Am I crazy?

[C17MooseDriver]

Originally Posted by Kev

Call it whatever you like. The TQ and DCT weren't as much of an issue when I was in Boston. Apparently, the rush hour here in Seattle starts at 2:30pm and the jerkiness of the DCT is driving me bananas on I-5 going home. I can't imagine what it's gonna be like post-call.

I know the I-5 traffic very well. My wife went to UWMC for her internship year and I lived in Seattle for 4.5 years.

Maybe the lag would be an issue in traffic, wouldn't know since I've got the 6mt, but how does tq really matter? I drive in stop and go traffic all the time, which seems worst in HI than Seattle, and I never felt I needed massive amount of torque to move five feet at 1 mph.

[Kev]

Originally Posted by C17MooseDriver

I know the I-5 traffic very well. My wife went to UWMC for her internship year and I lived in Seattle for 4.5 years.

Maybe the lag would be an issue in traffic, wouldn't know since I've got the 6mt, but how does tq really matter? I drive in stop and go traffic all the time, which seems worst in HI than Seattle, and I never felt I needed massive amount of torque to move five feet at 1 mph.

The TQ and lag are separate issues

I don't really have a major problem with the M3, but I really want a smaller and more fuel efficient car in Seattle.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by Kev

I've been thinking about switching cars for the past couple months mainly because I want a smaller car. I'm inclined to get an Audi TT-S coupe and call it a day. I really miss the TQ of the motor and can do away with the DCT lag at 5:30 traffic on I-5.

Am I being crazy or what? I'm going to test drive one in Tacoma on Thursday so I'll report back.

Try the C63.....Maybe you'll like it more since it has the torque, it has an automatic, and is slightly smaller than the E92 M3 Coupe I believe.

[Driver72]

Originally Posted by Kev

The TQ and lag are separate issues

I don't really have a major problem with the M3, but I really want a smaller and more fuel efficient car in Seattle.

Well in that case, you might want to test drive the e92 335i with auto tranny.
And then for $500 you can throw a tune on it and you'll have oodles of low end torque, smooth shifting auto, better fuel economy, lower insurance costs too. And with the tune you'll have the same speed as the stock M3 anyway.
It won't handle quite as well or feel quite as sharp, but since the 335i already IS a BMW and therefore handles very good already anyway, unless you are planning to track it, the abilities of the 335i won't leave you feeling shorted anyway.
Further, if need be, put on some coil overs, upgrade the brake pads and lines, throw on a larger FMIC and you'll be fine.

If you really want smaller, look at the 135i (except it's ugly compared to the e92 335i and the Audi.

You should find a tuned 335i with 6AT in your area, meet up with that guy to drive the car.
Put it this way too. The stock M3 at NO time has more torque than the stock 335i, and with a tune it's not even comparable.
And a stock M3 has to be revved above 6500 or so rpms to make more power than the tuned 335i, and probably has to rev the M3 above 5500 rpms to make more power than the stock 335i.
So in 90% of normal driving conditions, you'll always have more power and torque with the 335i than the M3, and if you tune the 335i you'll have more power and torque than the stock M3 98% of the time, unless you like driving the M3 above 6500 rpms all the time just so the M3 has more power than the tuned 335i (but that's a no brainer since the 335i starts to lose power above 6500 rpms anyway and redlines at 7000).

Just a thought.

[spyderco10]

Originally Posted by Nawaaz

Try the C63.....Maybe you'll like it more since it has the torque, it has an automatic, and is slightly smaller than the E92 M3 Coupe I believe.

Fail for fuel efficiency

[schadenfreude]

Kev,

I drive my M3 in S-mode almost all the time, unless I'm driving home from an overnight shift on I-5 north during rush hour from Renton. Then I'll use D4 about half of the time. No jerkiness at all. How much time do you spend on I-5 going from Queen Anne to the downtown hospitals? I'd get the latest update for DCT and try again. Then again, if the torque is calling your name, maybe a 335d?

[///M Pow3r]

[rapistwit]

Originally Posted by spyderco10

Fail for fuel efficiency

Fuel efficiency? Who buys any of these vehicles because of better mileage?

[Driver72]

^^^ from the OP below:

Originally Posted by Kev

I don't really have a major problem with the M3, but I really want a smaller and more fuel efficient car in Seattle.

[rapistwit]

Originally Posted by Driver72

^^^ from the OP below:

Talk about wanting your cake and eating it too.
He should just drive a Prius (it fits in perfectly in Seattle).

[Kev]

Originally Posted by Driver72

Well in that case, you might want to test drive the e92 335i with auto tranny.
And then for $500 you can throw a tune on it and you'll have oodles of low end torque, smooth shifting auto, better fuel economy, lower insurance costs too. And with the tune you'll have the same speed as the stock M3 anyway.
It won't handle quite as well or feel quite as sharp, but since the 335i already IS a BMW and therefore handles very good already anyway, unless you are planning to track it, the abilities of the 335i won't leave you feeling shorted anyway.
Further, if need be, put on some coil overs, upgrade the brake pads and lines, throw on a larger FMIC and you'll be fine.

