Quote:
Originally Posted by Josh (PA)
I asked to better judge the overall livability of the 3. I figure the less you use the e46 (considering how much you love it) the more the 3 checks all the fits your lifestyle requirement boxes
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Yeah it's pretty good.
I do notice that I like it quite a bit less with snows on it. I don't dislike the Sottozero's at all. They're quite good in the dry and my first impression was damn these are really good for snows. And I thought that since it's a bit of a numb car in the first place, the slightly squishier sidewalls and squirmier tread would just blend in and not be as noticeable.
But no, it's somehow the opposite. They don't layer well. You now have a slightly numb heavy car where you can tell the tires are being a little weird, but you can't feel enough to really figure out what is happening - so it translates to a vague feeling of being disconnected. The grippy 4S's and the immediate turn-in helps fight the numbness and give a feeling of responsiveness.
It's still a very capable daily driver and neat driving experience. But the soul isn't there. The 20" wheels and Michelin 4s's are gold. They're somehow more compliant too, when pumped up to 42psi. Don't ask me how.
Would 18 or 19 inchers with decent tires be as good as the 20's w/ 4S? Probably? Maybe? Dunnno.