[antzcrashing]

Nice review, thanks. Could use some more details on handling. Understeer? Oversteer?

[spuntyb]

Thanks for the write up!

[frankiebones]

Thanks OP! This is about what we expected I think. What is your level of experience as a driver, just for our further understanding?

Also, if the E92 was a 10 in steering, I would rate my first base F80 a 2 and my CS an 8.5

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by frankiebones

Thanks OP! This is about what we expected I think. What is your level of experience as a driver, just for our further understanding?

Also, if the E92 was a 10 in steering, I would rate my first base F80 a 2 and my CS an 8.5

So if professionals deem it the best driving M3 ever, then what?!?!

As for steering, I don't find any year M3 particularly better or worse than the preceding/incoming model(s). I recently hopped back into an E9X and......I'll pass. I do have a nostalgic attachment to the E46 ZCP M3 though.

[SteveChester]

Lucky man !

[ShockArrival]

Thanks for sharing, exciting to hear from someone who has driven the thing!

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by frankiebones

Thanks OP! This is about what we expected I think. What is your level of experience as a driver, just for our further understanding?

I wanted to ask the same thing OP, how much experience do you have as a track driver?

Many people drive an M2, which weighs the same as an F82 M3, and confuse the shorter wheelbase for a 'lighter feeling'.

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

So if professionals deem it the best driving M3 ever, then what?!?!

I don’t think they will, not because of any comparisons to F8X vs G8X but because they all seem to love the E46 CSL as the holy grail. Purely anecdotal, no support other than what I’ve noticed over the years

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Many people drive an M2, which weighs the same as an F82 M3, and confuse the shorter wheelbase for a 'lighter feeling'.

This. Not referencing the track but on the street a handful of my causal car friends have been quite surprised to learn an M2 is not far off in weight from an M3/M4. I think the perception of agility is great but even driving an M2 on the street it didn’t feel like a “lighter” car to me just one that seems more agile given the circumstances.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by RugbyBro

This. Not referencing the track but on the street a handful of my causal car friends have been quite surprised to learn an M2 is not far off in weight from an M3/M4. I think the perception of agility is great but even driving an M2 on the street it didn’t feel like a “lighter” car to me just one that seems more agile given the circumstances.

People spend so much time talking about how 'chuckable' and 'agile' the M2 feels. That's nice, but if 2 cars weigh the same I'll choose the longer wheelbase one every time. These are all big cars and they're happiest in big, fast tracks where the chassis can shine

[frankiebones]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

So if professionals deem it the best driving M3 ever, then what?!?!

As for steering, I don't find any year M3 particularly better or worse than the preceding/incoming model(s). I recently hopped back into an E9X and......I'll pass. I do have a nostalgic attachment to the E46 ZCP M3 though.

It's more a function of his ability to describe the driving dynamics. When I was a total novice, I would use words like "responsive steering." As I progressed to being the intermediate track driver I am now, having done maybe 25 track days in my life, I am able to speak in a sophisticated fashion, saying things like "the oversteer is predictable in a way that instill confidence while cornering" while still not knowing what I am talking about.

[Dimitri]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

That Alpine white looks really good.

I am also pleasantly surprised how good it looks. I currently have mineral white F80 and wasn’t considering it on the G80 but I might reconsider. Was dead set on black until I saw these pictures

[Pantagathus]

I agree with OP on the black interior - looking at the pic it looks really blah. I was almost certainly going with black, glad I changed to tortufo

[solstice]

Originally Posted by frankiebones

It's more a function of his ability to describe the driving dynamics. When I was a total novice, I would use words like "responsive steering." As I progressed to being the intermediate track driver I am now, having done maybe 25 track days in my life, I am able to speak in a sophisticated fashion, saying things like "the oversteer is predictable in a way that instill confidence while cornering" while still not knowing what I am talking about.

This made me laugh after a very character building day at work. You have a way with words

[Maximus_850csi]

Thanks for the write up and all the photos.

Grill is one thing but looking at these photos the rear end lower corner protrusions were outliers. Not sure how I missed them with all the previous reveals, even in person!

I might keep the F80 YMB a bit longer for now...

[Blindside_137]

Black and Dravit (I presume) look pretty good.

[Emme2]

Originally Posted by solstice

In summary it sounds like a greatly improved street car with much improved traction and mechanical grip with a stronger engine as performance/track upgrades.

Solstice, that's not how I read this (and other first) driving impressions, at all.

[deceptiv-cs]

Eager to see more of these driving impressions come in, just seems like the car has been too refined and losing more of the rawness and soul it's known for. Not a huge fan of the insulation, I forget what video I saw, might have been savagegeese where he really hated how insulated everything felt in the m5, I hope the m3 hasn't gone that way.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by deceptiv-cs

Eager to see more of these driving impressions come in, just seems like the car has been too refined and losing more of the rawness and soul it's known for. Not a huge fan of the insulation, I forget what video I saw, might have been savagegeese where he really hated how insulated everything felt in the m5, I hope the m3 hasn't gone that way.

...It has been that way since AT LEAST the F8X.


.....at least if you listen to Bimmerpost and auto journalists.

[GFK007]

Bummed on the exhaust, but I own an f97, so not hugely surprised.

[scoale]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

...It has been that way since AT LEAST the F8X.


.....at least if you listen to Bimmerpost and auto journalists.

Well, I'm not an auto journalist but I have owned E46, E92, and F80. The comparable factors that, for me, illustrate changes in "isolation"/"rawness" are engine characteristics, suspension compliance, steering, exhaust note, and handling limits.

Considering the above, the E92 M3 feels much more refined and daily driveable versus E46. Daily driving an E92 M3 requires less commitment versus E46. In terms of engagement, the S65 is really what distinguishes the E92.

The F80 with adaptive suspension and 18" wheels is even more compliant than E92. I think much of the so-called isolation issue with the F80 is the relatively compliant ride (especially w/ adaptive and say 18" wheels), the mute steering feedback (though the steering is fairly precise), the high, drama free, handling limits at sane speeds on public roads with nannies on, the abundant torque (you don't need to wring it out), and the uninspiring engine note. The car can feel isolated at modest speeds because its limits are very high. For me, personally, the F80 is a very livable daily with tons of capability when you want to push it....and it won't feel isolated at all if you push it without knowing what they hell you are doing.

I suspect the G80 will be even more refined and capable, which means it will need to be pushed even harder to "wake it up". And the bigger size makes you less inclined to play.

[jkap27]

Originally Posted by Emme2

Solstice, that's not how I read this (and other first) driving impressions, at all.

That's interesting... I read it the same way as him haha like obviously this isn't like going from an NA to a twin turbo with a massive tangible performance boost but it sounds like it improved in all the key areas specifically the traction gains. Can't imagine what the awd will do after hearing that.