CloseFirst drive reviews are in:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/Search-Results/First-drives/BMW-M4-Coupe-2014-CAR-review/
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/bmw/m4/first-drives/bmw-m4-first-drive-review
http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/bmw-m3-m4-first-drive-2014-5-8
Once again German engineers seem obsessed by making their cars the fastest and best handling machines ever but at the expense of steering feel and an involving drive 
Gen II Cayman S
"The M4 has an uninspiring idle and sounds much like a big capacity turbodiesel at part throttle."
"the new engine lacks engagement and sounds disappointingly flat at certain points in the rev range. "
"But the engine note doesn’t develop or change as the revs build."
Disappointing. I had the hope that at least BMWs M-Division were able to produce a turbo-charged engine with a decent sound. Recently I saw a video comparison between a 911 Turbo S and a Jaguar F-Type coupe. At some point in the video the test driver said "...the Porsche sounds like a well behaving washing machine". That all doesn't make much hope for the next 911 generation...
911 S Cabrio (2013), Panamera GTS (2013)
I was worried about the steering feel and it seems justifiably so. Seems just like all the other electric racks - accurate with good weighting, but very numb to feel and feedback. I continue to doubt that this technology has the potential to become as good as hydraulic (which itself is a big compromise from manual, in cars light enough to use it).
I wonder if they'll be able to improve the car much with the Competition Package which will come next year?
73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs), 06 EVO9 with track mods. Former: 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550
May 9, 2014 9:06:59 PM
BMW M3 tested by Autocar: First Drive Video...
"This new version of the M3 is the latest in a long line of high-performance rear-drive BMWs, but it's the first M3 with a turbocharged engine. Can it live up to the pedigree of its predecessors?"
BMW M3 tested by Autocar: First Drive -- Video Link
May 9, 2014 9:44:28 PM
Power slides and drifting is not the fastest way and certainly not the safest way around curves. Car test videos are full of them now and they are starting to all look just stupid. A hundred dollar junkyard Pontiac Fiero on snow tires will do them all day long. If drifting is a big reason to buy a BMW M car god help us.
May 9, 2014 10:35:57 PM
The M3 doesn't sound too bad in this video with Justin Bell..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmddgGPA2i0#t=402
2013 BMW 750 xDrive & 2012 x5 & 2014 991 TTS Cab. Range Rover V8 on order June14 - GT3 or Huracan to add next......decisions decisions decisions.....
May 10, 2014 7:12:47 AM
JimFlat6:
Power slides and drifting is not the fastest way and certainly not the safest way around curves. Car test videos are full of them now and they are starting to all look just stupid. A hundred dollar junkyard Pontiac Fiero on snow tires will do them all day long. If drifting is a big reason to buy a BMW M car god help us.
In Sutcliffs video there is so much drifting and tire squeeking that it is difficult to hear the engine noise! That was really irritating and does not help the car.
911 S Cabrio (2013), Panamera GTS (2013)
Sadly with ever stringent emission regulations forced induction is the only way to extract adequate power out of an engine - and that totally muffles engine sound. I doubt if even the next 911 if it has turbocharging ( as rumoured) will sound any better.
Call me a heretic but even the 991 doesn't have the same mechanical sounds that my recently departed 997/2 had - it doesn't appeal to me for some strange reason and I've now driven the 991 on quite a few occasions. Maybe it's more Playstation experience than the real deal or maybe it was just me. M3 / M4 seems to have gone the same way.
BMW 335d M Sport Touring estoril blue(on order) - Skoda Octavia Mk.3 daily drive
Interesting article in the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung today. Maybe Harris has been that impressed by the new model´s improvements that its shortcomings have been faded out:
+ stiff chassis, very direct connection of chassis and suspension
very crisp turn-in, lots of grip on front axle
very impressive brake performance
suspension suitable on racetracks, smooth country roads and Autobahn
- engine lacks spontanity, thrust and sound at lower rev range
steering is progressive and linear but lacks feel (irrespective of setting)
suspension lacking in compliance over rough surfaces,
chassis movement in combination with the available torque leads to extensive intervention of ESP
superiority over predecessor not as big as fact sheet implies
May 10, 2014 6:14:30 PM
Ferdie:
Interesting article in the German newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung today. Maybe Harris has been that impressed by the new model´s improvements that its shortcomings have been faded out:
+ stiff chassis, very direct connection of chassis and suspension
very crisp turn-in, lots of grip on front axle
very impressive brake performance
suspension suitable on racetracks, smooth country roads and Autobahn- engine lacks spontanity, thrust and sound at lower rev range
steering is progressive and linear but lacks feel (irrespective of setting)
suspension lacking in compliance over rough surfaces,
chassis movement in combination with the available torque leads to extensive intervention of ESP
superiority over predecessor not as big as fact sheet implies
It reads like a artificial M. No joy driver there. M4/M3 read more like performance options and not like a holistic performance car. Did BMW M engineers throw in the towel and say lets just make it good enough instead of excellent?
Maybe the M2 will be more connected feeling and have a better suspension and less throttle lag.
JimFlat6:
Maybe the M2 will be more connected feeling and have a better suspension and less throttle lag.
I think they are going to have to aim for more throttle lag. With the current car, they've made the turbos so small to reduce lag that they run out of breath well before redline (so it doesn't have that burst of power at the top of the tach). I find that more annoying than a little more lag at low revs.
