So here's my story. I've been eyeing the new M3's for quite some time now.. But I never thought I could get one anytime soon, so I decided to get a 330CI.
The 330 is a wonderful car, very balanced. Not too big, not too small. The body is very handsome as well. I loved my 330, but I really wanted something with a bit more power and flair..
Once I saw the Silver / Imola Red M3 on the showroom at my local dealer, I knew I had to have it.. Their asking price was a bit much, but still affordable in my eyes. One day, I just went in and said, screw it.. You only live once and if I can't afford it down the line, I know I can still say I experienced the new M3.
E46M3 Vs. 330ci
Engine:
IMO, no comparison.. The 330ci has a wonderfully smooth, balanced engine, whereas the M3, sounds a lot more sophisticated. I believe the torque curve on the 330 is a bit better, as I seem to get awesome acceleration in all RPMS.
The M3 needs to be pushed a bit more in order to get more HP... But revving the engine past 5K-rpm sounds sooo delightful. It?s almost a harmonic symphony of sounds.. Very intoxicating.. Sounds rugged, raspy, but all in working order.
In my eyes, the M3 is meant to be driven hard... The 330 engine is in no way underpowered. But in a totally different league.
Handling:
Please understand that I had Dinan stage 1 suspension on my 330. But the car stock handled quite well. On the 330, the balance is good, but I always get an uneasy feeling due to the massive amount of under steer the car exhibited. During hard braking turn ins, the car felt very uneasy at times. But accelerating out of a turn is nothing but bliss.. Its just sad, the engine doesn?t seem to have enough power to really break the tires and make things a bit more fun..
Although, i've only had the M3 for a day now. I did do my usual mountain drive. I'm very familiar with the roads and I can truly differentiate both cars..
Wow! what can I say, the M3 seems to be perfectly balanced. It came take a novice driver like myself and make me look good. Its handling is very forgiving. Its almost like the car is teasing me.. Not letting me use its full potential due to my lack of experience. When pushed hard, the car answers back with a vengeance.. Almost communicating to me its limits, and that I am nowhere near them. To put it in other words.. You know the feeling when you are in a roller coaster and during a hard turn, you sometimes wonder if the car is going to stay on the track.. Well, the M3 gives me that same feeling. Almost to the point of being unbearable.
Fun Factor:
The 330 was a blast to drive. It was very easy to get into and drive.. The car IMO is very, very refined. Almost to the point of being slightly bland because of its refinement. The motor was very good.. Smooth, and great gas mileage. What more would you want from a sporty coupe?
The M3 again, is in a totally different league. Anybody that rides in it, seems to have just as big of a grin as the driver. The way it sounds, the way it handles, all point the fact that the car was built for driving.. Driving hard and fast at no expenses. Even though the car is very comfortable as a cruiser, it begs to be revved hard.
All in all, ive had a wonderful 100 miles with the M3. It?s really beaten my expectations on what the car is. I've read all the articles, read all the posts, but nothing compares to actually driving it. It is soo much fun, I almost feel guilty. Oh and the way it looks.. its almost a given when I drive by sports cars that I get a thumbs up! Not that I car too much on looks, but the car in my eyes simply looks amazing. I loved my 330, but it was nowhere as exotic looking as the M.
Well, there you have it.. I will probably write more about the car once I've had a chance to properly break it in. And I've heard stories about how the car will even seem faster after 1200 miles.. only time will tell for me. But i'm going to enjoy every mile of the car until then.
here's a vid of me racing my friend's C5 Vette with BPU... he toasted me, but I was spinning the tires like crazy at take off and the car only had about 300 miles on it!
Video and Pic[/i] >>
The 330 is a wonderful car, very balanced. Not too big, not too small. The body is very handsome as well. I loved my 330, but I really wanted something with a bit more power and flair..
Once I saw the Silver / Imola Red M3 on the showroom at my local dealer, I knew I had to have it.. Their asking price was a bit much, but still affordable in my eyes. One day, I just went in and said, screw it.. You only live once and if I can't afford it down the line, I know I can still say I experienced the new M3.
E46M3 Vs. 330ci
Engine:
IMO, no comparison.. The 330ci has a wonderfully smooth, balanced engine, whereas the M3, sounds a lot more sophisticated. I believe the torque curve on the 330 is a bit better, as I seem to get awesome acceleration in all RPMS.
The M3 needs to be pushed a bit more in order to get more HP... But revving the engine past 5K-rpm sounds sooo delightful. It?s almost a harmonic symphony of sounds.. Very intoxicating.. Sounds rugged, raspy, but all in working order.
In my eyes, the M3 is meant to be driven hard... The 330 engine is in no way underpowered. But in a totally different league.
Handling:
Please understand that I had Dinan stage 1 suspension on my 330. But the car stock handled quite well. On the 330, the balance is good, but I always get an uneasy feeling due to the massive amount of under steer the car exhibited. During hard braking turn ins, the car felt very uneasy at times. But accelerating out of a turn is nothing but bliss.. Its just sad, the engine doesn?t seem to have enough power to really break the tires and make things a bit more fun..
Although, i've only had the M3 for a day now. I did do my usual mountain drive. I'm very familiar with the roads and I can truly differentiate both cars..
Wow! what can I say, the M3 seems to be perfectly balanced. It came take a novice driver like myself and make me look good. Its handling is very forgiving. Its almost like the car is teasing me.. Not letting me use its full potential due to my lack of experience. When pushed hard, the car answers back with a vengeance.. Almost communicating to me its limits, and that I am nowhere near them. To put it in other words.. You know the feeling when you are in a roller coaster and during a hard turn, you sometimes wonder if the car is going to stay on the track.. Well, the M3 gives me that same feeling. Almost to the point of being unbearable.
Fun Factor:
The 330 was a blast to drive. It was very easy to get into and drive.. The car IMO is very, very refined. Almost to the point of being slightly bland because of its refinement. The motor was very good.. Smooth, and great gas mileage. What more would you want from a sporty coupe?
The M3 again, is in a totally different league. Anybody that rides in it, seems to have just as big of a grin as the driver. The way it sounds, the way it handles, all point the fact that the car was built for driving.. Driving hard and fast at no expenses. Even though the car is very comfortable as a cruiser, it begs to be revved hard.
All in all, ive had a wonderful 100 miles with the M3. It?s really beaten my expectations on what the car is. I've read all the articles, read all the posts, but nothing compares to actually driving it. It is soo much fun, I almost feel guilty. Oh and the way it looks.. its almost a given when I drive by sports cars that I get a thumbs up! Not that I car too much on looks, but the car in my eyes simply looks amazing. I loved my 330, but it was nowhere as exotic looking as the M.
Well, there you have it.. I will probably write more about the car once I've had a chance to properly break it in. And I've heard stories about how the car will even seem faster after 1200 miles.. only time will tell for me. But i'm going to enjoy every mile of the car until then.
here's a vid of me racing my friend's C5 Vette with BPU... he toasted me, but I was spinning the tires like crazy at take off and the car only had about 300 miles on it!
Video and Pic[/i] >>
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