Z4M Rumor in March Motor Trend

[frolf]

first off mid 4 seconds is VERY FAST i don't care what any of yooos say.

Second off i will be ONE HAPPY DUDE if they new M3 has a 3.5L I6, thats so much hotter in my mind than a V8. Emile is right, BMW = I6

within the next 5 years i predict there will be saturns that throw down a 0-60 in the high 4's, but the fact of the matter is the feel you get in a corner when the suspension settles into the turn from a BMW is orgasmic.

 

[Bmw 325i 7803]

first off mid 4 seconds is VERY FAST i don't care what any of yooos say.

Second off i will be ONE HAPPY DUDE if they new M3 has a 3.5L I6, thats so much hotter in my mind than a V8. Emile is right, BMW = I6

within the next 5 years i predict there will be saturns that throw down a 0-60 in the high 4's, but the fact of the matter is the feel you get in a corner when the suspension settles into the turn from a BMW is orgasmic.

I agree, there's nothing like taking those 25-35mph off ramp twists in the 60's and feeling the gentle, but stable pull in the bimmer...

Not to mention the HIGH REVING I6 is much more exciting, some people already look at the 3 series and say why does such a small car have a 6 in it when it's the same size as cars with a 4, and now it's gonna have a V8?!?!

 

[Militant-Grunt]

I hope this car doesn't end up like the Z8, bad handling and harsh ride quality, that wouldnt make a very promising car...

 

[brahtw8]

Roundel basically confirms the Z4M will be produced with the E90 M3 V8 and they have not wavered from their statement that the M3 will have a V8 for several months.

It is a highly likely that BMW will not put a 3.5 liter six in the next M3. The current engine is about as large as it can be for such a high-revving inline six. Many people believe the rod bearing failures in the current S54 3.2 are the result of the long crank of the big I6 at high RPM. Going to 3.5 would only increase this problem.

 

[Kirby]

Some people criticize the Z4 ride now because they expect 325/330/M3 comfort/ride/plush, and they think the Z4 is too harsh and stiff. What they are missing is that the Z4 was designed as a true sports roadster, handling over ride quality. I suspect that when the ///M Roadster ships some critics will complain about a harsh or stiff ride. [slap]

By the way, I have decided that the V8 vs. I6 news reports are intentional "red herrings" by BMW to keep everyone guessing! Similar to the "unauthorized" E90 Slovenian brochure that was released a few months ago, which is pretty much now exposed as a carefully crafted intentional leak to quell rumors about Bangle Mangle on the new 3 series.

 

[epj3]

first off mid 4 seconds is VERY FAST i don't care what any of yooos say.

Second off i will be ONE HAPPY DUDE if they new M3 has a 3.5L I6, thats so much hotter in my mind than a V8. Emile is right, BMW = I6

within the next 5 years i predict there will be saturns that throw down a 0-60 in the high 4's, but the fact of the matter is the feel you get in a corner when the suspension settles into the turn from a BMW is orgasmic.

3.5l = kind of like a new school M30!!! It'll be sweet.

BTW price shouldn't be a comparison. That's SO incredibly stupid. If you want performance then fine buy a subaru wrx sti for 32k. But it's going to feel like shit on the interior, and have lower quality parts or build quality.

If someone gave me a chevrolet ls1 engine and tranny, and about $5,000, I could fabricate some crappy car-like thing out of metal tubes that will do 0 - 60 in 2.5 seconds. But who gives a shit, it'll be a POS.

 

[MrElussive]

I used to appreciate cars with a nice and comfortable ride quality, and I still do. But I prefer my own car to be sporty, and if I want something sporty, I don't care about it being comfortable. A lot of people don't like riding in my car because the ride is so harsh, and when you're just sitting there as a passenger, you prefer to be traveling in comfort. But as the driver, I honestly couldn't care less. As long as I'm not getting flat tires or denting my rims over the rough stuff, the car can be as jarring as it wants.
What I'm trying to say is, for those reviewers and people who always complain about a sporty car's ride quality....a sporty car is simply not for you. [driving2]

 

[Kirby]

3.5l = kind of like a new school M30!!! It'll be sweet.

BTW price shouldn't be a comparison. That's SO incredibly stupid. If you want performance then fine buy a subaru wrx sti for 32k. But it's going to feel like shit on the interior, and have lower quality parts or build quality.

If someone gave me a chevrolet ls1 engine and tranny, and about $5,000, I could fabricate some crappy car-like thing out of metal tubes that will do 0 - 60 in 2.5 seconds. But who gives a shit, it'll be a POS.

That was exactly the point of my earlier post. If I am buying a car with plans for competition only, I could buy a Scooby for half the price.

What I want is a quality car - a BMW for competition, but it has to be competitive with other cars in it's class. Just because it has ///M or BMW on it doesn't mean it's competitive. Look at the stock class national results for the E46 M3 and S2000, top 15 cars were the S2000.

Not to trying to sound obnoxious .... it's difficult to understand unless you have spent seat time at competition events and have analyzed what it takes for your attitude, your driving skills and your car to be competitive.

"Your Scooby beat me by .213 seconds, but I have leather seats, and the ///M badge." isn't what I want to be saying at the end of the racing day. If I get whooped, I want it to be because the other guy is a better driver.

 

[MrElussive]

We hear you, but different cars have different skillz, and...
BMW = good build quality
M = high performance
Not much more to it than that.
But you also take pricing into account and it makes the M Z4 (and many other sports cars) look bad. I think you need to decide whether you want to save some loot and go with an STi, or you want to go for an extremely well-made, luxurious vehicle with the hefty price tag before presenting your case.

Otherwise, this is what I have to say:
Dodge Neon SRT-4 - $20K
Lamborghini Gallardo - $200K
Is the Gallardo 10 times the car? Certainly not. Is it worth it? Depends on the person. Ya FEEL me???

 

[epj3]

That was exactly the point of my earlier post. If I am buying a car with plans for competition only, I could buy a Scooby for half the price.

What I want is a quality car - a BMW for competition, but it has to be competitive with other cars in it's class. Just because it has ///M or BMW on it doesn't mean it's competitive. Look at the stock class national results for the E46 M3 and S2000, top 15 cars were the S2000.

Not to trying to sound obnoxious .... it's difficult to understand unless you have spent seat time at competition events and have analyzed what it takes for your attitude, your driving skills and your car to be competitive.

"Your Scooby beat me by .213 seconds, but I have leather seats, and the ///M badge." isn't what I want to be saying at the end of the racing day. If I get whooped, I want it to be because the other guy is a better driver.

I know exactly what you mean and I like your example. But bmw isn't selling its cars from factory to be competitive. The WRX, EVO, neon srt4, etc. are all made solely to be competitive. BMW's aren't. If you want a competitive bmw, you have to buy a csl - but thanks to dot standards that won't happen.

The M3 CSL more than keeps upw ith Lamborghini's stock. Remember that japanese video?

 

[MrElussive]

I know exactly what you mean and I like your example. But bmw isn't selling its cars from factory to be competitive. The WRX, EVO, neon srt4, etc. are all made solely to be competitive. BMW's aren't. If you want a competitive bmw, you have to buy a csl - but thanks to dot standards that won't happen.

The M3 CSL more than keeps upw ith Lamborghini's stock. Remember that Japanese video?

The M3 CSL is an absolute monster on the track. The 360 Modena experienced brake fade before the CSL did!