Super Hatch to Super Saloon
Discussion
MadsMan said:
I had an A45 (third generation, facelift) and now have a W204 C63 estate with various cars in between.
I love both for different reasons, so it depends what you like in a car.
I also don't think my experience will necessarily relate to the two cars you are talking about either!
I love both for different reasons, so it depends what you like in a car.
I also don't think my experience will necessarily relate to the two cars you are talking about either!
MadsMan said:
I had an A45 (third generation, facelift) and now have a W204 C63 estate with various cars in between.
I love both for different reasons, so it depends what you like in a car.
I also don't think my experience will necessarily relate to the two cars you are talking about either!
Be interested to hear your thoughts on the a45 going the other way from a v8 brute to a "super" hatch. I love both for different reasons, so it depends what you like in a car.
I also don't think my experience will necessarily relate to the two cars you are talking about either!
As for OP. I have both a cracking fast 360hp hot hatch and an m3 with the v8.
The v8 is more refined.
Being RWD it handles lovely.
If you are revving it out to its redline then yes it could be considered "quick/fast" but honestly you can't really rev out a 9000rpm v8 on a public road, if you were, you'd be well into licence losing territory.
So honestly the v8 doesn't feel all that quick. The engine is an occasion. But its gutless low down. A supercharged XF maybe slightly better but I've had plays with them in the m3 and its no competition - the m3 comes out on top every time. It will still certainly be a nice place to be and they hide their size well by all accounts. But i'm pretty sure you'd be underwhelmed against the cupra - even with the smaller capacity and fizzy turbo, it is going to feel much faster than the v8.
I'm in the process of going back the other way as for everyday the m3 doesn't have the guts low down, so in town, commutes, small trips, its very much gutless and you are only in it for the "noise" - which is addictive but still, that isn't the purpose of it, and to get the best out of it anywhere but on the track or the very quietest of sweeping european "b-roads" is nigh on impossible. So for the fact it only gets 17mpg in real world and that equates to filling up twice a week for my journeys. A hatch is much better proposition for me.
Definitely glad i've owned the v8 and I know i'll regret selling it but honestly if i kept it, it would just sit on the drive.
Having had two of them (the BMW & Jaguar), and driven the third, in real world driving the Jaguar XFR is definitely quicker than the M3, but it depends on the roads when it comes to a really hot hatch.
I loved the V8 M3, the sound and fun from ringing it out was great, but you needed to be on it to be really quick. Occasionally, when I was tired or pootling around, you'd get wasted by a hot hatch or even a powerful turbo diesel. The high revving V8 had no torque and what there was is well up the rev range, so if you're in the wrong gear or out of the torque curve forget it...
The Jaguar is a bit quicker in gear to 60 than the M3, and similar to the AMG, as it just can't put the torque and power down through the rear wheels. It's miles better and quicker to 60 on Michelin MP4s than the OEM Pirellis, but can still spin the wheels at up to 100 mph in lower gears if you're injudicious with the old right foot!
Above around 50 mph it starts to leave both for dust, as in gear its way quicker, if it's a newer 8 speed model its even faster. In race mode there's not much that can keep up with the supercharged grunt at 50-70 and it's much quicker than an V8 M3 (I should confess I've got the XFR-S, but the XFR is nearly as quick).
The Jag also rides better than both the Germans and is a nicer place to be driving any long distances, but the little AMG is much smaller, so on tight or twisty roads then I think it would be faster, as it's easier to place and is quicker up to about 40 mph.
I loved the V8 M3, the sound and fun from ringing it out was great, but you needed to be on it to be really quick. Occasionally, when I was tired or pootling around, you'd get wasted by a hot hatch or even a powerful turbo diesel. The high revving V8 had no torque and what there was is well up the rev range, so if you're in the wrong gear or out of the torque curve forget it...
The Jaguar is a bit quicker in gear to 60 than the M3, and similar to the AMG, as it just can't put the torque and power down through the rear wheels. It's miles better and quicker to 60 on Michelin MP4s than the OEM Pirellis, but can still spin the wheels at up to 100 mph in lower gears if you're injudicious with the old right foot!
Above around 50 mph it starts to leave both for dust, as in gear its way quicker, if it's a newer 8 speed model its even faster. In race mode there's not much that can keep up with the supercharged grunt at 50-70 and it's much quicker than an V8 M3 (I should confess I've got the XFR-S, but the XFR is nearly as quick).
The Jag also rides better than both the Germans and is a nicer place to be driving any long distances, but the little AMG is much smaller, so on tight or twisty roads then I think it would be faster, as it's easier to place and is quicker up to about 40 mph.
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