E46 M3, any other cars to consider ?

[rossw46]

I've got my heart set on a manual E46 M3 Coupe, and am finally in the position to buy one in a couple of weeks, It's a car I've loved ever since they first came out.

I'm coming from a standard Subaru Impreza (208 bhp), and have loved everything about it. That does leead me to look at Mitsubishi Evo 7 and 8s in the classifieds, for my budget of £7K to £10K there are some fairly mental cars on offer. But I feel I need to scratch the M3 itch first.

I do also like Hondas, and the S2000, but I reckon the M3 is a bit more special.

Having never owned a RWD car with around 340 bhp, am I likely to put it into a hedge ? And will there be decent examples for my budget, a quick look shows hordes of convertibles and/or SMG cars, but manual coupes seem a bit scarce.

Which would you choose, or what else should I be looking at ? I'ts for a fun second car and MPG is the least of my worries !

[MartyG1987]

Ive just scratched the M3 itch , not had too much time to properly get to know it as the weather has been abit pants but when I have had the chance to push on it feels like an impressive piece of kit.

Also had an s2000, great little car as well, very agile and the engine is a cracker, especially over 6000rpm, if your cruising on the motorway it can get abit noisy and you dont get much standard kit.

Difficult choice ahead, I was looking at EVO's and Impreza's for settling on the M3.

[rossw46]

Good to hear !

Do you rate the M3 better than the S2000 then ?

What is yours specced like, and was your budget vastly different to mine ?

[TheJimi]

rossw46 said:

I do also like Hondas, and the S2000, but I reckon the M3 is a bit more special.

I'd say the opposite.

Advocatus diaboli -

S2000 = Purpose built two seat sports car

M3 = Hotted up saloon car

[MartyG1987]

The M3 is certainly more refined and comfortable place to be, its not quite as chuckable as the s2000 but it is a bigger car. Looking forward to the summer coming along so I can get it on track

I've paid £9500 for an SMG coupe with 70k, FSH, Red Leather, BMW Navigation etc. Body work is nice and tidy apart from a few stone chips which are expected. Doesnt have the upgraded stereo but one of the previous owners has already taken care of that.

I did look at a couple around the 7500 - 8500 mark but they weren't exactly what I would call tidy, although I am abit picky on that front..

[nottyash]

You will know how cheap the Impreza feels, well the BMW is in another league. its a more grown up car.
I've had 2 M3s, and would have another.
The S2000 is a great looking car, with a thrashy engine but its really built quite cheap. You often find the hoods tear behind the door windows and wind noise from the roof clips fixed with a shim available online. They are very sensitive to tyres and spension set up and the fitted stereo and speakers are awful.
A Porsche Boxster s 3.2 facelift 986 (post 2003) is better to drive and has 265 bhp. Interiors are basic, and no LSD, and the M3 is a hell of a lot faster than both.

[Captainawesome]

I owned an e46 m3 and an EVO 9 fq 360 at the same time. The EVO didn't get out much. That is all.

[Impasse]

That's a shame. Was it continually being blocked in by a broken down old BMW?

[john banks]

I sold my Subaru to buy an M3. Terrible mistake. I sold my E46 M3 to buy an Evo IX. I kept the latter for six times as long. That is reflective of my opinion of their relative merits.

[J4CKO]

I ended up with a 350Z, not quite as quick but less likely to pull its floorpan to bits.

[john banks]

I drove a 350Z when I had the M3. The suspension and brakes were far superior on the Z on a bumpy B road.