Top Gear on 23/12/08
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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.
Well, if the M3 really is faster round the track than the C63, as well as apparently riding better and being a bit quieter, that's quite an impressive combination.
Played today at Bruntingthorpe in my E46. Amazing how much power you can put down and how quickly you can go in the streaming wet even with rwd - it really is a great car, and the new one is obviously even better.
Played today at Bruntingthorpe in my E46. Amazing how much power you can put down and how quickly you can go in the streaming wet even with rwd - it really is a great car, and the new one is obviously even better.
Have you seen the video on the Autocar site of Chris Harris in his new M3 in the pouring wet at the Ring? It was an RMA day, at which apparently more than 10 911's were crashed, some by reasonably competent drivers. Harris drove the M3 swiftly and very smoothly.
The video is at:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.a...
The video is at:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.a...
I am not good enough to drive near the limit of grip on the public road, so I don't think I ever benefit from 4wd on the public road. Having said that, I used to have an Evo 6; in that, I think the very high level of confidence that it would go where it was pointed may have encouraged me to push a little harder in the wet.
The only 911 I have owned was back in 1990. That was a C4, and I chose the 4 because I thought it would have a bit more stability and so I would be less likely to drive it through a hedge backwards. Nowadays, I would be more likely to choose a C2.
I have been on several ice driving courses with Volvo in Sweden, having the opportunity to jump backwards and forwards between rwd, fwd and 4wd. Things I discovered in Volvos were:
- 4wd has a massive advantage accelerating where there is not enough grip to use the power with 2wd
- 4wd may give a bit of stability, but it is much easier to lose control in a 4wd without traction control than in a 2wd with traction control
- the 4wd cars had lots of understeer, more so than the fwd cars. Due to the ability to accelerate fast and the reluctance to turn in the 4wd cars had the most offs.
- because of the above the 4wd cars were the least fun on the ice, the rwd cars the most fun
- winter tyres (the Swedes use studs) give excellent grip in the sort of conditions which bring the UK to a standstill.
The only 911 I have owned was back in 1990. That was a C4, and I chose the 4 because I thought it would have a bit more stability and so I would be less likely to drive it through a hedge backwards. Nowadays, I would be more likely to choose a C2.
I have been on several ice driving courses with Volvo in Sweden, having the opportunity to jump backwards and forwards between rwd, fwd and 4wd. Things I discovered in Volvos were:
- 4wd has a massive advantage accelerating where there is not enough grip to use the power with 2wd
- 4wd may give a bit of stability, but it is much easier to lose control in a 4wd without traction control than in a 2wd with traction control
- the 4wd cars had lots of understeer, more so than the fwd cars. Due to the ability to accelerate fast and the reluctance to turn in the 4wd cars had the most offs.
- because of the above the 4wd cars were the least fun on the ice, the rwd cars the most fun
- winter tyres (the Swedes use studs) give excellent grip in the sort of conditions which bring the UK to a standstill.
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