Quote:
Originally Posted by G4 EDW
I had a play with one of these yesterday and got to say there wasnt much in it at all in the first few gears.... it was only when the M gets to stretch its legs in the top of third upwards that the gap started to open!...Quite scary... if that was on tight, twisty roads i would have been a bit concerned... thats the trouble with n/a cars in my opinion... they lack that punch.... it was the same with my mates Audi TTS with the 265bhp engine... in first, second and third there was nothing in it and he had a smug grin on his face for a short while. Here is a little pic of my M3 with some mods (see sig for full list)
Here is the Gti, Standard - although after owning it for the last 3 weeks ive spent over 2k on it already.
oh by the way G4 EDW i think you have pretty much hit the nail on the head.
And about it "Probably been mapped " trust me you would know if one had been mapped becuase you would be like WTF.
When i first bought the car i thought, jesus this thing shifts and suspected it must of been mapped by the previous owner so i took it to the garage and got them to check it over and it was running a standard setting to my amazment, in which he said he has seen quite a few GTIs running over the standard power figures.
Ok a little review on my findings of the M3 and the GTI
LOOKS
There is no doubting the M3 is the better looking car by miles, but i really do love the looks of the of the gti, its just that i think the M3 is honestly one of the best looking cars EVER made (along with the E30 Evo, alfa 8c and some TVRs) Seriously .
The interior of the M3 is luxuary but boaring and un-inspiring, although with a few wisly spent £££ this can be sorted out, the driving position is spot on although i never felt comfortable on long journeys in the M. The Gti is pretty basic but a nicer place to be, more querky with more of a smile factor and comfortable on the longer journeys + i absolutly love the tartan seats and walked away from a few leather equiped numbers because the tartans were a must have , the interior doesnt use the same quality of materials as the M but they are still really good, although the GTI stereo and speakers are absolutly Sh1t and a real ret down.
Also the obvious advantage of the gti is the hatchback practiacality, what it can swallow up is pretty unbelievable,
PERFORMANCE.
The M3 has awesome of the line grip which in my opinion is why it makes the dash to 60 so quick and as G4 EDW said once its up and dancing there is not much out there that will keep up with it, i can remember brawling with a bently conti GT and a few 911s and thinking jesus i never expected that, this is a hugely capable car and with the eisenmann fitted it had a sound to die for i really miss it . The only thing with the m is the power delivery is very linear and so it doesnt give a real impression of the sence of speed, even though you are seriously bloody shifting. Its also going to dent the feck out of your savings if you want more power.
The Gti............ Well like i said i thought mine was remapped because it felt propper quick, alot quicker than i thought (and thats from someone thats came from an M3). The instant torque made it waft you along pretty briskly and if im honest even standard it feels faster than the M3 all though i put this down to the deceptivness of turbo power as turbo cars do "feel" quicker than NA cars although im under no illusion that the M3 is the quicker car, Ive also driven a REVO stg1 tuned car and that was bloody quick, seriously you will never know until you have been in one. With the GTI about the 2k mark will give you REVO stage 2+ which will see about 290bhp or for about £400 you will be looking at REVO stage 1 250bhp, but again talking about tuning if you fit an SC to an m3 it will blow the gti in to the weeds.
As said if an m3 and gti were giving it some on normal roads i think the the m3 driver would fail to significatly pull away from the gti untill it was hitting the high notes.
BRAKES
Well be all know that M3s arnt the best in the brake department but with the csl kit and a few extras i found the m to be very competant, although standard it was a differant story.
The gti brakes are pretty simelar although work better than the M3s, that hasnt stopped me buying a front AP set up though.
CHASSIS
the fact of the matter is the M3 is RWD and nothing else matters, sideways on roundabouts its just amazing, even in standard form i found the set up great, a little understeer in corners under light acceleration, with oversteer on command with a blast of the loud pedal. Perfect ! it didnt stop me wanting a set of HSDs though. Although the roll felt well judged so i didnt think it would be worth changing the ARBs
The gti is obviously FWD but it is a good one, it feels more alive and eager than the M in the the tight corners and is well controled. I think alot of people would be quicker in this than the M3 on a tight track or twisty B roads, due to its corner quickness & ease of control, i feel very at home in
this and the M too, the M is One of the best handeling RWD cars out there but at the same time the GTI is one of the Best FWD cars. Ive just bought some KWs to improve things further moreon the GTI, although in the handeling stakes I know which i prefer MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.
CONCLUSION.
They are both great cars in differant ways, and TBH i absolutly love both cars what the golf takes with one hand the BMW snatches back with the other
Hope this Helps !
