Car Magazine Shootout: M3 2nd

[GregMM]

I posted this on another forum and thought you might find it interesting too. Sorry, still can't figure out how to upload the scan:

Here is an interesting review where the M3 did very well in mixed company. The driver of all the cars is Matt Neal, BTCC champ. The track is Cadwell Park, a twisty narrow track with variable topography primarily used to test bikes.

The cars were chosen from all of the cars CAR had tested in 2007 – they had to be the most enjoyed by the reviewers and had to be on sale in 2007. So yes, there is some subjectivity in this test along with some real data. I didn’t scan the full article since it is goes for about 15 pages but I have scanned a few excerpts.

The M3 was short listed with 2 others from the 13 driven: the Honda Civic Type R and Audi R8 round out the 3 short listed along with the M3. The winner in this shootout, was the Audi R8, the M3 second. Given that it costs twice as much as the M3 in Canada, I'd be happy with that place. Remember, this review isn't about the fastest, our quicket around the track; it's about picking the car that has the best ability on the track and everyday roads. It had to be the "most fun, great value and-by unanimous vote, the greatest allround performance car of 2007."

Here are the lap times of the top 10 along with the weight and price for tested model:

1. PORSCHE 911 GT3 RS: 53.81 £ 95,900 1375kg
2. CATERHAM 7R400: 54.28 £ 29,495 500kg
3. LAMBORGHINI SUPERLEGGERA: 54.45 £152,000 1330kg
4. AUDI R8: 55.56 £ 76,825 1560kg
5. BMW M3: 56.71 £ 50,625 1655kg
6. SUBARU IMPREZZA RB320: 57.90 £ 30,007 1495kg
7. NISSAN: 59.04 £ 29,295 1549kg
8. AUDI S5: 59.43 £ 39,795 1630kg
9. VAUXHALL VXR8: 59.54 £ 35,010 1831kg
10. HONDA CIVIC TYPER 60.85 £ 17,627 1262kg


Regarding the steering which is talked about a lot around here: Mark Walton the writer, said it does feel light but that does not mean it isn’t precise. He said, "the steering is devastatingly effective, even if it lacks feel, and it always goes where you point it."

He goes on to say, "even when you start chucking it into corners with a kind of daring confidence, it feels serene in its progress. It has virtually no under steer."

I think this is what Savage was trying to say during his recent romp in Northern Italy – on roads my old M3 loved and what the new car is meant to travel on too. The full article is quite a good read and IMO alays some of the fears some might have about the M3.


Sorry, the scan wouldn't upload. If someone could tell me how to do it properly, I will try again.
Cheers,
Greg

[lucid]

Thanks for this post. What is the #7 car exactly? It just says Nissan. It is interesting to see the S5 so far down.

What error message are you getting with the pic upload? It could be the format, file size, or pic size.

[UltimateBMW]

Nice find, thanks for sharing.

[GregMM]

Originally Posted by lucid

Thanks for this post. What is the #7 car exactly? It just says Nissan. It is interesting to see the S5 so far down.

What error message are you getting with the pic upload? It could be the format, file size, or pic size.

Sorry, it was the 350Z.

[jworms]

i wonder why the M3 is so heavy in this test. 1655kg is around 3641lbs. that's about 100lbs heavier than what we've seen in other tests.

[13eastie]

Good grief - what the hell is the Civic doing on the short list? Watch Clarkson's scathing review here.
Porsche cannot really be too happy with that, and I wouldn't blame them...

[Ted]

Originally Posted by 13eastie

Good grief - what the hell is the Civic doing on the short list? Watch Clarkson's scathing review here.
Porsche cannot really be too happy with that, and I wouldn't blame them...

I think that was the Japanese spec Civic Type R, which is confusingly a completely different car to the UK one.

[GregMM]

That's right, the Civic R is a lot of fun and is pretty inexpensive. The engine is what the tester really liked abut the Honda.
Greg

[footie]

The Japanese spec Civic is great for the track but totally useless on the road, the suspension is so unforgiving.

[E90ice]

can you post who the 3rd place and so on is....

[GregMM]

Originally Posted by E90ice

can you post who the 3rd place and so on is....

They only short-listed 3 in the field of 13 in this order:

Audi R8
BMW M3
Honda Civic Type-R

In terms of lap times, it was in the order I placed in the OP. The M3 was 5th, behind the GT3, 7 R400, Lambo, and R8. Fast company, I think. But speed is just one of the qualities: see EVO, Fast Fleet, Issue 112.Cheers,
Greg

[TTBear]

Originally Posted by GregMM

The winner in this shootout, was the Audi R8, the M3 second. Given that it costs twice as much as the M3 in Canada, I'd be happy with that place. [/I]
Cheers,
Greg

GregMM,

Is there something you know that I don't? I didn't think pricing for either the M3 OR the Audi R8 had been released.
can you enlighten me?

[GregMM]

Originally Posted by TTBear

GregMM,

Is there something you know that I don't? I didn't think pricing for either the M3 OR the Audi R8 had been released.
can you enlighten me?

Just speculation from some informed sources. I do work with both BMW and Audi in Canada.
Greg