08-21-2017, 06:41 PM
I'll let Jake chime in on the details of the ownership experience and how it actually behaved on the track, but I was personally very unimpressed with how it drove, especially because auto journalists in 2011-2012 were calling them the "$25,000 M3".
Also worth noting that my only experience is in a stock, first model year 2013, so I don't know how much of my experience was due to teething issues that might've been addressed later on.
In short, it's a very good car for making you *feel* like you're driving fast, but it's not a great car either for comfortable long distance cruising or for actually driving fast. The torque steer is comically violent, the ride is pretty jarring, and the electric steering comes out of the box set to "sooper-dooper-twitchy". The styling is... a lot, inside and out, although they've personally grown on me in more muted colors like silver or black.
I will say they are pretty fun to romp up and down the highway, giggling like a moron when the overboost feature kicks on.
Also worth noting that my only experience is in a stock, first model year 2013, so I don't know how much of my experience was due to teething issues that might've been addressed later on.
In short, it's a very good car for making you *feel* like you're driving fast, but it's not a great car either for comfortable long distance cruising or for actually driving fast. The torque steer is comically violent, the ride is pretty jarring, and the electric steering comes out of the box set to "sooper-dooper-twitchy". The styling is... a lot, inside and out, although they've personally grown on me in more muted colors like silver or black.
I will say they are pretty fun to romp up and down the highway, giggling like a moron when the overboost feature kicks on.
Now: 07 Porsche Cayman S | 18 VW Tiguan
Then: 18 VW GTI Autobahn | 95 BMW M3 | 15 VW GTI SE | 12 Kia Optima SX | 2009 VW GTI | 00 BMW 540i Sport | 90 Mazda Miata | 94 Yamaha FZR600R | 1993 Suzuki GS500E | 2003 BMW 325i | 95 Saab 900S