GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

See why I cancelled the subscription?

I love the pictures, just not the articles.

Add me to the list of why no ZO6

picus

Haha, contrary to what everybody seems to think. You ever get the feeling when everyone else disagrees with you, maybe you're the one that's wrong?

mmarshall

There is SOME truth to what Och is saying about the 3-series....not as much as he stresses it. Though the 3-series, in fact, DOES handle well, as witnessed by its slalom speeds, some of that so-called "handling" is actually BMW's superb power steering feel, which is enough to bring a smile to the face of even Chris Bangle-haters like me.

Slick350

I have driven a 335i many times (as there is one in my family) Coming from a family of bmw's in the past.Have gone through (my dad i should say lol) e39 m5, e46 m3 - those are the 2 recent ones, many prior to that as well., the new 335i is a smoother version of the e46 m3, with handling that is like an //M car. It has a feeling of the e39 m5 due to its torque. the twin turbo 3.0 is just amazing!!! The ride of the car is much harscher than my IS but thats to be expected with its handling and road feel. Crhis bangle may have F'ed up the looks of the newer bmw's but they havent lost their soul.

Ramon

Uh... The Z06 WAS on the list. The NSX wasn't, and the reason why has already been explained.

Mr. Jones

there has been no indication that the 335i handles anything like the M3.

mmarshall

Correct. The 335's suspension is not as firm as the M3's......but the M3 beats the hell out of you over rough roads. Threxx is partly correct, though...from my own admittedly limited experience with both cars, the difference is not that great. Considering its more civilized ride-handling combination, and lower price, IMO the 335 is a better buy.

picus

The way the e46 and 335i handle is similar, aside from the M3 being more tightly sprung. The M3 has a tighter turn in and more controlled oversteer, it's less floaty in general. As mmarshall mentioned though, the cars suspension is tuned for tracks. The 335i is a road car that handles well, no LSD and a stupid amount of ride height gimp it compared to the M3 in a track sense but overall the steering and suspension aren't all that different. The *real* difference is how the cars accelerate into and out of turns on the track, which is why the 335i often beats the M3 on the track. On a track where you can't keep high rpm's all the time the 335i has a significant advantage.

When I track my car it's pretty obvious relative to other M3 owners that they are tighter in the turns, but I rocket away in the first 2-5 seconds coming out of a tight turn as long as I can keep the inside tire from spinning.

mkorsu

Look and see who owns Motor Trend and who funnels cash their way.


And it IS stupid to hand Porsche the default win over Chevrolet based SOLEY on the manufacturers name!

Yes....99 out of a 100 times the Porsche will outhandle the Chevy. But to make a blanket statement that since it is a Porsche it MUST be better is pure ignorance.

This article is proof positive of that. The Z06 is nary a tick off the pace of the GT3 yet it still is relagated to next to last place above what? A CIVIC! Come on now.

leedogg

This test is a load of crap unless they standardized on a fixed speed for all test cars from the beginning of the test to the end. i.e. start timing the cars when they enter a slalom course or begin maneuvers at 60mph.

We're talking about best handling cars right? not fastest?

LexFather

I read this at Borders and lauged out loud.

Threxx

Part of the way a car handles is determined by its acceleration characteristics, understeer, oversteer, traction, and braking - things that require realistic changes in speed, angle, and approach to determine. You can't just turn a car around in a graduating slalom and skidpad and say 'test over'.

I saw more quantitative analysis in that article than I have EVER seen from ANY car editorial in the past. I say big to motor trend for that article...

l4wr3nc3

why is the 335 on their. Its far from the world's best handling car. AND It doesn't even have LSD! Tripod mode through turns FTL!