Anyone drive the new X3 M40i yet , trying to decide if I should wait for it or go for the Macan S? I know it is not out till later this month but they have had some pre launch events.
Macan S vs the BMW 2018 X3 M40i
Andy B
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I have no doubt BMW fully has the capability to build the sports sedan and/or sports car that you would want. There's no reason they could not if they thought it made sense to do so.
They are chasing the almighty dollar (as well as many other monetary denominations) and building the vehicles they think the greater market wants and that they think they can make a profit on, and judging by their sales data, they are not doing a bad job of it. Nothing is off the table anymore, just look at the front wheel drive platform based X1 and the 2 series Active Tourer.
And Porsche is no less guilty.
It's been said they needed to build SUV's to keep the sports car business afloat. I for one don't believe their sports car business could possibly be unprofitable. I think it's a convenient excuse made up by their brilliant marketing people to minimize offending their sports car customers..."we are very sorry, but we had no choice but to expand our product line, or we would not be here"...what a laugh.
They saw the opportunity to parlay their reputation into more profits...a LOT MORE profit.
Brilliant, completely brilliant, and you have to give them credit for pulling it off while seemingly not diluting the luster of the sports car business.
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Sorry if I break the trend here guys, but I have a real problem equating SUV with sports car. I like my Macan S and I'm sure the Turbo is a serious kick in the butt, however neither they nor the X5M, X3M or AMG SUV are sports car. They are powerful with great suspensions which allow you to feel comfortable and secure driving 120 mph on a freeway while appreciating the subtle nuances of Davis' Bitches Brew. Sadly, we in America don't get to do that often, if any time. Even in Europe, Germany is the holdout willing to let fast cars drive fast.
I clocked 135 mph in my modded '11 VW GTI with my coworker on a California central valley back road, something I would not do in my Macan S. It's not that it can't reach that speed, it's that the weight of the car just doesn't inspire confidence in fast long curves on less than perfect road conditions. Similarly, I am absolutely certain that I can do the 30 miles Hwy 1 from Mill Valley, CA to Stinson Beach faster in the GTI than the Macan S. The comparison is not fair because one is a power SUV while the other is a small sports car.
I clocked 135 mph in my modded '11 VW GTI with my coworker on a California central valley back road, something I would not do in my Macan S. It's not that it can't reach that speed, it's that the weight of the car just doesn't inspire confidence in fast long curves on less than perfect road conditions. Similarly, I am absolutely certain that I can do the 30 miles Hwy 1 from Mill Valley, CA to Stinson Beach faster in the GTI than the Macan S. The comparison is not fair because one is a power SUV while the other is a small sports car.
Is it possible you posted in the wrong thread? Perhaps I missed something, but I don't see how your post addresses the 42 posts before it (although I don't disagree with much of what you said)
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The new X3 with the I6 will be a sweet ride, but at the end of the day, it’s a lifted 3 series. I imagine a GTS+COBB will put it in the rearview most of the time, and a Turbo will outpace it easily. Of course, tuning the M40i will crank it up a notch too - the B58 powerplant is a beast. And since we’re talking BMW, it’s not like the Individual program will be available for it here in the States, so exterior color and interior leather options will be severely limited compared to a Macan. The M Sport steering wheel won’t even be available for the first year of production on this thing - ask me how I know! 
Besides, the real cars to watch for will be the X3M and X4M. Now that will be a fun game!
Besides, the real cars to watch for will be the X3M and X4M. Now that will be a fun game!
If you drove a Macan S, and the thing you're taking away is that the infotainment system isn't as good as BMW, then you should buy the BMW. Seems like tech is more important to you than a great driving experience.
Looked at the new X3 at dealer today. Can?t stand the huge grills. And I?ve been a BMW fan for almost 15 years. Interior is a nicer. The dashboard was just okay IMO. It looks largely the same as other BMW?s of yesteryears (barely updated). The wood trim that I saw didn?t quite fit with the rest of the dash. Didn?t bother driving it because I wasn?t considering one; only swung by because we were at a dealer across the street for something else.
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Perhaps but many of the posts are comparing "sports" SUV's with sports cars...
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X3 M40i test drive.
Got to drive the new X3 M40i and have some comments. Engine is a beast and it’s as least as fast as the GTS, may even beat it in a drag. Transmission felt very good , almost felt like a DCT on hard acceleration. No good twisty stuff to drive on in town but handling felt just ok, steering felt very numb. Having to std steering wheel rather than an msport wheel (love the feel of that fat wheel) did not help matters. Big mistake by BMW if they don’t make that available, perhaps it’s just the launch vehicles. GTS has it beat for sure in handling and feel department. Suspension and dampers worked well and took care of the city streets rough spots. More complient that my prior Other series msports cars.
Interior is very nice and seats are comfy and supportive , still not a fan of the display not being built into the dash however. Exterior styling is just ok but may grow on you but some of the exterior plastics feel very flimsy, rear fascia for example. Would bug me every time I washed the car.
