E46 330ci vs M3

mrk · 28 Sep 2011 at 13:08

NickXX said:
Grey is much better - it doesn't fade, and the interior is a lot brighter. Black is a terrible interior colour. Drabtastic.

I know everyone has their own preference and whatnot but I disagree here. Grey is too bright, for me I like a nice dark interior but if it is a colour then it certainly won't be grey, much prefer red/cream.

Black just looks more professional especially if it's been looked after well. As for the fade, maybe fade was the wrong choice of word but it goes yellowy around heavy traffic areas unless you keep on top of it and just looks terrible. I've looked at a lot of e46s with grey interiors with bits starting to go yellow.

BMW grey IMO is the most bland interior colour they do.

danza · 28 Sep 2011 at 13:20

shoes said:
I like that apart from the rear wing, which I guess I could take off.

NO, NO, NO!

If you buy a clubsport and take the wing off, I'll find you and beat you with it until you fit it back on TBQF.

mrk · 28 Sep 2011 at 13:22

The wing spoiler does look horrible though! The wheels are also too curved on the spokes, would have looked much nicer if they were like the ACS wheels which are very similar except flat with big dish.

danza · 28 Sep 2011 at 13:28

I like the whole package of the clubsport. It's the sort of car that in 15 years time Aod's father would buy for £inflated, so even if you didn't look after it, someone would snap it up.

Hedge · 28 Sep 2011 at 13:32

http://www.gumtree.com/p/cars-vans-...6-3series-200252-silver-fully-loaded/88705360

Nice

, dunno about price but its gorgeous.

shoes · 28 Sep 2011 at 15:01

No idea how accurate this is, but frankly if it is then I'm not interested in a clubsport I'm afraid, it seems like a con with a reduction in cabin style and an extra spoiler which will be taken off immediately.

Saytan · 28 Sep 2011 at 15:12

clubsport has the same chassis as the standard sport. That review was mistaken.

and yes, they were silly money new, but they cost about the same as an equally-specced 330ci sport now

Gepetto · 28 Sep 2011 at 16:02

MikeHiow said:
Ridiculous

Errrr? What part is ridiculous? Let's re-iterate.

Are you saying that a years experience of driving a +/- 100BHP car means it would be sensible for him to leap straight into a car with over 3 times the horsepower, rear wheel drive, much higher running costs, and much more expensive insurance?

Also, if you are referring to my opinion that he should consider a car that perhaps falls mid way between the two, then, pray tell, what is so ridiculous about that suggestion? If you mean specifically the ST220 then fair enough, there are pleanty of other choices, but you have not offered any meaningful opinions, simply ridiculed my comments.

Enlighten me. Please.

mjt · 28 Sep 2011 at 21:08

Saytan said:
clubsport has the same chassis as the standard sport. That review was mistaken.

and yes, they were silly money new, but they cost about the same as an equally-specced 330ci sport now

That's a review of the M3 CS, not a 330Ci Clubsport.

MikeHiow · 28 Sep 2011 at 21:22

Gepetto said:
Errrr? What part is ridiculous? Let's re-iterate.

Are you saying that a years experience of driving a +/- 100BHP car means it would be sensible for him to leap straight into a car with over 3 times the horsepower, rear wheel drive, much higher running costs, and much more expensive insurance?

Also, if you are referring to my opinion that he should consider a car that perhaps falls mid way between the two, then, pray tell, what is so ridiculous about that suggestion? If you mean specifically the ST220 then fair enough, there are pleanty of other choices, but you have not offered any meaningful opinions, simply ridiculed my comments.

Enlighten me. Please.

Yes, the notion that you need to climb up the board in terms of power output to gradually increase your experience of different levels of power is absolutely ridiculous.

The notion that experience in a Mondeo ST220 is going to help him jump in an M3 in any way is also ridiculous.

Unless you're a tool, you are not going to instantly die by driving a RWD car or making a large jump in power output. If you are that kind of tool then the advice to gain some experience in "middle ground" would fall on deaf ears anyway.

Saytan · 28 Sep 2011 at 21:25

mjt said:
That's a review of the M3 CS, not a 330Ci Clubsport.

no it isnt.

mjt · 28 Sep 2011 at 21:29

Saytan said:
no it isnt.

So it is (not).

Weird.
Here is the review of the M3 CS, if you're interested

http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/57850/bmw_m3.html

shoes · 28 Sep 2011 at 21:53

Gepetto said:
Errrr? What part is ridiculous? Let's re-iterate.

Are you saying that a years experience of driving a +/- 100BHP car means it would be sensible for him to leap straight into a car with over 3 times the horsepower, rear wheel drive, much higher running costs, and much more expensive insurance?

Also, if you are referring to my opinion that he should consider a car that perhaps falls mid way between the two, then, pray tell, what is so ridiculous about that suggestion? If you mean specifically the ST220 then fair enough, there are pleanty of other choices, but you have not offered any meaningful opinions, simply ridiculed my comments.

