Top Gear on 23/12/08

[waremark]

How much did BMW pay the Stig? Is there a new M3 on his driveway? 5 seconds quicker than RS4 or C63 round the Ascari circuit! Why couldn't he drive the C63 sensibly? Autocar and Evo seem to prefer both the C63's steering and handling, on top of the significantly greater power.

No mention of little negatives - like maybe fuel consumption and short range.

No mention that the RS4 is out of production.

I always have to remind myself that TG is just entertainment.

But since I have decided on E92 over C63, I suppose I was pleased that Richard and James chose the M3, and Clarkson sought of suggested it was the best.

All in all, a very lucky outcome for BMW. The clear truth is that the other Germans have matched BMW in this particular niche.

[Frik]

The M3 was quicker on track than the other two in evo's test too though, wasn't it?

[m12_nathan]

Yep, was 5 seconds a lap quicker round a shorter lap.

Certainly don't recall the evo article concluding that the Merc had better steering and handling? The M3 won the test?

Love the c63 in White though.

[sjp63]

RS4 out of production??

thought it was relatively new...

[ASBO]

sjp63 said:

RS4 out of production??

thought it was relatively new...

Have you been living on Mars man?

[Frik]

Isn't it merely temporarily suspended, to increase capacity for the R8?

[itr786]

waremark said:

How much did BMW pay the Stig? Is there a new M3 on his driveway? 5 seconds quicker than RS4 or C63 round the Ascari circuit! Why couldn't he drive the C63 sensibly? Autocar and Evo seem to prefer both the C63's steering and handling, on top of the significantly greater power.

No mention of little negatives - like maybe fuel consumption and short range.

No mention that the RS4 is out of production.

I always have to remind myself that TG is just entertainment.

But since I have decided on E92 over C63, I suppose I was pleased that Richard and James chose the M3, and Clarkson sought of suggested it was the best.

All in all, a very lucky outcome for BMW. The clear truth is that the other Germans have matched BMW in this particular niche.

Autocar the mag. is a load od crap, imo, a magazine equivelant to top gear, if your after informative information, i'd much rather look through evo. who as it happens DID prefer the M3 over the other two.

[housemaster]

I have a suggestion to anyone who is considering buying one of these cars, though I do appreciate my suggestion might be somewhat hard to stomach, but you could always test drive all three and make your OWN decision.

Nah, I know it was a stupid idea....

[tyre_tread]

housemaster said:

I have a suggestion to anyone who is considering buying one of these cars, though I do appreciate my suggestion might be somewhat hard to stomach, but you could always test drive all three and make your OWN decision.

Nah, I know it was a stupid idea....

You're crazy man!

[waremark]

Sounds like a good idea, but:

When will we be able to try a C63? If we wait for that before ordering, we may be waiting quite a while.

Most of us don't have either the skill or a suitable proving ground to ring the neck of the cars on a short demo in the way that the journos can.

So far as the RS4 is concerned, I don't think it will come back into production. While the production capacity is currently supposed to be used for the R8, in due course an RS6 will be introduced, and after that perhaps an RS5. If there was an RS5 available now I might well be getting it instead of the M3.

[waremark]

Autocar's MIRA lap time for the C63 at 1:15.8 was ahead of the RS4, the M5 and C2S, but behind 997's GT3 and Turbo. I cannot find a time for the M3. Was there one and does anyone have the August road test to check it?

What were the Evo figures?

[rassi]

Am I the only one to buy cars based on 1) their general appeal (looks, spec, brand, overall abilities, perceived qualities) and 2) price? Find it quite hard to understand why anyone would really give much importance to which of three - objectively speaking very good - cars would be quicker around a track, when 99,9 % of my driving (and I suppose most other people) is on normal roads?

[andyuk911]

Hope all the cocks enjoy watching it again, LOL

http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos/12-25-07page-BMW...

Loved to have seen this on a wet day .... bye bye .....

[taffyracer]

andyuk911 said:

Hope all the cocks enjoy watching it again, LOL

http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos/12-25-07page-BMW...

Loved to have seen this on a wet day .... bye bye .....

