[t$]

im sure the x3m is a fantastic car, but calling it a canyon carver feels like a stretch. despite the power and m badge it is still a top heavy 4600 pound suv.

my wife has a macan s, and while its also a fantastic car, it is most definitely not a canyon carver. sure you can get it to squat and even kick the back out a bit, but if im driving back roads i would 10/10 times choose my m3. im not sure why suv owners feel the need to justify their purchase in this way. they are wonderful every day cars and freeway monsters, is that not good enough?

either way very nice car and looks like you had fun so thats great.

[spuntyb]

Looks like a blast!

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by t$

im sure the x3m is a fantastic car, but calling it a canyon carver feels like a stretch. despite the power and m badge it is still a top heavy 4600 pound suv.

my wife has a macan s, and while its also a fantastic car, it is most definitely not a canyon carver. sure you can get it to squat and even kick the back out a bit, but if im driving back roads i would 10/10 times choose my m3. im not sure why suv owners feel the need to justify their purchase in this way. they are wonderful every day cars and freeway monsters, is that not good enough?

either way very nice car and looks like you had fun so thats great.

Have you actually driven one?

[yomaster]

I was having a lot fun with m40i too! I was able to kept up a NSX lol. Love those curves at Tail of Dragon!

[AIRHEIR]

I also had a chance to take my SO's X3M on the dragon and then about 8 months later I got to take my M3 on the dragon.

What the X3 M is able to do on corners should not be possible....I use it all the time to scare the crap out of unsuspecting passengers who see me approach a corner with a lot more speed than the expect an SUV to handle.

With that being said after taking the M3 on the dragon you realize even though the X3M has no issue with the turns and changing direction the weight and the subsequent feeling get from that weight transfer is where you real feel the difference between these two cars.

When my wife was a passenger in the X3M she was being tossed all over the place and was literally about to take my head off. Fast forward 8 months and we were in the M3 and not a peep and she enjoyed it much more.

In the end the X3M achieved its goal of being an SUV version of the M3.

[Yeru]

Originally Posted by Kevin_The_Clean1

I wasn't whining. But since you called me out now where here. LMAO.

Car videos should be filled with ONLY ONE SOUNDTRACK, the EXHAUST NOTE...

Disagree; should be a perfect balance between both engine sound and exhaust note as heard from the *outside* and not from the cabin. The old F1 cars excelled at this and thrilled everyone.

[Lorde]

Gobbless borther!

[richard in NC]

Here's me chasing the Porsche Cayman. We were both running pretty hard for a while.

What I've noticed with the X3M is on a long clover leaf on-ramp, you absolutely feel the weight as you're pushing the edge of grip but quick transitions and flowing corners the X3M does remarkably well hiding its higher cG and weight.

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by Yeru

Disagree; should be a perfect balance between both engine sound and exhaust note as heard from the *outside* and not from the cabin. The old F1 cars excelled at this and thrilled everyone.

Good point & I would agree. As long as you don't put tacky music over the exhaust note & keep those tunes low it makes for a great video.

[RustyBitz]

Not in the US but last week I took my X3M on one of best roads in the U.K.

The car shouldn't be able to do what it can. I had no problem with the corners at speed, total confidence in its ability.

Also I loved peoples faces after they tried to play catch up 😀

[moff]

Looking good Rusty!

[NEfan508]

Great video, I enjoyed it as I'm drinking my coffee (nowI I'm pumped) I'm definitely considering an order with a fun drive home from SC, I realize it doesn't need to be just boring 95N, some stops and unique roads on the way help break it up


I'm curious if anyone one said "drive faster I hear banjos"

[Oldgixxer]

Originally Posted by RustyBitz

The car shouldn't be able to do what it can. I had no problem with the corners at speed, total confidence in its ability.

Agree 100%...I took delivery at the Performance Center,and when we went out to the short autocross section on the track I was a bit hesitant at first especially after seeing the OEM Conti's that my X3MC demo vehicle were pretty much worn the fuck out. I was the 1st vehicle in rotation and had 4 other folks begind me in their respective X3 M40i,X5MC(2) and X6MC and after 1 lap I couldn't believe how flat the X3M was cornering so I started increasing mph to point I was getting too close to the X6MC that was in the last spot..instructor told me to stop for a brief moment and allow the other X's to regain their ground,I restarted and literally went WFO the entire lap.

