Read Joe DeMatio's comments on driving the 2008 BMW M3.
First, long-awaited drive in the new, V-8-engined M3. Well, BMW does not disappoint. I was a big fan of the last-generation (E46-series) M3, which seemed about perfect, but the new one is that much more lively and sharp-edged. The V-8 engine is a work of art: so energetic, so smooth yet raspy, so linear in its power delivery.
First thing I noticed, though, is that the tach no longer has orange lights at the upper reaches of its dial that warn you not to over-rev the engine when it is cold. Turns out that the tach moves into proper position automatically, so you don't scream to the amazingly high, 8400-rpm redline until the engine wants you to. Trust me, you'll want to get there, too, just as soon as you can.
Clutch take-up is typically BMW M: very progressive and precise, with good pedal feel. Our car's six-speed manual felt a bit too rigid to me. I had a hard time downshifting from third to second gears, so I ended up driving mostly in third and fourth, which, truth be told, will cover most of your needs between 30 and 100 mph quite nicely.
The steering is super-accurate and precise, and although it is not quite as telepathic to your fingertips as Porsche steering is, there's little to complain about. I found the car very easy to place on the road, and it was extremely easy to make minute steering corrections at high speeds to avoid the spring-thaw potholes that plague SE Michigan. I also found the car to have amazing grip; in wide sweepers at 70 to 90 mph, it was glued to the road.
Can't wait to drive the M-DCT transmission in this, which is going on sale shortly. That's BMW's new dual-clutch gearbox that replaces the ill-fated SMG transmission from the last-generation M3.