Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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The price of them these days is so low 
Thing is, I know they should be quick, but I've never really seen one in the flesh go that fast. I'm a bit worried they're just too heavy.
For example, when I had a few bits on my s2000 (ecu, manifold, exhaust) I raced one off a set of lights at santa pod and was pulling away up to 110 - then driving back to the paddock he said 'Woah, thats goes alright doesn't it?' ...
Ok my car no longer has those bits on it any more, so I know an m3 would be quicker - but even so, I would've expected the m3 (if they're as quick as they should be) to go straight past.
Same way, I've seen them on top gear / fifth gear and they're clearly track weapons - but whenever I've actually seen one on track at a track day they've been slow and I've overtaken it (even in the days of my 106 gti).
Ultimately, how good are they on track?
[Edited on 11-07-2011 by Paul_J]
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Wrighty
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Registered: 28th Feb 04
Location: Howden
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big heavy aspirated boringness
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sc0ott
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Registered: 16th Feb 09
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They look immense though.
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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Tiff says :
"Only M3 worth bothering about is the M3 CSL"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhPSS9fGvwM
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Adam_B
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Registered: 13th Dec 00
Location: Lancashire
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there only about 215 bhp per ton I think.
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LeeM
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Registered: 26th Sep 05
Location: Liverpool
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its about the overall package with an ///M
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Ben G
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Registered: 12th Jan 07
Location: Essex
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its not a racing car, but is a capable car that will happily barrel down the autobahn at 155mph whilst carrying your weekly shopping, wife, 2 kids and a dog.
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Rich H
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Registered: 26th Oct 05
Location: West Sussex Drives: E46 M3
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Awaits To///M and Ja///Mbo
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NovaGTE2
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Registered: 26th Sep 06
Location: Peasedown St John, Bristol Avon
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It depends what you want if for really; i would say they feel quicker than an s2k in a straight line but nothing as sporty in the corners. Having said that as you have a track car i would have the m3 over the s2k for everyday combo of speed and comfort; also can be driven fast with less effort than the s2000; but MPG will be a lot worse!
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antnee
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Registered: 30th Dec 07
Location: Cov Drives: Clio 197
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quote:
Originally posted by Rich H
Awaits To///M and Ja///Mbo
I see what you did there!
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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quote:
Originally posted by NovaGTE2
It depends what you want if for really; i would say they feel quicker than an s2k in a straight line but nothing as sporty in the corners. Having said that as you have a track car i would have the m3 over the s2k for everyday combo of speed and comfort; also can be driven fast with less effort than the s2000; but MPG will be a lot worse!
Thats the thing, I like how the s2000 handles and I'm so used to driving it fast, that I can push it to the limit and still feel really safe. However, the s2000 just lacks a bit in top end speed / acceleration.
I was looking at turbo kits the other day for the s2000 but it's not really what I'm looking for.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugyLtI2OAjs 
Part of me is tempted to put bits back on the s2000 (ecu, exhaust, etc) and then strip it out / get the weight down, but it won't make a major difference.
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sand-eel
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Registered: 15th Mar 07
Location: carluke/braidwood--IRNBRULAND
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYKHB9wrBdc
Just get an M3 and turbo it 
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Ash_EP3
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Registered: 15th May 07
Location: Melksham, Wiltshire
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I've driven my stepdads e46 and was very impressed, they are a cracking all-rounder - well built, fast, comfortable, reliable etc....
They are fast, but not blisteringly quick... a friend of mine has an e46 with a miltek catback and has also driven my ep3 and reckons there will be nothing in it until 100mph which is fine by me 
[Edited on 06-07-2011 by Ash_EP3]
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sand-eel
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Registered: 15th Mar 07
Location: carluke/braidwood--IRNBRULAND
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^^^The driver is fucking annoying "wooooooow shit did ya feeeeeel that?"....."yeah"
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sand-eel
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Registered: 15th Mar 07
Location: carluke/braidwood--IRNBRULAND
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tbh I think a 335i is faster in a straight line.
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Jambo
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Registered: 8th Sep 01
Location: Maidenhead, Drives: VXR Arctic
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Sensation of speed wasn't that great in the e46 my z3 felt far faster.
It will do 0-60 5.5secs and 155mph so not slow. It's not a race car, if you removed all the excess weight obviously it would go a lot faster. It's a very balanced car with immense levels of grip an awesome engine note and practicality.
Csl is considered one of the best front engined red cars ever. It's just got an additional 20odd bhp and is 100kgs lighter.
It's a drivers car. You will love it Paul.
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Paul_J
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Registered: 6th Jun 02
Location: London
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yeah i'd love a CSL but it's not on the cards.