There's absolutely no way a 4600lb SUV should or could handle like it does. Fucking blew my mind,I would have never imagined it handled this well if I passed on the PCD. I'm glad I went as it opened my eyes as to what an amazing vehicle the X3M is.
Granted,it's not gonna handle like an M3 nor is it supposed to. But my Speed-Racer days are long gone and I'm 100% content to have an X3MC over a new M3...
Although the hot lap the instructors take you on in the new M3 was at an entire different level from anything I ever experienced,not to mention my guy forgot to buckle his seat belt and was chasing down the lead M3 and drifting through corners whilst driving w one hand and attempting to buckle the belt with the other. I was recording w my phone and he kindly asked me not to post the vid on youtube or the forums due to the one hand driving/seat belt issue

[TEGRITY]

Awesome video. Growing up in a mountain town and learning to drive on those roads, I can fully appreciate and respect what such roads offer. It's so much rewarding to conquer a challenging stretch of curves and elevation.

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by NEfan508

Great video, I enjoyed it as I'm drinking my coffee (nowI I'm pumped) I'm definitely considering an order with a fun drive home from SC, I realize it doesn't need to be just boring 95N, some stops and unique roads on the way help break it up


I'm curious if anyone one said "drive faster I hear banjos"

No banjos in NC that I've heard, well not while driving the back roads.

There are tons of great mountain roads in "upstate" SC, NC mountains and into TN or VA. With the Blue Ridge Parkway, waterfalls, and great small towns along the way, you could add days to your trip north but have a great experience with the new car.

[Ibiza]

Originally Posted by Daytona_John

Dude… have you driven the tail of the dragon? Just how much faster do you think you could take those curves in a brand new car that you're trying to learn, on my first time driving on this incredibly dangerous stretch of road??? Most cases I was going twice the safety limit or better. I'm not saying that someone who knew the road like the back of their hand, and knew the vehicle they were driving just as well couldn't go a little faster, but you can't go much faster on those curves. You just can't… Physics.

First, your hand position gives it way—not impressed.
Your not at 9am and 3pm.

I have personally driven the tail many times, last time was the fall 2020 prior to turning in my F85 X5M. The S63 V8 was between 5k-6k RPM passing up the Harley hog riders.

Were you part of the group that the brand new Ferrari flip over on the tail?

https://www.thedrive.com/news/42824/...agon-really-is

[ND40oz]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

Where you part of the group that the brand new Ferrari flip over on the tail?

https://www.thedrive.com/news/42824/...agon-really-is

Was the driver sitting in a padded gel seat cushion in his Ferrari?

[djhartm69]

I really don't understand the cultish fascination with the 'Dragon'.

On weekends, it's a HUGE shit-show, between the the hoards of rolling roadblocks - harleys & car clubs out on a cruise-in - to idiots crossing the double yellow thinking they're Ayrton Senna, and tourists that won't take the pullouts, I personally would never go back there.

There are SO many better roads than the Dragon - I'll take Cherohela ANY DAY.

Better yet, take that car on track (trust me on this), where you can safely push yourself and the car. The X3M/MC is an absolute hoot on a road course.

But I digress, that was a well put together video - glad you had fun & thanks for sharing!

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by ND40oz

Was the driver sitting in a padded gel seat cushion in his Ferrari?

Probably... ! LMAO

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by djhartm69

I really don't understand the cultish fascination with the 'Dragon'.

On weekends, it's a HUGE shit-show, between the the hoards of rolling roadblocks - harleys & car clubs out on a cruise-in - to idiots crossing the double yellow thinking they're Ayrton Senna, and tourists that won't take the pullouts, I personally would never go back there.

There are SO many better roads than the Dragon - I'll take Cherohela ANY DAY.

Better yet, take that car on track (trust me on this), where you can safely push yourself and the car. The X3M/MC is an absolute hoot on a road course.

But I digress, that was a well put together video - glad you had fun & thanks for sharing!

Not to beat a barely alive horse but....You must have gone at a bad time. Yes the Dragon can be maddingly slow some times but you can have good runs on weekday mornings. I did 5 runs in 2 days (including Saturday morning), none perfectly without catching someone, but several runs were mostly clear, had cars pull over, or in fast groups. Only one run was really held up and I stopped at various scenic locations and still enjoyed it. Yes the Cherohola is great too, and I often do it in a loop after the Dragon (and had significant traffic on it this past time). Other roads in the area are great too but even more a chance of slow traffic. But only the Dragon has so many curves with such a flow and no homes/driveways or intersections for miles.

PS: I know the difference between back road runs and track days. I'm doing 2 days on track with the M2 Comp this weekend....

[Daytona_John]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Looks like a blast!

It absolutely was - thanks!