E46 M3- Cab or Coup?

[RWD cossie wil]

As title, normally I would go for the Coup for every day use & a stiffer chassis etc, but with the weather like today, I'm thinking a cab would be quite nice to have?

[pk500]

get a cab with a hard top best of both worlds !

[fozzymandeus]

Gaz. said:

Would you really notice the difference in rigidity between them in day to day driving?

It'd be the cab for me, all day long.

You'd notice the difference. A lot.

Every convertible I've driven has suffered from some scuttle shake. AFAIK, the M3 has no more strengthening in the chassis than any 3 series convertible, so the stiffened chassis and lower pro tyres will make it more pronounced.

I love an open car, but they are for going slowly.

[cdrx]

In a Cab the road noise would annoy me, so I would get the Coupe.

Edited by cdrx on Tuesday 22 May 22:06

[billzeebub]

Cab

[Cheib]

Depends how hard you want to drive it IMHO.

[veevee]

fozzymandeus said:

I love an open car, but they are for going slowly.

This. 330i arguably looks better as a cab, and better suited for purpose?

[RWD cossie wil]

And of course the other question is SMG or manual?

[wackojacko]

fozzymandeus said:

so the stiffened chassis and lower pro tyres will make it more pronounced.

Spot on.

[kambites]

The M3 cab doesn't feel as sharp as the coupe. Having said that, it's still a decent car, so it just depends on where your priorities lie. It would be a hard choice for me.

[PaperCut]

Manual Coupe.


If you're feeling hot put the windows down. Or adjust the climate control.


HTH.

[sjj84]

You definately notice the difference. I had the cab, fantastic car. The exhaust note is fantastic with the roof down. If you get one, get a wind deflector, a blatant rip off at circa £300 from BMW, but it's effectiveness is worth every penny.

[Shnozz]

Confess to not having driven a hard top. However, E46 M3 Cab drove fantastically and certainly didn't feel like it suffered too much from the cut roof. Still v sharp and no obvious skuttle shake/body flex. Great car.

[Cupramax]

cdrx said:

In a Cab the road noise would annoy me, so I would get the Coupe.

Modern cab roofs are so good road noise isn't an issue. Certainly wasn't on my previous A4 and A5 cabs.

[dave-the-diver]

Mine is a SMG cab.

Cab because I wanted one. Would agree less good on a track, or at 10 10ths. But you cant take the roof off a coupe.

SMG, had never had one and wanted to try it. It is Very Good, but takes a bit of learning, easy to be put off on a test drive.

Having now had one, gearbox choice would not be a show stopper for me if buying another. Paddles are excellent on a quick B road, but sometimes would like a clutch pedal when pulling away from rest.

I'm so shallow that the SMG throttle blip, on a full bore downshift with the roof down, might be enough to swing it!

David

[rash_decision]

Cab.

[cdrx]

Cupramax said:

Modern cab roofs are so good road noise isn't an issue. Certainly wasn't on my previous A4 and A5 cabs.

That may be, but the e46 isn't really modern anymore. I've ridden in both, and the Cab is noisier.

Although, in a Cab you can better hear the exhaust

[JonathanLegard]

Jesus cries a little when he sees a convertible M-car.

[PaperCut]

JonathanLegard said:

Jesus cries a little when he sees a convertible M-car.

..and a 911 Turbo Cab.

[E38Ross]

manual coupe for me please.