More E90 Pics and 1st drive *Lots of pics*

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by killerdeck

Anyone else notice the cooling fins on the calipers?

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by ff

RE-050's, huh? That's a nice step up from the Conti's. Hopefully that (or an equivalent, or better) will be the standard SP tire for the 330, going forward.

RE050 run flats are what I have on the Z4. They're grippy, excellent turn-in but breaks away without warning...Typical of run-flats. Car rides really rough with the run-flats compared to the S-03s, and the S-03s are notoriously rough.

[killerdeck]

Originally Posted by rumatt

> better gearbox

Why is the E46 gearbox better? Just the shorter throw?

> rawness that my ZHP has

You know you're in trouble when the E46 is a benchmark of rawness.

I was making this comment in light of the E46 vs E90. Thats all, no other comparisons.

[killerdeck]

Originally Posted by ride365

... until the E90 ZHP.

it's not that i don't believe you -- i'm sure you really do feel that strongly. but it does sound a bit amusing considering the ZHP is the most recent "model" of the 3 before the E90, and you've already sworn off all future models.

i dunno... maybe it only sounds funny to me.

No it has to do with a lot of different reasons a lot of them having nothing to do with what may or may not come out in the future. (ie service among other things)

[killerdeck]

Originally Posted by ayn

The E46 gearbox really isn't any good, if the E90 is worse than the car is worthless... heh...

Have you had a chance to drive the ZHP w/ manual? I would agree that almost all other iterations of the manual gearboxes in the E46 and E90 for that matter stink.

[TD]

Originally Posted by killerdeck

Have you had a chance to drive the ZHP w/ manual? I would agree that almost all other iterations of the manual gearboxes in the E46 and E90 for that matter stink.

Scroll down to my first long post of the thread... http://forums.carmudgeons.com/viewtopic.php?t=4072

(Sorry JST.)

[ZBB]

I had dinner with my parents last night... In a first, they had seen the new 3 before me. My mom has an '02 325CiC now and I guess they are starting to think about replacing it. She liked the new 3.

I'll need to stop by and take a look now.

[killerdeck]

Originally Posted by TD

Scroll down to my first long post of the thread... http://forums.carmudgeons.com/viewtopic.php?t=4072

(Sorry JST.)

Im well aware of your take TD, I was asking ayn.

[ayn]

Never driven a ZHP really, I'm sure it's very special, but it'd have to be be leaps and bounds better than my 330Ci for it to be as good as you think it is... I've known TD long enough to trust his opinions on it though, if he thinks it sucks, it most likely does! Maybe I'll test drive yours at our next lil Austin lunch meet.

--Andrew

[TD]

Originally Posted by ayn

Never driven a ZHP really, I'm sure it's very special, but it'd have to be be leaps and bounds better than my 330Ci for it to be as good as you think it is... I've known TD long enough to trust his opinions on it though, if he thinks it sucks, it most likely does! Maybe I'll test drive yours at our next lil Austin lunch meet.

--Andrew

To be fair, re-read my post that I linked. I never said the car sucks. In fact, I had a number of nice things to say about it. I just thought the clutch was among the worst I have ever driven. Period.

The car has a lot going for it. It's firm but still comfortable. Quick. Handsome and still sporty.

But visceral? No. And possessing a praiseworthy clutch/shifter feel? Absolutely not.