Fifth Gear tonight (12/12)

It was running NCT-5's at the time and now Eagle F1's.  The brake discs and pads are stock as is the suspension.

Perhaps it would be a fine idea for a number of us to arrange an Anglesey track day in the new year- it would be interesting to see what kind of times the modified cars can post and provide a satisfactory conclusion to this matter.  And I would certainly be interested to see if I can beat Tiff's time- imagine the bragging rights!

Does anyone else have a bone-stock car we can use as a benchmark as it seems to be of the opinion of some that there is something lacking in my car's performance.

I think Tiff was just using racing driver's excuses and talking a load of s**t.

He wasn't driving fast, just showing off.

Shame Plato wasn't there to drive them.

AaronM3 wrote: It was running NCT-5's at the time and now Eagle F1's.  The brake discs and pads are stock as is the suspension. Perhaps it would be a fine idea for a number of us to arrange an Anglesey track day in the new year- it would be interesting to see what kind of times the modified cars can post and provide a satisfactory conclusion to this matter.  And I would certainly be interested to see if I can beat Tiff's time- imagine the bragging rights! Does anyone else have a bone-stock car we can use as a benchmark as it seems to be of the opinion of some that there is something lacking in my car's performance.

It would be fun, but you'd have take it as just that - fun!

There'd be so many levels of driver skill on the day (and some might say... balls) that nothing scientific could be gained from it.

It would be a good laugh though 

Yup  

And you forget one very important thing.
You are NOT ALLOWED to do ANY timing on a track day.
Instantly banned!
I don't support the idea of beating Tiffs time. The M3 has NOTHING to prove. Neither do we as the owners.

I am owning an M3 because I like it as is. End of story.
Doesn't bother me that it becomes a little old now. Things move on. Wait another 10 years....

Reminder to self.....at my next track day I must keep an eye in the mirror for fast approaching hot hatches.....not...

Seriously, while my car is only midly modified, a few of us normally get lumped in with the race cars at track days, being experienced trackers. There have been plenty of ocassions when we are passing full race cars in our mildly tuned road cars. Sure we are not blasting past, but speed through and exiting corners appears to be much better than a lot of more modern machinery even in race guise.

Trust me, I don't think an e30 M3 is the fastest thing on the planet, but owners of them really shouldn't be concerned about Sport KA's and the like.

Dazzieboy wrote: I would be up for an E30 M3 day at Angelsey, need to make it late spring early summer to replicate the conditions maybe Nick@TBMW could cover it as a magazine feature Would be a good follow on story and hopefully put the newly started myth that shopping cars are faster to bed

If you guys want to arrange it, we'll be there, and probably doing lots of driving too since Angry is one of my fave circuits

I have a standard car with exception of lowering springs. Does have totally new suspension with all original BMW parts except the springs.

This thread does need to be taken in context everyone here has a soft spot for the E30 but put in context it is a 20 year old car in its basic design and there has been huge progress over the last 20 years.

In all of these comparions ( i kept up with a this and that) the driver is the most important factor. We can hardly say Tiff Needle cant drive very well so why dispute his laptime . Im sure he is by far quicker than anyone that posts here. People have mentioned about Aarons car having done 170k but if my memory serves me correctly hasnt it had  an engine rebuild in the not too distant past.

I had an E46 M3 for a while and it would totally aniliate an E30 M3 if driven by drivers of comparable standard.

The e46 would easily out handle a standard E30 M3 as well. The difference is that the E30 is much easier to control and is more balanced on the limit but you will still be traveling much slower.

Chris.

Chris Miller wrote: IThe e46 would easily out handle a standard E30 M3 as well.

I'm sure it would, but how many people will lust after them and talk about their racing heritage and pedigree 15-20 years from now?

I'm almost certain the Street Ka won't be held in such high regard in the year 2021 (BTW I should point out that I'm part of the Electrical design team on these things..... Ask Rezaq)

Like Rezaq I suffered hideous amounts of abuse due to being beaten by the Lancia, but working here in Ford my misery was confounded with the beloved M3 only marginally faster than the Street Ka

I'm sure my car's ears are burning so I'll go and keep her company in the garage this evening

Not forgetting: Aaron, your car looked awesome in the hands of Tiff. Even if he was sliding around a bit, it was still much tidier than the Lancia.   I've got mine back now so perhaps see in you Billericay sometime?

This is the busiest I've ever seen this forum...

... hope it continues!