sti - for bmw m3
16 January 2007, 01:02 PM
#4
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I've been suprised at many comments on the M3 - To me it seems like a near perfect car (RWD, high powered NA engine, well made) but many people seem to get one then opt out saying they were disappointed.
The CS seems like the best bet (good bits of the CSL but better as a daily driver).
The CS seems like the best bet (good bits of the CSL but better as a daily driver).
16 January 2007, 01:24 PM
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No but my slighly modded classic easily keeps with M3's.
the thing is the M3 you have to rev the knackers off them plus they only put out 270 lbs torque, where as i suspect your STI will be pumping out a lovely fat 300lbs + at a more respectable rpm.
A friend drove one after his 328i and expected great things, he walked away very very dissapointed.
Is your STI PPP?
the thing is the M3 you have to rev the knackers off them plus they only put out 270 lbs torque, where as i suspect your STI will be pumping out a lovely fat 300lbs + at a more respectable rpm.
A friend drove one after his 328i and expected great things, he walked away very very dissapointed.
Is your STI PPP?
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16 January 2007, 02:58 PM
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I have,and i say definately stick with the STI!!
I started off last February in a Mini Cooper S,chopped that in for the M3 and was sorely disappointed by it(as you can see in some of my other threads etc).Kept it 6 weeks(probably 4 too long),and part exed it for a Leon Cupra R and an Ariel Atom.The LCR i had remapped,lowered etc,and IMO was a far superior all round car.
The M3 is a seriously over-hyped car................you've been warned
16 January 2007, 03:10 PM
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16 January 2007, 03:30 PM
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Do it!
I think they are a great do it all car, and they still look fantastic on the 19 inch wheels.
Best of all, people will think you are a w@nker rarther than a chav
I think they are a great do it all car, and they still look fantastic on the 19 inch wheels.
Best of all, people will think you are a w@nker rarther than a chav
16 January 2007, 03:32 PM
#13
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Having driven almost every conceivable variant of Scoob, in different levels of power, i am now nearing the end of my first week of owning a 55 plate M3, and can safely say, that the M3 is such an excellent all round package, i am glad i chose one.
Granted it wont keep up with my modified wagon, but then that is a toy, and although i drive it to work every now and again, it simply doesnt compare to the ease of driving offered by the M3 (nor would an sti for that matter IMO).
I have the SMG equipped version, which is the best of both worlds, the paddle shift is good enough to make you want to use it, and the auto function is good enough to warrant using it in town or when your feeling lazy.
IF, and thats a big IF, i had to choose between an STi and an M3 as my everyday car, hand on heart, with the benefit of hindsight, pic the M3 EVERY time, without fail.
Respect the M3, and adapt your driving style to the characteristics of the car, and you WILL have serious fun with it, just as you may well do with a Subaru.
Steven
Granted it wont keep up with my modified wagon, but then that is a toy, and although i drive it to work every now and again, it simply doesnt compare to the ease of driving offered by the M3 (nor would an sti for that matter IMO).
I have the SMG equipped version, which is the best of both worlds, the paddle shift is good enough to make you want to use it, and the auto function is good enough to warrant using it in town or when your feeling lazy.
IF, and thats a big IF, i had to choose between an STi and an M3 as my everyday car, hand on heart, with the benefit of hindsight, pic the M3 EVERY time, without fail.
Respect the M3, and adapt your driving style to the characteristics of the car, and you WILL have serious fun with it, just as you may well do with a Subaru.
Steven
16 January 2007, 03:35 PM
#14
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that's what i like a bit of objective advise , cheers steve ! 
you see the thing is , i'm getting tired of having to replace my teeth fillings every 50 miles , i'm a bit sick of the chav image and i'm fed up of every boy racer trying to prove how fast they are when they spot you on the road , i know i'm getting old so it looks like i'll go for the M3 !!
you see the thing is , i'm getting tired of having to replace my teeth fillings every 50 miles , i'm a bit sick of the chav image and i'm fed up of every boy racer trying to prove how fast they are when they spot you on the road , i know i'm getting old
so it looks like i'll go for the M3 !!
Last edited by scoobydooooo; 16 January 2007 at 03:40 PM.
16 January 2007, 03:38 PM
#15
STI with PPP will feel just as quick to 100mph/110mph as the M3. But on an open straight road the M3 will mince the STI as top speeds, but then how often can anyone get to do these speeds.
I am speaking from experience after my anual Leman trip with a convoy of cars, 2 M3's and a STI8 with PPP.
I would love a E46 M3 once you get them above 5.5K they love it.! Sound glorious IMHO. They feel like they are bullet proof as well, and feel like you could push them hard all day long.
When ever I drive a tunned JAP car I always feel like something is going to let go if I prolonged driving hard. You don't get that same feeling in a M3.
But as said previously depends on what you are looking for from a car. If its just ***** our performance very little in it between 0-100mph. 2 Very different cars and only way you will be able to tell is to try one. But if you do don't be affraid to red line it and drop 2/3 cogs when you go to gun it, V's dropping perhaps just the 1 cog that could would have done in the STI.
E46 M3's represent good value for money now as well IMHO when you way them up against the Jap oppositions like Evo's, Scoobs.
