This car is INCREDIBLE!

I know I'm an MS6 guy, but I feel very much the same way about getting in my Mazdaspeed vehicle. I SO look forward to the end of the work day so I can get in my car and do some spirited driving on the way home, just to blow off steam.

That said, I try running with (not racing, mind you, just running with) M3s occasionally...it isn't pretty. And my buddy who owns a Z4 M Coupe wants me to do some mountain road driving with him and a coworker in a 335i. I'll be the slowest in the group lol.
 
I can relate

I kinda know where you're coming from. I've had a GTO and several 400+ HP modified Grand Prix's including my last GXP which was powered by a nice V8. FI does have a sexy draw to it.

The thing I like most about my MS3 that others don't really see until they've ridden in my with me driving is that it's quick, very nimble and a blast to drive around town.

I had a nice V8 BMW just today try and blast me off the line and was shocked to see a little $23k Mazda put 2 lengths on him. Not only is it a blast when you launch well, but from a roll she has balls that even more powerful cars can't match until speeds are way above legal limits.

I also like taking curves/turns. If you let it, the tail swings out nicely and the car has plenty of pull to just point it where you need it to go and punch it to pull her straight. You just have to know how to drive a FWD car well to enjoy the feeling. I credit my time at Bondurant in 05 learning on the GXP vs the CTS-V and C5 ZO6.

It's not quite the same in the curves, but the torque is nice and it's much easier to enjoy it around town than most of the bigger, better and more expensive cars.

Everything has pros and cons. The key is to enjoy the pros more than you b**** about the cons.
 
YES! Remember my opinion does not speak for all M3 owners, just me. Have you driven one? Try punching an M3 from say 2500 RPM in any gear. The car can't get out of it's own way, until it reaches 5500-6000 RPM's.
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I was at the track as a student yesterday and another student parked next to me had a stock 2003 M5. During one of our group's runs he was in front of me for a couple of turns around the track. I was much faster that he was. The only time I would drop from his rear bumper was on the straights, the big V8 would have lots of power and would take off on me, but I would close in towards the end of the straight and after that I was much faster in the turns and short straights. He finally had to give me a point by, and I passed him and he never closed. I talked with the owner of the M5 between our group runs and he said his car's brakes are not very good. I looked at his brakes and the calipers were tiny for a big heavy car. The new M5's look like they are very fast.

07 Silver MS3, Mazdaspeed CAI, Mazdaspeed CBE, Mazdaspeed coilovers, TWM short shifter and bushings, SU rear engine mount, Hotchkins RS, Cobb shifter weight, Cobb turbo intake, Goodridge stainless steel brake lines, Motul RBF600 brake fluid, Hawk plus pads (track only), RE-01's (track only), Dashhawk, Fuel-Filler door.
 
Excellent sentiment. While the New M3 is one of the only BMW's I still respect (the other being the 335i) I can see how the MS3 would be more fun ti drive. I desperately want to own one.
 
MS3JamOnIt said:
I was at the track as a student yesterday and another student parked next to me had a stock 2003 M5. During one of our group's runs he was in front of me for a couple of turns around the track. I was much faster that he was. The only time I would drop from his rear bumper was on the straights, the big V8 would have lots of power and would take off on me, but I would close in towards the end of the straight and after that I was much faster in the turns and short straights. He finally had to give me a point by, and I passed him and he never closed. I talked with the owner of the M5 between our group runs and he said his car's brakes are not very good. I looked at his brakes and the calipers were tiny for a big heavy car. The new M5's look like they are very fast.

07 Silver MS3, Mazdaspeed CAI, Mazdaspeed CBE, Mazdaspeed coilovers, TWM short shifter and bushings, SU rear engine mount, Hotchkins RS, Cobb shifter weight, Cobb turbo intake, Goodridge stainless steel brake lines, Motul RBF600 brake fluid, Hawk plus pads (track only), RE-01's (track only), Dashhawk, Fuel-Filler door.
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Good points, yes the M's are a bit heavy and lack torque as do all Euro V8's. I know we are getting off topic a little. Now If I can fight the mod bug with this car. My dealer is cool with most mods, except ECU upgrades.
 
I rode in an 08 M3 at the last track day I was at, and it was pretty nice. A real beast at the track. Brakes are incredible on those things. When I was driving my car (first time at the track) he would catch me in a couple of spots on the track where he would just throw the car into the corner, and come hauling ass out of it. Now during the afternoon session one of the instructors was driving my car while I rode along to get some pointers, and the M3 couldnt keep up with him at all in our little car. The instructor would average about 10-15 mph more in parts of the track than I was earlier in the day, but I finished the day doing alot better after riding along with him in my car. In the straight away when I was riding in the M3 he would hit 130, and the instructor only had my car doing 120 in the same section, I got to 115 a couple of times, but just couldnt help but want to get on the brakes sooner than he did.
 
leadf00t said:
I rode in an 08 M3 at the last track day I was at, and it was pretty nice. A real beast at the track. Brakes are incredible on those things. When I was driving my car (first time at the track) he would catch me in a couple of spots on the track where he would just throw the car into the corner, and come hauling ass out of it. Now during the afternoon session one of the instructors was driving my car while I rode along to get some pointers, and the M3 couldnt keep up with him at all in our little car. The instructor would average about 10-15 mph more in parts of the track than I was earlier in the day, but I finished the day doing alot better after riding along with him in my car. In the straight away when I was riding in the M3 he would hit 130, and the instructor only had my car doing 120 in the same section, I got to 115 a couple of times, but just couldnt help but want to get on the brakes sooner than he did.
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One of the remaining benefits of owning the M is I get to go to the one day M Driving School in two weeks, even though I don't own the M anymore! Me and a guest get to learn about and flogg all the M cars currently in their fleet
 
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