Vicarious exploitation of friends' car-buying dilemmas is something Spotted has done before and is doing so again. With the same subject; a 911-owning pal requiring alternative (or possibly additional) transport to accommodate an impending arrival.
Loud colour, unfashionably small wheels - great!
The Mazda CX-7, discussed previously as an addition to the 911,
didn't go down too well
with, well, many people. Philistines! Plan B? Ditch the Porsche entirely and get something that can cover all bases, providing both the additional seating and access without diluting the thrill. Something like a four-door M3.
E90 generation M3s are now teetering on the edge of a cliff of depreciation and, with the prevailing winds of fuel costs and fashion values of cars like this, manual four-door prices are only going to go one way. And fast. A small saloon with three pedals and a big, thirsty V8 might be the kind of thing we'd all love to own but pity the poor trader with one sitting on his forecourt. As it was when my pal turned up to test drive it, 911 and pregnant other half in tow. The salesman must have been more than a little cheered.
Hm, not so sure about the wood though
So, what do you do? Catch an M3 like this one-owner, dealer offered car while it's still got every stamp in the book but take a hefty depreciation hit? Or wait for the next ownership cycle, save a packet but offset that against the fact it might not have been quite so well maintained and big bills could be lurking around the corner? And is there anything you could do to minimise that hit?
This one appeals for a few reasons, not least that price, which compares favourably with the mid-20s to low-30s of most comparable M3s on PH. Melbourne Red is an unusually lairy colour for a four-door, most of which are more conservative blacks or silvers. And is more unusual for its pairing with 18-inch wheels rather than the default 19s - a discerning choice by the original buyer and a combination PH approves of if only because it matches that we picked for 'our' Megane 265! Not sure about the wood though. Which, with the manual transmission, probably equals residual death. First-hand inspection reveals tatty wheels and a few minor paint blemishes, offset by the fact the sole owner has always had it serviced on the button by the supplying dealer. All of which suggests solid foundations, improvable with a bit of a cosmetic makeover.
Lovely looking car, yours for hot hatch money
So, cheap at the front-end based on colour and spec. And a safer bet would probably combine a low-key exterior, more carefully pimped interior and the inevitable DCT gearbox.
Like this one
. The latter is no bad thing, in fact; the more aggressive shift modes reminiscent of SMG's more punchy attributes but, unlike the old gearbox, able to dial back to a much calmer self-shifting mood for everyday mooching. And it works brilliantly with the screaming V8 too.
For its interesting colour, attractive price and purist spec, the former does appeal though. And as a family friendly 911 alternative, it probably ticks more boxes than a Mazda MPV, turbocharged or not!
BMW M3 SALOON (E90)
Engine: 3,999cc V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Power (hp): 420@8,400rpm
Torque (lb ft): 295@8,400rpm
MPG: 22.8mpg (NEDC combined)
CO2: 295g/km
First registered: April 2008
Recorded mileage: 50,000
Price new: £49,310 (plus options)
Yours for: £19,990
See the original advert here.