When looking for a replacement for my M3 (got tired of loading kids into the back seat of a coupe), I desperately wanted to get an ATS-V. Best looks in its class IMO, and most of the magazines said it was a better drive.

Light makes right.

Yup - every chassis can handle a different amount of power and has a different “Goldilocks” level. Referencing the leded image, past M3s seemed to keep it at the Goldilocks line, but it seems like this latest one has crossed it.

I’ve found that horsepower is literally one of the least important things in determining how fun a car is.

So we’re agreed that V-10 F1 cars don’t need to come back, then.

Best shade of blue for a BMW?

While I agree that usually marketers will suck the joy out of almost anything in life, I have never heard or seen any automotive marketing specifically advocating automatic transmissions for the transport of infants.

Do you have any examples?

And of course, any M3 sedan with stick-shift is the ultimate “Dad who doesn’t…

BMW nomenclature in summary:

Not at all. Remember, they’re only equal to about 60MPH. These are RWD cars, meaning that the limiting factor is always going to be traction at low speeds. Once you start getting out to the quarter mile, the increased power of the bigger M starts to be more apparent (and if they had posted 40-70 rolling start times it…

The only problem now is that the inevitable 0 series sounds silly

The first BMW I drove was a 2004 X5 4.4i with the cold weather pkg, and sport pkg. It belonged to a friend of mine who had recently moved to Los Angeles as well, and from the confines of this leather laden luxury SUV we explored California. Countless roadtrips to the mountains of Lake Tahoe, Mammoth, and Big Bear…

The spec sheet for the 228i is oddly similar to the E36 M3 in US form.

I guess the LS swap is fine, but if it were me, I’d try to find the S50B32 and drop it in. Also, I think the E36 is about the handsomest 3 series ever. Maybe I’m crazy, but a properly sorted E36 sounds to me like perfection as far as BMW goes. I’m a Porsche guy myself.

Cost is certainly a factor. Bloated appearance is another. I’ve been looking at the M4, but it really does seem like a really large car.

I lament selling my manual E92 335i- in terms of smiles-per-miles, that car was amazing and as I’m looking into options for my next car, the 435/M4 just don’t seem as nimble or edgy…

I think if you're in the market for a mustang a BMW won't change your mind

At least you weren’t RS'ted

Now just slap a tail-gate on it and sell it as a ute

What? No Zonda-like W220 S600?