Something to do with new emissions regulations apparently, easily sorted aftermarket but strangely, I like it.
No arguments there, 343bhp is plenty! I think the e46 M3 chassis is so sorted that it just handles the power really well. By contrast, the Z4M with the exact same engine is ...frantic! It bites, a different kind of excitement again but that's why I was so surprised by how much more progressive and easy to handle the e46 M3 was at the limit.
Also agree, you don't deploy all 343bhp on the morning commute, but on a mountain road - deploy them I did Moe told me I had to rag it and I didn't want to disappoint him
Good to hear the SMG is ok in slow moving traffic. I think I'm leaning towards SMG if I was to buy an e46 M3.
Thanks Nick, you're very kind! I would only love to...
Yes, Moe was brave to let me have a go
I really do like the extra toys over the M2, I think the driver settings are great as well. I had the engine in sport plus pootling around the city for example with comfort everything else just for the POP POP POP out the back. I was always more of an "analog" kind of guy before but I'm really coming around to the extra tech in cars, it just adds to the experience for me. I 100% understand where you're coming from though as it's always been my view up until now. In fact I used to say (LARGE) front engined, RWD, manual, with electric windows and ABS... and nothing else. Now I really enjoy the toys and paddle-shift boxes, maybe it's a phase
I'd say you're probably right re: 1M, it's just frustrating that they made what seems like a fantastic car and then limited production for absolutely no reason. I think I've only ever seen one in the flesh - a Valencia orange example I used to see regularly around Auckland, NZ. I know there's a black one floating around Dublin as well. Maybe a part of me is dismissing it for that reason.
Oh... and the bank manager must never know...