M340 or G80 M3 experience from FL5

spectre186

Senior Member
Joined
May 3, 2018
Threads
13
Messages
297
Reaction score
389
Location
Memphis, TN
Vehicle(s)
99 Camry, 23 Civic Type R
I think my FL5 is quite the impressive performance machine. However, as I’ve aged and have service related back pain I’ve come to the conclusion that I may need something with adjustable lumbar and heated seats.

I’m starting to research the BMW m340 and G80 M3. Anyone have personal experience with those? I know I’d be sad to go to a heavier car, and lose some of the edginess of the Type R - but they still seem like a well rounded performance car with some more creature comforts. I like to autox and do trackdays, nothing crazy competitive though. Interested to hear inputs from others.
Sponsored

 

J_D

Senior Member
First Name
J
Joined
May 9, 2024
Threads
9
Messages
250
Reaction score
233
Location
Montreal
Vehicle(s)
2024 Civic Type R
Personally for me I'd stick to 2022 model year and older M340i and/or G80. Reason being in 2023+ the 3 series LCI removed most physical controls in the cabin. That being said the 2025 M340i is getting the 3rd revision of the fabled B58 with port injection and direct injection, which should alleviate intake valve carbon buildup.
 

MooMoo

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2024
Threads
13
Messages
1,027
Reaction score
979
Location
NY
Vehicle(s)
2024 CW FL5 Type R, 2002 Range Rover P38
Very different cars from the FL5. If you like how it looks the G80 is a fantastic car. It will feel way heavier and will be more numb to drive (the manual transmission on it will be mid compared to the FL5 (fixable in aftermarket). The car performs though, S58 engine is amazing and actually sounds better than the S55 (people hated how the s55 sounded in the f series m2/3/4). On track the g80 is so so good, it will run laps around the FL5 of course, you can beat on it all day and it will not overheat but it will feel less connected and more numb. Interior materials are nicer but I hate the new tach entertainment screen. That to me is a deal breaker and like someone above said, if you can find a 2022 model imo it is the sweet spot. The carbon buckets are amazing but it seems like you want comfort seats which are great too (on track you will miss the buckets, the comfort seats don't grip you enough like the carbon buckets (and the fantastic type R seats).

I never drive an m340 and I am sure its a fantastic car but M lite cars will never compare to proper M cars with a proper motorsport engine (not to say that the b58 is not a good engine, it is and you can get crazy power out of it but an S engine will always be superior to me).

You could also get an F80, its a fantastic car as well and looks way better, a little lighter, still has a traditional tach and hand break, great engine and a little more raw than the g series.

For context I used to own a M2 competition and have driven an F80 and G80 on track (and of course my m2), all fantastic cars.
 

CTR39322

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 31, 2022
Threads
1
Messages
105
Reaction score
126
Location
Chicago
Vehicle(s)
DE5 Integra Type S
I think my FL5 is quite the impressive performance machine. However, as I’ve aged and have service related back pain I’ve come to the conclusion that I may need something with adjustable lumbar and heated seats.

I’m starting to research the BMW m340 and G80 M3. Anyone have personal experience with those? I know I’d be sad to go to a heavier car, and lose some of the edginess of the Type R - but they still seem like a well rounded performance car with some more creature comforts. I like to autox and do trackdays, nothing crazy competitive though. Interested to hear inputs from others.
What about a Integra type s?
 


Fanatic

Senior Member
First Name
Sonny
Joined
Oct 31, 2023
Threads
7
Messages
471
Reaction score
371
Location
Plano, Texas
Vehicle(s)
'25 C8 Z06s and more!
I don't like BMW products these days for some reason. Same thing with Porsche and a lot of other luxury brands. They're just not what they used to be.
 
OP
OP
spectre186

spectre186

Senior Member
Joined
May 3, 2018
Threads
13
Messages
297
Reaction score
389
Location
Memphis, TN
Vehicle(s)
99 Camry, 23 Civic Type R
What about a Integra type s?
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.
 

hhkb

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2022
Threads
19
Messages
487
Reaction score
605
Location
USA
Vehicle(s)
civic
I owned a 2024 G80 6MT. That M3 is better than the FL5 in many aspects. Comfort, performance, power delivery, luxury, etc.

The FL5 is lighter, has sharper steering, costs far less to maintain and insure, holds value better, and has better stock seats.

If you can afford the M3 and its associated costs, it’s a huge upgrade.
 

wrxdev13

Member
Joined
Jul 7, 2023
Threads
1
Messages
41
Reaction score
58
Location
Atlanta
Vehicle(s)
FL5 CTR
I've driven the M340i and it feels nowhere as connected, raw, or edgy as the FL5 CTR. The steering is numb but the ride is much softer, even on Msport suspension. The stiffest setting on Msport is like comfort mode in the CTR.
However, credit where credit is due. The M340i launches like a bat of out of hell and the acceleration is addictive and it is very easy to hit triple digit speeds.
Have you contemplated using the ITS dampers in your CTR? Not sure how much that would alleviate your concern.
 

