M3 test against R8, CLK63 AMG and 997 C4S in Spanish magazine AUTOMOVIL

[antonio_spain]

Here are the results:

r8 m3 c4s clk

0-100 Km/h

4,54 5,37 4,81 4,72

0-400 m

12,84 13,46 13,05 12,80

0-1000 m

23,41 23,99 23,75 22,87

Not very good numbers... I think that launching M3 is not easy. But know look at these numbers... ( CLK is not there becasuse automatic)

20-70 km/h

3,08 3,26 3,86

70-120 km/h

6,63 6,8 7,93

And here it comes the most impresive

Slalom 18m ( starting at 60 km/h )
Average speed

65,6 66,1 64,6 64,4 ( M3 is best...)

Handling Circle ( 58.8 meters radius )
lateral g

0,89 0,91 0,89 0,83 ( M3 best..)

Average speed

80,9 82,1 81,2 78,1

And finally the track. It is a test track, very slow ( max speeed 180..)

1m11s3 1m12s36 1m12s73 1m16s02

M3 is faster than a c4S. I think those number are very very good. My conclusion is that M3 is an excelent handling car, and also on open trafic faster than a Porsche C4S....

[footie]

Yeah the figure for the M3 aren't great but in it's defence it does seem to be catching both the C4S and R8 by the 1000m. On the track to come second to the R8 is the best one could expect, the R8 is a proper mid-engine racer with total grip (awd) and a chassis perfectly balanced for track work, hack in the EVO (UK) magazine it's posted times close to the Enzo and ahead of the F430, Gallardo and 997Turbo.

The M3 has done an amazing job when you consider it's only driving the rear wheels against two awd cars.

[ChinoOrtega]

Ustedes ya tiene en venta el m3 en España?

[masmole]

Perhaps the poor acceleration times can be solely attributed to a bad launch. It's very likely they launched the M3 in DSC-off mode and dumped the clutch too high without allowing enough clutch slip and modulation. Yeah it's going to be a tricky car to launch, which is typical of heavy high horsepower front-engine RWD cars even as well-balanced as the M3. There is going be greater variances in straight-line standing start acceleration tests on the M3 depending on skill, luck, test conditions, available traction etc, as opposed to an R8 or C4S which have AWD and just hook-up much easier, and the CLK63 which has so much torque down low that it can be launched from idle with good results and the quick-shifting 7-speed auto does the rest. The M3 is simply not built for drag racing. Fortunately, as the test results show, it shines in many other aspects!

[antonio_spain]

I do agree.Launching the car is not easy on the M3. But IMO in real conditions on the open road the car is as fast as R8 and C4S. And yes the car is already on sale in Spain. I will have mine in 2 weeks Mine is Alpine white, 19 wheels, extended leather, EDC, pro nav, bluetooth, hifi.

[ChinoOrtega]

cool, I'm suppose to get mine in a month or less