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      02-26-2011, 06:03 PM   #1
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Question for the M3 Vert owners and handling prowess

Hey Vert owners. My oldest is headed to England to study for his Junior year of college, so we are contemplating selling his car, letting the wife drive it and sell the wife's 135 vert, then replacing it with a 335is vert or an M3 vert.

So here we go. Obviously the M3 is more car... but here is my question. How does the M3 vert handle compared to the coupe and sedan? My reasoning is this, if the M3 becomes a vert, is it's handling so compromised by the added weight and change in center of gravity that really is more of a touring car with an awesome engine than a sports car?

And if that is true, would it make sense to save $15k and get the lesser 335is?
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      02-26-2011, 07:34 PM   #2
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I haven't driven the coupe or sedan M3, so can't really compare the handling. What I have heard and do believe is that this car is the best performance convertible under 100K, and I doubt you will notice any compromise in performance unless you are on the track and pushing to the limits. It's an M3, so don't bother compare it with 335i unless you just want to save money.

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      02-26-2011, 08:22 PM   #3
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The thing is, unless you also plan to get a M3 sedan/coupe along with the vert, you probably wouldn't notice the added weight.

And if you really want a convertible sports car, maybe the boxter spyder is a better choice?
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      02-26-2011, 09:19 PM   #4
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from Fastlaps.com
Lap Times (5)
Track M3 (E92) M3 Cabrio (E93)
Autozeitung test track 1:40.10 1:41.90
Balocco . . 2:55.22 3:00.65
Inta . . 1:12.36 1:11.88
Sachsenring . 1:40.67 1:42.63
ADM Miachkovo . 1:56.27 1:58.83
Specs
Max speed 280 kph 250 kph
0 - 100 kph 4.3 s 4.9 s
0 - 100 mph 9.4 s 10.7 s
0 - 200 kph 15.2 s 17.3 s
1/4 mile 12.4 s 13.1 s
1/8 mile (est) 8.4 s @ 93 mph 8.8 s @ 90 mph
Power/weight ratio 256 bhp/tonne 220 bhp/tonne



E93 vert is okay on a track, but slower on pure acceleration, especially when just starting off
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      02-27-2011, 01:45 AM   #5
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lease rates on the e93 M3 are amazing right now

take advantage of them
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      02-27-2011, 02:08 AM   #6
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lease rates on the e93 M3 are amazing right now

take advantage of them
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      02-27-2011, 08:12 AM   #7
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lease rates on the e93 M3 are amazing right now
take advantage of them
And pound for pound their even better
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      02-27-2011, 08:33 PM   #8
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Definitely still a sports car. Just doesn't have quite as sharp an edge as the coupe/sedan, but still pretty sharp. You will NOT be dissatisfied with the E93 M3's driving experience. A few mods help it along... (see sig).
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      02-28-2011, 09:28 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spmd11 View Post
Hey Vert owners. My oldest is headed to England to study for his Junior year of college, so we are contemplating selling his car, letting the wife drive it and sell the wife's 135 vert, then replacing it with a 335is vert or an M3 vert.
I didn't quite understand all that (so you're selling his car, but the wife would drive it...?).

Anyway, unless there is currently an E90 or E92 M3 in the family, you won't have any teething issues transitioning to the E93 M3. Think of it this way - why would transplanting the 335i drivetrain, brakes, suspension into the E93 body somehow wind up better than doing the same with the M3 parts instead? IOW - if the E93 M3 is not good enough for you, then you should probably forget the 335is vert completely as well.
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      02-28-2011, 11:11 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spmd11 View Post
And if that is true, would it make sense to save $15k and get the lesser 335is?
I've never agreed with the sentiment that an M3 is just an upgrade to the 335. In my mind, a 335 is an upgrade to any other 3 series in the sense that they all "behave" identically if you discount the power differences. M cars require a different driving style in order to appreciate the grunt they provide.

Now, as far as convertibles go, you're going to be losing a little performance with either model comparatively to the coupe. The question is, do you want one that gives you this sort of peace of mind with a silky smooth ride and power on demand? Or would you prefer one that at first feels a little stubborn at first, but begs to be pushed after giving it a little nudge and just keeps screaming for more?

