BigWave10...

The M Coupe is ugly? Man, walking through the annals of your past cars, I think any M Coupe (including mine) looks great next to a Grand National, Pontiac Indy, or any kind of F-body. It's just an opinion, though... much like yours about the M Coupe

But about the M3 to S2000 thing? Get the M3. Drive it for a year, and trade it in evenly for a 2002 S2000. If you can get it for $31,000 get it. It's a deal.

And expensive for repairs? Everything should be paid for (maintenance-wise) for 3years/36k miles and the car is under a full warranty for 4years/50k miles. Nothing to worry about at all. Those straight six motors are bulletproof (as is the transmission).

Good luck in whatever you decide!

 

Body styles of the past must be appreciated as legendary symbols of their time. Although I almost bought a M-roadster, I along with many many others find the coupe an eyesore. Several females riding in my cars on different occasions have commented on how ugly they thought the M-coupe was when spotted. It's great you have one and enjoy it, that's what counts. A recent comparision post by someone else included a red M-coupe next to a red AMC Gremlin. The similarities were astounding. Personally (my opinion) I just can't see buying the coupe style when the roadster is sooooo much better looking! To each his own.

As for a GN or a Indy TA they were both beautiful cars of that era not to mention you wouldn't want to mess with either in a M or S2 without sustaining a serious ass-whipping "SC" or no "SC".

 

The M I am looking at is the E36 M3 two door not the coupe.

 

Is there going to be a price change for the 2002 version?

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by hpalmer
[B]



Personally I think that the new M engine is in the top three all time performance engines

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by BigWave10
[B]

Personally (my opinion) I just can't see buying the coupe style when the roadster is sooooo much better looking! To each his own.

 

Both were beautiful? Yikes I lived in that era and was not won over by either car's visual appeal, or lack thereof. Great engines I agree, but they are rather ugly. Unless you enjoy the NASCAR. Personally I love the M-Coupe, and would have bought an S2000 Coupe if one was available. To me there's nothing like small fast cars with HUGE cargo space.

As far an ass whiping, could either of those cars keep up with the slowest modern sports car on anything but a dragstrip? What do they have, 70 series tires? My guess is no. I could be wrong of course.

As for the original question. Why not take both? I have.

 

Funny, that was my exact debate. A '95 black on black M3 Coupe, manual, loaded vs. S2K. I got the S2K and never looked back. M3's are beautiful cars, gobs of torque for the engine size but as far as fun, small and tossable, nothing compares to the Stook. I literally drove the M3 and bought the S2K the next day.

Also, I've heard (just heard) that the maintenance on BMW anything is a tad pricey.

NomadS2000
00 Red/black

 

After taking a joy ride in an M3 last night at Gingerman race track (in the passenger seat) -- I was very impressed to say the least! To me the two keys questions would be (1) top vs. no top and (2) room vs. no room. Honest answers to these will steer you in the right direction.

 

Because the M Roadster looks like an old shoe!