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...

[sailorbaz]

Agree with all of the above! :thumbs:

Go CSL every time, but then again, I think you might be on the wrong site if you want convinced to buy an M3. Or maybe this is intentional.

"Look sweetheart, all these guys are telling me to buy the CSL, its must make sense"
:notworthy:

[mattbedford]

Thanks for everyones comments. Im definately going for a Csl as soon as i can sell my V6 Clio. Cant wait !! :drool:

[DazBlackCSL]

Good luck on your sale , and purchase :thumbs:

Summer is coming , cups and track days :drool: !

[RichW]

I had an M3 for 6 mths, then got the CSL - there's no comparison at all, and the CS isnt that far away from a Normal M3.

Awesome is the only way i would describe a CSL, the normal M3 ... boring.


You wont regret it :beer:

[csl_mba]

I had the same dilemma as you, i "thought" i needed heated leather seats, satnav, HK upgrade, bluetooth etc....

I was hunting for a good std M3 but came across the CS, on further digging i found a CSL. It had never crossed my mind that i could pick up an older CSL for the price of a newer CS.

I have alawys wanted cars that are a little special - like your V6 Clio. Never test drove a CS or std M3 went straight for the CSL and never looked back - as been said AWESOME NOISE :119: :drool:

[E46ACS]

I took a lad out in my CSL who was looking to buy a CS.

20mins with me and he bought a CSL!!!!! :-D

[DazBlackCSL]

And I think from the amount of people , who sell , then jump back into a second or third one speaks volumes , and those that move from porsche's into CSL's also :-D

I had my Std M3 for 2 years , and wanted a 911 , mate had a CSL , drove one ... and it was all over for me :hahaha: :hahaha: :smt057

[englebert]

If you want an event then the CSL isn't for you, the Vee has more presence and character by a mile...

I would never pick a CS over the CSL, i'd feel like half baked wannabe that it is...

[CSLjimmy]

The CSL is the best car i have ever owned, each journey is enjoyable, the noise and handling, ive always tried to choose different cars, before this i had an R34, drove a standard M3 and didn't really feel that different, the CSL felt perfect though, love the interior, BMW quality with carbon fiber everywhere. I use mine as a daily driver and love it, don't find the suspension too harsh either.
Ive always fancied a Clio V6 though, which one do you have? the Mk 1 or 2

James.

[SMD]

Defo CSL!

Never been in a CS but looking at them etc no question CSL all the way! :notworthy:

[_Nathan_]

I've seen some great deals on GT3s - get one of them, you don't need 4 seats judging by your current car.

Heard of a MK2 going for 31k from an independent dealer! That is an utter bargain.

[mattbedford]

James,

I have the Mk2 Clio V6. Its a great car, really stands out and sounds great. The ride is very harsh tho, brakes arent good either and its a bit basic inside. Think a Csl wont stand out as much but the driving factor will be much better which is the main thing. Those seats and steering wheel look beautiful Shows real racing purpose in my opinoin....

[CSLjimmy]

Nice, always liked the look of the Mk 2, saw one recently and nearly broke my neck looking at it lol, You will love the CSL though :smokin:

JAmes.