Autocar big homie Steve Sutcliffe drives the new M3

[Lebowski]

I probably misunderstood what you meant then.

I only start out in 2nd when I am not trying to go fast. If I am trying to go fast of course it is better to start in first and use the full range of RPMS before shifting to second. For me starting in first gear isn't as smooth because I would shift almost immediately, so it seems smoother to just start out in 2nd (since the engine is large enough to do so, even off boost) when I am not trying to drive fast (which is probably 90% of the time).

Funny, I test drove the S4 earlier today (before reading this post), an auto and a manual, and was surprised in the manual to hit the rev limiter at what I would call parking lot speed. I'm used to the taller gears in the c6, can go to about 50 in first.

[SJ_GTI]

Funny, I test drove the S4 earlier today (before reading this post), an auto and a manual, and was surprised in the manual to hit the rev limiter at what I would call parking lot speed. I'm used to the taller gears in the c6, can go to about 50 in first.

I am not sure how fast I can get in first, but since you mentioned it I am going to check it out on my way home. 

It can't be too high though. Maybe 25 mph at most.

[r0tor]

I'm pretty sure they made E90 non ///M sedans...................................................

An "e90 wagon" is not a sedan

[MX793]

Sounds a bit harsh(er) on the clutch though...

If that BMW could do 0-60 in 3.6 sec by starting in 2nd you're talking HUGE power, more that just chipping it (which is what I was getting at).

Not really.  I frequently take off in 2nd gear as well.  Doesn't require any more clutch slipping than taking off in 1st provided it's on pretty flat ground (or a downhill).  I generally have an easier time keeping up with traffic that way since the 1-2 upshift eats a lot of time in unhurried driving.

I've tried launching the car in 2nd gear at autox events, thinking that not making the 1-2 shift might buy me a few milliseconds.  Definitely not the fastest way to take off from a stop.  Only vehicle I've ever operated where taking off in 2nd was advantageous was a motocross bike.  Limited traction, ultra-short gearing, and the risk of shifting into neutral when shifting out of first all conspire to make a 2nd gear launch preferable.

[12,000 RPM]

An "e90 wagon" is not a sedan

Continue to miss the point in your pedantry. That point being for 60K you could get more car buying used.

[MexicoCityM3]

Continue to miss the point in your pedantry. That point being for 60K you could get more car buying used.

That's true for any amount of money.

[MX793]

That's true for any amount of money.

Indeed.  It's also true that if nobody ever bought new cars because used cars are a much sounder investment, there would never be any replenishment of the used car supply.

[r0tor]

Continue to miss the point in your pedantry. That point being for 60K you could get more car buying used.

I swear you have a reading comprehension plan or just live in your own world...

I say anyone looking to buy a performance sedan should have the M3 on the top of their list
You say you would buy a wagon and a 911
I said great, none of those are performance sedans
You say blah blah blah I'm missing the point of my own comment.

Really.... Has English really failed us this badly...

[SJ_GTI]

Well color me surprised, but looks like redline is somewhere between 35-40 mph. Too much traffic to test it right to the rev limiter, but  got to rough 35 mph with rpms in the mid 6k's.

[Lebowski]

Continue to miss the point in your pedantry. That point being for 60K you could get more car buying used.

Thanks for the insight captain obvious.

[Lebowski]

Well color me surprised, but looks like redline is somewhere between 35-40 mph. Too much traffic to test it right to the rev limiter, but  got to rough 35 mph with rpms in the mid 6k's.

Jesus, I didn't look at the speedo but seemed much lower than that.

[Catman]

I swear you have a reading comprehension plan or just live in your own world...

I say anyone looking to buy a performance sedan should have the M3 on the top of their list
You say you would buy a wagon and a 911
I said great, none of those are performance sedans
You say blah blah blah I'm missing the point of my own comment.

Really.... Has English really failed us this badly...

A wagon is a sedan with a cap on the back.  Its the exact same thing.