Coming from a 325, I honestly didn't care much for upgrading to the 335 even though I wanted a new convertible. I got to test drive a couple M3's, and man, I lost some sleep over that!
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      02-28-2011, 12:38 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spmd11 View Post
So here we go. Obviously the M3 is more car... but here is my question. How does the M3 vert handle compared to the coupe and sedan? My reasoning is this, if the M3 becomes a vert, is it's handling so compromised by the added weight and change in center of gravity that really is more of a touring car with an awesome engine than a sports car?

And if that is true, would it make sense to save $15k and get the lesser 335is?

I own a sedan and have driven the vert. The weight difference is noticiable. On a twisty rode, the handling is noticiable, but not to a point where you're going to crash the car, but you def. feel where your limits are on the vert.

The vert. should be seen as a GT car. Fantastic for what it is built for, but since your wife is driving it I guess that's all she needs. I wouldn't trade in my Sedan for a Vert with my own money on the line.
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      02-28-2011, 12:49 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spmd11 View Post
Hey Vert owners. My oldest is headed to England to study for his Junior year of college, so we are contemplating selling his car, letting the wife drive it and sell the wife's 135 vert, then replacing it with a 335is vert or an M3 vert.

So here we go. Obviously the M3 is more car... but here is my question. How does the M3 vert handle compared to the coupe and sedan? My reasoning is this, if the M3 becomes a vert, is it's handling so compromised by the added weight and change in center of gravity that really is more of a touring car with an awesome engine than a sports car?

And if that is true, would it make sense to save $15k and get the lesser 335is?
IMO
having driven all three.
there is a big difference.
however to actually get your car up to the velocity to feel that difference in cornering in a day to day drive... you'll get arrested.
the other way is if you are doing a lot of drag races with e92... they will own you... but i am ok with that...

the long and short is that there is lot that the e93 can do that the e90/2 can do better....
BUT there is ONE thing that the e93 can do that the two sister can't do for adam
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      02-28-2011, 09:57 PM   #13
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To make things more clear from my first post. We bought the 1 coupe and 335 for our two boys to own into their first decade after college. Because number 1 son is going to England for a year, we will have an extra car. So, this will give me an opportunity to sell my wife's 135 convertible with the automatic trans...because... we would like a more performance oriented vehicle... i.e. DCT. And we want something a little larger. So, M3 or 335is? That is the big question. The X5 is not exactly a sports car... yet this car is really my wife's daily driver but something that I will enjoy several times a week for my sport drive...

Lastly, I had an 09 M3 and it killed me to sell it. But we had to have a utility vehicle and no one in the family would compromise on that! So, I ended up with the X and sold the M.

I guess I'm answering my own question... My wife does drive a lot of miles around town though, and I question if the M is to raw for the daily moving around. It's a special car isn't it? Not deserving to be driven all over the place like a cab?
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      02-28-2011, 10:16 PM   #14
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Nothing wrong with driving M3 all around as a DD!
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      02-28-2011, 10:20 PM   #15
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Mine is my DD, and I love it. That's what M is meant for.
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      02-28-2011, 10:26 PM   #16
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I have an E90 on order, and I never thought much of the E93 M3 because I'm not into convertibles much, but then I realized that if you want a practical, 4 seater convertible with the benefit of a metal roof, you're hard pressed to find a better car than the E93 M3. And I'd think the E93 has a leg up on the sound you'll hear from the intake and exhaust, with the top down of course.
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      03-01-2011, 08:18 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spmd11 View Post
It's a special car isn't it? Not deserving to be driven all over the place like a cab?
To be honest, I don't think it is, no. Sure it is an amazing performance machine, but it has absolutely no less practical value as a daily driver than any other passenger car in this price range. As I mentioned in a past thread, would you park a $70k X5 50i or 550i in the garage only for special occasions? Then why the heck do the same with the M3? It's not like it's a race car with tough to live with lack of ammenities, or some priceless exotic. It's simply a luxury car where they put a lot more effort into the performance side of the equation than just about any other luxury car below $100k. It really does not make sense to think about the car as some magical machine that you put up on a pedestal and only take out on a special day.

I would take the wife to go test drive the 335is and M3 and make the decision based on back-to-back drives. To me, with the minimal price difference for comparably equipped cars, the M3 is an absolute no brainer, but test them both and you'll know which is right for you and your wife.
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