E46 330ci vs M3
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I missed this one.
Was the incident posted for posterity on this forum?
Yes there are numerous Shopped versions too
Caporegime
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Don't agree for a performance car a standard M3 sounds poor, the CSL on the otherhand sounds epic.
Soldato
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The CSL is on a whole new level of sound and none of it has anything to do with the exhaust, epic sound.
Sigh. Find me some examples of widely recognised "great drivers cars" that are front engined and RWD without an LSD. There is a reason for that
It depends how you define 'great drivers cars' and you being MikeHiow will move the goalposts whatever anyone suggests. I had much much more fun and a better control/drivers feel in my mk1 and mk2 Escorts and Minis than I did in my BMW M3 and I doubt the Locost I'm building will be a 'bad drivers car' and that has a non LSD Sierra diff.
Most people that think the M3 sounds poor havent spent an extended period behind the drivers seat. Yes it sounds very tinny from the outside to a spectator, but you can really hear the engine noise from inside and only a slight hint of the tinny noise from the exhaust when really pushing it. It sounds incredible on the redline.
Caporegime
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Sigh. Find me some examples of widely recognised "great drivers cars" that are front engined and RWD without an LSD. There is a reason for that
Several revisions of the MX5 had no LSD yet it's still a great drivers car.
I've spent quite a bit of time in 3 different M3 CSL's lots of this was round tracks, i've also been in a standard E46 M3, i just don't rate the noise a normal M3 makes as anything special.
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When are you going to get said exhaust fitted to yours?
oWWW.
It is? Everyone I've spoken to regarding MX5s have told me it's not worth bothering with unless it has an LSD, confirming my own thoughts.
Mind you, an LSD is only really going to help you if you like driving on/near the limits of the car or playing around. If you're driving a good car sensibly or miles away from it's limits, whether it has an LSD or not is unlikely to make any odds to you.
That said, we're a forum of motoring enthusiasts - I'd have thought that would be most of us?
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Caporegime
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Lets put it this way the addition of an LSD didn't turn the MX5 from a poor drivers car to a great one, yes it's a nice to have and yes you can feel the difference on the road but tbh it makes little difference to the overall experience.
In many respects an MX5 without LSD is better suited to our damp road conditions since it's much harder to endup backwards through a hedge.
In many respects an MX5 without LSD is better suited to our damp road conditions since it's much harder to endup backwards through a hedge.
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lol, really? I have an MX5 with an LSD and I have never heard that, despite being on 3 MX5 forums etc etc.
So......err.......what are the.........errr..... you know..... runnings costs like compared to each other?
I want a luxurious coupe with RWD and some guts, 330ci will be fine, esp with my driving experience. M3 was tempting based on buying cost and insurance. Massive difference in overall ownership costs, higher risk of binning it. Thank you for all those who's input brought me to this conclusion.
Literally don't give a **** how it sounds or drives on the limit.
I want a luxurious coupe with RWD and some guts, 330ci will be fine, esp with my driving experience. M3 was tempting based on buying cost and insurance. Massive difference in overall ownership costs, higher risk of binning it. Thank you for all those who's input brought me to this conclusion.
Literally don't give a **** how it sounds or drives on the limit.
Well all of the non ///M e46 Sports offer virtually the same comfortable and sporting ride, the M3 has slightly different seat design with better cushioning but it's much of a muchness for comfort.
Everyone has their own definition of luxurious but the coupes are very comfortable and quiet for both cabin noise and blocking out outside noise. The cubby holes and glovebox open smoothly, the doors are heavy and padded in leather, the sun visors are chunky with a nice feel to them and the plastics are thick and have good material quality. The same cannot be said for most newer BMWs though!
As for running costs, just phone up your nearest dealer and indy and compare inspection 1, 2 and oil servicing costs. You'll soon see how much difference there is It's also best to seek out a good indy first though tbh.
Everyone has their own definition of luxurious but the coupes are very comfortable and quiet for both cabin noise and blocking out outside noise. The cubby holes and glovebox open smoothly, the doors are heavy and padded in leather, the sun visors are chunky with a nice feel to them and the plastics are thick and have good material quality. The same cannot be said for most newer BMWs though!
As for running costs, just phone up your nearest dealer and indy and compare inspection 1, 2 and oil servicing costs. You'll soon see how much difference there is
It's also best to seek out a good indy first though tbh.
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