[12,000 RPM]

Indeed.  It's also true that if nobody ever bought new cars because used cars are a much sounder investment, there would never be any replenishment of the used car supply.

If nobody bought new cars used cars would increase in price to where buying new would make sense. We saw it during the recession. Hell, used car prices are still way higher than they used to be.

[MexicoCityM3]

If nobody bought new cars used cars would increase in price to where buying new would make sense.

It already makes sense for more than 10 million a year (US).

[MexicoCityM3]

To get the thread back on topic (if that's possible here :).

Initial performance data from an actual F80 M3 owner in the middle east:

VBOX Data is in, Finally.

The weather was still not optimal. I tried going to an area outside the city, but it was still hot. The temperature was still 27 degrees Celsius.
I had no passengers in the car this time, but the road was not very sticky, but what to do.  There was also a slight bend in the road at the end.

I did launch couple of times and kept on getting 4.2 seconds to 100km/h (0-62 MPH).

I didnt use the 1 foot roll out feature in the Performance Box.

Here is the video of the run:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqsIrpsIUy4

Exhaust noise from outside:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvTzCmrJqxU

[12,000 RPM]

0-100 MPH in 8.8 is damn quick. Car sounds totally different inside and out though

[68_427]

I have a hard time thinking that by he ATS v would be more desirable to me even though I'm a gm fanboi.  Would love a techno violet or Boston green m3 with speed cloth interior.

[MexicoCityM3]

I have a hard time thinking that by he ATS v would be more desirable to me even though I'm a gm fanboi.  Would love a techno violet or Boston green m3 with speed cloth interior.

OTOH I'd like to see the ATS-V. Only thing that I don't like on recent Cadillacs is the electronics. Both the dashboard display and the cue suck compared to their BMW equivalents. Also: trannies are a gen behind. But other than that, great cars and great value (here they are priced very competitively).

[68_427]

To me it needs a v8 to really standout.  But that most likely  Won't happen.  And I hate the new caddy logo.

[12,000 RPM]

ATS-V with an LTx would be awesome. Instead, twin turbo V6 with SynthaSound

[68_427]

The 3.6tt actually sounds good for what it is

[SVT666]

A used ATS-V with an LT1 would be high on my list in a few years.  Too bad it doesn't come with an LT1.

[Lebowski]

What do people think of the blue colour?  I can't decide if I like it or not. Definitely different.

[CALL_911]

Car sounds totally different inside and out though

lol I noticed that, it's actually pretty funny

[SJ_GTI]

What do people think of the blue colour?  I can't decide if I like it or not. Definitely different.

I dig it. That is probably the color I would buy.

Considering the color of my current car, along with the fact the one time I owned a BMW (2000 BMW Z3 2.3i) it was a similar color ("Atlanta Blue" which was a sort of baby blue color), not too surprising though.

[Lebowski]

I dig it. That is probably the color I would buy.

Considering the color of my current car, along with the fact the one time I owned a BMW (2000 BMW Z3 2.3i) it was a similar color ("Atlanta Blue" which was a sort of baby blue color), not too surprising though.

I like your blue.

I like it too, I think when I said I can't decide what I meant was I like it, but not sure if I'd grow tired of it over time vs a "safe"/generic color like silver/white.

Definitely of the non "safe"/boring m3 colors, it's my fav. I don't like the orange or the gold.

[MexicoCityM3]

I like your blue.

I like it too, I think when I said I can't decide what I meant was I like it, but not sure if I'd grow tired of it over time vs a "safe"/generic color like silver/white.

Definitely of the non "safe"/boring m3 colors, it's my fav. I don't like the orange or the gold.

I think this blue is a bit much. I'd likely go for mineral white with sakhir orange interior.

[MexicoCityM3]

Configurator here: http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/mseries/m3sedan/2014/showroom/design/visualizer.html

[MrH]

That blue sucks. Long live LeMans blue. Much better color.

[Lebowski]

The more I look at the blue the more I like it. W/ silverstone interior.

Configurator has been up for 2-3 weeks.