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Eddx14xe
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Registered: 12th Jan 10
Location: Hertfordshire
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0-60 in 5.5 seconds doesnt sound that fast, when 330D's do it in like 5.9seconds
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Graham88
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Registered: 16th Apr 07
Location: South East Kent Drives: E46 M3
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I think having an M3 isn't just about being fast though, if you have an M3 you don't need to go fast
I keep up with them in my car, there's nothing in it, but I'd have the M3 even if my car was faster, I love em
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Novaneil
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Registered: 26th Oct 06
Location: Leamington Spa
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Hello,
1st off I haven't owned an M3 but a good friend of mine does. And I have driven the car when it was standard/modified, helped modified it, been on track in and against it and also had plenty of motorway duels with it so I reckon I can comment on what the cars like (performance wise, and track wise as its been to the Ring twice (8min 46sec B-G) and countless other track days).
Car in question
Performance... Straightline speed the only modification this car has is to its Exhaust (Supersprint de-CAT's & Back box to be precise, as tuning these N/A is both expense and not very rewarding in terms of BHP gains).
This car also has an SMG gearbox. On the Motorway it is identical (and I mean identical) straightline speed to my 280bhp Astra Coupe from 70-160, off the mark its quicker (RWD obviously) but on the move there's nothing in it. This goes the same for a mates Phase 2 Astra VXR running just shy of 300bhp... same speed through the gears.
The M3 has shown an indicated 170 but GPS stated 162. However although it is geniunely only as quick as the Astra's it does "Feel" quicker due to the power delivery (smooth and very quick revving).
Unfortunetely it the weight of the thing that holds it back... bringing me onto handling.
Handling... I'll be honest, in factory trim with the standard 19's it felt... Not brilliant, you can really feel the weight, don't get me wrong it still handled well but just felt a bit wallowy and boat like when pushed... certainly didn't inspire the confidence I like in a car. But then again it is a 5 seater performance rep mobile and not a track day warrier.
So we turned our attention to addressing that...
One set of Bilstien Shocks, Spax springs, beefy KW ARB's front & Rear Plus a Geo setup later and WOW!!! What a difference
The car was tranformed! Precise, Agile, direct steering, little bodyroll but still drove perfect on bumpy roads! The weight is still there but you can really chuck it around now. Very impressed indeed (Oh and some 18" Rota Alloys went on at this stage which seemed to give a little more steering feel to the heavier 19's.
Ok after a Trip to the Ring and few Trackdays... It became apparent the car has a serious trackday flaw!! Brakes!!! (This goes for the CSL as well, which only uses slightly bigger stoppers).
The standard brakes are..... P@NTS when pushed on track, even with uprated Discs, Fluid and PAGID Blue pads after just a couple of Donington laps they were gone.
Now obviously being an M3 everything is FCUKIN expensive... As as the owner didn't want to spend big bucks we looked away from the usual AP setup for something a little cheaper. Which came up in the form of K-Sport (a mate had been running them on his RX7 for a while and liked them so the M3 owner invested).
Less than £1000 got him 345mm discs & 8 Pot front stoppers! Brand new!
One Ring trip later (including the GP circuit) and a few UK trackdays and he is very impressed! I haven't driven the car with these on yet but he rates them very highly, hasn't experienced any fade what so ever and plenty of "feel"
And thats about it.... sorry for the Essay, you asked the question so I thought i'd share my experiences of said car (cost 11k to buy by the way).
The CSL's are AWESOME! And are quite different to the normal M3 (Different suspension mounting points and such, not just a carbon roof, different tailgate and things others think about when they are mentioned). But you do pay a fair bit extra for it!
So to summarise If you want to take one on track regulary, I'd highly reccomend you modify it! Daily road driving its "ok" but don't expect to beat everything on the road... a decent cheaper tuned car will be as quick no problems!
My mates 8min 46sec Ring video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsQW8IvsIY4
And a look around his car
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLG3fC0MQ98
And finally onboard at Donington
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLorNl8USpw
Cheers,
Neil
PS:
It now has a Fibreglass CSL Tailgate on it since the above pic was taken 
[Edited on 07-07-2011 by Novaneil]
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
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Yeah like Graham my VXR used to keep up with them easily. Maybe even faster.
I would own one, but do factor in associated running costs because I know you like to run your cars on a shoestring
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Ojc
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Registered: 14th Nov 00
Location: Reading: Drives : Clio 197
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Perfect review from Neil
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BarnshaW
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Registered: 25th Oct 06
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have beaten all M3's i have come up against, they are not slow and the gears seem quite long but wasnt overally impressed for 340bhp odd or whatever they are
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Graham88
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Registered: 16th Apr 07
Location: South East Kent Drives: E46 M3
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Perfect review, cheers Neil!
I got dizzy watching the first bit of the Ring vid I LOVE how that sounds, bloody awesome, you've not helped my cravings at all. I would love a new shape one too though
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Nath
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Registered: 3rd Apr 02
Location: MK
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quote:
Originally posted by Paul_J
Tiff says :
"Only M3 worth bothering about is the M3 CSL"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhPSS9fGvwM
Probably found it easier to powerslide, seeing as thats all he ever does when testing a car.
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