August 11, 20187 yr Author For the past year or so, I've been trying to find a toy for under $40K. This all started when I found someone selling a '97 Supra TT M6 on base for $35K. I missed out on it but it got the wheels in motion. Since, I've been trying to find a Supra, NSX, or 997 for under $40K but that's pretty much impossible right now unless you want high mileage. At my price point, I think I've talked myself into a E46 M3. Can someone talk me out of this? I have zero Bimmer experience, but my dad owned an early 00s 7-series and it was a piece of shit. It would have to be Leguna Seca Blue. Edited August 11, 20187 yr by Assman
August 11, 20187 yr An e46 m3 is not a toy. I don't think it really has an identity or purpose, if it's to be used as a toy. I'd say.... restored rx7. V8 rx7. V8 Miata. BMW 2002ti. 635csi or e28 m5. Elise. Caterham. 996 gt3. Lotus esprit. Those are more special and characterful imo
August 12, 20187 yr 10 hours ago, Assman said: For the past year or so, I've been trying to find a toy for under $40K. This all started when I found someone selling a '97 Supra TT M6 on base for $35K. I missed out on it but it got the wheels in motion. Since, I've been trying to find a Supra, NSX, or 997 for under $40K but that's pretty much impossible right now unless you want high mileage. At my price point, I think I've talked myself into a E46 M3. Can someone talk me out of this? I have zero Bimmer experience, but my dad owned an early 00s 7-series and it was a piece of shit. It would have to be Leguna Seca Blue. 2 What about a 981 Boxster or a Gen 2 or 3 Viper? Several other options in that range including Cobra or 550 Spyder replicas. Your options above are solid, but lots of interesting ideas for a weekend car where practicality isn't a primary concern for $40k.
August 12, 20187 yr Author I have a 10-second LS1 Z28 that I bought in college that I will never get rid of, so if I want just straight speed, I have that covered. But I'm in my mid-30s, and a 4th-gen Camaro isn't exactly what I want to be driving to Cars and Coffee. I want something that is fun, turns heads, that I can drive to work once a week then take the wife out for a date on the weekend. That's why I was shooting for something a little more exotic and rare that won't completely break the bank. I've never been a fan of the 996, but a Viper is intriguing. I've never been a Mopar fan, and I know Vipers tend to be pieces of shit, but I don't mind turning wrenches.
August 12, 20187 yr Friend had an older Viper and told me the drivetrain was pretty basic but you're kinda fucked if anything else breaks or gets damaged. $15K just for a hood I think he said. Saw an orange one tonight and they do turn heads.
August 12, 20187 yr Here’s a toy parked next to me at the pizza place tonight. Notice the badge above the rear quarter. It might could run with your Z28. Edited August 12, 20187 yr by Pato del Muerto
August 12, 20187 yr Here’s a toy parked next to me at the pizza place tonight. Notice the badge above the rear quarter. It might could run with your Z28. Something is off here. The top looks chopped a little, and it looks weird where the rear quarter window would normally be, and I think the rear wheel wells have been raised for larger tires.
August 12, 20187 yr Looked chopped a few inches to me too Edited August 12, 20187 yr by Pato del Muerto
August 13, 20187 yr On 8/11/2018 at 11:21 PM, Pato del Muerto said: Here’s a toy parked next to me at the pizza place tonight. Notice the badge above the rear quarter. It might could run with your Z28. Anyone still rocking a Roots blower is ok in my book.
August 13, 20187 yr On 8/11/2018 at 9:29 PM, Assman said: I have a 10-second LS1 Z28 that I bought in college that I will never get rid of, so if I want just straight speed, I have that covered. But I'm in my mid-30s, and a 4th-gen Camaro isn't exactly what I want to be driving to Cars and Coffee. I want something that is fun, turns heads, that I can drive to work once a week then take the wife out for a date on the weekend. That's why I was shooting for something a little more exotic and rare that won't completely break the bank. I've never been a fan of the 996, but a Viper is intriguing. I've never been a Mopar fan, and I know Vipers tend to be pieces of shit, but I don't mind turning wrenches. You’re off a generation. Something from the mid-late 60’s is a better fit for that usage.
