C32

www.c32life.com

styx

>> 0-60 in 4.5 seconds according to AutoCar.

>> It will go 0-100 in 10.9 seconds. With a 13 second 1/4 at 109.

It looks like that the 0-60 time or the whatever-to-whatever times are the most important thing in the US. Pity, they miss the point.

Cu

styx

Carlos from Spain

If your looking for performance (which you may not, and thats totally repectable), you just went back a couple of steps if you sold your 996 to get the C32, i.e., softer chasis, heavier engine and car, standard 5-speed automatic, less cornering grip, brakes less resistant to fadding, softer tunned suspension settings, higher center of gravety,etc,etc ... but I´m sure its confortable and has a large trunk though.
BTW, the E46-M3 has all the advantages of the C32(4 seats, trunk space, confort,etc.) but is better handling, faster and more fun to drive (6 speed manual with a L-6 cyl. atmosferic engine and rear viscous diferential)than the C32, it can even get close to a 996 on the track.

Carlos.

C32

Carlos,

Ohhh man I'm sorry for you. The E46 M3 is NOT faster nor does it handle better than the C32 AMG.

I'm sorry to break this news to you.

More than three magazines have now tested both these cars back to back. The C32 was faster 0-60 and 1/4 mile. It also killed the M3 in 0-100. Ohh and it was a better handling car too.

The M3 is a heavy car with mechanical problems. The C32 IMHO and in others is the superior car.

It also only has 2 doors which isn't practical and a small back seat.

Want to see proof?? Well, go to this link and click on reviews.

C32 Reviews

MKW

Which issue of Autocar ? My 27 Jun issue of the C32c vs M3 8 page comparo
shows 0-60 4.6/4.8 0-100 10.8/11.5 and qtr mile 13.0/13.4 - faster times all to the C32. However, the editors called the M3 a " dynamic masterpiece" and a "landmark sports coupe". They also praised the C32 as a "deeply impressive " car , but said it felt like a base C320 with gigantic power." "As speed rises, the M3 exposes the C32 for what it is : a mildly tweaked C320".
Hey- I'm an ex- BMW owner with two MBZs currently. Just reporting on THAT article, FWIW.

brobbinson

Good luck to you - that is a very nice car and I bet it will be fun to drive - however, its more of a sports sedan than a "feel the road" sports car. The M5 is another stand out sports sedan. Obviously (since I'm on this Board) my preference is the porsche - but if I was in the market for a sports sedan - I like your choice (or the M5).

Regards.

Carlos from Spain

I don`t mean to ofend but "AMG" never made a better handling car than "BMW M" not because the AMG engineers aren´t good enough, its just because their product is intended to appeal to more confort oriented drivers than BMW M.
By the way, when I mean "faster" I don´t mean clocked figures in a drag strip, I mean overall faster in a certain road strip with curves or in a circuit, say nurburing (I sure all Porsche drivers here understood that, thats why they bought a Porsche and not a Ford Mustank)
You will learn that 0-60 figures are realtive when an E-36 M3 with just 321HP or a 996 with 300HP will leave you behind in a mountain road, not to mention a Lotus Elise with "just" 200HP and 1500lps weight and aluminum back-bone type chasis.
Some people become suddently dislexic when they read mag articles about their cars, I have yet to read a mag with say s the C32 is a better handler than a E46-M3 (just look at the engine type and you will see what AMG intended vs. BMW M) or due a lap time faster... but then again some people´s idea of performance just doesn´t comprehend more than 0-60 figures.(BTW my motorcycle does 0-60 in 4 secs and my quad bellow 3,5 secs but thats not why I bought them).
Carlos

C32

Well Carlos,

I have seen two articles that state in their opinions that the C32 handles better than the new M3. The C32 also managed BETTER lap times than the M3.

I will agree with you that the M3 was built for one purpose and the C32 is a modified luxury sport car.

I take my cars to the track. I took my 996 to the track as well as my NSX and my 98 M3. I know a performance car when I see one. I don't attend drag strips but I may in this car. :-)

From what I hear of this car, I think it will be equal to my other cars in the handling department.

Once the US reviews come out, we shall see how well the C32 fairs against your mighty M3.

If it were me, I would NEVER have sold my 996 for anything less. Esp not a clunky, broken, bulging, M3.

Juno

C32, can you point us to those two articles? The only comparison I've read was from Autocar and in that article the M3 was deemed superior to the C32.

Arthur

I've always had a problem with MB's transmission. If you stomp on it, in any gear, the transmission will say, "Oh really? Do you really want to take off now? Oh, OK." And then it takes off. I wish MB would make the linkage akin to Ferrari's electronic gas control. Maybe the new MB's don't have this problem anymore.

Carlos from Spain

C32, I get the impresion that you think I´m attaking the C32 since you are taking this too seriously. Well, I´m not , I just want to get things straight. The C32 is not better handling than a E46-M3 (just like the 190 2.5 16v vs. the E30-M3 and the C43 AMG vs. E36-M3 Euro spec) because it was built with a different intention (for God´s sake, its a STANDARD 5-speed automatic). You seem to be the only one here who reads that the C32 is better handling than the M3. I´m sure the C32 is a great car, but its strong points are not sport performance. Its impossible that if you take an NSX or 996 to the track you will not notice a big difference to the C32, simply impossible.
BTW I don´t own an E46-M3 and I couldn´t care less about it (Though I said goodbye to my mod. Euro spec E36-M3 not long ago).
Anyway, don´t take things so personal, we just give our personal opinions here and thats all they are worth
Carlos

Carlos from Spain

I´ve noticed that too on MB automatic transmissions (they have gotten quicker)but if you think thats slow, you should try Jaguar´s (you need to wake it up from a coma first before it shifts... drives me nuts) but then again they are more confortable and smooth which is what their are designed for and MB automatic trans. are since always among the best.
Carlos

C32

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brobbinson

Ahh, but its not as much fun when the computer does it for you (respectfully). As I said in my earlier post - this does sound like a great car, even if it is an automatic. Good luck with it - give us a report when you get it.

Brian

Juno

MB's Speedshift is probably the best automatic in the business. I believe I read that the automatic (tiptronic) in the 996 TT was made/designed/something by Merc. However, it is not the 2nd fastest shifting transmission on the market. BMW's SMG (which is available for the M3) is the fastest. It shifts twice as fast as Ferrari's F1 system, which is the second fastest. Both BMW's and Ferrari's systems are real manual transmissions (with computer controlled clutches). Those are the type of systems in formula 1 cars. MB's system might have a similar user interface, but it's definitely not related to anything in formula 1. Speedshift is an auto (a damn good auto, but still an auto).

A stick is more fun than any of them, though!