Top Gear - BMW M cars: the hits and the misses

[Helmsman]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Nice reading:
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/ret...YkzSc2hLnVSo#1

[Germanauto]

Nice read.

"Hit" and "miss" are so subjective it really comes down to personal preference. In my eyes, save for the M2 it's very easy to argue that a lot of the F/G-chassis M models have been "misses." The stereotype of their ever increasing size, weight, and numbed driving experience is rooted in truth.

Cars like the X3M, M5, etc. still deliver thrills...just in a different way than M models of the past. :

[NickyC]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Nice read.

"Hit" and "miss" are so subjective it really comes down to personal preference. In my eyes, save for the M2 it's very easy to argue that a lot of the F/G-chassis M models have been "misses." The stereotype of their ever increasing size, weight, and numbed driving experience is rooted in truth.

Cars like the X3M, M5, etc. still deliver thrills...just in a different way than M models of the past. :

I’ve owned two F82 M4s, this after owning over ten different M models from prior years and models.

The F82 has been my favorite by far, they are an absolute bullseye on what a great car should be.

[kieran_delaney]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

This should be fun... everyone will now debate their cars and whether they agree or disagree

Wait until someone mentions the recent grill designs or the recent adverts, it's like the bat signal for people who want to scream at their screens. 😀

[Eddybro]

Accurate

[Montaver]

Depends on the lense you view 'progress' through to determine whether the modern cars are hits or not. The chassis, differential, tech, safety, reliability and outright pace has advanced markedly in the F generation. However the trade off has been numb steering married to effective but not particularly thrilling turbo engines, particularly the S55. As an enthusiast aural experience and driver engagement/feedback are key in my book, and modern M cars are lacking in this department. The last great M car they made is the e9x M3, everything after that lost some of the magic. BMW still does engine/drivetrain tuning to rank with he best, its just a shame they can't marry that to naturally aspirated power plants anymore. The fact the guy at the helm of M design clearly has disdain for the brand doesn't help either.

However if you look at non-M BMW's they have gone from strength to strength recently for all the reasons mentioned above, the G series vehicles are very well rounded and better than their equivalents.

[MachinesWithSouls]

I like how the F10 is kind of a hit, but the M6 is good because it's "prettier".

Same cars...

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Nice read.

"Hit" and "miss" are so subjective it really comes down to personal preference. In my eyes, save for the M2 it's very easy to argue that a lot of the F/G-chassis M models have been "misses." The stereotype of their ever increasing size, weight, and numbed driving experience is rooted in truth.

Cars like the X3M, M5, etc. still deliver thrills...just in a different way than M models of the past. :

The F series went down in weight compared to the E90 :

[Humdizzle]

somewhat agree. the f80 was a bit of a miss compared to high revving screamers in old m cars. if they would have kept it naturally aspirated and put a 5.0 liter v8 similar to the gt350 engine in the f80 ,rather than s55, it would really have been something special.

but as an everyday usable car that can still push the pace on a backroad its one of the best, especially if you want a 6 speed since MB, Alfa, Audi dont offer that.

[Gray_Panther]

Basically, M is gearing more towards businessmen who like vanity rather than petrolheads looking for a fun driving car.

Sounds about right, what else is new?

[cfm56d7b]

According to https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1551939, 34.6K F80 M3 vehicles were produced. Very respectable numbers.

Humbly speaking, I don't think F80 M3 is a miss. Just the opposite. I almost bought one but decided that for daily driving 440i GC would be more practical.

[yousefnjr]

Top gear with Clarkson - hit

Top gear without Clarkson - miss

Yes I’m butthurt

[E92TiAg335i]

Let's come back to this article in 10-15 years...

It seems like something new gets released, people hate on it, then it becomes a cult classic.

E60 m5 and e92 m3 were viewed as "heavy boats with zero driving feel" as recently as 7-8 years ago.

[hellokitty]

Going from an E92 to f80 lost weight. Not a miss in my opinion lol

[///M4ster Yoda]

[asif163]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Nice reading:
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/ret...YkzSc2hLnVSo#1

Completely spot on. Makes me regret posting my E90 up for sale!

[greentrbo95gst]

E39 M5 and E46 M3 win in my opinion. Best chassis and steering combination for the feel and sheer pleasure of driving.

[AlexFL]

Obviously not big fans of M SAVs. Great read nonetheless.

[dpgfunk]

"The Giulia QV is faster and better looking"

...ummmm ok

[Patrik]

Top Gear seems to be written by some 12 year olds without driving licences. Continuously bash BMW solely because of their exterior looks, instead of providing information about something relevant, like how a car is to drive. Unreadable, childish content.

It’s a shame, because otherwise it gives a good overview of the more interesting, new entries to the automotive world.

[PrinceBarin]

My test drives of the F82 were underwhelming, so much so, I passed up a purchase twice. But something kept nagging at me and the rest is history.

Totally smitten - sometimes, the best things in life take a little time to appreciate.

Great list regardless.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by dpgfunk

"The Giulia QV is faster and better looking"

...ummmm ok

Yeah better looking is very subjective as you have to really like the Alfa look to conclude it's better looking. A paragraph after saying the Alfa is faster, they penalize the F80 for being too fast.

Cars like the Toyota GT86 and Alpine A110 can be slidey and brilliant for it, because they’re wielding just enough power to stray into silliness without sliding into trouble.