August 13, 20187 yr Strange happenings at Tesla. This Musk guy is a strange dude. https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-08-13/elon-musk-gives-tesla-s-wheel-to-saudi-arabia Six days into Tesla Inc.’s tweetstorm, we’ve reached the valuation-by-semantics stage. In a blog post Monday morning, CEO Elon Musk wrote he wanted to answer some questions about his surprise announcement last Tuesday regarding taking the company private. But like the board’s belated “ we got this” on Wednesday, Musk’s update lays nothing to rest – and exposes a big risk. First, the obvious: Why is the world still getting information about the most material of events for Tesla in a piecemeal mix of tweets and blogs rather than a detailed 8-K filing with the SEC? The bigger issue is the one tackled in a section of Musk’s post titled “Why did I say ‘funding secured’?” Why indeed. To summarize, Musk claims Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund has approached him several times since early 2017 on the subject of taking Tesla private. At a meeting on July 31 of this year:
August 13, 20187 yr On 8/11/2018 at 9:41 AM, Assman said: For the past year or so, I've been trying to find a toy for under $40K. This all started when I found someone selling a '97 Supra TT M6 on base for $35K. I missed out on it but it got the wheels in motion. Since, I've been trying to find a Supra, NSX, or 997 for under $40K but that's pretty much impossible right now unless you want high mileage. At my price point, I think I've talked myself into a E46 M3. Can someone talk me out of this? I have zero Bimmer experience, but my dad owned an early 00s 7-series and it was a piece of shit. It would have to be Leguna Seca Blue. I have an e46 M3, and really enjoy it. There are some known issues with the cars that should be monitored, but overall, I really like mine. I've had a couple of 996's and the M3 is a better car. If I was to go for a 997, I'd go for the 2nd generation, due to the engine, but it's a much different price range. Cayman S is worth checking out, as is the e90/92 M3. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. -Jon
August 14, 20187 yr Author Not really interested in a Cayman. If I went P-car, it would be a 911 no doubt. And if I went 997, it would be a .2 for sure due to the DI engine and other upgrades. The E46 is intriguing, but I've never driven one. Honestly never been a big Bimmer fan in general but the Leguna Seca Blue E46 will always do something for me. I haven't driven a stick since probably high school and just miss rowing gears, and the M3 seems like a fun, easy to drive car that I could take out on the weekends. I could just save my money and wait for the right 911/NSX/Supra, but I live my life one irrational decision at a time, so why not M3?
August 14, 20187 yr 19 hours ago, Assman said: Not really interested in a Cayman. If I went P-car, it would be a 911 no doubt. And if I went 997, it would be a .2 for sure due to the DI engine and other upgrades. The E46 is intriguing, but I've never driven one. Honestly never been a big Bimmer fan in general but the Leguna Seca Blue E46 will always do something for me. I haven't driven a stick since probably high school and just miss rowing gears, and the M3 seems like a fun, easy to drive car that I could take out on the weekends. I could just save my money and wait for the right 911/NSX/Supra, but I live my life one irrational decision at a time, so why not M3? Am I wrong, or is an e46 M3 way under $40k? I agree, they look great and could be a future classic, but I think I'd enjoy the wail of the V8 in the e9x. Can you find a C7 or C6 Z06 for around $40k? Or get a little crazy and get an LSx RX-7? Damn so many interesting choices for cars if you don't have to daily! Good luck in your search.
August 14, 20187 yr 20 hours ago, Assman said: Not really interested in a Cayman. If I went P-car, it would be a 911 no doubt. And if I went 997, it would be a .2 for sure due to the DI engine and other upgrades. The E46 is intriguing, but I've never driven one. Honestly never been a big Bimmer fan in general but the Leguna Seca Blue E46 will always do something for me. I haven't driven a stick since probably high school and just miss rowing gears, and the M3 seems like a fun, easy to drive car that I could take out on the weekends. I could just save my money and wait for the right 911/NSX/Supra, but I live my life one irrational decision at a time, so why not M3? Don't know how set you would be on 997.2 vs 997.1, but it looks like the earlier 997s (non-turbo) are in your price range.
August 14, 20187 yr For the past year or so, I've been trying to find a toy for under $40K. This all started when I found someone selling a '97 Supra TT M6 on base for $35K. I missed out on it but it got the wheels in motion. Since, I've been trying to find a Supra, NSX, or 997 for under $40K but that's pretty much impossible right now unless you want high mileage. At my price point, I think I've talked myself into a E46 M3. Can someone talk me out of this? I have zero Bimmer experience, but my dad owned an early 00s 7-series and it was a piece of shit. It would have to be Leguna Seca Blue.My E34 was the best car I’ve ever owned.
August 15, 20187 yr 15 hours ago, drewlaws said: Am I wrong, or is an e46 M3 way under $40k? I agree, they look great and could be a future classic, but I think I'd enjoy the wail of the V8 in the e9x. Can you find a C7 or C6 Z06 for around $40k? Or get a little crazy and get an LSx RX-7? Damn so many interesting choices for cars if you don't have to daily! Good luck in your search. e46 M3 can be from mid-teens to mid-30k, depending on what condition/mileage you're looking for. The e90's are only about $5k more for similar examples from what I'm seeing. It's all about what you want from a car. I've driven both and prefer the e46, as the e90 just feels too big/heavy for the engine. I had the chance to drive an e90 M3 and e39 M5 back to back, and the M5 was a better car, IMO. Regarding how reliable the M3 is, you just need to be prepared to cover the cost of preventive maintenance, and do it up front, rather than wait for it to break. Replace the cooling system at 90-100k miles, rather than having it fail while your driving, and risk a blown head gasket. Replace the suspension at 90k, so that the car doesn't feel like an 80's Cadillac. Replace fluids at regular intervals, and just keep on top of things, and it should run for quite a while. If you do like to wrench yourself, they aren't bad to work on. You just need to add some extra tools to your kit, as the Germans love messing around with fasteners (torx, reverse torx, etc.).
