Advice on csl or cs ?

[mattbedford]

Hi All,

I currently have a V6 Clio as a weekend car and am selling it for either a Csl or a CS. I cant decide what to get. A prefer the CSL but i thought the CS to be more comfortable with similar performance and a fair bit cheaper. Do they sound as good as a CS ? Anyone driven both?

Thanks.

[DazBlackCSL]

Two different cars !
Drive both and compare , noise , involvement and hair tingling experience in the CSL , warm bum , nice stereo and looks like a Std M3 in the CS..

CS is a good car , the CSL is just great , and I use mine everyday , long and short journey's are always an experience ...
Do the CSL ... you'll always wish you had if you go CS :-D

[mattbedford]

Thanks Daz,

Youve confirmed what i thought. I would prob wished a had got a CSL as they do seem a bit special. Was just worried that they are a bit too hardcore for long journeys and stuuf. Clarkson said its awful on anything but smooth roads or a track where it is just magic. Im looking at getting one from the Pistonheads website as there are quite a few to choose from on there. Can you reccomend any other websites where they will be for sale?

[DazBlackCSL]

No worries, and they are fantastic on every Journey !!

http://www.nickjohnsonmotorco.co.uk/27045/njmc.htm

Nick always has some good examples :thumbs:

[glendog74]

Matt,

I was initially looking for a manual M3 CS. I tested one as well as a standard SMG M3 back to back and did prefer the CS manual as i wasn't used to the SMG box. The BMW salesman didn't know how to use/explain the SMG box properly though...

However... The very next week i had a proper 20 min test drive of a CSL thanks to Nick Johnson. He took the time to explain and go through the SMG box with me and i found it a lot easier after gaining a little bit of 'know how'. The thing about the CSL that stood out over the other M3s apart from looks was the awesome NOISE! :drool:

If you can afford the extra price premium over an M3 you will enjoy the CSL so much more and it will ultimately depreciate less than 'lesser' M3s... I have owned mine for 9 months now and have covered 12,000 miles, including a trip to Italy and back as well as 3 Ring trips. I have always found the CSL a superb and comfortable long distance tourer and very flexible 'everyday' car - considering its race bred ability! :thumbs:

Hope this helps too - don't take Clarkson's words too seriously, he said he loved the CSL when i met him recently - buy a CSL! :whistle:

[mattbedford]

Brill Thanks for that glen hoping to get one as soon as my V6 is sold. Cant wait they sound amazing. Sounds like they are probably more practical than i thought. Didnt think you could use one every day. Whats so tricky about using the SMG gearbox? Is it not just a case of up on the right down on the left or is it tricky to get the timing of the gear changes right?

[DazBlackCSL]

Once you've been in one for 5 mins , the SMG will feel normal , its a piece of cake , and IMHO far better than the manual , especially when your hard on it , blip downs make you smile even more , both hands on the wheel and tucked into a corner , with that noise :smt055

[E46ACS]

If you're coming out of a Clio V6, the CSL's ride will be fine.

The CS is a nice M3. The CSL is a car in its own right.

Clarkson also said it had a cardboard boot!

[mattbedford]

Thanks for the input guys, youre really helped me make my mind up. The V6 ride is so harsh i get sick of driving it after a few hours even tho it sounds great too. Doesnt sound like the ride will be as bad in the csl then.

[Andyk]

Matt, I use mine everyday as well and have never had a issue with it. After all it is a BMW so will be reliable.

The CS is a great car but you will never want one over a CSL once you have driven both...press the sport button hear, the noise....you will be hooked.

Plus the interior on the CSL has a sense of purpose that the CS just can not match. The moment I sat myself in the bucket seats I had to have one.

[Jaw_F430]

Matt


I use mine everyday and its fine, even when I hit traffic on the way home :thumbs: Although everyone seems to look at you when you are sat next to them in slow moving traffic :-D

When you hit the sport button you will be hooked :drool:

[bryce]

Hi Matt,

There's no comparison between the M3 and CSL - there is absolutley no reason why Id go for one over the CSL. Unless you desperately want heated leather and sat nav, dont go M3.

You also say it'd be a weekend car, so comfort shouldnt be a deciding factor for you. But for peace of mind, Ive never thought mine is too hard - even compared to my 320 smeasil.

Just go have a go, its worth every penny.

Bryce

ps. Dont buy a car on what Clarkson says - the more I learn about cars, the more I realise how much BS he talks. :banghead:

pps. Noise.

[Highmast]

Thanks for the input guys, youre really helped me make my mind up. The V6 ride is so harsh i get sick of driving it after a few hours even tho it sounds great too. Doesnt sound like the ride will be as bad in the csl then.

As yourself, i had got a clio V6 few years ago (a phII model). this car has given to me huge pleasure because of its specific look, because driving something different with a very good sound of the engine (fantastic between 7000 and 7200 trs/min)...
CSL with more comfort is the same feeling. Drive a car with a story (a living legend now), limited in production wich bring you a feeling like a dream each time your drive it...I love this car :drool:

definitly, CSL is more than a light M3 with some carbon parts...a CS stay a standard M3 even this is a good alternative with the direct steering and mode m-track like the CSL (very good if your drive hard on track).

of course, if your drive often on track, no choise possible, buy a CSL, it's efficient like a race car. on road performance are the same as CS, but on track it's a another world!! :thumbs:

[Mark CSL]

Thanks Daz,

Youve confirmed what i thought. I would prob wished a had got a CSL as they do seem a bit special. Was just worried that they are a bit too hardcore for long journeys and stuuf. Clarkson said its awful on anything but smooth roads or a track where it is just magic. Im looking at getting one from the Pistonheads website as there are quite a few to choose from on there. Can you reccomend any other websites where they will be for sale?

I drove to birmingham autosport and back from scotland on the same day
with a big grin buy a CSL
You will always wish you had if you go for the CS also they are losing about £500 a month at the moment CSLs are holding strong :thumbs:

[Andyk]

[quote="mark csl

CS also they are losing about £500 a month at the moment CSLs are holding strong :thumbs:[/quote]

This must be one of the deciding factors...