GN running the loop

[aeonflux]

Came upon a Grand National while driving the local loop. (CR1, Tarpon Springs, Florida.) I must say I have no clue what year/kind it was...all I remember was an emblem that said "3.5iturbo" (or something very similar) on the rear. It was jacked up in the back with nice, wide tires.

I was in my 2003 BMW M3 enjoying the nice day outside. Anyway, I caught him punching it from a dead stop just after one of the turns so I decided to run with him. Cars ended up being pretty much even. Once we passed the light and made the next turn he was inching past me when we hit it from about 40.

Then came the turns. Towards the end of the loop I floored it and he ducked in behind me around some curves. He couldn't/wouldn't keep up, but I don't hold that against him...it was fun anyway.

Looked like he was on the "test" phase of a tune-and-test day. Maybe I'll get to run with him again and meet him. [shrugs]

Pretty impressive car. Nice looking, too. Figured I would hunt down a message board and learn a little more about them.

Cheers!

[matt87]

2003 m3 = me drooling. who cares about the 03 cobra, the m3 is a real car. welcome to the board.

[jastrckl]

that badge you saw is "3.8 sfi turbo". sequential fuel injection, each cylinder has its own injector and fires when it's supposed to. the motor is a 90 degree v6 bastard child of a buick 350 v8.

[nickb]

My brother has a 89 bmw M3 race car, which is super fast around the turns, and my buddy has a 2003 SMG M3, which is great too, but there is nothing like these turbo cars. I' ve driven both regularly I should know.

M3 is the choice when looking for chicks though.

[orion681]

when i first read the post, i thought z3 and not m3, cause the z3 is a dog. m3 is a nice car, nice to see someone who drives a bmw compliment a domestic. most of the bmw drivers i can think of are cocky about them. welcome.

[blackbuick87]

What does an M3 run in the 1/4? Skidpad?

I saw one on the highway the other day, some dweeb on a cell phone of course. I would have smoked him, but the duallie runs out of steam above 80

I did think it was a nice car

[.38 special]

Kind of off topic, but Speaking of nice German cars and such, I just talked my girlfriend into buying a 99' Audi A4 Turbo all-wheel drive (she got a really good deal). Beautiful car inside and out, built really well--the turbo and all wheel drive are for me of course. It's no beast right now, but definately impressive for a 1.8 liter and anything with a turbo is fairly inexpensive to make fast. So does anyone know a web site or information about these cars--i'd like to do some cheap little stuff for right now.


I love German cars--Turbo Buicks are the only thing keeping me from turning German.

[aeonflux]

Originally posted by blackbuick87
What does an M3 run in the 1/4? Skidpad?

Quarter mile times are low- to mid-13s stock.

Skid pad will pull somewhere between .85 and .90. Not sure of the exact figures.

The M3 I've got, equipped with the SMG transmission, isn't really suited for drag racing. Then again, it's all for fun anyway and that's why I bought the car...to have fun. :)

Originally posted by orion681
most of the bmw drivers i can think of are cocky about them

There are tons of single-brand-snobs all over the place, unfortunately. On the M3 message board I frequent there are tons of them. It's sad, really...have some fun and enjoy what you've got.

[Weazel]

Wow, he was inching on you from 40?? Must've had some mods for sure. I haven't been in a newer M3, but even the '94 (or something, can't remember exactly) that I rode in was a beast when the RPMs were kept high. Our cars are generally weaker from a roll with the AT and sorta widely spaced gears.
That's a sick car you have there, I'd love to check out one of the newer ones. Thanks for visiting the board and giving props instead of talking trash.

[Weazel]

Oh, and just FYI my Motor Trend here says the '02 M3 coupe runs 69.0 mph through the slalom, which is just 1mph below the Z06 (which pulls. 1.00 gs on the skidpad). I know that skidpad and slalom aren't always related, but I would guess you're being modest with your guess of "only" 0.85-0.90 skidpad g's. I'll admit that I'm a GM man, but if I came across $50k I certainly wouldn't walk straight to the nearest Z-06 without test-driving the new M3.

[70Firebird/TTA]

I believe that the Buick 3.8 liter is based on a 305...minus 2 cylinders. The Syclone/Typhoon 4.2 liter V-6 is based on the 350 *(minus 2 cylinders).

[jastrckl]

Yup it's based on a 305. I -swear- it was me being dyslexic and not just plain stupid! lol. Good thing smaller buick is 305 and not 302 or I couldn't say I typod like that! woulda had to be a brainfart instead!

[TT/A1233]

Ummm, the only difference between the 305 and the 350 is the cylinder bore, that's it! Cranks, heads, cams, oil pumps, push rods, lifters, rocker arms etc are ALL interchangeable.

The 4.3 is the exact same design as the small block Chevy minus 2 cylinders. The Buick 3.8 isn't close to a small block Chevy design, they're in different galaxies.

[Quick6'n'-K.C.]

oh you guys have it all wrong, the 3.8 is really based off the 301 ponitac motor from the early 80's.....

ya see due to increased gas prices over the years, what those sneaky bastttards did was downsize on volume, so some engineer at the GM PLANT named jim bob decided that 8 cylinders was 2 too many
so they chopped 2 sylanders off, and ussed the extre metal to comgloberate a new buncha turbo mounts and extre L shaped brakets for some intercooled brackets....

lord knows why they hired betsy sue to listen to some harmonics under the hooood... ya know she was always good at listenin to the piano..

but she said movin that turbo from the back of the engine up towards the front would add an honest 100 ponies...... that girl was as smart as a whip i tell ya

[Data]

Hey, I drive a 98 328i, I love my car, but I also loved my Buick. I've thought about picking up an M3, but with insurance rates of 1500 every six months I decided I'll stick with the 328 (costs me about 800 every six) and get myself another GN at some point.

There really is nothing like a BMW when it comes to high quality driving though. Even without those extra horses in the M3 my five speed 328i pulls pretty nicely. After driving it for a couple of years now I'm loathe to go with anything less.

The brute power of the GN is great fun and I love the look of the car, but after so many years there are always things to be fixed and things that lack. I'll always want one as a second car (wish I hadn't had to sell my first one), but for a daily driver I think the BMW wins out.

Heh, though when I had the GN on my insurance as a second car it cost me about 200 bucks a year to insure.

[aeonflux]

Originally posted by Data
Heh, though when I had the GN on my insurance as a second car it cost me about 200 bucks a year to insure.

If only it were like that in the M3. :)

Currently I'm running about 1200 every 6 months. I could use that extra cash to increase my performance in hopes of catching all those fast GNs out there. ;)

[Data]

Heh, yeah 1200 bucks spent on modifying a GN will easily get you into the 12s in the 1/4 mile. Too bad they are as aerodynamic as a brick and handle like grandma's car.

Gotta love em!