August 15, 20187 yr e46 isn't really powerful by modern standard, isn't lightweight by analog-era standard. it's basically the same performance as a 240i. Why not get that and have warranty instead ?
August 16, 20187 yr 5 hours ago, 52-80 said: e46 isn't really powerful by modern standard, isn't lightweight by analog-era standard. it's basically the same performance as a 240i. Why not get that and have warranty instead ? For me, the answer is because it's a "modern classic" with the last true I6 Motorsport engine that BMW made. It's the best balance between the lighter, smaller, more manual cars of old and the newer more plush BMW's. I take my cars to the track, so turbo engines don't appeal to me for the long haul. To each his own, but for me it was the right platform after testing many other cars, old and new.
August 16, 20187 yr For a while, my cousin had a chipped e28 coupe that ran at around 300 hp. That was a fun ride.
August 16, 20187 yr New Ferrari coming out in September. This is the only image out there. Any guesses?
August 16, 20187 yr 20 minutes ago, PRONG HORN said: New Ferrari coming out in September. This is the only image out there. Any guesses? SUV obviously.
August 16, 20187 yr 37 minutes ago, Anton Chigurh said: The Ferrari Sergio II: Electric Boogaloo. now that he's gone can ferrari drop all SUV plans?
August 16, 20187 yr On 8/11/2018 at 8:29 PM, Assman said: I have a 10-second LS1 Z28 that I bought in college that I will never get rid of, so if I want just straight speed, I have that covered. But I'm in my mid-30s, and a 4th-gen Camaro isn't exactly what I want to be driving to Cars and Coffee. I want something that is fun, turns heads, that I can drive to work once a week then take the wife out for a date on the weekend. That's why I was shooting for something a little more exotic and rare that won't completely break the bank. I've never been a fan of the 996, but a Viper is intriguing. I've never been a Mopar fan, and I know Vipers tend to be pieces of shit, but I don't mind turning wrenches. Another car that comes to mind is a C6 Z06. Incredible performance bargain. the downside is that you're driving a Corvette.
August 17, 20187 yr On 8/16/2018 at 12:59 PM, PRONG HORN said: New Ferrari coming out in September. This is the only image out there. Any guesses? It will be red...
August 17, 20187 yr An amusing story about some dingbat who bought a Viper without knowing how to drive stick. https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/a22738251/learning-to-drive-stick-shift-on-a-dodge-viper/?src=nl&mag=rdt&list=nl_rdt_news&date=081718
August 18, 20187 yr Ha! My father bought me a used 1994 Mustang. I was 17. It was black, had 17” rims and a V6. Oh, and it was standard. I picked it. I couldn’t drive it. My mom drove it home for me and then taught me how to drive a standard. [emoji16]
August 23, 20187 yr On 8/11/2018 at 9:41 AM, Assman said: For the past year or so, I've been trying to find a toy for under $40K. This all started when I found someone selling a '97 Supra TT M6 on base for $35K. I missed out on it but it got the wheels in motion. Since, I've been trying to find a Supra, NSX, or 997 for under $40K but that's pretty much impossible right now unless you want high mileage. At my price point, I think I've talked myself into a E46 M3. Can someone talk me out of this? I have zero Bimmer experience, but my dad owned an early 00s 7-series and it was a piece of shit. It would have to be Leguna Seca Blue. It isn’t a toy and you’re having a tough time finding a 997 that fits the bill you might consider a cayman s. There should be many nice ones in that price range. That said, I’d rather have a 911 that had been driven a good bit. Those are the cars that have few problems and stay on the road. The garage queens that never get driven are the ones that generally become troublesome. As for BMW, I am a former multi car BMW owner: 1998 540i, 1996 325, 2006 x5 v8, 2013 x5m, and a few others. The x5m and the 2006 x5 ensures I will never, ever buy another of their vehicles under any circumstances. That isn’t really analogous to an E46 m3, but I don’t trust them at this point. E46 is one of the best looking cars ever made.
August 23, 20187 yr 22 minutes ago, pepper brooks said: The x5m and the 2006 x5 ensures I will never, ever buy another of their vehicles under any circumstances. That isn’t really analogous to an E46 m3, but I don’t trust them at this point. E46 is one of the best looking cars ever made. That's interesting. I had a 2008 4.8i and have a new F85 X5M and have had almost zero issues. I put 200k on the 4.8i too, just had to do valve seals at 175k.
August 23, 20187 yr Anyone have a Kia Stinger? Test drove one recently and it was a lot of fun sealed inside a 4 door sedan.
August 23, 20187 yr 1 hour ago, zman13 said: Anyone have a Kia Stinger? Test drove one recently and it was a lot of fun sealed inside a 4 door sedan. I believe Penelope Witherspoon has one. Looks like a fun car, but once you get up in the $50k price range, there are a lot of options. I'm not sure how compelling it is when you look at what else you can get for the same money. But if you like it, get it.
August 24, 20187 yr Not street legal - likely because the chassis is technically a 2018 since there was no VIN and it would have to comply with 2018 emissions and safety standards but still. HNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG https://www.topgear.com/car-news/pebble-beach-2018/porsche-has-built-brand-new-20-year-old-911-turbo
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