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

[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

[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!

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!

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!

[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

[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.