1998 BMW M COUPE
SOMETIMES given cruel nicknames for the unusual styling, the first-gen M Coupe had an uncanny ability to silence its critics once they went for a drive. The straight six in E36 M3 spec, the big footprint offered by the generous-sized wheels, along with a general sense of refinement made it a winner.
Clive: My overall impressions of this car are that this is a magnificent vehicle. It has a unique look about it, that you either love or hate. For me it is a factor y-built car on steroids. It has a wide aggressive look with performance to match.
The car is extremely well balanced and can be driven as a daily driver or in anger on the track or tarmac.
This car has a unique feel about it and gives you the impression that you are driving something that is different to the run of the mill machines on the road.
It’s ver y quiet, but as soon as you start driving through the upper rev range, the sound of the six-cylinder engine is music to the ears. It handles and stops superbly and is a joy to drive in anger.
As an investment the M Coupe is a winner. They are scarce and hard to find. These cars will keep growing due to their quirky design and “must have” appeal for the true collector.
For me M Coupe is always on the top 10 list of BMW cars to own.
Chris: The M Coupe very distinctive in its design – a two door shooting brake, with wide hips, and fat rubber on the rear, I love the uniqueness and look of this car!
The cabin is nicely layed out, with the necessary gauges in front of you, including the Motorsport logo on the gauges and gear knob to let you know that this is not a standard BMW model. It was also the most comfortable car of the 3 vehicles on test.
A purpose built performance orientated car, its M3 sourced 3.2 Litre engine, mated to the five-speed gearbox makes it a pleasure to drive either through everyday traffic or out on the open road. The handling is like an M3, its big rear tyres ensure plenty of traction and the gearbox is a joy to f lick through at low and high revs. Take it up high in the rev range and the twin cam M engine sings, with a great note from the exhaust, it surely puts a smile on your face.
Our drive through the winding roads was a lot of fun, with the M coupe probably doing it with more ease than the others. After a day of spirited driving, it provided a comfortable drive back on the freeway and had enough torque in fifth for easy overtakes.