[Palmnuts]

Maybe a pointless thread this one but....

Following on from another post by SteveC in the thread 'M3 - Real world costs?', I thought I'd take his suggestion of an M3d and open up suggestions as to what the best current performance compromises are out there.

Currently, drivers of M3-class cars have to make do with fuel economy under 20mpg and into the low teens. So, to repeat what Chris said that although buyers of such cars shouldn't be bothered about fuel economy, I have to agree that it's not the actual money spent, more likely it's the huge amount of this that is taxed, the feeling of pissing money away unnecessarily and the inconvenience of the frequent fill-ups - with the exception of the last couple of weeks due to the weather, I seem to be whacking in £75-£80 of fuel every few days.

TBH, the feeling of spending too much on fuel has been the same whether it was M3, M6 or C63. The 335i was actually a great compromise as it could do 28-30mpg every day and the 335d must be even better.

So, I'm with Chris in that we need an M3d! A c380-400bhp diesel, with a genuine M3 chassis, at the price of a regular M3 must be possible and marketable?? Problem is, a diesel like that would nail a petrol M3 all day every day!!

So, until that comes along, and for those of us where a 335d is currently the best compromise but for whatever reason want a change or don't want a 335d, whats the best way to get at least M3 bhp and a real-world 25mpg?


Edit - it mustn't be over M3 money either!

[SiKkBaSs]

Corvette C5Z06

0-60 = 3.9 - 4.2
1/4 = 11.9 - 12.4
Top Speed 178

On street I usually see about 24-25 mpg but on the freeway 32-34mpg


(quoted from my cousin in Vancouver)



(I know it's a Corvette, but can't think of anything else)

[Gibbo]

Cayman S

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by SiKkBaSs

Corvette C5Z06

0-60 = 3.9 - 4.2
1/4 = 11.9 - 12.4
Top Speed 178

On street I usually see about 24-25 mpg but on the freeway 32-34mpg


(quoted from my cousin in Vancouver)



(I know it's a Corvette, but can't think of anything else)

Bear in mind US MPG is different to ours.........

[Palmnuts]

Originally Posted by Gibbo

Cayman S

Yeah...I figured Porsches would do well. They're all pretty efficient for the performance they have.

Originally Posted by SiKkBaSs

Corvette C5Z06

0-60 = 3.9 - 4.2
1/4 = 11.9 - 12.4
Top Speed 178

On street I usually see about 24-25 mpg but on the freeway 32-34mpg


(quoted from my cousin in Vancouver)



(I know it's a Corvette, but can't think of anything else)

Not a bad suggestion - I always wanted a Corvette until I hired one in the States! 25mpg using US gallons is about 21mpg in the UK.

[TMP]

Lotus Evora - £49k

Town mpg 22.8
Out of town mpg 43.5
Average mpg 32.5
0-60 mph (secs) 4.9
Max speed (mph) 162

[Real Thing]

I was getting about 25mpg from my C4S PDK (7 Speed Box) even when driven hard it was in the high teens with low 30s easy achievable on a motorway run and a 0-62mph time of 4.3 seconds

[SteveC]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

25mpg using US gallons is about 21mpg in the UK.

Otherway around. The UK gallon = 4.5 litres whereas the US gallon = 4 litres so you should get roughly 11% more miles per UK gallon compared to US MPG figures.

[Bungle009]

How about the new Golf R. 266bhp, 0-60 in 5.5 secs, 33mpg combined, (so 25 - 35 mpg for general driving) I know its not quite in the same league as an M3 performance wise, but you would have to drive an m3 very hard to put much distance between them, and it costs 28k. i think it makes a lot of sense. Also C02 < 200 whatevertheyares.

[Em135eye]

Has to be a Porsche - even the 911 gets decent mpg nowadays.

Used modern 8 pot diesel Merc might be in with a shout.

Corvettes are DIRE for fuel consumption.

[G33]

Originally Posted by Bungle009

How about the new Golf R. 266bhp, 0-60 in 5.5 secs, 33mpg combined, (so 25 - 35 mpg for general driving) I know its not quite in the same league as an M3 performance wise, but you would have to drive an m3 very hard to put much distance between them, and it costs 28k. i think it makes a lot of sense. Also C02 < 200 whatevertheyares.

My bro just ordered one of these with DSG as a run around!

[SolidSnake2634]

chip a 335d? lol

[peterg1965]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

Has to be a Porsche - even the 911 gets decent mpg nowadays.

Used modern 8 pot diesel Merc might be in with a shout.

Corvettes are DIRE for fuel consumption.

I could easily manage high 20's with my old CLK55 AMG V8 and still enjoy myself! Even managed low 30's once, driving like Miss Daisy though

[Dr Dave]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

Corvettes are DIRE for fuel consumption.

Not as bad as you might imagine Matt......mate has got a s/charged Corvette, retruns half-decent fuel cons if/when driven sensibly lol

[Palmnuts]

Originally Posted by SteveC

Otherway around. The UK gallon = 4.5 litres whereas the US gallon = 4 litres so you should get roughly 11% more miles per UK gallon compared to US MPG figures.

Doh! Yes, 1 US gallon is 0.83 of a UK gallon is making the US gallon SMALLER! Of course, this means you are getting more MPG in the UK when comparing the two.

I'll just go and