I am speaking from experience after my anual Leman trip with a convoy of cars, 2 M3's and a STI8 with PPP.
I would love a E46 M3 once you get them above 5.5K they love it.! Sound glorious IMHO. They feel like they are bullet proof as well, and feel like you could push them hard all day long.
When ever I drive a tunned JAP car I always feel like something is going to let go if I prolonged driving hard. You don't get that same feeling in a M3.
But as said previously depends on what you are looking for from a car. If its just ***** our performance very little in it between 0-100mph. 2 Very different cars and only way you will be able to tell is to try one. But if you do don't be affraid to red line it and drop 2/3 cogs when you go to gun it, V's dropping perhaps just the 1 cog that could would have done in the STI.
E46 M3's represent good value for money now as well IMHO when you way them up against the Jap oppositions like Evo's, Scoobs.
16 January 2007, 03:39 PM
#16
16 January 2007, 03:41 PM
#17
I drove one last year with the smg box. loved it and wish i could have kept it. the air intake noise from it is a bit marmite. quite loud when you get moving. imo it looks better than the scooby and you've got german engineering to boot. if i could afford one, i'd buy one but with a propper manual gearbox.
it depends what you want out of it really? it's not quite as harsh as the scooby but is that such a bad thing? if you do a lot of miles then my choice would be the m3. those big leather seats are a fair bit more comfortable imo.
one thing to bear in mind is that the cars were developed for 2 different things. the scooby is the road version of a rally car and the m3 is more designed for the road as the touring cars use the 320 not the m3 iirc.
it depends what you want out of it really? it's not quite as harsh as the scooby but is that such a bad thing? if you do a lot of miles then my choice would be the m3. those big leather seats are a fair bit more comfortable imo.
one thing to bear in mind is that the cars were developed for 2 different things. the scooby is the road version of a rally car and the m3 is more designed for the road as the touring cars use the 320 not the m3 iirc.
16 January 2007, 04:20 PM
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Have you seen what E46 M3's are worth nowadays,and still depreciating like a f**k.................all cars loose money,and lots of it.....................i lost 3.5k in 6 weeks on my M3 (with it's rock solid
residuals).
16 January 2007, 04:59 PM
#20
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I have a friend with an E46 M3 remapped to around 370bhp by DMS. It is seriously quick and really, really good to drive. Nice linear power delivery, fantastic noise, great RWD handling, good interior - what more could you want?? Makes my scooby look like its going backwards 
16 January 2007, 05:34 PM
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I haven't got an M3 but a Z4M and having recently driven a CS I'd say its a combination of the M3/CS, so the input is relevant. In terms of engineering and quality of the interior it is vastly superior to the Scoob and that's taking into account the inferior build quality of the US Beemers but it is a very different car in that it doesn't have the punch of a turbocharged engine, but then nor does it have the lag.
Driving a Scoob also helps you forget how much the AWD cossets you, so learning how to deal with RWD again is a curve but a fun one and as someone else said, I don't worry too much about thrashing it as it doesn't feel as if it could potentially implode like the Scoob did. Servicing costs are also much lower!
Driving a Scoob also helps you forget how much the AWD cossets you, so learning how to deal with RWD again is a curve but a fun one and as someone else said, I don't worry too much about thrashing it as it doesn't feel as if it could potentially implode like the Scoob did. Servicing costs are also much lower!
17 January 2007, 11:08 AM
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I had my M3 for 5 months. To be honest, the car is fantastic, but having come from a similarly loaded 330d Sport, it wasn't as far removed to be that much more special. The interior is a great place to sit especially with all the toys a driver would need.
The M3 was quick, engaging, economical(ish) and great fun to grab by the scruff of the neck and throw down your favourite bck road.
I'd have one over any Subaru any day of the week, but then I guess I would say that!
If I was in your position, I'd do it. Definitely. 100% etc etc
Matt
The M3 was quick, engaging, economical(ish) and great fun to grab by the scruff of the neck and throw down your favourite bck road.
I'd have one over any Subaru any day of the week, but then I guess I would say that!
If I was in your position, I'd do it. Definitely. 100% etc etc
Matt
17 January 2007, 05:56 PM
#24
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well , in a weeks time it's goodbye scooby sti and hello BMW M3 , deal done !
as has been said it's a hell of a nice car , i will miss the sti but i won't miss the attention it gets !!
as has been said it's a hell of a nice car , i will miss the sti but i won't miss the attention it gets !!
17 January 2007, 06:06 PM
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17 January 2007, 06:49 PM
#29
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BMW M3 SPECS
Cylinders: 6
Output (bhp): 343
Max torque (Nm): 365
Fuel type: Petrol
Engine Size (Ltr): 3.2
Performance
Top speed (mph): 155
0-62 mph (secs): 5.2
Cylinders: 6
Output (bhp): 343
Max torque (Nm): 365
Fuel type: Petrol
Engine Size (Ltr): 3.2
Performance
Top speed (mph): 155
0-62 mph (secs): 5.2
17 January 2007, 06:50 PM
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I went from an sti type uk to an M3 E46 and thought the M3 was an excellent car overall , much better interior than the scoob, faster than the scoob when you got rolling and handled better in the dry.I only sold it because without supercharging them you cannot get alot more power from them. Have now brought an impreza spec c