Can we discuss my next car, or perhaps I keep current.

Lets get to it. I curently have a S2000 AP1, which is my leisure car. And I enjoy every bit of driving of it. But for personal reasons a nice 4 seater may be more practical. So I started looking at 4 door performance sedans for DD instead. Drove CTS-V, friends 01 M3 Vert, and started thinking: what should I get?

First thoughts:

S2000 - Current car is fantastic. No slower then a M3 in many ways, but much more exciting. Cons: 2 seater, probably easier to crash since it has no traction control.

M3 - Nice detail, great looks, plenty fast, traction control may save my ass one day. More upscale vibe. Cons: boring in comparison (sorry). Fear of maintenance cost (tell me otherwise)

CTS-V - Interior is ok, but way to much plastic, ok by my stadards. 4 doors, torque, and a Z06 motor. Cons: it too is a bit boring. do those rear diffs break from normal driving? (I have a GMC Sierra truck and it has givem me 60K plus of worry free driving. As well as few other GMC vehicles in the past)

So, am I in the ballpark in my assumptions? many here had/have S2000's. M3's, some cts-V's. Any thought?


p.s. this post has no flamitory nature, just personal observations. your results may vary.

 

If it's your leisure car, why get a heavier 4-seater?

Buy a beater.

Is it your daily driver as well?

Were you asking what car to get in addition to a leisure S2000 for a daily driver?

Or were you asking which car to replace the S2000 with for everyday use?

 

There is logic to the madness. Leasure car (S2000) is much nicer then my wifes DD. She drives a 4 seater 300ZX. And I would prefer to have my kids drive in a safer / newer car.

But I really like my S. Hence a weird comparison.

 

I don't think many will argue that the M3 is definitely the safest of the bunch but unless you get a CPO'd car then maintenance costs could be a concern. It needs a fairly expensive Inspection service about every 30K miles and that will run between $1,500-2,000 and anything that breaks on the car won't be cheap to fix. Mine is getting ready to turn 75K miles and hasn't had any issues but I'm pretty meticulous with my cars and their maintenance. I can't imagine it would be any fun putting kids or cars seats in the back seat depending on their age. The M3 is a great car...it's comfortable...fast enough and a very versatile car. I haven't owned a CTS-V but I would think you could find a newer less mielage CTS-V versus an M3. I would also have to assume that maintenance would be less on the CTS-V and it's a 4 door.

 

all i can say, is that ive had the pleasure of driving a CTSv and have never coveted a caddy so much in my life. the cars vanity plate "4DRZO6" was more than accurate.

but the M3 and the CTSv couldnt be more unrelated i dont think. its hard to even compare the two cars as they have nothing in comon.

 

Dont get the CTS. I know someone that has had to replace the diff 2 times. Apperantly Caddy didn't reenforce the diff after installing the V8.

 

I am not a fan of M3 verts at all. They are very heavy and won't be anywhere near as fun as the S2000. I do like the M3 coupe instead. I'm not sure about the CTS-V but I do know it is a very heavy car (4000+ lbs I believe). I have never driven one but have driven both M3 and previous gen M5 which is another 4000 lb car and I far prefer the feel of the M3.

As an alternative you may consider the Legacy GT or Spec-B which is a very capable car and cheaper than either. ALso the Legacy is one of the safest cars in it's class.

 

you and i share the same taste in cars in the sense that i like your choices, i need not go into the plus side of the s2000 with you, except if you want a safer s2000 consider a newer one with traction control.

the m is a car that requires upkeep costs far and above the honda, what you get in return is a great sedan or cab that gives more of whatg we love the honda for. you no longer have a roadster.

the caddy, well...go look at a used one...they fall apart, so like most gm cars you get a great car for a great price, especially used, but they have issues that preclude enjoyment over long term in my opinion....

so...if i had to choose between therse cars and was not keeping the s i would choose the m cause it is a fine car, period.

 

hirev - the E46 M3 didnt come in a sedan. Also to be honest the upkeep cost of the M3 is blown out of proportions. Granted IF you have bad luck and things kaput, you will be paying a pretty penny. But they are for the most part reliable (unless you're unlucky).

They are a bit more expensive, but just like the S, the expensive stuff will be the tires mainly. In this case the M3 has 19" tires which is a eye gouging at best.

and the point about the tastes .. the m3 and the s2000 are honestly popular cars. I mean they deserve to be for what they are .. thats why you always get these comparisions

 

The CTS is the outsider here. I doubt much can be asid about either the S2000 or the M3 that hasnb't already been said. With that in mind, here are my thoughts onthe CTS-V.

It weighs ~3800 lbs. Show me another $50K 400hp sedan that weighs less. Hell, just show me a 400hp sedan that weighs less. part of the reason for the weight is because the car is a Cadillac luxury sedan. The weight enhances the comfort of the ride. A heavier car is more resistant to crosswinds and road imperfections. You get a very smooth ride from a Cadillac by intention. There is no way in hell to get that smoothness from a sub-3000 vehicle.

Contrary to popular myth, the CTS-V isn't intended to be a "sports car." It's a luxury sport sedan. One can buy an STI or an EVO if they want a sport sedan with no luxury or smooth ride. Sure, some people hammer on their cars and have no concept of how to make things last, and so break things. You can break any car by not driving it the way it was intended. Drag launches at high rpms on sticky tires will eventually break any stock diff, that's why God created the aftermarket

Cadillacs don't fall apart. I've seen ragged out Caddies, and the very idea gives me shivers. It takes serious abuse and a non-caring attitude to wear one out. It's a luxury car, not a jungle gym. I've experience with many Cadillacs over the years, and the data supports my experience - there aren't many better built cars in the world. Especially for the money. The engines are butter smooth, powerful, and economical. The interiors are top notch, feature-rich, and durable. If you refuse to fix what you break, you can't blame the car or maker.

The cars are designed for a certain market. They aren't designed to ape anyone else. Buy a Lexus if you want a nice Mercedes but can't afford it. Buy a Cadillac if you want a Cadillac. The CTS-V is no four-door Vette. It's an over-powered Cadillac that trades room and luxury for power and handling. But you'd be a fool to think "handling" refers to a lighter, less powerful luxury sedan. It simply means the car rides stiffer than a traditional Caddy while having an engine that upholds the Cadillac tradition of providing enough power to push you to the front of the pack on command.