E46 M3 or Golf Gti?

[Singh007]

Hi,

New on Piston Heads (but have been viewing the website for years).

Looking to spend around £10 - £12k, but cannot decide between E46 M3 or Golf Gti Mk5/6........................or could spend a few grand more and go for 330i / 335i coupe............what does anyone think?! Colour has to be black for all 3!

There may be a possibility that the car will need to be parked on the road, not driveway..........that makes me think twice against any beemer.

Would appreciate some advice.

Thanks.

[M3Charlie]

I think the big thing to look at here will be running costs. If you are spending 10-12k on a BMW E46 M3 you need to remember this was a £55k car new and so has the associated running costs involved. The Golf will be cheaper to run and maintain. With that said though, the M3 gets my vote everyday

[E21_Ross]

as mentioned, the E46 M3 will have far higher running costs. 4 tyres will set you back at about £1000 for starters. if you think you can afford the running costs, there really is no contest.

E46 M3 will be the much better drive, all day long!!

plus, listen to it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf34cdwiVFE

[E21_Ross]

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where abouts in south wales are you? if you get one, you are going to let me have a look, aren't you! one of my favourite all time cars. the noise, oh the noise!!!!!!!!

[stabilio]

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I have to agree with above about the Golf R32. I had a Audi S3 which is based on the R32 and whilst it was quick, it was also the most boring car i've had and i got shot of it after 3 months (and lost a bucket load of cash!).

I've only had my M3 for 4 days but already its a much more exciting drive. I've been through about 6 cars in the last 2 years - empty wallet now - but i always get a feel for cars after a couple of days and the E46 will take some learning for me to apreciate fully - and thats part of fun with any car.

I'm a very average driver but i knew from day 2 in the S3 that whilst a rapid car it just wasnt much fun to drive.
The brakes in the M3 are a bit of an issue but again, i'm getting used to them but feel an upgrade would be better.

[Nasir 123]

You can't get a Mk6 GTI for 12k, the Mk5 GTI is different to the R32. You cannot compare an M3 (rear wheel drive performance car) to an R32 (4WD cruiser - which was half the price of the M3 when new). The R32 is a great car, it's not the same as an S3 at all. The base may be the same but the engine in the R32 gives a good linear pull and the handling is great.

[hesnotthemessiah]

Not even in the same ballpark. No debate necessary.

[E21_Ross]

as others have said, it's all about running costs. if you can live with them (and make sure you can!!!!!) then there's no contest at all. very, very few practical, 4 seater cars will thrill like an M3. it's why it enjoys its reputation as the best sports saloon. always has done, even since the E30 came out, and even the current V8.

[lndy]

not sure if any of you have tried a MK5 GTI with a remap, but its a far more (powerwise) fun & exciting car to drive than an E46 M3!

on track an M3 would be better, but for normal everyday use id have the golf (with a decent spec + remap!)

if you are looking in the same budget bracket for both cars (i.e. 10k for either M3 or golf GTI) you will find a much better example of a golf (newer, more refined, cheaper to run and fix) than an M3.

dont know how many people will agree with me, as this is the M Power room!
but i have owned a few m3's, and driven the golf GTI (HARD) that i mention! so speak from experience.

a standard power GTI is VERY boring... but not to worry, a remap is very cheap (and definitely worth it) in comparison to power upgrades for an E46 M3 (N/A)

[0836whimper]

lndy said:

not sure if any of you have tried a MK5 GTI with a remap, but its a far more (powerwise) fun & exciting car to drive than an E46 M3!

I'd not been tracking what the chippers are up to these days, but I'm impressed the latest remaps also make it RWD, give it instant throttle response and rev to over 8000.

[Singh007]

Thanks guys.............as Blackadder once said, "the agony of choice"!!!

[mat205125]

E46 M3 every single time. Golf is a nice car, but not a patch on an M3 which is a proper performance saloon.

[T1berious]

I just recently got a Z4M and use a BMW 330 as a daily driver. I used to own a VW (Corrado VR6) and will echo the thoughts of others here and say you can't really compare the two.

343 v 200 bhp, the comparisions go on and on. I think the real factor is costs. An M3 will chew cash on maintenance and tyres plus the insurance will be way above the GTi. I don't know the group for the GTi but I know the BM will be group 20. If you can afford the running costs of the older M3 then go for it!

The Mk V GTi got awesome write ups at launch, plus you'll be able to get a newer one (Might even get one from a dealer so it will be warrantied etc at the upper end of your budget)

For an M3 you'll be looking at private sale (could be wrong) but I know the E46's in the dealer network are not around the 12k mark.

Best of luck!

[Pugsey]

If your financial world implodes in six months time and this proves to be your last decent car do you want to be able to say "I had an M3 once" OR "I had a golf once" I think you know the answer.

[Slurms]

The M3 is without doubt the better car in every scenario but you're not making a like for like comparison, The Golf is a hot hatch with 200bhp and stock VW parts, the M3 has 340bhp and lots of model specific custom parts - you'll read on this forum lots of references to "paying the M Tax"..

So if you're concerned at all about your budget then i'd go for the golf, it'll be much cheaper to run and is still more amusing than your average motor.

If running costs are less of an issue then go for the M3, because there is no way any Golf Gti will make you grin like an M3 does, that straight six at full chat is intoxicating.

[Sir_Dave]

lndy said:

not sure if any of you have tried a MK5 GTI with a remap, but its a far more (powerwise) fun & exciting car to drive than an E46 M3!

Funniest thing i've read in ages.

I had a Golf Edition 30. It was ste.

In fact, i got rid of it for a clio.

e46 everytime, only reason i dont have one is due to my 100 daily commute. Its only a matter of time though

[Heathwood]

I'd have to echo the opinions of fellow PHers. The M3 really is in a different league to a Golf (any Golf).

In saying that, I was looking to spend around £12-£14k a couple of years ago and I did consider Mk5 Golf GTI's. I drove quite a few and I quite like them; IMHO, they're more fun than an E46 330i Sport (another possible choice of mine).

An E9x 335i is a great car, but I would have thought you'd need to up your budget by a fair bit to get a good one in M Sport spec. As for 330i's, well nice as they are, they're just not a huge amount of fun and you'll most likely still pine after an M3.

One option is to consider something that falls somewhere between the Golf and an M3; how about a Z4 Coupe 3.0si, or 130i M Sport.

[rb5230]

Yeh its no contest, depends what u want from your car and if you can handle bills.

M3 if you want a nice, fast car and can handle the quite expensive maintenance

GTI for a decent quick car that should be pretty cheap to maintain (although i would have a focus ST over the golf anyday)

[ArmaghMan]

Sir_Dave said:

lndy said:

not sure if any of you have tried a MK5 GTI with a remap, but its a far more (powerwise) fun & exciting car to drive than an E46 M3!

Funniest thing i've read in ages.

I had a Golf Edition 30. It was ste.

In fact, i got rid of it for a clio.

e46 everytime, only reason i dont have one is due to my 100 daily commute. Its only a matter of time though

Dont let a 100 mile commute put you off.
Try it in a 400bhp V8 E39 M5.
you wont regret it

[burwoodman]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

I've owned both too. I think the R32 is a very good car but completely different to an M3. The golf is lardy and needs more power but to say it is 5hit is plain silly. Depends what you want from a car. the M3 is a high rev screamer vs a torquie GT