If you really want smaller, look at the 135i (except it's ugly compared to the e92 335i and the Audi.

You should find a tuned 335i with 6AT in your area, meet up with that guy to drive the car.
Put it this way too. The stock M3 at NO time has more torque than the stock 335i, and with a tune it's not even comparable.
And a stock M3 has to be revved above 6500 or so rpms to make more power than the tuned 335i, and probably has to rev the M3 above 5500 rpms to make more power than the stock 335i.
So in 90% of normal driving conditions, you'll always have more power and torque with the 335i than the M3, and if you tune the 335i you'll have more power and torque than the stock M3 98% of the time, unless you like driving the M3 above 6500 rpms all the time just so the M3 has more power than the tuned 335i (but that's a no brainer since the 335i starts to lose power above 6500 rpms anyway and redlines at 7000).

Just a thought.

Had TWO of them before already, so I'll pass

Originally Posted by schadenfreude

Kev,

I drive my M3 in S-mode almost all the time, unless I'm driving home from an overnight shift on I-5 north during rush hour from Renton. Then I'll use D4 about half of the time. No jerkiness at all. How much time do you spend on I-5 going from Queen Anne to the downtown hospitals? I'd get the latest update for DCT and try again. Then again, if the torque is calling your name, maybe a 335d?

I'll try to see if I can get an update of PROGMAN.

I test drove it today and the car of course in very nimble due to the size. The engine didn't feel anemic at all. There's some very minor lag with the DSG and also noticeable turbo lag, but overall a very fun car to drive around. Too bad wife doesn't like the styling of the TT-S, so M3 is sticking around for now.

[Adonislike]

Good Choice

[TTG]

I think you've making big deal out of Seattle traffic. You just need to learn how to get around it! .......or may be get a manual....

[Kev]

Originally Posted by TTG

I think you've making big deal out of Seattle traffic. You just need to learn how to get around it! .......or may be get a manual....

Post call and 6MT don't match well......

[osteome]

Originally Posted by Kev

Post call and 6MT don't match well......

Post call and a 52 mile ride home did not match well either, but it was survivable...YMMV depending on your specialty (IM here).

I did "the ride" in a manual (anemic Corolla) for a about a year of it and it was not too bad with the rest of the time in an automatic (slightly less anemic Camry). At that time fuel economy was a consideration with a 104 miles per day, so it all worked out.

[Driver72]

Originally Posted by Kev

I test drove it today and the car of course in very nimble due to the size. The engine didn't feel anemic at all. There's some very minor lag with the DSG and also noticeable turbo lag, but overall a very fun car to drive around. Too bad wife doesn't like the styling of the TT-S, so M3 is sticking around for now.

Does your wife have a car?
Do you get to choose which car she drives based on your styling preference?
You got balls right? Just bustin your chops.

Eitherway, the M3 is a beaut and definitely a great choice. But if YOU are the one driving and YOU are the one unhappy in traffic, YOU should be the one deciding which car you want to drive, not your wife based on her styling taste, especially if she has her own car she drives.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by Driver72

Does your wife have a car?
Do you get to choose which car she drives based on your styling preference?
You got balls right? Just bustin your chops.

Eitherway, the M3 is a beaut and definitely a great choice. But if YOU are the one driving and YOU are the one unhappy in traffic, YOU should be the one deciding which car you want to drive, not your wife based on her styling taste, especially if she has her own car she drives.

I agree with you, but you still gotta please the wife, or else........

I got into a HUGE battle with my wife since I wanted a 6 speed manual very badly as my transmission for the M3, but no matter what I did....It was hopeless.

....But I still ordered my M3 with a 6 speed manual since I wanted it THAT badly. My wife's still upset with me these days because of that, but I think it will all eventually get better. I can't help it if I'm a car enthusiast and I wanted the manual over the DCT. I hate the DCT!

[Deathboy]

Yes you are Crazy!

[ACZakka325i]

Nawaaz you are crazy man. How long you been married?!

[mwlmd]

Originally Posted by Kev

Post call and 6MT don't match well......

Residents only work 80hrs per week now days. Post call is nothing compared to a hangover! If there is one thing I can count on being post call... it is NOT hungover! So just enjoy the car and forget the gas mileage..... or do what was mentioned and get the C63 you really want.

[Kev]

Originally Posted by mlaynemd

Residents only work 80hrs per week now days. Post call is nothing compared to a hangover! If there is one thing I can count on being post call... it is NOT hungover! So just enjoy the car and forget the gas mileage..... or do what was mentioned and get the C63 you really want.

I don't know what hung-over actually feels like since I don't drink.

[McLuVan]

get a C63 if you want tq