Got to drive the new X3 M40i and have some comments. Engine is a beast and it’s as least as fast as the GTS, may even beat it in a drag. Transmission felt very good , almost felt like a DCT on hard acceleration. No good twisty stuff to drive on in town but handling felt just ok, steering felt very numb. Having to std steering wheel rather than an msport wheel (love the feel of that fat wheel) did not help matters. Big mistake by BMW if they don’t make that available, perhaps it’s just the launch vehicles. GTS has it beat for sure in handling and feel department. Suspension and dampers worked well and took care of the city streets rough spots. More complient that my prior Other series msports cars.
Interior is very nice and seats are comfy and supportive , still not a fan of the display not being built into the dash however. Exterior styling is just ok but may grow on you but some of the exterior plastics feel very flimsy, rear fascia for example. Would bug me every time I washed the car.
interesting comments, how would you rate the seats quality to your Macan?
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Don't have a Macan yet but have been testing/browsing various vehicles. From my drives in both I would say the quality is on par btw the two and would need a long road trip drive to decide which was the best for me personally.
We have the new X4 M40i variant. If you can get past the Airbus rear end, the interior is pretty sharp; dash is better than the X3. Screen is built in. Seats are nice, exhaust is pretty nice for a Bimmer. Nice Purble as the rpms at idle are a bit higher than my Mac. In sport mode it gets a little nasty, in a good way. I think sport mode is a bit more aggressive than in my Mac... when driving at 60% or so. But if I got a bit more aggressive, say 80%.... the Macan starts to shine and it's a matter of it using that telepathy that's always quoted vs just holding gears a bit longer. The Bimmer does bark and burble when letting off the gas or downshifting in sport. It's pretty nice.
But you know what I really notice as a difference? The Macan really is a Jekyll and Hyde. You can drive it sedately and it's fairly relaxed. You can hear the potential. You just somehow know it's lurking there and all it takes is a bit of that right foot and here she comes. Now the Bimmer, you can always hear it. There's always a bit of drone, it might get a little old for a DD CUV. It holds gears in normal driving for a bit too. Suspension is a touch stiffer than my Mac in normal, but PASM may have something to do with that.
Don't get me wrong, my wife really likes it. And for the occasional romp on the gas and exhaust song, it does a good job of that. I think it maybe faster than my S. Even so, I'd pick my S again. Particularly when her sticker was $10k more than mine. I didn't get all the Nav and camera tech. But ssshhhhh..... I got a Porsche >
x4 m40i and Macan S, what a garage. From the reviews I understand the new X3M40i suspension is softer and more Jekyll and Hyde and a massive upgrade from previous X4/3 and noise is much sadated in comfort mode, when put in sport it gets nasty.We have the new X4 M40i variant. If you can get past the Airbus rear end, the interior is pretty sharp; dash is better than the X3. Screen is built in. Seats are nice, exhaust is pretty nice for a Bimmer. Nice Purble as the rpms at idle are a bit higher than my Mac. In sport mode it gets a little nasty, in a good way. I think sport mode is a bit more aggressive than in my Mac... when driving at 60% or so. But if I got a bit more aggressive, say 80%.... the Macan starts to shine and it's a matter of it using that telepathy that's always quoted vs just holding gears a bit longer. The Bimmer does bark and burble when letting off the gas or downshifting in sport. It's pretty nice.
But you know what I really notice as a difference? The Macan really is a Jekyll and Hyde. You can drive it sedately and it's fairly relaxed. You can hear the potential. You just somehow know it's lurking there and all it takes is a bit of that right foot and here she comes. Now the Bimmer, you can always hear it. There's always a bit of drone, it might get a little old for a DD CUV. It holds gears in normal driving for a bit too. Suspension is a touch stiffer than my Mac in normal, but PASM may have something to do with that.
Don't get me wrong, my wife really likes it. And for the occasional romp on the gas and exhaust song, it does a good job of that. I think it maybe faster than my S. Even so, I'd pick my S again. Particularly when her sticker was $10k more than mine. I didn't get all the Nav and camera tech. But ssshhhhh..... I got a Porsche >
still waiting for a head to head with the Macan.
From car and driver tests when they pitched the Velar vs the rest. (More charts in the review) The M40i looks promising
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-range-rover-velar-in-depth-model-review
https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2018-range-rover-velar-in-depth-model-review
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Hope to see you on the road
The X4 M40i you encountered was it Long Beach Blue ?
04.7 to 60 for the S. Wow, typical Porsche being conservative with their advertised times. I can't wait for my GTS and hopes I can crack 4.5 . If I had to chose something else right now, it would be the new GLC63 >
. If I had to chose something else right now, it would be the new GLC63 >
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I guess the 4.7s is the number with Sport Chrono launch control. Porsche advertises that as 5.0s.4.7 to 60 for the S. Wow, typical Porsche being conservative with their advertised times. I can't wait for my GTS and hopes I can crack 4.5
Just helped my parents (89 and 85) buy a '18 X3. The autonomous driving tech is very cool. It would be nice for Porsche to consider offering some of this (Audi has similar tech). I do a 1500 mile drive twice a year (snow birds) and it would help with the drive on my '17 GTS.
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