German Car Forum

Just_me · 10-15-2007, 08:00 AM

A review from an Average Joe driver like you and me for a change and not an auto journalist or a pro driver.

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Just had a one hour test drive of the M3.

I have been driving a Subaru WRX for three years and by no means am I an expert, these are just my personal thoughts on the car.

I am around 6' relatively lightly built and had to raise the seat slightly to feel comfortable, the seat position does not feel high to me.

I drove the car in MDM, initially with normal then sports steering and with both normal and sports setting for the EDC.

I can see myself leaving the steering in sports, the extra weight to the wheel feels reassuring, I had no impression of vagueness around center.

The suspension is very comfortable in Normal, in the firmer setting larger bumps are more noticeable, I can see myself leaving it in Normal mode, my Dad was in the back seat and during the hour long drive through curvy corners did not feel sick.

The Power button remained in Normal, the sports/sports plus settings will be good once you have a feel for the clutch/gearbox/accelerator pedal.

I have not driven a traction-control equipped car before, the only indication I had that TC was operating was a flash of the yellow light mid corner a couple of times as I fed on the throttle.

Initially I drove the car in traffic and I was amazed at how refined the drive was. I can see how this car is getting a bit of a GT name, it is very very quiet at low RPMs, is quite happy chugging away at 2,000-2,500rpm with plenty of torque for comfortable acceleration/climbing without dropping a gear.

The refinement is apparent again when accelerating, the car had 250kays on it so I was gentle with the engine, not going about 5,000rpm. During full throttle acceleration from near standstill I was left thinking "hmmm ok", then glanced at the speedo indicating 120kph in a 60 zone and thought OMG. This is a car you will have to be very very careful in.

I was stuck in traffic for most of the curvy bits on my test drive, at the direction of the dealer I attacked one downhill corner at what I thought was a pretty insane speed, I think the corner had a suggestion of "35kph", I would probably take it in my Rex at around 60 and be understeering. We went through the corner at 90, I grimaced and steered it through without the slightest tyre squeal, understeer, the tyres did not even feel/hear like they were biting at the tarmac. Once you are comfortable with this car it is going to be incredibly quick around corners. Scary quick for anybody travelling with you.

Towards the end of the drive I was feeling a little more comfortable with the box and clutch and drove a little more aggressively in traffic, there is plenty of power throughout the rev range and the sound of your V8 above 3,000rpm bouncing off cars next to you is brilliant.

Overall I would sum up the car as being incredibly refined, easy to drive, yet seriously scary quick both straight ahead and around corners.

German Car Forum

"M3 test drive thoughts from a noob"