[Moderato]

Ferrari is probably in panic mode after seeing this. I mean the 335i was practically just as fast as the F430. It looks like the boys from Maranello will have to cut their Costa del Sol vacations short and go back to the drawing board. They are probably cursing the 335i right now.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by Moderato

Ferrari is probably in panic mode after seeing this. I mean the 335i was practically just as fast as the F430. It looks like the boys from Maranello will have to cut their Costa del Sol vacations short and go back to the drawing board. They are probably cursing the 335i right now.

What are you talking about? 5.6s per lap is a lifetime on the track.

[jontran]

i have to agree with shimshim, drag yea very lil maybe 335 but course has to go to m coupe and evo

[Moderato]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

What are you talking about? 5.6s per lap is a lifetime on the track.

5 seconds?!? If it was faster then the M3 by 5 seconds, I say OK you have something there, but the F430 for 200K more then the 335i is only 5 seconds faster everytime around? Something about all those times in that comparision seems a bit skewed to me.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by Moderato

5 seconds?!? If it was faster then the M3 by 5 seconds, I say OK you have something there, but the F430 for 200K more then the 335i is only 5 seconds faster everytime around? Something about all those times in that comparision seems a bit skewed to me.

It WAS faster than the M3 by 5 seconds! I agree that something is funny with the times though.

[Moderato]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

It WAS faster than the M3 by 5 seconds! I agree that something is funny with the times though.

No, I ment if the 335i was faster then the M3 by 5 seconds, then you'd have something to talk about in this whole 335i vs. M3 debate. But I'm saying that the F430 was only 5 seconds faster then both the 335 & M3, and for 200K more IMO it should do better then that.

[Jaws]

Originally Posted by sdiver68

That's why I love the track. All the benchracing BS goes out the window and it's just you and your recorded times and if racing, where you finished.

True, but for a true representation the laps should be run on same day to eliminate variations in ambient temperature, humidity, track temperature,.....

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by Moderato

No, I ment if the 335i was faster then the M3 by 5 seconds, then you'd have something to talk about in this whole 335i vs. M3 debate. But I'm saying that the F430 was only 5 seconds faster then both the 335 & M3, and for 200K more IMO it should do better then that.

The M coupe definitely shouldn't be 5 seconds faster than the 335i, that's asking too much, because like I said 5 seconds is a LONG time. It definitely shouldn't be slower by any margin though.

The F430 is still a production car, it's not a racecar. Still, it goes pretty fast around a track, while retaining driveability on the street.

[Moderato]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

The M coupe definitely shouldn't be 5 seconds faster than the 335i, that's asking too much, because like I said 5 seconds is a LONG time. It definitely shouldn't be slower by any margin though.

The F430 is still a production car, it's not a racecar. Still, it goes pretty fast around a track, while retaining driveability on the street.

I still think it sucks. For 200K more the F430 should be more then 5 seconds faster around the block, let alone a track then either the 335i or the M3. What are the Nurburgring times between all these cars? I bet the F430 is more then 5 seconds faster then the 335i there.

[e46hijinks]

Originally Posted by Moderato

I still think it sucks. For 200K more the F430 should be more then 5 seconds faster around the block, let alone a track then either the 335i or the M3. What are the Nurburgring times between all these cars? I bet the F430 is more then 5 seconds faster then the 335i there.

It sure would be based purely on the fact that the Nurburgring is a MUCH longer road/course to begin with, with laptimes ranging anywhere between 5 and 13 minutes. Five second difference would not be anything astonishing. Based on this tracks relatively small size (to the Nurburgring) the Ferrari's 5-second rule on the 335i is quite significant. It's all relative.

[Moderato]

Originally Posted by e46hijinks

It sure would be based purely on the fact that the Nurburgring is a MUCH longer road/course to begin with, with laptimes ranging anywhere between 5 and 13 minutes. Five second difference would not be anything astonishing. Based on this tracks relatively small size (to the Nurburgring) the Ferrari's 5-second rule on the 335i is quite significant. It's all relative.

