Another What car (10k)

[RobCrezz]

At the end of the year I would like to upgrade my car and spend the most I ever have on purchasing a car.

There are 2 car I am currently considering, but am open to other options. Which of these do you think would be the better choice?

E46 M3
Evo 7-8

I dont drive much during the week as I commute by train so I dont put many miles on the car. I would like to do the occasional track day, and I also like to occasionally do RWYB 1/4 drag days.

My current pros and cons for each:

M3
Pro: lovely 6 pot (have only ever owned 4cylinders!), great reviews, love the looks

Cons: expensive servicing and maintenance (apparently), image doesnt really bother me but Im not really interested in looking very "flash".

Evo
Pro: Turbo (I love turbos), AYC AWD (never owned an AWD car, only RWD and FWD)

Cons: Also expensive servicing? potentially too capable to be fun on the road? Again image isnt a big deal but they do look a bit chavvy


Currently leaning towards the M3 very slightly, but I need to have a good drive of both if I can....

Opinions please!

[Groober]

M3 all day long.

[Papa Hotel]

Can you get a decent E46 M3 for ten grand? Hmmm... That's interesting. No Papa Hotel, no, you mustn't.

[soad]

M3 would be my choice out of those two.

[Groober]

Papa Hotel said:

Can you get a decent E46 M3 for ten grand? Hmmm... That's interesting. No Papa Hotel, no, you mustn't.

Go on you know you want to.

[Original Poster]

Out of the two, the M3 would be my choice, however at your budget, I would not go for either.

A 10K M3 will be ropey unless you are very lucky...

[GAjon]

Split the difference and reduce maintenence expenses Mazda 6 MPS

[RobCrezz]

Original Poster said:

Out of the two, the M3 would be my choice, however at your budget, I would not go for either.

A 10K M3 will be ropey unless you are very lucky...

Really? I thought you could get a decent one for 10-11k.

I dont want to buy a ropey M3

[RobCrezz]

GAjon said:

Split the difference and reduce maintenence expenses Mazda 6 MPS

Bit too sensible for my needs, but I agree that they are good cars.

[G_T]

Unless you can budget a very decent M3 it'd have to be the EVO all day long for me...

[Chris71]

If you have slight reservations about the image of both then maybe the rarity (i.e. enthusiast-appeal) of the Evo might just swing it? I was oggling one parked outside my house the other day and got me thinking about them too. Despite the wings and the bodykit they don't really figure on the Max Power radar that much yet - too rare and the recent ones are largely too expensive still.

That said, I also quite fancy one of the be-winged square headlamp Impreza WRX STIs at the moment, so maybe I'm just more in touch with my inner chav than usual.

[RobCrezz]

Chris71 said:

If you have slight reservations about the image of both then maybe the rarity (i.e. enthusiast-appeal) of the Evo might just swing it? I was oggling one parked outside my house the other day and got me thinking about them too. Despite the wings and the bodykit they don't really figure on the Max Power radar that much yet - too rare and the recent ones are largely too expensive still.

That said, I also quite fancy one of the be-winged square headlamp Impreza WRX STIs at the moment, so maybe I'm just more in touch with my inner chav than usual.

I do like the Imprezas, but I have always preferred Evos.

[pat_y]

If you could squeeze the budget up to 11 - 12K i would have the M3 like a shot, saying that if you buy wisely and accept it might not have all the option boxes ticked from new £10K is certainly possible, but caveat emptor.

[Gizmo!]

M3 flashy? Buy a black one. 99% of people will just think it's a dull BME 3-series, a 318d or something.

Of course, when you howl away from 5000-7000rpm in 2nd gear, that impression may be shattered somewhat.

[RobCrezz]

Would an Evo 7 for 10k be decent?