Even if it is ~20 lbs heavier, it is way more powerful, and I bet physically smaller too (just isn't any way to make 4V heads small).

I still think the LSx is the best mass-produced performance motor ever made - and still being made.

 

Logic would dictate that:
Since I've driven an LT1 Z28 up to 110 and it already felt unsafe.
and
Since I've driven an SN95 Mustang Cobra to 140 and just about had my life flashing before my eyes when it felt relatively safe at 110.
that
The LT1 Z28 would have felt even more squirrelly at top speed - I just wasn't stupid enough to try it (plus it was one of the ones that had the 110mph limiter on it).

I've also been in a BMW 3 series taxi of some sort, ON the autobahn no less - we cruised at about 200km/h (125mph IIRC) and it drove like it was made for those speeds - not even a hint of pushing the limits even though it wasn't that far from its actual top speed.

I'd say it's probably safe to say if a 3 series taxi from 11 years ago felt ok at 125, that maybe a 2008 M3 would feel safe doing 25mph more?

 

ahaha over enginered pos.. good job bmw

 

Maybe its just you. Or maybe that car was poorly maintained. My car is so stable at 125 anyone could drive it and feel comfortable.

 

I second that, but my SS has 275/40s up front and 315/35s out back. So that might have had something to do with it.

 

Ditto. My car really didn't feel that unsafe at 140, let alone 110. I can't tell you the amount of times I have had the car up to 110mph. It is a convertible as well, and it still didn't really feel like there was anything wrong with going that speed.

I have had it up to a buck twenty with the top down, and it didn't really feel unsafe, just really, really loud. You can feel the incredible amount of drag with the top down at that speed too.

 

I've had my GTA up to 115 before, no worries. 100 was (when the windows were up) very quiet/smooth/unfussed. And thats in a 89 GTA

 

Unsafe at 110 mph? Please.

Dan

 

LT1's feel pretty damn stable at 110. My brothers LS1 felt good at 130. Man I was stupid for going that fast.

 

I've driven a '73 Camaro to 135mph, a little floaty but stable. I've had my '90 IROC to 115mph several times and it was very stable but @ 130+ it was picking up harmonics...just worn out.
I've driven my '87 Grand Am V6 to 135mph and it was rock solid, and still pulling.
These Euro cars have better/more expensive shocks/struts, stiffer spring rates and lower centers of gravity, low profiles high priced tires...it's not magic that they are made for that kinda driving.

 

I read the article on it. It said that BMW was NOT trying to follow in the footsteps of Mercedes, who, like it or not, owns the torque business right now with their turbocharged monsters.

All that torque is impressive but not very useful in a car made to rip around a track, and that is what the M3 was made to do.

 

All of the specs I can find for an '89 TTA indicate that the top speed was 157.

Something must have been wrong with your Camaro. Mine felt perfectly stable (although just a touch light in the front) at 155. I would have gone higher if I hadn't run out of room.

 

they werent talking about the benz as competition, they refering to the way they wanted to make power. benz goes high torque relatively low revving. this car is low torque but the revs to make big horsepower.

 

I bet the CSL variant overtakes a 911 at the track. The Japanese proved the regular inline 6 CSL E46 could do it.. heck it could almost keep up with a Gallardo and a Murcielago at Suzuka.

These cars are seriously balanced...

 

This engine has 85% of its torque available from 2000 RPM, so no, you don't have to drive the p1ss out of it to get it moving.

Let me make a conjecture and guess that mpg of this engine will suck big time. My experience with european V6 and V8 engines, though low displacement and high tech, is that they have p1ss poor fuel economy. My 4.2L Audi A6 (automatic, and weighs 4000 lbs) gets about 13-15 mpg city (o, it's Greater Toronto traffic, but still). My previous V6 Audi A6 was getting 15-17 mpg in the city.

Well, this engine is designed to deliver pure unadulterated performance. Which, in my opinion, it does quite well with its 4.0L of displacement.