What do I think of the E46 M3?

BSMTH
be still my thumping heart

This is nearly the perfect sheep in wolves clothing, my favorite kind of car. I suspect the Ultimate sheep in wolves clothing is its bigger brother, the M5. Mind you the M5 is at the top of my list of cars to get once I win the NYS Lotto!!! M5, M5, M5, M5, M5, it is sort of like a chant I use to lull myself to sleep, who the f**k wants to count sheep when you can count M5s???
So what do I think of the M3? I think a lot about the M3, day in and day out!
The E46 M3 is one of the best cars made in the world today. Period.
When BMW uses the word "Ultimate" driving machine, I really believe they have every right in the world to use the word Ultimate!
For me the car is too big, too heavy, contains too many luxury items, has way too many gadgets, and is way out of my price range. I think the car is great, but for me it just does not fit. Even if I won the Lotto I would not buy the M3, it is not that I don't like it, I sort of lust after it, it is just not for me. I would rather spend a bit more and get the M5 or I would spend the money and get an S2000 AND a Toyota Tacoma ExtCab 4x4 with the TRD suspension and supercharger. Dogs are not the only ones who love trucks!

 

hehe, my local dealership have a SMGII in the lot. Too bad, they can not sell that one. It is going to EPA in Ann Arbor. The padels and shifter looks sort of cool. Still, I have to make sure I like it before I can order myself one. Don't want to live with $55K mistake.

 

I don't like it at all...

1) sure it may be a high performance car... but then... why the back seat?
2) the bulgy buffed out look looks a bit crass to me.. if you want a muscle car... then why the back seat?
3) if you WANT the back seat... get a 5 series or a M5

But all in all... I suppose that BMW is the king of being able to oversell to their customers. To the mall... to the grocery store...for the dailly commute.. to pick up the kids at soccer.... good thing you have the extra HP of a M class over a regular 3 or 5 series....
For all the performance that BMW sells to its customers... and how much it's vaunted that these are the ultimate driving machines.... it still doesn't match up correctly in my mind.... but maybe I'm just biased, and think that having to PAY for leather in a 30k car is nit-picking. You have to PAY for an armrest? Would the seatbelts be optional as a "Safety Package" as well?

I think the only one I would pay money for is the 7 series... and I hope they don't puck it up by the time I'm 50 and will want to drive one.

 

Wow, cool!

I come with an open mind to see what all you think of the M3, so ofcourse I've already prepared myself to hear some voice's of "don't likes."

Let me sum up what's been said so far... I've heard replied from the following categories.

1. Love it, in the future will purchase.
2. Love it, but due to mark up and wait reasons, decided not to go with it.
3. Great car, but just won't buy one.
4. Don't like it, just another 3 series, too common, and getting larger than previous 3 series.
5. Are you kidding me? What is the purpose of the M3? Expensive for what you get.

It seems like the diverse crowd has representatives over a broad range of opinions, but I'd like to respond specifically to one of the replies by Ash.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Ash
[B]I don't like it at all...

1) sure it may be a high performance car...

 

Triple H,

Of I loved your response! Hehe. I wanted to ask more people on what they thought of the M3. I didn't find any specific trends so far, every opinion has been covered. Sorta. It's nice to see others like the same car you like and not so nice when someone doesn't like the car you like. But, that's what I wanted to know and find out, that's why I asked. See, cars are like women, everyone likes a different type. Hehe.


Perry,

Oh man, I haven't driven the SMG II yet, but from what I have read, I'm really sure it's not going to turn out to be a 55k mistake!!! How can it be when the shifts can be as fast as 80 msec, which is 0.08 second, and downshifts that automatically blip and rev match?

I'm not sure if you have read it or not, but you should go read the FAQ of SMG II at the following site.

http://www.leo.nutz.de/

Boy that answered a lot of questions for me actually. Andreas is his name I think. I think you might know that he took delivery of his SMG II long time ago.. hehe.. and the FAQ was quite helpful. So, when are you going to get one? What color?


Jimmy

 

Do I like the M3? No comment.



http://members.roadfly.com/loki/e46m3_faq.html

forums:

roadfly.com
dtmpower.net
e46fanatics.com


cheers,
-loki

 

The M3 is nice, but doesn't really trip my trigger. I might opt for a C32 AMG over the M3 if I was in the market for a high performance sports sedan, although the SMG I think is the shape of things to come from all high-performance manufacturers.

My local BMW dealer was delivering a topz blue / beige leather Z8 the other day... Awesome color combination. If it was about $60K less, I might consider buying one! I had only seen silver/black previously, and it just didn't do this car justice!

Funny though... The new owner was bitching about the plastic rear window! On a $135,000 car!

 

First off... I never consider someone trying to change my mind, cuz I don't try and change their mind.. IT'S A FREAKIN FORUM!!! Anyone who takes this thing with anything more than a grain of salt really needs to snap back to reality. Thanks for the continuing refreshing openess of this forum.

I see your point, but I think what is happening here is, please excuse this term, I don't want to come off as offensive either, is ... they bastardize purposes of cars. While some people do indeed look for a good mix between the mentality of a "track car" and a "passenger car," I think you set a level of expectation on both grounds that can't be met.

I base things on this...

Passenger Car: Meant to get from point A to point B SAFELY
Track Car: Meant to get from point A to point B QUICKLY

Sure you can cross something things with others, very successfully... but when you do... you lose practicality.

Ford Lightning: you gonna use this thing to haul stuff around? possibly, but it goes fast... more of a "track car"
S2000: you gonna haul PEOPLE around? possibly, and it certainly would be entertaining to see, but at the same time... you could do it safer in another vehicle.
Volvo V70R: (one of my favorite cars I'll have to admit) haul a bit of stuff, carry your kids, go kinda fast, pretty safe
M3: goes pretty fast, hauls people around?(not so sure about that backseat), costs a BUNDLE
SUV: Don't even ask... the most bastardized of all car types... wtf is this? a station wagon? a sportscar? haul stuff around?

You can't tell me that anyone who can fork out $65k for a M3 couldn't achieve either or both purposes better with 1 or 2 cars. Either you can pick one or both that satisfies whatever the current need is... or you can make little compromises here and there. I have an S2k... my wife... an Accord(she bought hers first )

I guess I'm ranting a bit here again but...

The WRX is a great car... if you want it to go fast.. but the interior is cheap looking. The M3 is a great car if you wanna go pretty fast... but seating 5 comfortably in there is a bit of a joke...

While the BMW drivers who are enthusiasts, and will staunchly back their purchases, way of life, etc.... 90% of them are soccer moms who would be abhored to take their cars to the redline.

I would still just as soon buy an automatic carrera as I would a BMW.....

Me paying money for a 7-series does not mean that I would ever buy IT over a S-class.... those things are posh.




[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jimmy325
[B]Wow, cool!

I come with an open mind to see what all you think of the M3, so ofcourse I've already prepared myself to hear some voice's of "don't likes."

Let me sum up what's been said so far... I've heard replied from the following categories.

1.

 

i'm still... thinking... if i should get m3... or nsx... 2 years later...

 

A friend at the gym, president of a midsized bank, got on a waiting list for one. Got jerked around for months with the delivery date. Finally was told real dealer markup. Walked away from deposit and says he will never buy a BMW again, ever.