enjoyed using it. It's definitely not as relaxing as my LS460 was, there is significantly more wind noise above 69mph or so, and there is also more tyre noise, but it's perfectly fine for long drives, and when the mood takes you, it is absolutely sublime to chuck around.
FTFY 
I'm very envious - I really do love these, and the sound they make, you're rather fortunate!
I know we're talking literal chalk and cheese here, but reading this thread about your trip has me seriously looking forward to my X3. At least it's a 3.0 6 cylinder, anyway. Just need to decide if I'm selling the plate it's coming with, then which plate of mine is going on!
I know we're talking literal chalk and cheese here, but reading this thread about your trip has me seriously looking forward to my X3. At least it's a 3.0 6 cylinder, anyway. Just need to decide if I'm selling the plate it's coming with, then which plate of mine is going on!
BenS94 said:
E90_M3Ross said:
The car was fantastic over the week away and I thoroughly enjoyed using it. It's definitely not as relaxing as my LS460 was, there is significantly more wind noise above 69mph or so, and there is also more tyre noise, but it's perfectly fine for long drives, and when the mood takes you, it is absolutely sublime to chuck around.
FTFY 
The limiter works.....
BenS94 said:
I'm very envious - I really do love these, and the sound they make, you're rather fortunate!
I know we're talking literal chalk and cheese here, but reading this thread about your trip has me seriously looking forward to my X3. At least it's a 3.0 6 cylinder, anyway. Just need to decide if I'm selling the plate it's coming with, then which plate of mine is going on!
You'd certainly spend far less on fuel I know we're talking literal chalk and cheese here, but reading this thread about your trip has me seriously looking forward to my X3. At least it's a 3.0 6 cylinder, anyway. Just need to decide if I'm selling the plate it's coming with, then which plate of mine is going on!
The noise is reallly amongst the best, it's all about induction! If you're ever my way you're welcome to drive it.
Final trip data from today. Considering the awful traffic, it could have been far worse. Considering I really wasn't hanging around when it was clear, and the awful traffic at times the economy wasn't TOO bad. Despite having close to no traffic on the way up, my economy on the way back was better
E90_M3Ross said:
BenS94 said:
I'm very envious - I really do love these, and the sound they make, you're rather fortunate!
I know we're talking literal chalk and cheese here, but reading this thread about your trip has me seriously looking forward to my X3. At least it's a 3.0 6 cylinder, anyway. Just need to decide if I'm selling the plate it's coming with, then which plate of mine is going on!
You'd certainly spend far less on fuel I know we're talking literal chalk and cheese here, but reading this thread about your trip has me seriously looking forward to my X3. At least it's a 3.0 6 cylinder, anyway. Just need to decide if I'm selling the plate it's coming with, then which plate of mine is going on!
The noise is reallly amongst the best, it's all about induction! If you're ever my way you're welcome to drive it.
Sounds like a great trip. There are sone bloody savage potholes on the Applecross Pass.
I think these are a great package; having driven my uncle’s old one a bit I never thought it was underpowered and now did he coming from RS cars. They just deliver their power a slightly different way and need revs…..lots of them.
I like the size if the E9x cars which is why I keep buying the damn things.
I think these are a great package; having driven my uncle’s old one a bit I never thought it was underpowered and now did he coming from RS cars. They just deliver their power a slightly different way and need revs…..lots of them.
I like the size if the E9x cars which is why I keep buying the damn things.
bolidemichael said:
BenS94 said:
bolidemichael said:
BenS94 said:
If BM was driving, I dread to think what the average speed would be...
I dread to think what would happen if a clutch of us, OP included, were to embark on a road trip together...Court_S said:
Sounds like a great trip. There are sone bloody savage potholes on the Applecross Pass.
I think these are a great package; having driven my uncle’s old one a bit I never thought it was underpowered and now did he coming from RS cars. They just deliver their power a slightly different way and need revs…..lots of them.
I like the size if the E9x cars which is why I keep buying the damn things.
Funny you mention the size. When I was up there I was thinking about the M4 I was driving a while ago and thought that it may be too wide to properly enjoy. I did some overtakes that were a bit tight (in terms of width of road) and suspect I couldn't have made them in the M4.I think these are a great package; having driven my uncle’s old one a bit I never thought it was underpowered and now did he coming from RS cars. They just deliver their power a slightly different way and need revs…..lots of them.
I like the size if the E9x cars which is why I keep buying the damn things.
But then I've also been thinking "what would I replace this with in a few years" and an F90 M5 appeals more.... But that's even bigger, so I'm not sure!
t. For noise I think I'd rather an E63S, but I gather the M5 is a significantly better steer. It's all irrelevant at the moment anyway, I won't be selling this any time soon!So I actually had the opportunity to drive an Alfa Giulia Quadrifoglio today. This was interesting because it was on my "possible next car" list, alongside a current gen M3/4 or M5.
overall I was actually a little underwhelmed, perhaps because of all of the hype.
Firstly, I must say it looks great. The suspension/ride was definitely a bit better than the E90 and, of course, it was faster in a straight line. I liked the fact it had traditional dials/instrument cluster. It was more quiet and refined on the motorway which was nice.
However.....Like most cars these days with electric steering, it had very little feedback, it was no better than the M4 I drove in that regard. The noise was "OK" at full throttle but definitely no S65 (although to be fair, not many engines are!). Under light throttle it was almost non-existent but full throttle it was all exhaust, there was no induction noise at all. I guess this is just a case of because it's turbocharged. The throttle response was also not a patch on mine, and felt a little slower than the M4 too, and there was seemingly more turbo lag than the M4. Once spooled up it was plenty fast enough but I felt the M4 was that bit faster, from memory. Interior was OK but nothing special (same with the E90 to be fair).
Given the choice, despite its looks, I would definitely choose a current M3 or M4 over it, it just felt that bit sharper in my opinion.
Would I have the Alfa over mine as a daily? Yes. Would I consider spending an extra £20k to change? Nope.
It was a good experience but, if anything, it's made me love the little E90 M3 even more.
overall I was actually a little underwhelmed, perhaps because of all of the hype.
Firstly, I must say it looks great. The suspension/ride was definitely a bit better than the E90 and, of course, it was faster in a straight line. I liked the fact it had traditional dials/instrument cluster. It was more quiet and refined on the motorway which was nice.
However.....Like most cars these days with electric steering, it had very little feedback, it was no better than the M4 I drove in that regard. The noise was "OK" at full throttle but definitely no S65 (although to be fair, not many engines are!). Under light throttle it was almost non-existent but full throttle it was all exhaust, there was no induction noise at all. I guess this is just a case of because it's turbocharged. The throttle response was also not a patch on mine, and felt a little slower than the M4 too, and there was seemingly more turbo lag than the M4. Once spooled up it was plenty fast enough but I felt the M4 was that bit faster, from memory. Interior was OK but nothing special (same with the E90 to be fair).
Given the choice, despite its looks, I would definitely choose a current M3 or M4 over it, it just felt that bit sharper in my opinion.
Would I have the Alfa over mine as a daily? Yes. Would I consider spending an extra £20k to change? Nope.
It was a good experience but, if anything, it's made me love the little E90 M3 even more.
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