First drive of an E46 M3... and 997 Carrera S
 

I drove my first E46 M3 the other day, it was a nice blue convertible with the gorgeous 19" alloys. Here are a few pics & vids. Again, i must apologise for the quality of the pics as i didnt have the camera on me the first time i drove it during the day (it was unplanned) and the second time (when i did have my cam), it was late at night and i didnt really have much time, so not ideal for taking pics. Anyway, i hope you at least appreciate the sound of this gorgeous M3 as we thrashed it through Knightsbridge tunnel.

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/2504/m30015bd.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/3312/m30054kz.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1420/m30042st.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7991/m30104mv.jpg

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/7492/m30125xc.jpg

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/8386/m30139je.jpg

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/7654/m30143cy.jpg

http://img415.imageshack.us/img415/6287/m30157ex.jpg

VIDS

http://media.putfile.com/m3-023

http://media.putfile.com/M3-021

http://media.putfile.com/m3-017

http://media.putfile.com/m3-019

http://media.putfile.com/m3-024

My impressions (briefly) are that it kicks like a motherf***er once above 4000rpm and it sounds absolutely awesome, a really 'metallic' sound from the exhaust, like a mini Ferrari 360. And with the rear tyres in the state they were in, the TC light was flashing almost constantly :lol:

Anyway, it was a really fun car to drive. The first time i was in it (daytime), my friend was driving it past the Porsche showroom in Chiswick, London. I convinced him to go into the showroom and while there I blagged a test drive. So i got to drive this beast as well:

911 Carrera S Cabriolet

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/7527/9110024dy.jpg

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/8572/9110019nz.jpg

The test drive (yesterday) was on the M4 motorway, which was busy-ish but not gridlocked. I had the opportunity to take it up to 125mph before having to brake for cars ahead, and it was still charging very hard. Stunning car, and the sound was really throaty as the test car was equipped with the Sport Chrono pack, which gives you a slightly louder exhaust tone. Acceleration in all gears is very impressive, and although it's not quite as quick as the 360 Modena i drove a while back, the 911 did feel a lot torquier at low revs. Thrashing it away from traffic lights is incredible :D

I really fell in love with the car, now it's just the small matter of getting £70k together to buy one :lol:.

I think i'll be off to the BMW showroom next to test drive the M6 :lol:

I envy you.

Sounds like an entertaining automotive week for yourself. Thanks for sharing!

great, thanks for pics and coments,btw that license plate on S 911 is funny

Lucky dude!
nice sound of the M3
I like the blue color of the Porsche :)
Thanks for the report

btw, you shouldn't direct-link imageshack picture in this forum, JW-rule :wink:
Use the thumbnail version or choose another host :!:

Very nice mate, thanks for sharing with us :wink:

Well done! You tested two fine cars! Too bad you couldn't focus more on the pics, but it's often like that. I'd like an high-res of the first 997 pic actually if possible

And as said, please, as said in the rules, do not direct link to imageshack

another member thrashing some supcars :P had to be quit an experience :)

damn, god knows I'd be all giddy and probably forget to take photos on a day like that :D
lucky guy

:drool: Man its great to test the two cars which are sooo great 8)

Thanks for the report

It's a trade plate ;)

Sorry about the direct link, i wasn't thinking.

As for the high res pic, im afraid i only took the pic on my phone camera (2mp) so that pic is pretty close to the high res. Here it is anyway, if you want it:

http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6355/9970023fx.th.jpg

Not great quality, but never fear, a follow up test drive is in the pipeline so i should be able to get more snaps if whatever i drive and the cars in the showroom. They had a nice black 997 S with the aerokit ;)

It's difficult to answer that question because of the circumstances of the 997 test drive. It was mainly on the highway so i didnt have any opportunity to judge its' handling abilities. I said this to the guy and he said we will have to arrange a follow up test drive, maybe a weekend test drive which is held on a test track (with professional instructors who teach you how to get the best out of a 911!). I would absolutely love it if that happened, I'm gonna call him soon and try to arrange it :D :mrgreen: :lol:

From what i could tell of the 997, it didnt seem streets ahead of the M3. The sound factor is pretty evenly matched in both cars, they both sound fantastic but in completely different ways. The Porsche has a deep, bassy sound from tickover and howls the familiar 911 soundtrack when you start to rev it. An incredible sound that raises the hair on your neck, but then so does that of the M3 when you're absolutely raping it. A much more metallic, high pitched sound. But low down in the rev range the M3 doesnt sound special, not as nice as a 330, or even 325.

The driving position is better in the 997, but it's by no means bad in the M3. You sit lower in the 997 so it feels more like an event than the M3, the seats are very supportive, and the gearchange is also much sweeter than in the M3. There is more steering feel as well, from what i could deduce. The M3 didn't have the most communicative steering i've come across. The clutch in the 997 is also much harder than in the M3 so you feel like you're driving something more potent...

Overall it's difficult to give a final verdict on the 997 because the test drive was limited (45mins) whereas i really had a chance to nail the M3 over a longer period. But the 997 did still manage to feel more special, and feels quicker. It definitely had a more linear power delivery. Hopefully i will be able to confirm all these findings after a track day ;)


Glad you enjoyed the pics & vids guys :)

On second note some of those vids were only viewed 4 times! Come on guys, i promise they're worth looking at, even if its just for the sound ;)