I own a 2017 GSF now but I just rented a 2018 M4 (Competition)

Higher spring rate could provide many benefits such as more immediate response, better turn-in, more direct steering, more steering feedback, less body roll, etc.

However, without good matched dampers, the good handling could only be good on SMOOTH roads like private racetracks!!!
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This generation M was really good... However, compared with aftermarket performance suspensions, my wife's stock M35X still very tame!!!

In 2011 winter when my wife changed from our 2000 Maxima(Koni sport + H&R spring) to 2010 M35X(10K kms), she complained that the new M35X was unstable and difficult to drive!!!

M35 was really good!!!
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In my opinion, M35 is more fun but the next generation M37 is more refined and better car OVERALL...

Those European cars especially cheap fun cars which have better handling could be like M35 and a bit underdamped on some situations...

The more powerful engines are NOT equal to better engines. The more fun suspensions are NOT equal to better suspensions. You need to see THE WHOLE PACKAGE!!!

Unfortunately, many people prefer more powerful engines and more fun suspensions NO MATTER WHAT...
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Some people complain these well-damped Japanese cars are not so fun... (actually they are very good on public roads. Just no so good at racetracks...)

In my opinion, this is simple to fix... Just replace the stock springs with a little stiffer springs to create a more direct handling and slightly underdamped rides just like M4 competition, my wife's M35X or that Land Rover...

Please be noted that do NOT use those short performance springs which are very stiff. If you really want to use those stiff performance springs, it's also OK but you have to replace your OEM dampers with some good performance dampers like Koni sport. In addition, you also need to sacrifice some ride comfort... But, with those much stiffer springs and dampers what you get is semi-race car suspension which is super fast and direct handling!!!
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Actually Nissan did the same thing for 2000-2001 Maxima...

They created a sport edition for that Maxima which was called Maxima SE.

What they did was they replaced original springs with a little stiffer springs. (They even did not change the original dampers) As a result, they created a more fun but a little underdamped Maxima which was good on racetracks but not so good on public roads...

Actually that Maxima SE is still OK on public roads... Just not so well-damped when the road is bad...
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You may ask why Nissan didn't also change the original dampers when putting stiffer springs for that Maxima... (to keep well-damped ride like normal Maxima)

In my opinion, firmer dampers = firmer ride. So they didn't want to sacrifice the existing ride comfort...

Of course, stiffer springs could reduce some ride comfort... But, actually major culprit for stiff ride is DAMPERS!!!

That's why 2009-2013 GT-Rs have very stiff ride as they put stiff springs on those GT-Rs but also want those GT-Rs to be well-damped on public roads. (Tried to build a perfect ENGINEERING car)
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In my opinion, German cars, Japanese cars, England cars, etc. all have their pros and cons. They all are good and the differences are subtle.

Those car reviewers just "exaggerate" those subtle differences...

Of course, they have to exaggerate those differences. If they don't exaggerate what they find and say the differences are subtle and all cars are good, will you read their reviews again? (Of course NOT!!! )

However, they did miss the most important thing which was reliability... The reliability could be very different on those different cars especially 5-8 years later!!!
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So, if you really want to have some fun, you still need to put some good aftermarket suspensions such as KW V3, PSS10, Ohlins DFV on your cars... (Of course, you also have to sacrifice some ride comfort...)

These aftermarket suspensions may not be the best suspension overall but definitely the most fun!!!
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The below video exactly shows how much faster German cars are when traction controls are OFF which I always mentioned in the past...

I also wonder why German cars are so much faster when traction controls are off. If they are fast when traction controls are off, they should also be fast when traction controls are on... (The difference should not be so much!!!)

I guess German cars may engage some self-destructive or extremely polluted modes when the traction controls are off!!! (Apparently, Japanese cars don't do those short-cuts)

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Of course, it's not suggested to turn off the traction control for average drivers like me and you... (especially for the cars with 300hp or above)

Just like ABS, will you stop your car better without ABS... Of course, NOT!!! (but, professional racing drivers will)
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