Enlighten me. Please.

Personally I think this makes absolute sense, although I want something a bit less familyish than a mondeo though (that's not to say they're lovely cars, my mate mark has one and it's lush). I have no real necessity for practicality and I love the looks of the coupe.

I don't think a 330 will be a problem anyway, I've had some generous insurance quotes and ±230 bhp should be manageable in a nanny state bmw.

Gaygle · 28 Sep 2011 at 21:54

MikeHiow said:
Yes, the notion that you need to climb up the board in terms of power output to gradually increase your experience of different levels of power is absolutely ridiculous.

I don't think it is at all. I think gradually increasing the power of your car helps you appreciate the power under your foot and how the car reacts to different situations. I know it sounds really cliche, but it's true IMO. Going from a car that does 0-60 in like 10 seconds to one that does it in 5 seconds (?) is a massive jump. It being RWD, with winter arriving soon and with the OP only having ONE years worth of driving experience (and 0 experience in a quick car) is just asking for trouble. By moving from 100bhp -> 230bhp -> 340bhp it will give the OP some time to get some experience in a fast-ish car before he jumps up to a very fast car.

MikeHiow said:
The notion that experience in a Mondeo ST220 is going to help him jump in an M3 in any way is also ridiculous.

Perhaps. I think a 330ci is the car for the OP's situation.

MikeHiow said:
Unless you're a tool,

But that's the thing. We're all petrol heads here, and we all get "caught in the moment" every now and then. Nobody is sensible 100% of the time, especially when you're creaming yourself that you've now got a 340bhp BMW M3 when yesterday you had a Ford Focus 1.6. I mean, take Fox (sorry to pick you out), he strikes me as a sensible guy and he got his first RWD BMW out of control, which has 110bhp less than an M3. It happens.

MikeHiow said:
you are not going to instantly die by driving a RWD car or making a large jump in power output.

No, but the chances are a lot higher. This is why many specialist insurers insist on their policy holders having 2 years driving experience in a sporty or high powered car.

MikeHiow said:
If you are that kind of tool then the advice to gain some experience in "middle ground" would fall on deaf ears anyway.

Not really, we've all had our silly moments, but i think most of these silly moments amount to nothing because the majority of us who drive high powered cars, have quite a bit of experience with them. However, in the hands of a n00b, these "silly moments" could easily turn into more.

mjt · 28 Sep 2011 at 21:58

I've had plenty of silly moments.
ESP (and 4wd) has saved my bacon many times

Scania · 28 Sep 2011 at 22:11

MikeHiow said:
Ridiculous

Your comment was exactly that.

MikeHiow · 28 Sep 2011 at 22:18

Gaygle said:
snip

I've seen people spin 105bhp Honda Civics - being silly in any car can get you in trouble. Some people have a better idea of their limits than others I guess (some are just unfortunate, too).

I guess if you cannot trust yourself in a powerful car then something less powerful would be a better solution, but the only real thing that is going to make a 330 more 'noob-friendly' than the M3 is the open-diff.

If we're doing the RWD thing, then a cheap MX5 for a few months and a track day with tuition would teach you more than you'll ever learn pottering around in a 330.

flibbage0 · 28 Sep 2011 at 22:21

Get a Fiat Panda 4x4, if you spin in that then you might as well give up on driving

hurfdurf · 28 Sep 2011 at 22:39

The M3 is a genuinely sporty decent car with power to back up its weight and luxury and keep it in the sporting section. BMW sports are not sporty enough to be fun and compromise on the SE, they are rubbish.

The difference between the two are night and day.

Gaygle · 28 Sep 2011 at 22:41

MikeHiow said:
I've seen people spin 105bhp Honda Civics - being silly in any car can get you in trouble. Some people have a better idea of their limits than others I guess (some are just unfortunate, too).

Of course, but you can't honestly say that you think it's just as likely that you'll stack a 105bhp Civic than you will an M3. There's a reason why fast cars are expensive to insure - especially if you're under 21.

MikeHiow said:
I guess if you cannot trust yourself in a powerful car then something less powerful would be a better solution, but the only real thing that is going to make a 330 more 'noob-friendly' than the M3 is the open-diff.

The open diff and the fact that it is 110bhp down and that it doesn't egg you on as much as an M3 would.

MikeHiow said:
If we're doing the RWD thing, then a cheap MX5 for a few months and a track day with tuition would teach you more than you'll ever learn pottering around in a 330.

I'm sure it would, but since that wasn't presented as an option - it isn't really worth mentioning. And who says he will potter around in a 330? I don't "potter around" in mine and the backend has never stepped out when i didn't want it to - but i think had i driven the same way in an M3, i would have span it out by now. It just requires more care to drive an M3 and quite frankly, comparing the skill needed to drive an M3 with a 105bhp Civic is ludicrous.