Discuss: s2000 vs e36 m3
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
You could sell your S for an E36 M3 and find you are in a similar boat (such as your rear suspension ripping half way off the car before you notice and having to spend a fortune to repair it). They are both great cars and tons of fun to drive. Some times I miss the practicality of my M, but even though it is cheap to own and repair compared to other Bimmers it still has more frequent and costly repairs than the S.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,485
Likes: 21
P.s. A used e36 will probably require a ton of rubber bushings ad other parts changed out which are a pita. My s2000 was sold at 147k with no unscheduled repairs except a radiator at 100k and an upper control arm bushing, still on the stock clutch even
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
The E36 M3 is probably my 2nd fav car after the S2000 and I've driven numerous ones.
I've even contemplated selling my S2000 to buy a well maintained 1999 M3.
The BMW has better steering feel but the turn in response and steering ''quickness'' are a deal killer for me. It feels too slow from the time I turn the steering wheel to the time the tires react.
I prefer the M3's brakes, they feel more solid and the ABS isn't as sensitive.
Another gripe about the bimmer has to be the shifter: it feels rubbery, too long and belong's in a 70's estate car or something, not in a sports car. Again just like the turn-in response thing, I guess I'm spoiled by the S2000.
The engine in the bimmer feels MUCH more energetic and powerful than the 240HP suggest: it really pushes you back in your seat around 3500RPMs. I've driven a lot of sports coupes with more than 240HP who feel much slower than the E36 M3. The engine feels like it has 260HP!
I love the driving position on the bimmer, excellent for a luxury sports coupe. Cockpit feels extremely comfortable and it's a no-nonsense dashboard. Everything is just right!
Handling wise the M3 does feel heavier than the S2K but it grips very well and is fun to slide around, more forgiving than the Honda obviously.
What I love the most about the E36 M3 is that even after 8 years of its death it's still a sports coupe that can rip to 60 in 5.5 seconds, haul 4-5 people with a big trunk, weighs less than 3200 pounds, handles beautifully, has trememdous steering feel, great brakes and a large trunk!
But the steering response and shifter feel are deal breakers for me. Maybe if I had never driven-owned an S2000 I wouldn't have cared for these 2 things, but...
Ideally in a few years I'm picking up an E36 M3 as a 2nd car, which I think is the IDEAL addition to a garage with just an S2000.
I've even contemplated selling my S2000 to buy a well maintained 1999 M3.
The BMW has better steering feel but the turn in response and steering ''quickness'' are a deal killer for me. It feels too slow from the time I turn the steering wheel to the time the tires react.
I prefer the M3's brakes, they feel more solid and the ABS isn't as sensitive.
Another gripe about the bimmer has to be the shifter: it feels rubbery, too long and belong's in a 70's estate car or something, not in a sports car. Again just like the turn-in response thing, I guess I'm spoiled by the S2000.
The engine in the bimmer feels MUCH more energetic and powerful than the 240HP suggest: it really pushes you back in your seat around 3500RPMs. I've driven a lot of sports coupes with more than 240HP who feel much slower than the E36 M3. The engine feels like it has 260HP!
I love the driving position on the bimmer, excellent for a luxury sports coupe. Cockpit feels extremely comfortable and it's a no-nonsense dashboard. Everything is just right!
Handling wise the M3 does feel heavier than the S2K but it grips very well and is fun to slide around, more forgiving than the Honda obviously.
What I love the most about the E36 M3 is that even after 8 years of its death it's still a sports coupe that can rip to 60 in 5.5 seconds, haul 4-5 people with a big trunk, weighs less than 3200 pounds, handles beautifully, has trememdous steering feel, great brakes and a large trunk!
But the steering response and shifter feel are deal breakers for me. Maybe if I had never driven-owned an S2000 I wouldn't have cared for these 2 things, but...
Ideally in a few years I'm picking up an E36 M3 as a 2nd car, which I think is the IDEAL addition to a garage with just an S2000.
Actually, the ideal garage setup would be an S2000 and an E39 M5. That, or a T tops NSX and the M5, that would take the cake for me.
