Last night an M3 changed my mind...

[papercup]

HarryW said:

Surely the obvious answer is the E30 M3, the original and 4 pot turbo ?

eh?

[s m]

HarryW said:

Surely the obvious answer is the E30 M3, the original and 4 pot turbo ?

It was very nearly a turbo but ended up n/a

The Sierra was the ready made 4-pot turbo from that era

[HarryW]

ah well got a bit x threaded there was thinking of the 2002 ......move along....

[TheJimi]

Toyota Supra TT?

Seems like a fairly obvious answer to the OP's requirements.

[JB!]

papercup said:

JB! said:

papercup said:

RX-7; wonderful handling and a sorted one will easily show an M3 a clean pair of heels. Mine in single-turbo guise would bully a CSL out of the way on track. I had a great battle with one at Combe one day; it was very fast but the Rex had it on the brakes, and especially on corner speed through the chicanes).

But getting and keeping a sorted one happy is not an easy or cheap proposition and if you are talking 'easy, rewarding daily driver' then I'd recommend the M3!

If you want to make the M3 expensive, unreliable and a general pain in the arse, then turbo it. There's always something with modified cars. If you were going to go down this road, I'd recommend the RX-7 again...

Andy

Have you still got your V8 RX7?


Thanks for the input everyone!

Yup

Still going strong?

What was the rough cost in building it?

[papercup]

JB! said:

papercup said:

JB! said:

papercup said:

RX-7; wonderful handling and a sorted one will easily show an M3 a clean pair of heels. Mine in single-turbo guise would bully a CSL out of the way on track. I had a great battle with one at Combe one day; it was very fast but the Rex had it on the brakes, and especially on corner speed through the chicanes).

But getting and keeping a sorted one happy is not an easy or cheap proposition and if you are talking 'easy, rewarding daily driver' then I'd recommend the M3!

If you want to make the M3 expensive, unreliable and a general pain in the arse, then turbo it. There's always something with modified cars. If you were going to go down this road, I'd recommend the RX-7 again...

Andy

Have you still got your V8 RX7?


Thanks for the input everyone!

Yup

Still going strong?

What was the rough cost in building it?

You'll get no real change from 15K to convert a Rex to V8.

[JB!]

papercup said:

JB! said:

papercup said:

JB! said:

papercup said:

RX-7; wonderful handling and a sorted one will easily show an M3 a clean pair of heels. Mine in single-turbo guise would bully a CSL out of the way on track. I had a great battle with one at Combe one day; it was very fast but the Rex had it on the brakes, and especially on corner speed through the chicanes).

But getting and keeping a sorted one happy is not an easy or cheap proposition and if you are talking 'easy, rewarding daily driver' then I'd recommend the M3!

If you want to make the M3 expensive, unreliable and a general pain in the arse, then turbo it. There's always something with modified cars. If you were going to go down this road, I'd recommend the RX-7 again...

Andy

Have you still got your V8 RX7?


Thanks for the input everyone!

Yup

Still going strong?

What was the rough cost in building it?

You'll get no real change from 15K to convert a Rex to V8.

Including a base vehicle?

A good/ish manual E46 looks to be 8k.

[kiseca]

What about the Supra Mk4 and 300ZX? Both turbocharged coupes with allegedly good chassis.

[pilchardthecat]

irish boy said:

Try the slightly older 135i coupe.....3.0 twin turbo manual. It will surprise you.

It surprised me by having possibly the worst power delivery of any petrol engine ever created

[daveco]

I had my heart set on buying an E46 M3. Yet after many, many test drives it was absolutely trumped by the 335 imo. For me, the 335 felt quicker, sounded better, and handled better. The chassis may be good in the E46, however the E92 is a noticeable improvement. Not as skittish as the M and more planted, even with the woeful run flats.

If you want something that is even more fun than the E46 M3 go for the 335 or if the budget allows, an E92 M3. Better cars for driving even if the quality of the interior and reliability are not as good as the E46.

[Timbuk2]

Love my E46 M3, bought a low mileage (20K) in Feb and it still really excites me.

