Re: New M3 Reviews
Came across this over the weekend at Phuket......
Bangkok Post : Motoring
VERDICT
The M3 is living up to expectations of BMW's high-performance car division. It has got the basics right: bold appearance, yet restrained enough in the M understatement way, huge amount of power with a chassis to properly handle it.
The Americans - the main target of the M3 - will definitely like this new beast not merely because of that magical V8 number, but the way the car drives: effortless, refined and practical as a coup?. Oh, where are those cupholders?
But cultured drivers are in for a slight disappointment. The M3 has lost some rawness, the ease of reaching the limits of the chassis and the inability of exploiting the car's performance to the fullest. In other words, the M3 isn't as intoxicating or fun as before.
But the new M3 is what, without doubt, many average buyers would fall for: a truly easy and comfortable sports car to live with, with supercar performance credentials making it appear that a rift seems to be taking place between engineers at BMW and M.
The 335i, though one-fourth less powerful and cheaper than the M3, still does a decent job in attracting buyers needing to go fast in comfort. Factor in the 335i's twin-turbocharged inline-six engine, which is already explosive in real-world driving conditions, accomplished ride and handling factors, and you have more than a fair match.
We might have to mince our words when we said last year that the M3 would be the answer for those finding the 335i too meek when actually, after driving the M3, the 335i is still no slouch.
Calling the M3 a top-end 3-series wearing the nonexistent 340i badge may sound a little blasphemous to M fans. But that's how it really feels.
An M3 spin-off in the guise of CSL or Evo of the past certainly seems to be next thing serious enthusiasts can think of. Let's hope that we are not proven wrong this time.