Impreza STi or E46 M3? Background attached.
Discussion
Slightly tipsy so excuse my spelling/rambling etc.
I'm currently going through a bit of a petrolhead "moment". I've been lucky enough in my few years as a driver to have owned some lovely metal. Unfortunately, I feel this has rather spoiled me somewhat, as I'm always hankering for something faster on the drive,.
So - I currently drive a BMW M6, a Vauxhall Corsa, and there's a half-completed VTEC Mini in my garage. I quite like the throwaway nature of the Corsa, while I don't abuse the car, it's got a few scratches on it and it's handled a bit of tough treatment, so I'm content that it's doing my runabout bidding fine. However, I'm struggling to warm to the M6. It's a fantastic car, no doubt, and every time I get a chance to open the taps up I'm left astounded by how such an enormous car can devour speed with such little effort. The Mini project is on hold for now as a) I don't have the time to work on it and b) it'll need a fair amount of money spending on it which I'd rather either bank in case I need it, or push into more important issues (like new cars - the Mini's intended to be a track toy).
I enjoy driving the M6 but it's really not the car for me. The previous owner has looked after it like a baby - it never even saw rain before I got it. Now it's sitting on my driveway, covered in mud, having not been cleaned for two months, or even driven for two weeks. I think it's a brilliant bit of kit but every weekday morning, as I walk past the M6 and see it patiently waiting for me as I drive away in the Corsa, I get that horrible mechanical sympathy voice in my head telling me I'm wasting it. I try to use it every weekend but justifying a single-digit mpg return just for driving to work/the shops and back is very hard. The Corsa is fine as a general runabout, I don't enjoy a drive in it, but it's good at getting me where I want to go reliably and frugally - and I don't mind parking it in a s
tty area.
So, what am I getting at? Well, I want to sell the M6 and get an example of a car that I've previously owned and loved. There are three real contenders for this - a VX220 Turbo, an Impreza STi (blob-eye), or an E46 M3. Truth be told, I've kind of ruled out the VXT as it doesn't come with cruise control. Sounds very pretentious but I absolutely love being able to leave my car at a speed so I can concentrate on the road instead. Not willing to budge on cruise control - the Impreza can be retrofitted cheaply. Anyway - I'll be part-exchanging my M6 for whatever I choose (perhaps with your help!) and my budget to play with is £14k (p/ex value) + ~£3k - so £17k. That'll get me a top-notch E46 M3 or a well-specced Impreza. I'm very torn though and I have a horrible feeling that I'd lament whatever car I didn't buy, if I got one. Unfortunately seeing as I'm part-exing I can't actually get both... although, if anybody knows a way to, I'd love to have both on the drive (a quick classifieds shows easy access to older M3s and blobeye STis for that price together). Not willing to waiver from a part ex though, I haven't got the time nor patience for tyre kickers and test pilots.
I'd love to hear any opinions on what you'd do if you were me - I've not got kids or a wife to worry about, so I don't care what the practicalities are; the Corsa will be my daily regardless. Thanks for reading all this. Looking forward to opinions, criticisms and left-field suggestions.
I'm currently going through a bit of a petrolhead "moment". I've been lucky enough in my few years as a driver to have owned some lovely metal. Unfortunately, I feel this has rather spoiled me somewhat, as I'm always hankering for something faster on the drive,.
So - I currently drive a BMW M6, a Vauxhall Corsa, and there's a half-completed VTEC Mini in my garage. I quite like the throwaway nature of the Corsa, while I don't abuse the car, it's got a few scratches on it and it's handled a bit of tough treatment, so I'm content that it's doing my runabout bidding fine. However, I'm struggling to warm to the M6. It's a fantastic car, no doubt, and every time I get a chance to open the taps up I'm left astounded by how such an enormous car can devour speed with such little effort. The Mini project is on hold for now as a) I don't have the time to work on it and b) it'll need a fair amount of money spending on it which I'd rather either bank in case I need it, or push into more important issues (like new cars - the Mini's intended to be a track toy).
I enjoy driving the M6 but it's really not the car for me. The previous owner has looked after it like a baby - it never even saw rain before I got it. Now it's sitting on my driveway, covered in mud, having not been cleaned for two months, or even driven for two weeks. I think it's a brilliant bit of kit but every weekday morning, as I walk past the M6 and see it patiently waiting for me as I drive away in the Corsa, I get that horrible mechanical sympathy voice in my head telling me I'm wasting it. I try to use it every weekend but justifying a single-digit mpg return just for driving to work/the shops and back is very hard. The Corsa is fine as a general runabout, I don't enjoy a drive in it, but it's good at getting me where I want to go reliably and frugally - and I don't mind parking it in a s
tty area. So, what am I getting at? Well, I want to sell the M6 and get an example of a car that I've previously owned and loved. There are three real contenders for this - a VX220 Turbo, an Impreza STi (blob-eye), or an E46 M3. Truth be told, I've kind of ruled out the VXT as it doesn't come with cruise control. Sounds very pretentious but I absolutely love being able to leave my car at a speed so I can concentrate on the road instead. Not willing to budge on cruise control - the Impreza can be retrofitted cheaply. Anyway - I'll be part-exchanging my M6 for whatever I choose (perhaps with your help!) and my budget to play with is £14k (p/ex value) + ~£3k - so £17k. That'll get me a top-notch E46 M3 or a well-specced Impreza. I'm very torn though and I have a horrible feeling that I'd lament whatever car I didn't buy, if I got one. Unfortunately seeing as I'm part-exing I can't actually get both... although, if anybody knows a way to, I'd love to have both on the drive (a quick classifieds shows easy access to older M3s and blobeye STis for that price together). Not willing to waiver from a part ex though, I haven't got the time nor patience for tyre kickers and test pilots.
I'd love to hear any opinions on what you'd do if you were me - I've not got kids or a wife to worry about, so I don't care what the practicalities are; the Corsa will be my daily regardless. Thanks for reading all this. Looking forward to opinions, criticisms and left-field suggestions.
As above, £17 is insane money for a Blobeye or old M3.
Cruise control on a Blobeye wouldn't be cheap as they were still a cable throttle. I'd research more on a Hawkeye and look at a Type-25 if you have to scratch the Impreza itch. The E46 is obviously great but you're flushing money away at that price.
Why not up the funds for a CSL though?
Cruise control on a Blobeye wouldn't be cheap as they were still a cable throttle. I'd research more on a Hawkeye and look at a Type-25 if you have to scratch the Impreza itch. The E46 is obviously great but you're flushing money away at that price.
Why not up the funds for a CSL though?
You would be mad to trade in a M6 and 3k for an old Impreza or M3.
If the M6 has to go, try and sell it privately, it is a hassle but if it's a nice example you will get a better price.
If you are set on trading it in have a look at B7 RS4's, Vauxhall VXR8's and Nissan 370z's.
Even a BMW 335 will be as quick as a E46 M3.
If the M6 has to go, try and sell it privately, it is a hassle but if it's a nice example you will get a better price.
If you are set on trading it in have a look at B7 RS4's, Vauxhall VXR8's and Nissan 370z's.
Even a BMW 335 will be as quick as a E46 M3.
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