M3 and waves

[5ltvr]

Coming home from my regular Friday evening razz, I followed an M3 out of Tesco (Gatwick), Although I should have turned towards Redhill, decided I'd follow him along the dual carriageway. I have to say I only just kept up with him (115 thru bridge under runway whem I decided to let him go) in my Chimeara 500 AND I was 5600 rpm on every change. At next roundabout he let me get in front and I did manage to leave him behind a bit - but only just.

1/2 second 0-60 in reality it seems doesn't make that much difference.

Driving today with top down in cruise/throb mode along A25 from Nutfield to Sevenoaks/Otley I passed 3 Chimeara's - Only 1 waved but you all saw me - whats up with you all.

Really enjoying the car and only a few hundred miles to second service - am IO getting used to the power or is it slowing down, also gear change to 5th not too good - needs gearbox oil change??

[kerniki]

Was that the new M3 or the old (E46 or E36)?

[douglasr]

E36 M3, 0 - 100 12.8 (EVO, E46 12.3)
Chim500, 0 - 100 (11.2 (EVO figure for a Griff 500)

You need a Cerbera to p*ss on an M3.

[Roadrunner]

Don't m3's have traction control? In which case any tiv would have trouble keeoing up in the damp.

[shamus1972]

My friends 'R' reg M3 doesn't have traction control. He took me out in it and you get the same "punch in the chest" acceleration as a TVR (although it's a lot quieter and less shakey!).

I took him out for a ride in my Tuscan before I went in his M3 and he said that he always thought his car was fast until he went in mine!

At the end of the day they're both great cars, built for different markets - you mske your choice, you pay your money (but my car's faster than his!

[MikeyT]

M3s are bloody quick of course, but they look like 318is coupe's with wider wheels and bigger exhausts. And they're deathly dull in the least to look at anyway – does anyone really get their breath taken away by the looks of these cars?

A TVR looks like ... a TVR – unmistakable – which is one reason (I hope) why we drive 'em.

TVRs look BMWs don't.

[singh]

Not that it's something i usually do (honest!) but from standing start from lights did pull at least a car length away from a M3 (new one in that gold effect) and he was trying the 5ltr just took off over say 1/4 mile and the gap was getting wider all in a straight line mind but nevertheless i think the guy was surprised Have to try and bump into him again now that ive got the Tuscan

[5ltvr]

Yep it was the new one and as it was a hot day assumed the traction control wouldn't make too much difference.

BTW, I can't really spot the difference between Optimax and UL. I think the new Chimearas are set for 97 RON (mine is 6 months old) Will perf. get better if I get the ECU reset? How much will this cost