73 Carrera RS 2.7 Carbon Fiber replica (1,890 lbs), 06 EVO9 with track mods. Former: 73 911S, Two 951S's, 996 C2, 993 C2, 98 Ferrari 550
dreamcar:
Call me a heretic but even the 991 doesn't have the same mechanical sounds that my recently departed 997/2 had - it doesn't appeal to me for some strange reason and I've now driven the 991 on quite a few occasions.
When did you get rid of the 997? I must of missed it.
JimFlat6:
It reads like a artificial M. No joy driver there. M4/M3 read more like performance options and not like a holistic performance car. Did BMW M engineers throw in the towel and say lets just make it good enough instead of excellent?Maybe the M2 will be more connected feeling and have a better suspension and less throttle lag.
From the AC video, it does seem fairly chuckable, and you can still hear the growl, though it seems a bit artificial (is it one of these synthesized sounds??). But some kudos to M division for 1) reversing the trend to weight increases, and 2) still offering a manual. (now lets see if anyone still orders it 
). To me, it seems more the successor to the early M5s - fast 4 door saloon, and size wise is likely fairly close as well.
2011 Range Rover Sport S/C, 2009 Porsche 911S
Woolfe:
dreamcar:
Call me a heretic but even the 991 doesn't have the same mechanical sounds that my recently departed 997/2 had - it doesn't appeal to me for some strange reason and I've now driven the 991 on quite a few occasions.
When did you get rid of the 997? I must of missed it.
Hi Woolfe - we said a sad farewell a couple of weeks ago now. A very hard decision that we've given a great deal of thought over. We have had to come to terms that we cannot justify the costs of running such a car purely as a "sunny day & Sunday" toy. From November to March it stays in the garage on Charge-O-Mat life support. Retirement is only a few years away for both of us and we have to start being more sensible financially sadly. so the 911 has gone, we are selling SWMBO's shopping trolley privately and we are buying a BMW 335d M Sport Touring with a near 20% discount and 5 years free servicing thrown in.
we've had a Porsche, (2 x Boxsters, 1 x Cayman and the 911) spanning the last 9 years and of course it will take a while to come to terms with no longer having a fine sports car in the garage. To be honest we haven't been as sad parting with the 911 as we did our beloved second Boxster that we sold in a moment of extreme stupidity.
Last morning with a Porsche on the drive :-
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BMW 335d M Sport Touring estoril blue(on order) - Skoda Octavia Mk.3 daily drive
Back on topic, and having re-listened to the Autocar test I wouldn't want an M3 or M4. The engine is the centre of a sports car for me and the way it sounds. If it doesn't sound right it kills the appeal stone dead for me.
BMW 335d M Sport Touring estoril blue(on order) - Skoda Octavia Mk.3 daily drive
Woolfe:
Sure you will enjoy your bm. The 8 speed auto shift is a thing of beauty and believe me I am not an auto person! Ok lead question now, is the 997 2 a better drivers car than the 991? Bearing in mind we all love the new technology.
Thanks Woolfe - I'm sure we'll enjoy the BMW - thankfully there's a couple of months gap before delivery so will avoid a direct back to back comparison with the 911 - there's no substitute for a Porsche sadly.
The 991 rides better , has a much nicer and higher quality interior, more economical, quicker and features much more up to date technology BUT for me it just seems a bit too much Playstation where the 997/2 is a much more mechanical experience - to me the 991 has become more of a grand tourer in character and less of a sports car.
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BMW 335d M Sport Touring estoril blue(on order) - Skoda Octavia Mk.3 daily drive
dreamcar:
...it just seems a bit too much Playstation where the 997/2 is a much more mechanical experience - to me the 991 has become more of a grand tourer in character and less of a sports car.
Well, yes and no. It is different. In no way less sporty though. It is a notch up IMHO, but less mechanical and more comfortable.
However, one area where the 991 beats the 997 is the exhaust note. It sounds so much better than the 997 and the PSE is proper loud. For a non-GT 911 very loud indeed. I like.
2014 991 Carrera 4S | Dark Blue Metallic | PDK | S-PASM (-20mm) | PSE
2010 Audi S5 cabrio | Ibis White
bluelines:
dreamcar:
...it just seems a bit too much Playstation where the 997/2 is a much more mechanical experience - to me the 991 has become more of a grand tourer in character and less of a sports car.Well, yes and no. It is different. In no way less sporty though. It is a notch up IMHO, but less mechanical and more comfortable.
However, one area where the 991 beats the 997 is the exhaust note. It sounds so much better than the 997 and the PSE is proper loud. For a non-GT 911 very loud indeed. I like.
Hi bluelines 
- not driven a 991 with PSE - but I love PSE and that's one aspect of Porsche ownership I'm going to really miss. 
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BMW 335d M Sport Touring estoril blue(on order) - Skoda Octavia Mk.3 daily drive
Gnil:
Dreamcar : Sad to see you beautiful 997 go. But It will remain always here on RT . Long live the new king !
Hi Gnil I'm really sad - it's gone two weeks now and the angst hasn't gone away at all. Seeing (and hearing one with PSE) yesterday on my drive home didn't help either - but the time has come to be sensible and boring.
The 335d will be a really nice car I'm sure, and quick, but it isn't a sports car and more importantly it isn't a Porsche.
I'll stay around here of course - as maybe an "associate" Rennteamer rather than a "proper one" as it is a sports car forum. 
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BMW 335d M Sport Touring estoril blue(on order) - Skoda Octavia Mk.3 daily drive
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