I've been trying to find an M3 or M4 to test drive now for months. Unfortunately, none of the dealerships local to me had any availabe. Luckily, visiting the family in Atlanta gave me the opportunity to finally get a test drive. So to the northside of Atlanta I went on this Monday to finally feel what this beast has to offer.
My rocketsled was a SS M3 with all the options ticked (minus CCB). I had the opportunity to tag team the car with the dealership's performance M driver. He did make me realize a couple things: he's crazy, I can probably never get the full performance out this car, and holy shit this car is freaking amazing.
Initial impressions: the car has a presence. The M3 with the fender bulges looks mean. The SS color is classy yet enhances the lines of the car. Absolutely amazing with the black 19" wheels.
Interior: The dealership had all the options: speed cloth, partial, and full leather. The full leather makes the interior feel very upscale. SO leather is too bright for me, SS interior (which I thought I'd hate) really won me over. Biggest surprise though was the speed cloth. Love it. It feels great. The leather bolsters with contrast stitching look amazing. Definitely torn now. I was firmly in the full leather camp, but the speed cloth looks so damn good, plus would save me a couple grand. And surprisingly, the LCD display doesn't look out of place. Like it much better than the "hump" that hid the display in the E9X.
Transmission: Unfortunately none were 6MT. So DCT it was for the drive. I don't remember what setting it was (it was the fastest, so whatever that equates to) and Sport+ for the throttle, but damn. I can see why the DCT is addicting. Shifts were firm and fast and paddling through the gears was intoxicating. It still hasn't swayed me from ordering 6MT, but the DCT in this thing is truly a beauty.
Engine/Sound: All I can say is menacing, loud, wonderful, loud, brilliant. Yeah, I said loud twice. I was actually surprised by how loud it was. No way could I tell what was being piped in through the speakers or not. Honestly, didn't care. It sounds amazing. Yes, the car definitely has the tincan, lawnmower rattle on startup but after that, there is nothing to complain about with concerning the sound. The engine is an absolute work of art. Step on the throttle and you just go. And you keep going. And keep going. In my N54, it drops off pretty dramatically in the upper RPMs, I felt absolutely none of that with the S55. None of the "jerk" that some people argued about months ago, it pulled hard to redline. I do see though that there is no reason to bang it off the rev limiter. It has such a huge power band it completely makes up for that.
Suspension: Sport+ again. Wow. Didn't drive the passive but doesn't matter, I'm spending the $1k on the active. It absorbed everything while still be comfortable. Yes, we may have done 90+ on street roads but the suspension/chassis inspires so much confidence. Absolutely no way you can reach the limit of this car with respect to handling on the street without driving like a total asshole. And we were trying to drive like an asshole too. BMW completely nailed this aspect of the car.
Brakes: Great feel, nice pedal modulation. Again, no way to test the limits on the road but brought the car down from 120 to 30 without blinking. ABS was definitely kicking in. The tires are the limiting factor of the braking, not the brakes that's for sure.
Steering: Sport+, felt fine to me. Honestly, I was so focused on the acceleration and handling that I didn't even notice the steering. Which I guess is good because it didn't strike me as bad. Just not noticeable. The car went where I pointed it under acceleration and braking. So the one word I would use is precise. I meant to put into Sport to try that but I forgot, I was having too much fun. It by no means takes anything away from the car. So as for EPS as far as I'm concerned, no big deal.
Overall, I will definitely be dreaming about this car until I finally take delivery. It is way too much car for the street to achieve it's full potential but let's you remember that it's still an M car while you're getting groceries. BMW knocked this one out the park. Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm still torn though between SSII and SO for an exterior color. I'm definitely leaning back towards SSII though. Such a classy color. SO though is also amazing. Unfortunately, today was partly cloudy so couldn't see the entire realm of what SO brings.
I am truly envious though of those of you who are enjoying this car at the moment. It will truly a thing of beauty.
My rocketsled was a SS M3 with all the options ticked (minus CCB). I had the opportunity to tag team the car with the dealership's performance M driver. He did make me realize a couple things: he's crazy, I can probably never get the full performance out this car, and holy shit this car is freaking amazing.
Initial impressions: the car has a presence. The M3 with the fender bulges looks mean. The SS color is classy yet enhances the lines of the car. Absolutely amazing with the black 19" wheels.
Interior: The dealership had all the options: speed cloth, partial, and full leather. The full leather makes the interior feel very upscale. SO leather is too bright for me, SS interior (which I thought I'd hate) really won me over. Biggest surprise though was the speed cloth. Love it. It feels great. The leather bolsters with contrast stitching look amazing. Definitely torn now. I was firmly in the full leather camp, but the speed cloth looks so damn good, plus would save me a couple grand. And surprisingly, the LCD display doesn't look out of place. Like it much better than the "hump" that hid the display in the E9X.
Transmission: Unfortunately none were 6MT. So DCT it was for the drive. I don't remember what setting it was (it was the fastest, so whatever that equates to) and Sport+ for the throttle, but damn. I can see why the DCT is addicting. Shifts were firm and fast and paddling through the gears was intoxicating. It still hasn't swayed me from ordering 6MT, but the DCT in this thing is truly a beauty.
Engine/Sound: All I can say is menacing, loud, wonderful, loud, brilliant. Yeah, I said loud twice. I was actually surprised by how loud it was. No way could I tell what was being piped in through the speakers or not. Honestly, didn't care. It sounds amazing. Yes, the car definitely has the tincan, lawnmower rattle on startup but after that, there is nothing to complain about with concerning the sound. The engine is an absolute work of art. Step on the throttle and you just go. And you keep going. And keep going. In my N54, it drops off pretty dramatically in the upper RPMs, I felt absolutely none of that with the S55. None of the "jerk" that some people argued about months ago, it pulled hard to redline. I do see though that there is no reason to bang it off the rev limiter. It has such a huge power band it completely makes up for that.
Suspension: Sport+ again. Wow. Didn't drive the passive but doesn't matter, I'm spending the $1k on the active. It absorbed everything while still be comfortable. Yes, we may have done 90+ on street roads but the suspension/chassis inspires so much confidence. Absolutely no way you can reach the limit of this car with respect to handling on the street without driving like a total asshole. And we were trying to drive like an asshole too. BMW completely nailed this aspect of the car.
Brakes: Great feel, nice pedal modulation. Again, no way to test the limits on the road but brought the car down from 120 to 30 without blinking. ABS was definitely kicking in. The tires are the limiting factor of the braking, not the brakes that's for sure.
Steering: Sport+, felt fine to me. Honestly, I was so focused on the acceleration and handling that I didn't even notice the steering. Which I guess is good because it didn't strike me as bad. Just not noticeable. The car went where I pointed it under acceleration and braking. So the one word I would use is precise. I meant to put into Sport to try that but I forgot, I was having too much fun. It by no means takes anything away from the car. So as for EPS as far as I'm concerned, no big deal.
Overall, I will definitely be dreaming about this car until I finally take delivery. It is way too much car for the street to achieve it's full potential but let's you remember that it's still an M car while you're getting groceries. BMW knocked this one out the park. Honestly, I wouldn't change a thing. I'm still torn though between SSII and SO for an exterior color. I'm definitely leaning back towards SSII though. Such a classy color. SO though is also amazing. Unfortunately, today was partly cloudy so couldn't see the entire realm of what SO brings.
I am truly envious though of those of you who are enjoying this car at the moment. It will truly a thing of beauty.
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