When this red devil arrived in our test fleet, we knew we’d be in for a good week. Having recently tested an M3 Sedan, we were eager to spend more time with BMW's 414-horsepower V-8 bomber, and boy, did we enjoy it.

Click through the jump to read our impressions and click the images below to open a gallery.

Nate Luzod
Art Director

Every now and then we’ll get a car in that’s absolutely perfect, just the way it is. Thank you, BMW.

Steven J. Ewing
Production Assistant

A friend of mine asked me a very interesting question: Audi S5 or BMW M3 Coupe? I thought about it for a while, weighing the pros and cons, but in the end it came down to the M3 being the winner.

The S5 is a bit larger and owning one means having to deal with Audi’s MMI interface. Granted, I prefer MMI to the likes of iDrive or COMAND, but it’s still something I’d rather do without. Yes, the S5 is one of the most brilliant vehicles I’ve driven in a long time, but the M3 just feels a bit rawer and has a sweeter exhaust note. Our test car did not have iDrive, which makes me happy, and the Melbourne Red paint looks fabulous. During the winter months, I know I would appreciate the S5’s Quattro system, but if I outfitted an M3 with proper snow tires, I would be able to handle it.

Within the M3 range, though, I think I prefer the sedan. It’s more practical, it’s cheaper, and it only weighs twenty-two pounds more. The sedan is a bit more of a sleeper, too. Still, the M3 is so good, I would take either variant.

Laura K. Cowan
Chief Copy Editor

Gorgeous, gorgeous car. The engine in this M3 is remarkably smooth at idle, and there is always plenty of power ready to go as soon as you need it. My favorite thing about the M3 Coupe (so far; I’ll discover more, I’m sure) is the clutch, because it doesn’t get in your way. Drive this car about a half-mile and you’ve already got the hang of it. Beautiful, smooth, powerful, comfortable. Brilliant, and no iDrive to frustrate me, thank God.

Kimberly A. Ewing
Business/Fleet Manager

I love coupes and I love the M3. What a pleasure to drive a vehicle that is perfect. Fun, fast, nimble, stops on a dime, accelerates and is gone in seconds, and it looks damn good. It’s always nice having the valet guy say “Sweet car!