Re: 2001 M3 (or Audi vs. BMW?)

[Bill Elliott <wcelliot@concentric.net>]

Just my $.02

I have driven BMW's off and on for years. They are indeed an exceptional
car and I can't think of anything more _fun_ to drive.

My last driver before my UrQ was a tweaked Mustang GT.  Almost as much
_fun_ to drive as the BMW.  A bit faster, too.

But neither car was very forgiving and required quite a bit of skill and
concentration to drive quickly.  The UrQ is ultimately forgiving and
VERY easy to drive quickly.

I'm not an exceptional (or even good) driver in autocrossing or on the
track.  I've autocrossed and track driven a large number of cars... and
Mustangs and BMW's are almost as "exciting" as Corvairs.  This summer I
ran the UrQ on the track for the first time (Blackhawk).  There was
occaisional rain and the Corvairs and Mustangs were continually off the
track.  I have never been more comfortable on the track than I was in
the UrQ, wet or dry.  Point and shoot.  No big concerns about weight
distribution, brakes, late apex, etc. VERY forgiving.

Obviously a good driver would have been much faster, but my point is
that I would not have been nearly as fast OR AS SAFE in a BMW or
Mustang. I feel the same on the highway.

That being said, should a cheap first generation M3 come along....

Bill Elliott
Lake Mills, WI