The time has come. The S3 has to go. This is a very long post, so if you don't want to read it all, here's the short story. I've bought a (used) BMW 330Ci to try a different driving experience for a couple of years.
The long story.
It's nagged me for a while, but I've come to realise several things. The first is that I love and respect the S3 enourmously. It is a fantasticly able and rounded car, with accessible performance and subtle looks. So why sell a car I love? It's the hardest car change I've made, very hard.
Well, I was going to mod it or buy a modded version, but it occurred to me there are reasons not to. Spending money I'd never see back when I've not tried the something different. Starting out on that drive for perfection, more power, more grip. Where do I stop? In a ditch I suspect.
Lately I've been driving the S3 harder and harder and it is possible to get it sideways under power as we know, but I never really feel controlled doing it. Most times pushing it, I feel like it's more of the car than me and I want to feel like I'm in control again. For me, I need to try rear wheel drive. Maybe I'll decide it's horrible and go back to Quattro, but I need to try. Unfortunately for practical reasons and keeping a manual, that meant BMW. Lexus 3 litre is auto and I'm not keen on Mercs build quality these days.
Then there's the noise. That straight six sounds fantastic, with a throttle response the S3 can only dream of. I've always wanted a >4 cylinder car.
And finally the steering. Cars steering (for the most part) seems to be getting more numb every time. I wasn't keen on the new A3 steering (sorry A3 owners), and I remember threading a humble 318i through mountains in Switzerland, revelling in it's accurate helm. Unsurprisingly, the 330 is as good.
So, I guess I'll get a good flogging on here for doing such a change. However, before you get the whips out, the car 330 I'm buying is non-sport suspension on v. nice 17 inch wheels. I'm buying to have some more fun, learn more about driving, not pose about. I might take longer to get from A to B via back rounds, but I think I'll enjoy the journey more. The pay off is a lovely ride and nice motorway manners, which are quite important to me also.
I'll still hang about and post back after having had the car for a bit, I pick it up next week. Still go to meets where it's for the driving /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I'm still having pangs of wondering if I'm doing the right thing, but I do get bored of cars quickly and think I need this change.
Ooooh dear, I've become a BMW driver. You'll know me if you come across me, I'm the nice one that lets you out at T-junctions. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif
The long story.
It's nagged me for a while, but I've come to realise several things. The first is that I love and respect the S3 enourmously. It is a fantasticly able and rounded car, with accessible performance and subtle looks. So why sell a car I love? It's the hardest car change I've made, very hard.
Well, I was going to mod it or buy a modded version, but it occurred to me there are reasons not to. Spending money I'd never see back when I've not tried the something different. Starting out on that drive for perfection, more power, more grip. Where do I stop? In a ditch I suspect.
Lately I've been driving the S3 harder and harder and it is possible to get it sideways under power as we know, but I never really feel controlled doing it. Most times pushing it, I feel like it's more of the car than me and I want to feel like I'm in control again. For me, I need to try rear wheel drive. Maybe I'll decide it's horrible and go back to Quattro, but I need to try. Unfortunately for practical reasons and keeping a manual, that meant BMW. Lexus 3 litre is auto and I'm not keen on Mercs build quality these days.
Then there's the noise. That straight six sounds fantastic, with a throttle response the S3 can only dream of. I've always wanted a >4 cylinder car.
And finally the steering. Cars steering (for the most part) seems to be getting more numb every time. I wasn't keen on the new A3 steering (sorry A3 owners), and I remember threading a humble 318i through mountains in Switzerland, revelling in it's accurate helm. Unsurprisingly, the 330 is as good.
So, I guess I'll get a good flogging on here for doing such a change. However, before you get the whips out, the car 330 I'm buying is non-sport suspension on v. nice 17 inch wheels. I'm buying to have some more fun, learn more about driving, not pose about. I might take longer to get from A to B via back rounds, but I think I'll enjoy the journey more. The pay off is a lovely ride and nice motorway manners, which are quite important to me also.
I'll still hang about and post back after having had the car for a bit, I pick it up next week. Still go to meets where it's for the driving /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
I'm still having pangs of wondering if I'm doing the right thing, but I do get bored of cars quickly and think I need this change.
Ooooh dear, I've become a BMW driver. You'll know me if you come across me, I'm the nice one that lets you out at T-junctions. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif
