{"id":37230,"date":"2022-11-30T14:16:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-30T19:16:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=37230"},"modified":"2022-11-30T14:16:43","modified_gmt":"2022-11-30T19:16:43","slug":"bmw-m3-cs-m4-csl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/?p=37230","title":{"rendered":"Bold Prediction: The BMW M3 CS Will Be Better Than the M4 CSL"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Every BMW fan is going to want to take my enthusiast card away after this but I really think the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2022\/11\/30\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-spotted\/\">BMW M3 CS<\/a> will be a better car to drive than the M4 CSL. On paper, that seems like lunacy but after having driven the M4 CSL, I\u2019m actually quite confident the less extreme, less powerful, and less expensive car will be the superior driving machine. Hear me out.<\/p>\n<p>The BMW <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bmwblog.com\/2022\/11\/06\/bmw-m4-csl-test-drive\/\">M4 CSL<\/a> is awesome. There\u2019s no question about that. It\u2019s fast, has an almost infinite amount of grip, it\u2019s loud, it\u2019s brash, and it\u2019s shockingly capable on track. Also, on paper, it\u2019s far more of an enthusiast\u2019s choice than the upcoming M3 CS. The M4 CSL is rear-wheel drive-only, it\u2019s going to be lighter, it comes with more power (543 horsepower), and it seats just two passengers.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_440626\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-440626\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03.jpg\"><noscript><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-440626\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-830x587.jpg\" alt=\"2023 bmw m3 cs photos 03 830x587\" width=\"830\" height=\"587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-830x587.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-1449x1024.jpg 1449w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of 2023 bmw m3 cs photos 03 830x587\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload size-medium wp-image-440626\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20830%20587%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-830x587.jpg\" alt=\"2023 bmw m3 cs photos 03 830x587\" width=\"830\" height=\"587\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-830x587.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-1449x1024.jpg 1449w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-768x543.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03-1536x1086.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-03.jpg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of 2023 bmw m3 cs photos 03 830x587\"\/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-440626\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by instagram.com\/joelre98<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>On the flip side, the BMW M3 CS reads like the mass-market choice. It comes with a bit less power (probably around 530 horsepower), has four doors, likely four seats, and is only all-wheel drive. So it\u2019s heavier, more complex, and less enthusiast-focused. Aside from its extra power and slightly lower weight, it doesn\u2019t sound much different than a standard M3 Competition xDrive. However, I have a gut feeling it\u2019s going to be special.<\/p>\n<p>One of the reasons for my gut feeling is the way the M4 CSL drives. As impressive as it is, it doesn\u2019t feel that much different than an M4 Competition. Sure, it\u2019s stiffer and louder but the power doesn\u2019t feel dramatically better and the biggest reason for its unflappable grip is its incredible Michelin Cup 2 R tires. On Pilot Sport 4S\u2019, it doesn\u2019t have that much more grip than the M4 Comp. Then there\u2019s the fact that the BMW M3 Competition xDrive is my favorite of all the M3\/M4 variants. None of the new M3\/M4 models feel like old-school M cars, even the rear-drive\/manual ones. Instead, the new M3 and M4 feel like Bavarian GT-Rs\u2014big grip, big power, brutal levels of grip\u2014so leaning into that makes it even better. So just from a pure spec-perspective, I think the M3 CS will be more fun to drive because it will emphasize the car\u2019s strengths more.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00.jpg\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-440623\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-830x553.jpg\" alt=\"2023 bmw m3 cs photos 00 830x553\" width=\"830\" height=\"553\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of 2023 bmw m3 cs photos 00 830x553\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload alignnone size-medium wp-image-440623\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%20830%20553%22%3E%3C\/svg%3E\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-830x553.jpg\" alt=\"2023 bmw m3 cs photos 00 830x553\" width=\"830\" height=\"553\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-830x553.jpg 830w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.bmwblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/2023-bmw-m3-cs-photos-00.jpg 1920w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 830px) 100vw, 830px\" title=\"image of 2023 bmw m3 cs photos 00 830x553\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>However, the biggest reason is that I think it will hit the sweet spot between edgy performance and daily usability. It will be more violent and more hardcore than the standard M3 Competition but won\u2019t be as bone-breakingly harsh on public roads. You\u2019ll be able to actually use the thing in real life. Plus, and maybe this is just me being hopeful, but BMW absolutely nailed the M2 CS and M5 CS, which are the best two BMWs of this century. So I\u2019m cautiously optimistic that BMW M will find a way to harness that same magic in the M3 CS.<\/p>\n<p>Picture this: a smaller, lighter, tighter version of the BMW M5 CS. If it can come anywhere close to that, it will be a better driver\u2019s car than the M4 CSL.<\/p>\n<p>[Spy photos by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/joelre98\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">instagram.com\/joelre98<\/a>]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every BMW fan is going to want to take my enthusiast card away after this but I really think the BMW M3 CS will be a better car to drive than the M4 CSL. On paper, that seems like lunacy but after having driven the M4 CSL, I\u2019m actually quite confident the less extreme, less [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":37231,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-37230","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37230","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=37230"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37230\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/37231"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=37230"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=37230"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/autosector.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=37230"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}