5.5 V10 with about 556 BHP? If the kerb weight is the same as the old one (lighter body heavier engine?) then it would be about 310 BHP/ton, no AWD losses is nice but traction will be an issue with the torque that will have to go through each wheel Certainly not remotely all-conquering. Absolute power will take over at speed, area under torque curve to weight ratio at real world speeds will be far more important although slightly offset by lag from the turbo competitors. Of course we are talking heavily modified Jap AWD turbo boxes here with double factory outputs

Since I put the bigger turbo on the Scooby I wanted to try against an M3 as with the last turbo (TD05 at 1.5 bar) it was well matched. With the bigger turbo after the M3 had stepped the back end out coming out of a roundabout with me following I could pull up to and drop back from the rear of the M3 at will at any speed used. When the M3 followed the difference was similarly marked. 100lbft more, 20% more power and 20% less weight makes a Scooby go, AWD or not After this I wouldn't want an M3 - no turbo from the factory makes it a lot more tricky to modify and the out the box performance is no longer enticing, although the overall package is fantastic. With AWD and a turbo it would be a different matter... personal preference. But the M3 overall would probably be at least as good as a financial proposition despite the higher initial cost?

[Edited by john banks - 4/11/2003 12:56:12 PM]

 

I must admit my interest in the M3 is beginning to fade now (always been a fan). I'd always hoped I might get an M3 one day but it just wouldn't be a big enough performance upgrade. My current car is faster to 60 and only a little slower to 100. Sure the M3's overall performance is better and as a car, well, its way better, but it probably feels slower than mine (no turbo kick). Nope, I suspect if I had 50k sheets to spend I'd wind up a TVR owner

 

If I had that sorta money I'd be buying a Noble M12 GTO

 

I had a E46 M3 and can safely say the driver was not trying.

 

You boys are gonna get a shock when you come up against someone who can actually be bothered.
Please remember that turbo cars always feel faster!!

 

Yeah, all very well Arron but isn't that what it's about? I mean if you don't race on the road (and we shouldn't, right?) then you really want to be feeling that your car is fast for it to be exciting. The M3 might BE fast but what good is that if it makes you fall asleep????

And anyway, you sold up and went back to scoobydom, didn't you

F

 

Aaron, that is because some of them ARE faster

 

I've got a 1995 Type RA and a brand new E46 M3.

They're both horny as hell.

They are both aimed at completely different market sectors and any serious comparison is pointless.

I couldn't live with the RA on a day to day basis, especially with a 60 mile commute. I can live with the M3 every day, whether its too poodle it about or have a real blast in it.

But it cost substantially more than my Impreza.

The E46 M3 _is_ a genuine supercar. Its not always appreciated as such because it is also extremely practical, but it my opinion that merely validates its status as a supercar moreso than an "exotic" supercar which doesn't have to try and be practical.

The E46 is an astonishingly accomplished car, as is the Impreza, but in a completely different way.

Cheers
Richard

 

could someone tell me how much a M3 costs

 

any fool can drive fast in a straight line

 

scooby si..........

Straight line for sure...but not many can with only RWD instead of girly AWD/4WD......bring ANY road registered scooby to ANY track of your choice and I'll put £1k on the table that it'll not live with my mota

The coupe retails @ circa £38k the cab @ £42k however, these cars are making far more than retail

 

mellow!!...mellow!!!

 

The best bit about the Scooby vs M3 debate, is that a classic model Scooby, especially my PPP, can hold if not better a 2nd generation M3 up to the licence loosing speeds, for about third of the price. Let's not forget that's what the car is all about, mph/£. The newer generation STI Scooby is carrying on this phenomenon for roughly half the price, and as with the previous model, no one generally notices the BMW M3, whereas everyone notices the Scooby.
Oh, and as well as the looks, you are positively welcomed out of junctions.

[Edited by JKJ2 - 4/12/2003 12:33:35 AM]

 

short and sweet i have allways been on the lookout for a new shape m3 becouse of this aura they have well 2 months ago on a quiet peice of dual carriageway 1 crept up to me and sat 3 feet behind me i didn`t need to be asked twice down to third and go kept looking in the mirror still there but i was inching away only inching 130 comes up and my turnoff comes up so i slow and he roars off this aint bull%hit he was trying take my word for it but upto 130 i had him

note i have a classic 295bhp which helps

 

I'm still not convinced. Going by the recent performance stats of my car it should be very close to an M3 from 0-100mph. Frankly, I'll believe it the day I see it!!

I've twice seen an E46 M3 under acceleration and the first time was when I chased one down a sliproad in the VTS. It massively humped the saxo and by a far greater margin than any scooby I've ever played with (including teks', PPPs at Crail). Maybe they can be modifed but it certainly looked standard and the lead it was pulling would best be measured in football pitches as opposed to car lengths

 

i will sort this out good and proper my m8 at work has a m3 evo 97 325bhp me got scooby 250ish up to 80 i can do him after that he does me,i will try and sort it out and get a private road and video it straight line then go on the proper private road with some nice bends in it and video that as well then u can see

sounds like a good idea to me

 

Keep the back-seat action out of this one Si!

Seriously, anyone take on Mellows offer? There must be a road legal scooby that is quicker around the track...

 

P.S; ....Don't forget being the "dirty" driver I am my beemer can instantly become 45ft wide !!!

 

Mellow I have to disagree with you as far as the "over list" bit is concerned.
My mate owns a BMW dealership and the bubble has burst I`m afraid.
I`m glad I got out when I did.

 

Yep, you're right there....

I mean't to say "they used " to do more than list

 

Russell you know how much I love the E46.
Ragged my mates again today. I`ll post some pictures asap.
Steel grey manual.
Schnitzer19" wheels.
Schnitzer lowering springs.
Schnitzer exhausts with carbon fibre guard.
Schnitzer front spoiler and rear spoiler.
Very Max Power circuit racer styleeeeeee.
Pimped to the max.
Will be up for sale circa £58K
It has everything bar the (not so good) SMG

 

I was back in the UK last month and couldnt believe how many people have the new M3, I see more new M3's than scoobies when I was back home and it surprised me, in fact I saw more new M3's in the UK than in Germany and thats saying something!
The beemers a lovely motor but I would never buy one, my scooby is far more exclusive out here in DE and surprises many autobahn stormers around town and on the autobahn, but not the SL55 AMG I was next to at the lights tonight on the drive in to work, that is a lovely sounding motor under acceleration and flipping quick!

Sicey.

 

£58k !
Blimey, must be gold plated at that price !

 

Bro's best friend has a M3 on a 03 no. plate and they had a little test on a private circuit and the scoob pulled away quite dramatically on the straights and in the bends there wasn't any competition. His is a WRX STI PPP '03

 

M3s a pimp mobile lol Il give yer a go mellow but hows about we do it for log books if yer brave enough.Grand is just case put yer car where yer mouth is......lol

 

can u get a m3 as an import?

bob

 

I have had a do with an M3 in a Straight line and there was nowt in it up 130 and that was with a teeny TD04L tiring at the top. I wouldn't expect him to keep up now though

 

getting my new motor in 4 weeks . ummmph , same sort of cash as m3 and it will leave it for dead

steve

 

Can't see many motors leaving an M3 for dead for £40,000!

 

40 ish

plus a weee bit i.

steve , don't want to sound to noble

[Edited by stephen emery - 4/13/2003 11:18:55 PM]