944s2 as daily drive ?

[edh]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

To the original poster: my S2 does around 15k miles a year on all roads and in all conditions. I can't think what I would ever replace it with....
Oli.

I can [][] - just add boost []

 

[dlknight]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

To the original poster: my S2 does around 15k miles a year on all roads and in all conditions. I can't think what I would ever replace it with. They are simply superb cars for this sort of use.


Oli.

My turbo is a daily driver and does a similar mileage to Oli, can feel a bit sluggish driving around town but has never bothered me. The boost on the open road always brings a smile...

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: edh

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

To the original poster: my S2 does around 15k miles a year on all roads and in all conditions. I can't think what I would ever replace it with....
Oli.

I can [][]   - just add boost []

I refer my learned friend to my earlier statement; it still applies. []


Oli.

 

[James_G]

ORIGINAL: gav_sw20

Am getting bored of my e46 323 coupe and want something a bit more fun to drive to work.

Really? Assuming it's not an automatic I find that quite hard to believe. Admittedly my E46 has a few more horses, but it's anything but dull.

Anyway, if you're commited to a change then as you've heard the S2 can be easily pressed into regular service as a commuter. Personally that's not how I use it, and I far prefer driving my BMW (yes I know, I'm a heretic and must be burned) but I commuted in the S2 one day last week and other than getting a bit hot, all was absolutely fine.

Based on my experience then, an S2 will be:

Noisier
Have heavier steering
Use a touch more fuel
Hotter in summer
Less comfortable, ride wise
More aggro, as would any car that's going to be circa 8 yrs older than your current one.
Less sonerous, i.e. you'll miss that nice six cylinder BMW sound

However it will feel:

Lower and more sporty
Nicer going round corners (just)
A bit more special if you get a nice one
More connected through the touch points (or more seats of the pants)

And it will be:

More practical, load area wise
Probably about the £££ same to run

And you'll get let out of junctions more easily.[]

 

[Peter Empson]

ORIGINAL: edh

I can [][]   - just add boost []

Ahh, add a supercharger, what a super idea []

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: James_G
.... my E46 has a few more horses, but it's anything but dull.

Anyway, if you're commited to a change then as you've heard the S2 can be easily pressed into regular service as a commuter. Personally that's not how I use it, and I far prefer driving my BMW (yes I know, I'm a heretic and must be burned) but I commuted in the S2 one day last week and other than getting a bit hot, all was absolutely fine.

Based on my experience then, an S2 will be:

Noisier
Have heavier steering
Use a touch more fuel
Hotter in summer
Less comfortable, ride wise
More aggro, as would any car that's going to be circa 8 yrs older than your current one.
Less sonerous, i.e. you'll miss that nice six cylinder BMW sound

However it will feel:

Lower and more sporty
Nicer going round corners (just)
A bit more special if you get a nice one
More connected through the touch points (or more seats of the pants)

And it will be:

More practical, load area wise
Probably about the £££ same to run

And you'll get let out of junctions more easily.[]

That's an interesting set of observations James. Thanks. When I bought my S2 I was sorely tempted by an E46 M3 as an alternative, and decided in favour of the 944. Your comparison suggests that I made the right choice. FWIW, the principle reason I chose as I did was because of the image of the BMW, particularly in the East End of London, where I live. However the other factors listed suggest I made the right choice for a number of reasons!


Oli.

 

[sawood12]

Is the E46 the square nose one? If so they cost at least double to insure as a 944 Turbo, and the Evo's are even more. Also i'd say they are not as good a car as a turbo. Evo mag took one and spent about £10k - £15k on it, stripped it out, fitted a roll cage, race suspension, AP Racing brakes and did some other mods with the aim to break 8 minutes at the ring. Even with a proffessional driver at the wheel and many attempts it was only able to post a similar time to Davyboy in his near stock 944 Turbo on R spec tyres (I think Jon 'Suffolk944' has this car now). Dayvyboy is clearly a very accomplished driver, so assuming his driving skills are similar to the proffessional driver Evo mag employed then that says to me you need to spend upwards of £10k on an E46 M3 and strip it to the bone to make it as good as a near stock turbo with leather and A/C on R spec tyres.

 

[James_G]

ORIGINAL: sawood12

Is the E46 the square nose one?  If so they cost at least double to insure as a 944 Turbo, and the Evo's are even more.  Also i'd say they are not as good a car as a turbo.  Evo mag took one and spent about £10k - £15k on it, stripped it out, fitted a roll cage, race suspension, AP Racing brakes and did some other mods with the aim to break 8 minutes at the ring.  Even with a proffessional driver at the wheel and many attempts it was only able to post a similar time to Davyboy in his near stock 944 Turbo on R spec tyres (I think Jon 'Suffolk944' has this car now).  Dayvyboy is clearly a very accomplished driver, so assuming his driving skills are similar to the proffessional driver Evo mag employed then that says to me you need to spend upwards of £10k on an E46 M3 and strip it to the bone to make it as good as a near stock turbo with leather and A/C on R spec tyres.

If I recall correctly that was an E36 M3 (non Evo ) GT, which has the lower output engine (286 vs 321bhp) but the theoretically stronger 5 speed box and no multi-VANOS issues. If you want an E36 M3 it's a good place to be although that one from Evo mag was very far from standard, as you say. However don't forget that they were trying to break 8 minutes of the 'Ring when doing a full lap, which means closing the circuit. I suspect that Davyboy didn't have this luxury and so would be doing a shorter lap, although I am happy to be corrected.

Still, my observations were made based on a non M3 E46 and an S2 with the assumption that they are totally standard, as beyond that comparisons with cost/ride/handling/fitness for purpose become slightly meaningless.

Personally I wouldn't swap out of a decent engined E46 (as per the OP here) into an S2 if it were my only car. But I think that an S2 makes a great compliment to one, obviously.

Still, it's horses for courses and I await to hear what the OP thinks.