Why, the reason the M3 is so much faster is due to its better weight distribution and lower weight than the heavyweight RS4 and the downright lardy merc, the wet would be the same story, 4wd cars are known for being understeery and lacking feel, RS4 is better than previous 4wd fast audi's but still lacks feel and precision which is exactly what you don't need in the wet

[GTWayne]

rassi said:

Am I the only one to buy cars based on 1) their general appeal (looks, spec, brand, overall abilities, perceived qualities) and 2) price? Find it quite hard to understand why anyone would really give much importance to which of three - objectively speaking very good - cars would be quicker around a track, when 99,9 % of my driving (and I suppose most other people) is on normal roads?

HERE HERE

[andyuk911]

taffyracer said:

andyuk911 said:

Hope all the cocks enjoy watching it again, LOL

http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos/12-25-07page-BMW...

Loved to have seen this on a wet day .... bye bye .....

Why, the reason the M3 is so much faster is due to its better weight distribution and lower weight than the heavyweight RS4 and the downright lardy merc, the wet would be the same story, 4wd cars are known for being understeery and lacking feel, RS4 is better than previous 4wd fast audi's but still lacks feel and precision which is exactly what you don't need in the wet

I am no expert round a track, but on a normal road the RS4 is very good, this is where the 4wd helps above 2wd cars IMO ... but I have not driven a new M3 that is the only way I would be able to agree or disagree with you.

[housemaster]

andyuk911 said:

taffyracer said:

andyuk911 said:

Hope all the cocks enjoy watching it again, LOL

http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos/12-25-07page-BMW...

Loved to have seen this on a wet day .... bye bye .....

Why, the reason the M3 is so much faster is due to its better weight distribution and lower weight than the heavyweight RS4 and the downright lardy merc, the wet would be the same story, 4wd cars are known for being understeery and lacking feel, RS4 is better than previous 4wd fast audi's but still lacks feel and precision which is exactly what you don't need in the wet

I am no expert round a track, but on a normal road the RS4 is very good, this is where the 4wd helps above 2wd cars IMO ... but I have not driven a new M3 that is the only way I would be able to agree or disagree with you.

The RS4 is an amazingly capable road car, no question of that, but like all Audi's its numb, understeery and lacking in emotion. For most people this is no problem, and I would agree as an all wether road muncher it would have the other two licked, but it is not an exciting car, and in the dry the RS4's advantages are not going to mean anything. I speak from experience as I have an RS4 but I don't have the rose tinted glasses or a need to make out my car is the best there is like many people with an RS4 seem to want to in my experience..

Edited by housemaster on Wednesday 26th December 12:17

[Bumcrack]

I watched and found it interesting, but my loathing of that nob jockey Clarkson is reaching new heights.

For a serious petrol head the only concern that matters is how the car drives. His main concern seems to be the image and what other people think of the car and brand image. I wish he’d concentrate his comments on the car itself and not give us his lame and outdate thoughts on branding, you’ve only got to look at his hair and clothes to realise he’s completely out of touch with anything to do image and style. At least the May and Hammond are they to keep it real for the hommies.

[taffyracer]

andyuk911 said:

taffyracer said:

andyuk911 said:

Hope all the cocks enjoy watching it again, LOL

http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos/12-25-07page-BMW...

Loved to have seen this on a wet day .... bye bye .....

I am no expert round a track, but on a normal road the RS4 is very good, this is where the 4wd helps above 2wd cars IMO ... but I have not driven a new M3 that is the only way I would be able to agree or disagree with you.

Then why make such a comment in the 1st place then, 4WD is only any use to those that do not know how to drive a RWD, it does provide extra grip but at the expense of weight and feel and, RS4's are good cars, I nearly bought one and have had many audi's, not knocking them I just don't undertstand your comment and it seems neither do you!

[Frik]

Bumcrack said:

I watched and found it interesting, but my loathing of that nob jockey Clarkson is reaching new heights.

For a serious petrol head the only concern that matters is how the car drives. His main concern seems to be the image and what other people think of the car and brand image. I wish he’d concentrate his comments on the car itself and not give us his lame and outdate thoughts on branding, you’ve only got to look at his hair and clothes to realise he’s completely out of touch with anything to do image and style. At least the May and Hammond are they to keep it real for the hommies.

Top Gear isn't for serious petrol heads only though. If it was it certainly wouldn't have 300 million viewers worldwide.