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Written by JST
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Saturday, 15 November 2003 |
At the NCC autox today, Clyde and I swapped cars. We were hoping to do
fun runs, but the SCCA folks have descended on our events recently and
they've become quite full. So, I ran in S1 and Clyde ran in SS.
Overall impressions? The 325xiT (which is what Clyde has) is a very
competent autocrosser. The AWD system offers a pretty noticeable
advantage, even for a relatively underpowered car on dry pavement. The
chassis balance is quite good, and the steering feel is actually better
than in my car (though there is a bit more boost on tap). It's unclear
how much of this is down to the tires (Azenis v. Conti), but that's
probably some of it.
Driving a 325ix requires a big adjustment in driving style. With the
M3, the primary concern is throttle modulation. You always have enough
power to break the rear end loose, so getting the power down without
swapping ends is your perennial balancing act. The xiT, OTOH, doesn't
have much power, but is much more capable of using what it does have.
Where caution with the throttle would be called for in the M3, it pays
to boot it in the xiT--the AWD system digs the car out of the corner.
It's kind of cool, actually. Launching is tough, though--I never did
get a good launch, not wanting to beat the hell out of Clyde's clutch.
What would I change about the xiT? It *needs* more power. A 3.0 would
be nice, and the 3.2 would be even better. It needs to be lowered a
bit, too, and have stiffer anti-sway bars. Be nice if it didn't weigh
so much. And it's a good thing throttle modulation isn't so important,
because the throttle pedal is a lot less responsive than the one in the
M3.
But the fundamental chassis is quite good, and people should not scoff
at the advantages of AWD, even on dry pavement. I'd like to put a
slightly siffer suspension on a 330xi and see what it could do.
Oh, FWIW, my fastest time was a 61.1XX. Clyde's was a 58.5XX, +1 cone.
But those numbers are a bit deceiving--we were talking after the event,
and agreed that the limits of the 325 are easier to approach than those
of the M3, and thus its easier to go from an M3 to a 325 than vice
versa.
Originally posted on carmudgeons.com.
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JST's Cornered Test Drives 
