M340 or G80 M3 experience from FL5

[Phil Devtec]

I have had 3 G8x cars including an M4CSL and none of them will help with your back pain. They are FL5's with leather on the interior panels. I like the way they look but they sound pretty bad. Overall, they are great cars but I don't think you'll get $50k incremental dollars worth of value or enjoyment out of one over an FL5.

Totally agree with this. Having had a G80, I can tell you that any M cars will have the same seat and stiffness issues that will not help your back pain.

Also, if you already have an FL5, please don't get any M Lite car. I've always hated how BMW added M packages to regular cars.

Like someone said, if you're looking for a comfortable fast car, then get a Blackwing of some sort.

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[TypeRD]

It’s going to sound so superficial, but I don’t like the ITS simply because I think all Acura cars look the same. But I think it’s a great all around car with comfort features too.

I mean…that’s pretty much how all car brands are. Some are more consistent than others, perhaps too consistent is what you’re saying about Acura. I can understand that.

Honestly, Acura marketing is steaming hot garbage. It’s a shame because they have some really nice vehicles in the line. Case in point is the 2nd gen NSX. Rather than making the face of the car special and standout from the rest of the line, they decided to make it blend with the rest line. I understand it to slight degree, but they went too far with it. They fixed it with the NSX Type-S, but that’s the face that should’ve been on it from the start.

Imagine if Honda made the S2000 share facial features with the Accord, Odyssey, and Civic.?‍

Sorry for the short rant. I just get frustrated with Acura and your comment was a trigger.? I still like Acura, but they made better vehicles when Honda Corp was in charge of everything.

 

[optronix]

I mean…that’s pretty much how all car brands are. Some are more consistent than others, perhaps too consistent is what you’re saying about Acura. I can understand that.

Honestly, Acura marketing is steaming hot garbage. It’s a shame because they have some really nice vehicles in the line. Case in point is the 2nd gen NSX. Rather than making the face of the car special and standout from the rest of the line, they decided to make it blend with the rest line. I understand it to slight degree, but they went too far with it. They fixed it with the NSX Type-S, but that’s the face that should’ve been on it from the start.

Imagine if Honda made the S2000 share facial features with the Accord, Odyssey, and Civic.?‍

Sorry for the short rant. I just get frustrated with Acura and your comment was a trigger.? I still like Acura, but they made better vehicles when Honda Corp was in charge of everything.

Yeah, the "all their cars look the same" argument just doesn't hold water. I didn't want to dwell too much on it because that's just the words he chose to say he doesn't like the ITS, which is fine because enthusiasts choose their cars based on entirely subjective criteria... but the more I think of it that excuse is just borderline offensive.

 

[ABPDE5]

Yeah, the "all their cars look the same" argument just doesn't hold water. I didn't want to dwell too much on it because that's just the words he chose to say he doesn't like the ITS, which is fine because enthusiasts choose their cars based on entirely subjective criteria... but the more I think of it that excuse is just borderline offensive.

Yeah, if you don't like the ITS or the CTR, all power to you. But, I don't think the ITS looks any more like a base Integra than the CTR looks like a base Civic.

Sure, the CTR's wing helps differentiate it from the standard variants, but I think the styling changes made to the front / rear fascia, fenders, etc. on the ITS are a more aggressive departure from the base model than those on the CTR are re: to those on the normal Civics.

 

[TypeRD]

@optronix @ABPDE5
It is what it is. Opinions don’t need to be justified. Had OP simply said “I want something fast and sporty, but more comfortable and upscale” we all would’ve been totally fine with that explanation / goal without diving into a silly sub-argument about Acura esthetics etc. It’s fine.?

 

[Stan23]

I had a G80 M3 6MT at the same time as my FL5. The M3 is of course much faster, much more refined and had great driving dynamics when going full tilt in the twisties. But for everyday use, it got a little dull and after getting out of the S2000 and FL5, the shifter feel and long throws felt pretty bad. I think the FL5 is a bit more 'fun' when mildly driving, but the G80 is a better overall package (as it should be for the cost)

I sold the G80 back to the dealer after having an AC issue which required a pretty invasive fix, and picked up a CPO 991.2 PDK.

 

[spectre186]

Thanks for everyone’s responses so far. Definitely gives me some good points to consider. Apparently ruffled a few feathers with that Acura comment. I appreciate the diorama of pictures, haha.

 

[ABPDE5]

S58 w. a manual will be a pretty cool thing to have in 10 years, imo.

 

[TurboZed-R]

Not BMW but I come from the AMG world and in terms of comfort they are probably the softest out of M and RS. I ended up selling my M139 Amg Cla 45 because it wasn't raw enough. Very very fast but the 4matic+ mixed with the amg speed shift made it basically a driving simulator. Seats were comfortably and cabin noise is next to nothing.

 

[TW00Si]

I have minor back pains when I’m driving long distance. When I first got the FK8 and now FL5, I would come out of the car with lower back pain. Despite all the rave reviews of the seats. Now I don’t have any back pain, turns out, I just need to find the right seating position. What I recently found to be useful is having a helmet on, there needs to have enough space on the upper portion to accommodate the back of the helmet. That seating position, when the helmet is off, no back pain.

I also bought an air inflatable Recaro lumbar support a long time back for my Recaro bucket seat. I would look into that to see if something like helps.

Lastly, as person a who injured his back, regular stretching helps. Obviously not knowing the extent of your back pain, this is all I have to offer. ?

 

[VarmintCong]

Yeah, if you don't like the ITS or the CTR, all power to you. But, I don't think the ITS looks any more like a base Integra than the CTR looks like a base Civic.

Sure, the CTR's wing helps differentiate it from the standard variants, but I think the styling changes made to the front / rear fascia, fenders, etc. on the ITS are a more aggressive departure from the base model than those on the CTR are re: to those on the normal Civics.

i love the ITS and hate the base Integra, so I agree.

 

[Phillie9284]

So this is coming from a person that has a F80 M3, F97 X3M(essentially a lifted G80) a and the FL5. Every single one of those cars have stiff rides, so if your back pain stems from having a stiff ride no lumbar adjustment can save you from that. If it is just the lack of lumbar adjustment is causing you pain then the seats in the G80 will fine.
The M cars have crazy performance but very boring when going normal speeds. That’s why I bought the CTR for my daily, it’s just a nice driving car. I had to get something more comfortable and still fun to drive, it would probably Lexus IS500. The M340’s are fast with a very large aftermarket if you’re looking to modify, but I just loved how nice the IS500 rides

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