I’ve heard people call certain cars timeless. And to be honest I’ve scoffed a little when they’ve said it as a) it is a bit of a cliché, and b) how exactly do you define a car that you feel is “timeless”?
A recent road trip in our new long-termer had me pondering over this, and I deduced that the car I was driving could certainly be a contender for the category.
It happens to be one of Munich’s finest, the fourth-generation M3, and here’s why I reckon this car will be remembered.
For one, it really is the last of a truly great era of naturally-breathing M cars. And no matter how you spin it, that’s quite a sad thing for any M fan. It’s also probably the first and last time we’ll see a V8 under an M3 bonnet. I think it’s safe to say the next M3 will be a turbocharged six – all that’s left to see is whether, as rumoured, it will run a tri-turbo set-up.
The styling, which I know is subjective, will also hold its own in the motoring hall of fame.
This car is not new by any stretch of the imagination – it’s been available locally since 2007 and, with the new Three already here, the new M should be in showrooms late next year.
POWER DOME
But ours is black, with a black interior, and CSL-styled 19-inch alloys.
It screams venom, and has that very bring-it-and-kill-it look going – especially with a power dome on the bonnet, a huge air intake, wide Michelin rubber and four tail pipes.
The time gods haven’t been as kind on the inside, though, where the new functions introduced on Beemer’s latest 3 Series are absent. But the racy M dials and stubby M gearlever are cool.
Then there’s one of the greatest introductions to the M3 range (which happened well after the car was launched) – M DCT (M double-clutch transmission).
This is the first time I’ve driven an M3 with this box, and as in other (now force-fed) M cars – and other more common Beemers, for that matter – it’s a pearler.
Being a purist, I was the only one at Motoring who lobbied for a six-speed manual ’box – mainly because it feels like everything we drive these days seems to have two pedals. Not to mention the satisfaction gained from dropping an M’s clutch and lighting up those rear wheels.
But the dual-clutch set-up, with that M side to it, is superb. Sure, it’s not as smooth in traffic as, say, Porsche’s PDK, but it is razor-sharp when it counts.
It takes those 309 naturally-aspirated kilowatts from that 4-litre plant and gives it that little bit of extra bravado. It runs full-on launch control too, which once you get the knack of it works run after run.
It will throttle-blip for you on downshifts (if you’re in attack mode) and slice through gears while jolting every last drop of power through gear changes. I’ve grown quite fond of the paddles behind the steering wheel, too – they leave you completely in charge and won’t let the ’box interfere.
IMPRESSIVE ACCELERATION
When we tested the manual M3 coupé, we managed a best run of 5.6 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint. The wizardry in the modern ’box gave us a 5.3, which in anyone’s book is quick. And even though heavier, the M3 matches the times of the more-recent and force-fed 1M.
My road trip was to Durbs, though, which is at sea level, which is where the M3 switches from naturally-breathing to fire-spitting. It felt like it was on fire there, with a few tenths’ gain off the line and more than the odd tyre chirp.
In-gear acceleration also took on a whole new meaning, making me wonder if the technicians hadn’t snuck a turbo into the engine bay at the first service. This car was born to run at sea-level – even the exhaust gets raspier.
In handling terms this M is still a honed track tool. The combination of that limited-slip diff and tight suspension set-up makes for many smile-inducing moments.
My only gripe is the fuel consumption, which makes me understand why the engineers are forcing smaller force-fed lumps down our throats.
It’s not a happy place when even with seven gears you can’t get below 14l/100km. I got down to 11.3 after hours of open road cruising, but that took considerable restraint.
The idea with our M3, then, is a final farewell to a car which I reckon will be considered timeless. But being Motoring we have some plans for our new baby.
Watch this space.
-Star Motoring
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