So then these numbers are complete B$. I mean let's face it, my wife's Outback is just as fast as a McLaren F1 around my BATHTUB. So what they do is compare these cars on a track which won't have a huge disparity in numbers, making the 335i seem like it's just as fast as an M3, STI, EVO, whatever. That's why I like to look at the Nurburgring times because it's hard to B$ the results with numbers there.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by Moderato

So then these numbers are complete B$. I mean let's face it, my wife's Outback is just as fast as a McLaren F1 around my BATHTUB. So what they do is compare these cars on a track which won't have a huge disparity in numbers, making the 335i seem like it's just as fast as an M3, STI, EVO, whatever. That's why I like to look at the Nurburgring times because it's hard to B$ the results with numbers there.

Lies. The Outback would understeer and be forced to create a wider arch, whereas the F1 would stay tight and/or do a power over drift around the bathtub, lapping a faster lap time.

Here's a huge list of Ring times:
http://www.supercars.net/PitLane?vie...10073&bottom=0

[Moderato]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

Lies. The Outback would understeer and be forced to create a wider arch, whereas the F1 would stay tight and/or do a power over drift around the bathtub, lapping a faster lap time.

Yeah but if the bathtub was filled with slippery soapy water then the Outback would win because the F1 would oversteer into the bedroom.

Anyway, I was searching and it seems the 335i is about 4 seconds slower at the 'ring then the E46 M3. That's actually pretty impressive to me, I thought it would be slower then that.

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by Moderato

Yeah but if the bathtub was filled with slippery soapy water then the Outback would win because the F1 would oversteer into the bedroom.

Anyway, I was searching and it seems the 335i is about 4 seconds slower at the 'ring then the E46 M3. That's actually pretty impressive to me, I thought it would be slower then that.

True, unless Keiichi Tsuchiya was behind the wheel.

The F430 is like 30 seconds faster than the 335i on the Ring. You happy now?

[Moderato]

Originally Posted by shimshimhada

The F430 is like 30 seconds faster than the 335i on the Ring. You happy now?

Yep.

[sdiver68]

How much track time do you have and at what tracks Moderato? what kinds of times did you run at those tracks?

[sdiver68]

Originally Posted by Jaws

True, but for a true representation the laps should be run on same day to eliminate variations in ambient temperature, humidity, track temperature,.....

Given similar conditions, track times are pretty consistent. It's true a 40 degree or misty track will be several seconds slower than an 85 degree sunny track, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say I doubt they would have that much variance for the purposes of this test.

This test holds 1000% more credence than the guesstimates of some of the bench racers in this thread.

[Moderato]

Originally Posted by sdiver68

How much track time do you have and at what tracks Moderato? what kinds of times did you run at those tracks?

On PS2 or on Xbox 360? Where are you going with this?

[shimshimhada]

Originally Posted by sdiver68

Given similar conditions, track times are pretty consistent. It's true a 40 degree or misty track will be several seconds slower than an 85 degree sunny track, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say I doubt they would have that much variance for the purposes of this test.

This test holds 1000% more credence than the guesstimates of some of the bench racers in this thread.

I have 10,000 track hours under my belt.

[IMJUSS2NASTY]

Did you guys notice that the Evo 9 and STI had better times then our beloved 335i?

[ArmyBimmerDude]

Evo's and STI's are made for one purpose, racing. They are practically gutted of any of the comforts that a 335 has, therefore they have less weight. That being said, the outcome only shows that if a 335 can hang with all of those bad ass cars, imagine what a 335 w/ Xede will do.

[2e9x's]

It was entertaining reading and nothing more. The reality of being on a track is that the driver has SO much to do with lap times. I have in-car video from a recent BMW CCA Driver's School at Willow Springs during which I kept up with an e46 M3 for a while...while driving an X3. Is the X3 as fast as the M3??? Hell NO.

I am excited about my 335i and can't wait to get it! It is an amazing car in its own right. Thank you for posting this article!