simonc

I've decided to sell my 3dr Cossie & get something more modern, its between an E36 M3 Evo or Evo 5/6. I do the odd trackday in the cossie & its fitted with coilovers,big brakes,stage 3 etc. I've had an M3 before & would say to get it how i'd like it for trackdays i would need to fit a brake kit & coilovers. I've never driven an Evo 5/6 only ever sat in one & it felt like it was made out of plastic & very cheap & nasty in side,when the door shuts its so flimsy i suppose thats weight saving. I thinking that with an Evo 5 all i need to do is use a harder brake pad compound for track & R888 tyres & away i go, whats the Evo 5 like to live with. M3 evo will be slightly cheaper to buy but i think i will need to spend more on it to get the chassis & brakes upto want i want. Are the evo5/6 reliable if they are more or less standard, i know the M3 you could rag it all day without any engine worries from previous experience.

So has anyone driven both that can comment as i've only owned an M3.

Cheers Simon.

Ollie.

I have had a M3 evo and a evo 6 RS 2....

The evo is faster in every way and so much quicker round a track. However, the M3 is a lot nicer to live with, cheaper to run and all round a nicer car to be in.

The evo always amazes you at how good they are. You'd need to live with one to appreciate how good they are but the fuel bills and short distances between petrol stations to fill up (100 miles for me) gets annoying.

Red16

never been in an M3 yet but have beaten a few in the Evo

the standard engine in the Evo 5/6 will be reliable if not tuned too much, usual ind kit, exhaust, decat, remap should see around 350-370bhp, they do need serviced regularly tho... 4500 miles for normal driving, 1500 miles if driven hard, eg track day.

standard brakes warp very easily too, nearly everyone seems to upgrade them if they plan to use the car quickly on the road and definitely change them if they plan to use it on track.

to be honest i cant say i think the evo's flimsy inside either, having said that ive not been in an M3 to compare, so that may blinker my views somewhat

i got the V but would get the VI if you have the extra money

Paulo P

I'd chose the Evo. They are easier to tune and very fast on the track and even though they are 4 wheel drive they are alot of fun.

I'm using my mates evo 6 at the moment and as a day to day car it's wonderful, it isn't as bad on fuel as I expected and the grip, ride and acceleration are superb. His has an induction kit, decat system and a bigger intercooler and it's producing 322bhp from that

simonc

Paul how does that compare to a 350bhp cossie in acceleration ?

Simon.

Paulo P

I have no idea. They are quick through the gears but I don't know how they'd compare side by side. The advantage with the evo is that hasn't had a remap yet With that you'd be looking at 360bhp.

Paulo P

This is it

Red16

i had a thread on here asking how my Evo V (365bhp/345lbft) compared to say a stage 3 cossie, general opinion said the cossie would be quicker

here's the vid clips, if you have any 350bhp cosworth experience let me know your opinions on both cars

0-120mph with gentle launch

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/09...20mphsmall.flv

40-120mph roll on from 2nd gear

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/09...in2ndsmall.flv

40-120mph roll on from 3rd gear

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/09...in3rdsmall.flv

100mph to limiter in 5th, not the best vid clip to show performance as i had to ease off in places due to traffic

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/09...mitersmall.flv

simonc

From those vids the Evo is certainly short geared compared to a Cossie.

Why do you say go for the Evo 6 rather than 5 ?

The car i have my eye on is a Evo 5, white, T reg , the guy imported it from new & it was one of the last 5's, he purposely didn't register until March 1st to get it on a T plate. Its done 49k miles with full main dealer hist & serviced every 3k & 1 owner from new , only mods are a remap, boost controller & exhaust, the guy said he's had 4 clutches in it in 7 yrs , it still has the original wheels & orange indicators its up for £8k does that sound good ?

Simon.

Red16

i personally prefer the 6 but my 5 was right for my budget, which is why i dont own a 6.

the evo you have youre eye on sounds good to me 4 clutches in 7 years, i can well believe it, they go thru clutches very easily if youre lazy and ride the clutch or if you like launching them.