Also love this video

Garo Haroutounian in Falougha Hill Climb 2013

[HarryW]

Back to things I know about and in the spirit of what PH was created for. All assuming you don't have to lug two kids around have you considered a TVR Chimaera, surprisingly practical with a large boot, open top when you want it, quick enough when you want it to be, scarey enough RWD handling if you don't respect it, a sound track to die for, still turns heads today and actually if you buy the right one not that expensive to run.......

[carinaman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLGKV_WByYM

[JB!]

HarryW said:

Back to things I know about and in the spirit of what PH was created for. All assuming you don't have to lug two kids around have you considered a TVR Chimaera, surprisingly practical with a large boot, open top when you want it, quick enough when you want it to be, scarey enough RWD handling if you don't respect it, a sound track to die for, still turns heads today and actually if you buy the right one not that expensive to run.......

Not a fan of the looks, love the 350/Sagaris, but i'm scared of the huge bills.

[HarryW]

Ok understandable, as I said if you buy carefully, but that takes a bit of experience with the marque to do that, or a good friend that is.

Sticking with the BMW theme then, have a go in a E39 M5, stunning cars the daddy compared to the M3 in many ways.

[s m]

HarryW said:

Ok understandable, as I said if you buy carefully, but that takes a bit of experience with the marque to do that, or a good friend that is.

Sticking with the BMW theme then, have a go in a E39 M5, stunning cars the daddy compared to the M3 in many ways.

Doesn't he want the "feel" of a six cylinder M BMW though, only with a turbo?

Would a modded 135i BMW coupe, with a LSD, suspension and ARB upgrades, revised geo like more caster/camber and different exhaust/induction get close if a 1M is out of budget

I did miss what the overall budget was

Edited by s m on Wednesday 26th November 17:56

[JB!]

s m said:

HarryW said:

Ok understandable, as I said if you buy carefully, but that takes a bit of experience with the marque to do that, or a good friend that is.

Sticking with the BMW theme then, have a go in a E39 M5, stunning cars the daddy compared to the M3 in many ways.

Doesn't he want the "feel" of a six cylinder M BMW though, only with a turbo?

Would a modded 135i BMW coupe, with a LSD, suspension and ARB upgrades, revised geo like more caster/camber and different exhaust/induction get close if a 1M is out of budget

I did miss what the overall budget was

Edited by s m on Wednesday 26th November 17:56

No mention of budget but a good/ish M3 looks to be 8-10k...

[aeropilot]

s m said:

Would a modded 135i BMW coupe, with a LSD, suspension and ARB upgrades, revised geo like more caster/camber and different exhaust/induction get close if a 1M is out of budget

Yes, would be virtually the same for half the cost.

But, still twice the cost of a reasonable nick E46 M3.

[JB!]

Are the E39 V8 M5's comparable? Thinking the V8 will satisfy my want of low down torque, similar pricing?...

[ATM]

JB! said:

papercup said:

JB! said:

papercup said:

JB! said:

papercup said:

RX-7; wonderful handling and a sorted one will easily show an M3 a clean pair of heels. Mine in single-turbo guise would bully a CSL out of the way on track. I had a great battle with one at Combe one day; it was very fast but the Rex had it on the brakes, and especially on corner speed through the chicanes).

But getting and keeping a sorted one happy is not an easy or cheap proposition and if you are talking 'easy, rewarding daily driver' then I'd recommend the M3!

If you want to make the M3 expensive, unreliable and a general pain in the arse, then turbo it. There's always something with modified cars. If you were going to go down this road, I'd recommend the RX-7 again...

Andy

Have you still got your V8 RX7?


Thanks for the input everyone!

Yup

Still going strong?

What was the rough cost in building it?

You'll get no real change from 15K to convert a Rex to V8.

Including a base vehicle?

A good/ish manual E46 looks to be 8k.

You don't need to start with an M3 if you want to build a v8 e46. A 325/330 coupe will be say 2 grand. Then you'll need the v8, gearbox and some e46 go fast / stop better bits. Have a look here:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...