Higgs Boson

Member
Joined
Mar 12, 2024
Threads
0
Messages
37
Reaction score
81
Location
Texas Hill Country
Vehicle(s)
2024 Civic Type R
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.
 


CTR

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Threads
10
Messages
772
Reaction score
885
Location
WA
Vehicle(s)
2023 Civic Type R, 2020 GX460, FC RX-7 (LS Swapped)
Swapping to the ITS ADS or 18" wheels will help. The car will handle worse but it will be much nicer to drive all the time. You could try adjusting your seat more or getting a lumbar pillow.
 

Bat1

Member
First Name
Sebastien
Joined
May 2, 2024
Threads
10
Messages
39
Reaction score
29
Location
Burleson
Vehicle(s)
FL5 m340i
I can share my experience:
I had a 2021 M340i RWD. The car was a great daily but I can’t say it is a “car enthusiast” car. It’s fast, but it’s heavy and not fun. Got bored after 3 months.
In the other hand, the FL5 is not as comfortable, a little bit more noisy. But dang, you are DRIVING it. And that’s what I’m looking for personally. SMILE PER GALLON 🔥

11th Gen Honda Civic M340 or G80 M3 experience from FL5 IMG_2177


11th Gen Honda Civic M340 or G80 M3 experience from FL5 IMG_2885
 

MooMoo

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2024
Threads
13
Messages
1,027
Reaction score
979
Location
NY
Vehicle(s)
2024 CW FL5 Type R, 2002 Range Rover P38
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.
The equal length setup can sound decent and certainly better than the FL5. I agree on the rest though, maybe the seats on the G8x work better for this guy but ride quality on M cars is still gonna be on the stiff side
 

MooMoo

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2024
Threads
13
Messages
1,027
Reaction score
979
Location
NY
Vehicle(s)
2024 CW FL5 Type R, 2002 Range Rover P38
I will tell you what is a good upgrade to the Type R, and its none of the BMWs, your a CT5V black wing, I would take one of those over a g8x bmw any day of the week. Never drove one though so can't say how comfortable they are but they look sharp, way better looking than an G bmw, the engine sounds incredible, the manual gearbox is apparently great too.

I would even consider the CT4V if you don't want to spend CT5V money (and I think its still hard to find for msrp)

11th Gen Honda Civic M340 or G80 M3 experience from FL5 1721590436210-iw


Its just like a boost blue FL5 :)
 

optronix

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2023
Threads
2
Messages
474
Reaction score
666
Location
Mid-Atlantic
Vehicle(s)
2024 Integra Type S, 2023 Macan GTS
Very different cars from the FL5. If you like how it looks the G80 is a fantastic car. It will feel way heavier and will be more numb to drive (the manual transmission on it will be mid compared to the FL5 (fixable in aftermarket). The car performs though, S58 engine is amazing and actually sounds better than the S55 (people hated how the s55 sounded in the f series m2/3/4). On track the g80 is so so good, it will run laps around the FL5 of course, you can beat on it all day and it will not overheat but it will feel less connected and more numb. Interior materials are nicer but I hate the new tach entertainment screen. That to me is a deal breaker and like someone above said, if you can find a 2022 model imo it is the sweet spot. The carbon buckets are amazing but it seems like you want comfort seats which are great too (on track you will miss the buckets, the comfort seats don't grip you enough like the carbon buckets (and the fantastic type R seats).

I never drive an m340 and I am sure its a fantastic car but M lite cars will never compare to proper M cars with a proper motorsport engine (not to say that the b58 is not a good engine, it is and you can get crazy power out of it but an S engine will always be superior to me).

You could also get an F80, its a fantastic car as well and looks way better, a little lighter, still has a traditional tach and hand break, great engine and a little more raw than the g series.

For context I used to own a M2 competition and have driven an F80 and G80 on track (and of course my m2), all fantastic cars.
^Pretty much agree with everything right here. If I were going to do any other car that needed 4 doors, it would be an F80, despite being nearly 10 years old at this point. Even out of warranty! The F8x is finally a truly reliable platform put out by BMW.

I also never understood the appeal of the "M lite" cars... especially after driving a regular ass 3 series I was given as a loaner while I had my F82. That thing was embarrassingly "normal" to drive, it's not in the same universe and the F8x isn't even as good to drive as FL5/DE5...

TL;DR, anything not a true M car is just a commuter car with a few extra horsepower and a bunch of badges IMHO.

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.
This comment alone tells me that you probably have some other reasons besides seats to want to "upgrade". Really nailing down what exactly you want out of your next car should be key, because spending nearly (or more than, depending on spec) twice as much on a G80 will likely still leave you wanting. "Destination anxiety" is very powerful, but it almost never leads to a truly satisfactory conclusion unless you really know exactly what you want.

And I'm also very much here to tell you that seats do not make back pain go away, no matter what brand of car you choose. If that was the case, then the very first reply to this thread should be your solution- at $2200, far less than the ~$30-50k it would cost to jump up to a G80. But I'm guessing you don't want new seats, you want a new car...

The Blackwings are a very good option if you had to "upgrade".
Sponsored

 
 







Top