I went for a drive, and oh was it a drive

"E90M3" (e90m3)
05/19/2018 at 19:08 • Filed to: None

I decided last night I should go for a drive. I know !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! was this weekend, but I don’t really have much fun going to car meets or shows alone; something I do enjoy doing alone is going for a drive.

To me, that sign says “Attention, fun ahead”

I started looking for a fun road near me with !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! There wasn’t really anything near me, but there are were a couple routes in NC and it’s really not that far from me. Then I remember !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! had mentioned something about US 276. It’s on there, so I figure I should go drive it. Just look at those roads and their curves.

Now, there has a been a threat of rain all week in Greenville, so I assumed it was about the same for the roads I would be driving on. It looked like most of the threat of rain would be in the afternoon, plus I was on brand new rubber, so I figured that it wouldn’t be the end of the world if it rained.

So I gassed up the M3, and hit the road. The drive to US 276 was pretty uneventful. It did drizzle a little but nothing to worry about. That was until I was about 10 minutes from US 276 when I saw some ominous looking clouds. Five minutes away from the road, it started to downpour. Great, this 90 minute drive up here for nothing. When I turned on to 276, it started raining so hard that I couldn’t see more than 100 feet in front of me. Well, I came all this way, I might as well at least drive it. I’m glad I stuck with it, as this turned into one of the best drives I’ve ever been on.

The roads were wet and slick so I couldn’t push it, but good news there isn’t anyone in front of me. At least I don’t have to worry about traffic. I’m enjoying the road, but truth be told, it would be so much better if it was dry. Since I couldn’t really push it, I pulled over to at least take a picture of my car.

I thought I messed up, right as I got back into my car, a van and a Jeep came around the corner. Great, now it’s wet and I’m stuck behind two cars. However, as we got to the summit, they both inexplicably turned off. The roads were a little dryer and the my path was now clear. I tore down the back side. I’ve owned the M3 since July 2014 and this is the first time I’ve been able to let it loose on a mountain road.

Holy shit, this thing is incredible.

It just strings the corners together. The steering is prefect. Does feel a but understeery, but then again I’m not really pushing it. When I got to the end of the twisty bit, I came up on a guy in a pickup going slow, but once we came to a place where he could pull over, he did and let me by.

There was some mostly straight roads to the next road on my list NC 215. As I approach NC 215, the roads are getting dryer and it doesn’t look like it’s going to rain any more.

When I get to NC 215, what awaits me? Dry tarmac.

NC 215 was just as good as US 276. There were a couple people on it, but they were quickly dispelled with a lower gear.

I finish NC 215 and assume that’s it for fun roads, but no, NC has one more treat for me, US 178.

It’s even dryer, and I’m feeling more confident. This is where I really open it up and am flying. The corners seem to be slightly less than what was on the previous two roads, but that just means I can go faster. Changing directions in the M3 is just something else. It handles it so well. I said this earlier, but the steering is phenomenal.

After this road, it is back to boring normal roads. I had a blast today, one of the best drives of my life. I can’t believe it’s taken me almost 4 years to find roads like this. I see a return trip in my future, when it’s not raining.

For those of you who are interested, this was pretty much my route.

DISCUSSION (25)

LOREM IPSUM > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 19:16

Sounds like a great day. Those new tires went to some good use.

daender > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 19:18

Oh man, I need to back to those roads! My USC friends and I used to have trips into the mountains where we’d have fun on those roads. Yeah, it’s an absolute blast when you don’t have any traffic in front of you.

E90M3 > LOREM IPSUM
05/19/2018 at 19:19

Yeah they did. My bald PS2s would not have been any fun.

E90M3 > daender
05/19/2018 at 19:20

Yeah you do. The rain might have been a blessing in disguise, might have kept some people away so there was less traffic.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 19:22

Looks like a fun time! There aren’t too many fun driving roads around here other than one or two on the coast, but I am hoping to find an enjoyable one at some point!

My Accent might be slightly less sporty than your BMW though. :)

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 19:22

daender > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 19:24

I’ll let you know if we decide to do another day trip or weekend in the mountains! I recommend taking 276 further into NC and then coming back on 215 and 176 if you have a whole day to yourself. I always like running this route and stopping by Lucky Otter for lunch.

Kinja'd!!!

interstate366, now In The Industry > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 19:25

It’s always fun going out on back road and mountain road cruises. Tons of great ones here in VA as well, but I don’t feel like opening up that can of worms around this place

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 19:27

That looks really fun!

I’ll drive it during the week that I’m in SC/NC.

E90M3 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
05/19/2018 at 19:28

It was excellent. This is the first time I’ve lived near excellent roads, so I figured I should take advantage.

Most any car would be fun on those roads, apart from a Wrangler, passed a couple struggling to do 20 through the turns.

E90M3 > daender
05/19/2018 at 19:30

Oh wow, that looks fantastic. Making a mental note.

E90M3 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
05/19/2018 at 19:30

Really should, roads were really fun.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 19:44

I’ll be in Greenville during the last week of May, 27th to 1st June.

Ping me if you want to meet/go for a drive/ go karting/ go drinking!

E90M3 > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability
05/19/2018 at 19:47

Email me at e90m3oppo@gmail.com. I’ll give you my phone number, down to do one of those things.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 20:07

Done.

BeaterGT > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 20:10

Woah, I was on those exact roads in Pisgah Forest last month! I wish I had my car, but was stuck in a huge rental F150. Great area

E92M3 > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 20:29

Looks like a fun road!

E90M3 > E92M3
05/19/2018 at 20:39

Oh it certainly was.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 21:10

Watch out on 178, the locals can get a bit crazy. A Pathfinder once rode the center of the road even in curves to prevent us from passing. He then swerved at an RS as it tried to pass.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 21:11

I will try my best so you don’t have to go to C&C alone next weekend.

E90M3 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
05/19/2018 at 21:16

I think my coworker who owns a swapped E30 is going, but the more the merrier.

E90M3 > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
05/19/2018 at 21:16

Oh wow, what a dick. I did pass a couple people, but no one was like that.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > E90M3
05/19/2018 at 21:25

Yeah, he eventually overheated. We weren’t even really doing anything dickish even.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3
05/21/2018 at 17:30

Looks amazing!

What a fine-looking automobile... Mine’s on the 18s right now, too. I’m enjoying the extra sidewall on our shitty roads.

Kinja'd!!!

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
05/21/2018 at 17:31

Yikes. Give those assholes a wide berth...