I know I have said "bad" things about the new E92 M3 before this, but want to set the record straight: they were all concerning the new looks. I've never doubted the numbers and performance figures as I profoundly believe in anything with an ///M badge...But nothing could've prepared me for my test of it today, and in none other but our member Abbood's GORGEOUS Alpine White E92 M3.
We were part of the Abu Dhabi Perfromance Cars Club, www.adpcc.com, Race Academy round 2 today held at the Jebel Ali Karting Circuit (it's very soothing to know that more educated diehards are organizing such courses), and both our M3s were part of the grid. Abbood's was nothing short of menacing, and with the sound to back it up. After being offered to drive my, up until then, biggest disappointment of last year by Abbood, I took it out for a spin outside the track to see how it goes and stops. My God, does it do both while leaving your eyes twitching in disbelief! I've driven all sorts of modified and stock performance cars over the years and hence raised the bar mentally before jumpipng in factoring all the reviews and figures I've come across until that moment. But, it's been my biggest surprize EVER. When you'd think that the E46 M3 was as good as it could possibly get and then be offered a limitless test of the new incarnation (Abbood did insist that we bring out the best in it however I deemed "appropriate" :D) then it just adds up to me awe factor.
This one is equipped with the optional DCT, and while not my ideal platform for practicing my vice (errrm, racing), it did shake my world as to how fast and at-your-command it was. No more "occasional" auto-blip when downshifting to start with; it does it throughout all the gears at any speed and any RPM! Fine by me :D Jumping from an SMGII/SMGIII and being impressed by how quick they are, it certainly showed me that M GMBH still has a lot more to offer...Would this ever end?!
Offcourse, it goes without mentioning how nuclear the engine is!!! Ferrari V8s have a serious competetion! And spare me the "they're still Italians" speech; engineering-to-passion ratio is equal between the two!! Period! I've never experienced such a power curve in an NA engine except in the Ferrari F430. Power seems to be coming straight from the sun core!
Brakes - now these are just :drool: :drool: :drool: All throughout the drive I was thinking whether or not it'd be justifiable to upgrade to some Carbotech goodness!! Yes, THAT good! (Sorry Abbood for not warning you I was going to hit the brakes!!)
Back to the track now, and all the masterpieces fell into one!! That thing GOES, STOPS, STEERS, and HANDLES in uncomprehendable ways given how "heavy" they've got. But I seriosuly dunno how to explain it. Yes probably quicker steering ratio, revised suspsension geometry, redesigned suspension values, etc etc...But just how much work was done there! It was the single car that got EVERYBODY to stop chatting and follow its lap to see what time it'd score. (I'd rather not give out its time for it's a relative matter, but trust me it was GOOD! ;))
The video below is NOT the hot lap I did in it, this was for video shooting purposes and hence at a moderate speed. But you can have a very good idea of how well this car drives from it.
[youtube]5e2k-BvcYgI[/youtube]
Thank you Abbood for the great opportunity :)
We were part of the Abu Dhabi Perfromance Cars Club, www.adpcc.com, Race Academy round 2 today held at the Jebel Ali Karting Circuit (it's very soothing to know that more educated diehards are organizing such courses), and both our M3s were part of the grid. Abbood's was nothing short of menacing, and with the sound to back it up. After being offered to drive my, up until then, biggest disappointment of last year by Abbood, I took it out for a spin outside the track to see how it goes and stops. My God, does it do both while leaving your eyes twitching in disbelief! I've driven all sorts of modified and stock performance cars over the years and hence raised the bar mentally before jumpipng in factoring all the reviews and figures I've come across until that moment. But, it's been my biggest surprize EVER. When you'd think that the E46 M3 was as good as it could possibly get and then be offered a limitless test of the new incarnation (Abbood did insist that we bring out the best in it however I deemed "appropriate" :D) then it just adds up to me awe factor.
This one is equipped with the optional DCT, and while not my ideal platform for practicing my vice (errrm, racing), it did shake my world as to how fast and at-your-command it was. No more "occasional" auto-blip when downshifting to start with; it does it throughout all the gears at any speed and any RPM! Fine by me :D Jumping from an SMGII/SMGIII and being impressed by how quick they are, it certainly showed me that M GMBH still has a lot more to offer...Would this ever end?!
Offcourse, it goes without mentioning how nuclear the engine is!!! Ferrari V8s have a serious competetion! And spare me the "they're still Italians" speech; engineering-to-passion ratio is equal between the two!! Period! I've never experienced such a power curve in an NA engine except in the Ferrari F430. Power seems to be coming straight from the sun core!
Brakes - now these are just :drool: :drool: :drool: All throughout the drive I was thinking whether or not it'd be justifiable to upgrade to some Carbotech goodness!! Yes, THAT good! (Sorry Abbood for not warning you I was going to hit the brakes!!)
Back to the track now, and all the masterpieces fell into one!! That thing GOES, STOPS, STEERS, and HANDLES in uncomprehendable ways given how "heavy" they've got. But I seriosuly dunno how to explain it. Yes probably quicker steering ratio, revised suspsension geometry, redesigned suspension values, etc etc...But just how much work was done there! It was the single car that got EVERYBODY to stop chatting and follow its lap to see what time it'd score. (I'd rather not give out its time for it's a relative matter, but trust me it was GOOD! ;))
The video below is NOT the hot lap I did in it, this was for video shooting purposes and hence at a moderate speed. But you can have a very good idea of how well this car drives from it.
[youtube]5e2k-BvcYgI[/youtube]
Thank you Abbood for the great opportunity :)
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