Comparison...IS-F vs. E46 M3 after 2 weeks of ownership
10-27-10, 11:07 PM
#16
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Nice write up... but I would think the ISF win in every one.. I mean thats not even the new M3...
You say the ISF doesn't handle better then the E46.. meanwhile the ISF does track better and proof to that is a much faster lap time then the E46... Its kind of sad that the ISF loses anything to a older M3... IMO
About the tranny... I live in NY.. I would pick the paddle shift over the sick ANYDAY. I laugh at people who I see drive stick from light to light... then after that get caught in a traffic jam LOL. Not to mention you get better performance from the paddle shifters... I would not want to downgrade the performance of my car. I would still love to see a stick ISF one day tho.. someone get to work on one !!!
The ISF is a luxury sedan and performance.. Luxury, safety features, good build all adds up to more weight... the ISF is goin to be a everyday car.. n it has two more doors. You can see where the weight comes in and as a everyday car.. weight is good. Heavy cars feels more solid... light cars feel unsafe and too nervous IMO.
I would love to see a write up like this with the E90 and ISF (anyone?). The 2011 ISF should be able to beat the M3.
You say the ISF doesn't handle better then the E46.. meanwhile the ISF does track better and proof to that is a much faster lap time then the E46... Its kind of sad that the ISF loses anything to a older M3... IMO
About the tranny... I live in NY.. I would pick the paddle shift over the sick ANYDAY. I laugh at people who I see drive stick from light to light... then after that get caught in a traffic jam LOL. Not to mention you get better performance from the paddle shifters... I would not want to downgrade the performance of my car. I would still love to see a stick ISF one day tho.. someone get to work on one !!!
The ISF is a luxury sedan and performance.. Luxury, safety features, good build all adds up to more weight... the ISF is goin to be a everyday car.. n it has two more doors. You can see where the weight comes in and as a everyday car.. weight is good. Heavy cars feels more solid... light cars feel unsafe and too nervous IMO.
I would love to see a write up like this with the E90 and ISF (anyone?). The 2011 ISF should be able to beat the M3.
10-28-10, 09:03 AM
#18
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Good review...I had an E46 M3 a few years back and it was definitely a fun car to drive and I agree with your opinion about the M3 having more of a raw feeling. It was a fun car to drive, when it wasn't in the shop.
As far as looks go, a nice modded out E46 M3 is still a neck breaker
As far as looks go, a nice modded out E46 M3 is still a neck breaker
10-28-10, 10:55 AM
#19
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I have an IS F (2008) - love the HPs/torque and growl - extremely fun to drive!
But I fully agree with the write up on handling, plus you get more flexibility to dial-in your car for auto-crossing (or tracking) in the E46 M3.
In auto-crossing, I've driven the E46 (albeit with better alignment setup and fatter tires) and beat my own time in just 2 tries vs. my own stock car! (1st time was to familiarize myself with my buddy's E46, and the 2nd run, easily surpassed my time in the IS F after 9-10 runs). The E46 turn-in felt a hell of lot better, and the balance comes into play on hard cornering - less roll and felt alot lighter too.
Regarding the alignment setup, adjustable cambers are available for the E46, but not the IS F's (...yet). Anyone who has done auto-crossing with the IS F in their stock tires, experience the front tires rolling past the shoulder indicators. With the roll and additional weight in the fronts (plus being heavier all around), tight turns kill those front tires (on my 3rd third set now). With the E46's approx -2 to -3 degrees of camber - PERFECT tire wear just above the indicators = better contact patch on the road surface, esp on tight turns!
Tracking might be a different story in that the IS F has some much more HP to gun it on the straight aways, but handling the corners is definitely where the Bimmers shine.
Anyway, that is my opinion, with some empirical data from my auto-crossing. Take it for what it's worth.
But I fully agree with the write up on handling, plus you get more flexibility to dial-in your car for auto-crossing (or tracking) in the E46 M3.
In auto-crossing, I've driven the E46 (albeit with better alignment setup and fatter tires) and beat my own time in just 2 tries vs. my own stock car! (1st time was to familiarize myself with my buddy's E46, and the 2nd run, easily surpassed my time in the IS F after 9-10 runs). The E46 turn-in felt a hell of lot better, and the balance comes into play on hard cornering - less roll and felt alot lighter too.
Regarding the alignment setup, adjustable cambers are available for the E46, but not the IS F's (...yet). Anyone who has done auto-crossing with the IS F in their stock tires, experience the front tires rolling past the shoulder indicators. With the roll and additional weight in the fronts (plus being heavier all around), tight turns kill those front tires (on my 3rd third set now). With the E46's approx -2 to -3 degrees of camber - PERFECT tire wear just above the indicators = better contact patch on the road surface, esp on tight turns!
Tracking might be a different story in that the IS F has some much more HP to gun it on the straight aways, but handling the corners is definitely where the Bimmers shine.
Anyway, that is my opinion, with some empirical data from my auto-crossing. Take it for what it's worth.
10-28-10, 11:13 AM
#20
having done both autocrossing and tracking in the isf, i also think the isf is a much better track car than for autox. the car is just heavy and like you said, the turn in doesn't seem right. and also that the 2nd intake kick in makes it harder to drive as well throughout. in fact, me and a few others, we actually prefer the is350 fsport on the autox more
10-30-10, 03:38 AM
#22
Definitely a nice write up between the two.
Helps me on my decision of getting the IS-F.
Btw, which area do you live in WA?
I don't see many IS-F in WA, probably only seen three so far, one's black, one's sgm, and other one's red . So I might have spotted your car. ^^
Helps me on my decision of getting the IS-F.
Btw, which area do you live in WA?
I don't see many IS-F in WA, probably only seen three so far, one's black, one's sgm, and other one's red . So I might have spotted your car. ^^
08-21-11, 01:48 PM
#24
Bringing back an old thread. I agree almost completely with Mugenh22a4 on the review/comparison of the two cars. Glad to see I was not the only to have the same thoughts about moving on from the M. In the end it was the comfort and piece of mind that my car was not going to incur some ridiculous expense from normal everyday driving, that really won me over. In the comparison review, the only thing I would disagree with would be the interior, as I find the ISF superior to my M, however I did not have Nav or the HK sound system.
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