As for the M3 vs S2000, I've never owned both, but I have driven both. I have to say, it really depends on what you want from a car. If you are expecting to be needing some space, get the M3, it's actually a little bit faster feeling then an S2000 due to the torque. It also feels great to drive. One thing that really bothers me is the interior design and the looks of it, not a fan. But as a drivers car, it's hard to find much better to be honest, beside the S2000 of course.
The S2000 has a sharper feeling. It's like a scalpel compared to the xacto knife of the M3.
I hope I helped a little
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 1
From: North Richland Hills, TX
Registered User
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 72
Likes: 0
moderators, this isnt a "for sale post" im just showing my boosted m3 please dont delete
i tried poting my e36 M3 gt35r turbo for sale on your forum but then it got deleted b/c im not a paying member and i guess nobody on here would be interested in a boosted m3
. I want to trade for an ap1 s2k. let me know if you are least bit interested. otherwise, please enjoy the pics of the mturbo
gt35r dual ball bearing turbo
tuned at 6psi
ran a 12.6 in the 1/4 mile on street tires
when i first got the car in january N/A, it was a blast to drive because these things have so much torque and their light weight. now that its turbod, things are just ridiculous haha. if its raining, i dont think there is a gear it wont break traction in. also let me know what u think of my jdmyo muffler haha. and the honda eater thing isnt directed towards you guys, its to civics and tegs haha. besides, the kid who made it for me has a s2k
me and my friend witht he s2k traded cars the other day and its quite the machine. it just keeps reving haha and the interior is so unique. really fun on the back roads.
i tried poting my e36 M3 gt35r turbo for sale on your forum but then it got deleted b/c im not a paying member and i guess nobody on here would be interested in a boosted m3
. I want to trade for an ap1 s2k. let me know if you are least bit interested. otherwise, please enjoy the pics of the mturbogt35r dual ball bearing turbo
tuned at 6psi
ran a 12.6 in the 1/4 mile on street tires
when i first got the car in january N/A, it was a blast to drive because these things have so much torque and their light weight. now that its turbod, things are just ridiculous haha. if its raining, i dont think there is a gear it wont break traction in. also let me know what u think of my jdmyo muffler haha. and the honda eater thing isnt directed towards you guys, its to civics and tegs haha. besides, the kid who made it for me has a s2k
me and my friend witht he s2k traded cars the other day and its quite the machine. it just keeps reving haha and the interior is so unique. really fun on the back roads.
Banned
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,825
Likes: 1
I've owned both. Straight line it is a drivers race. Ran a friend's e36m3 the night I traded my e36m3 in on the s2k...it was dead even.
Handling is no competition. The stook outperforms the e36m3. Emperically, you can see this in the SCCA classing. The stook started in the same class as the e36m3...the stook quickly dominated the class, became the class benchmark and then was bumped to a faster class.
As far as which would I own...I loved the m3...it was very versitile...it did everything well. The stook is more fun...you can drive it around out of vtec and have a complete blast while not raising the ayre of the local LEOs. The ///M didn't get fun until I was going take-me-to-jail speeds.
Also, the Honda has been much more reliable and less costly to own. Considering the newest e36m3 you can get is 8 years old and you can still buy a new stook, that makes a difference too.
However, if I was living in a place with lots of traffic, I would consider the ///M or an ///M...but probably an e46m3 with smg.
Handling is no competition. The stook outperforms the e36m3. Emperically, you can see this in the SCCA classing. The stook started in the same class as the e36m3...the stook quickly dominated the class, became the class benchmark and then was bumped to a faster class.
As far as which would I own...I loved the m3...it was very versitile...it did everything well. The stook is more fun...you can drive it around out of vtec and have a complete blast while not raising the ayre of the local LEOs. The ///M didn't get fun until I was going take-me-to-jail speeds.
Also, the Honda has been much more reliable and less costly to own. Considering the newest e36m3 you can get is 8 years old and you can still buy a new stook, that makes a difference too.
However, if I was living in a place with lots of traffic, I would consider the ///M or an ///M...but probably an e46m3 with smg.
