Bryan,
Sorry. Enjoy your M3. I applaud your parents decision to not buy you an M3 at age 16. I think everyone here would like someone to give them $20K for a car. Good luck with the new job. I suppose I am the ass that I called myself before. But here is some constructive comment... I would encourage you to consider the S2000 95% of the Performance for 1/2 the price=110% enjoyment. Then take the $20 grand and put a down payment on a condo or something. Might be better in the long run. Your real-estate investment will gain in value, while a car only looses value over time.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by UCrazyKid
[B]Bryan,
Then take the $20 grand and put a down payment on a condo or something.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by mrkim019
[B]

 

Bryan,

Sup kid. I know where you're coming from. I'm 23 and living at home and still in school as well. I had a job a while back (before the economy took a plunge into my butt) and was planning on buying a car of my own. Mom, Dad and the rest of the free world egged me to wait and just save save save. I wanted the S2000 more than anything...ever. That was 2 years ago. Today, I still have no S2000 and drive around in my POS '86 Camry. The job went belly-up when IBM closed down my department. Had I bought the car then, I'd be up to my nose in debt and would be on the verge of having to give up the car. But after thinking about it for a while now, when the time comes for me to buy a car, I will think a long time about it before I drop buck on the S2K. Few reasons... The big one being the money issue. Sure the S2K would be mad fun right now and I may not regret getting it, but I might have been able to use the extra cash on something more stabe like my own condo/house or money to help out my parents if they ever need. The other being that I know I'll love it like it was my first born and won't want to see it go any time soon...even if I need something more practical later. So for me, when the time comes I won't turn my nose up to a used Prelude, Civic Si or even an RSX or something. I figure I'll just keep getting better things down the line...so no rush.

In your case, your "lesser ride" is the S2000 and the better one being the E46. I'd say, pocket the cash and jump on the S2000. It's still a hot ass car and you'll always have something to look forward to. I mean...the S2000 is a great car and the E46 is a GREAT car. If you got the E46, what's next?? 911 Turbo?? My advice is invest man. 'Cause your own place with an S2000 beats the hell outta an M3 in dad's driveway.

Just my 2... (sorry for the long ass post y'all...)

 

So it sounds like you can either have a brand new M3 for 30k or a brand new s2k for 30k. It IS pretty tempting to choose the M3, but I say go with the s2000 for sure. If you're into sports cars and fun driving more than you're into luxurious anemities, which you should be in your early 20s, there is no reason to choose the E46 other than for obvious "status" reasons which is all just bullsh-it anyways. You will have more fun and smiles whipping those California twisties with the top down feeling the agressive VTEC then you would sitting in your big, comfy, and quiet E46 M3 that is designed to go fast but still not feel a bump on the road. Driving wise I would only choose the M3 over the honda if I were in germany touring the autobahn comfortably at 150, definitely not if I wanted to rip through canyons on a nice day with the sun in my face. I don't know how much you could trust my opinion though, simply because i'm one of those crazy folks that has been heavily enamored by honda and even if I were offered an E46 straight up for my s2000 I wouldn't have to think twice about keeping the stook, ESPECIALLY if there was a $20,000 bonus for opting for the honda. Call me crazy, but I think this says alot about the honda This is just my .02 though man.

 

I just wanted to say that a younger driver doesn't always mean a less experienced/less skilled driver. I have a friend who ranked 16th or so overall in the SCCA Championships in 2000 at the age of 20 and another friend that is still in high school and is formula race car driver. Obviously most young drivers aren't as skilled as these guys, just wanted to point out that there are exceptions.

The E46 M3 is a great car. It may not be focused on performance as much as a S2000 is, but its not just some cushy luxury coupe.

Personally, I would go w/ the S2000. I'd want to have some money saved up instead of using of it insuring the car, which I'm sure won't be easy considering the car and your age, and paying a hefty car payment. Also the M3 weighs too much IMO.

 

Dang guys. Thanks for all your posts. It's a hard decision, I have to admit that. I can either have one of the finest engineered automobiles out there right now along with 20 grand, or have one of the finest GERMAN engineered autombiles out there. I'm going to do a lot of thinking but I need to buy a car soon. Keep the suggestions flowing for I know i'll never run out of your guys's suggestions.

Ciao,

Bryan

 

Keep in mind of the insurance. The S2000 is significantly less in insurance than a M3, especially considering your age. A way around this is to put your car in the parents' name and list them as a full time driver and you as a part time driver.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by rahvis
[B]My advice is invest man.

 

I'm confused on why the S2000 would be less in insurance. Taking out the fact that the M3 is more powerful, aren't convertibles considered a high risk factor when in a large scale crash? I would assume insurance companies would put that into account and charge quite a bit of money for policies invovling drop top two seat roadsters.... just wondering since the M3 is also German made which stereotypically means = "safe" to most people that i know of.

Bryan