[Augustus]

Greetings all. I'm pretty new to these forums and I'm looking to buy sport car with 4 seat practicality. I'm considering 3 BMW models, the 2011 Mustang GT, Porsche 996 Turbo and Nissan GTR. I welcome opinions on the non BMW cars but considering that this is a bimmer forum I'm especially interested in your thoughts on the 3 BMW models that follow.

BMW E92 M3
BMW 335i Dinan Stage 2/3 or JB3 chip
BMW 335xi with Dinan Stage 3 suspension and chip

I'm expecting used M3 prices to drop to below 45000 CAD in Canadian market or below 35000 USD in US market bringing it into my budget zone.

Right now I'm thinking that if prices really drop M3 becomes obvious choice. However if it maintains value 335 becomes attractive. Being in Canada I'm thinking Xdrive 335 with 400 HP from Dinan or JB makes it both practical, fast and unique (resale value?). 200 lbs extra weight hurt it, but not enough to notice unless on a track. Plus with Dinan suspension can get it lowered and stiffer.

Cars I discarded recently:

BMW 135i - Saving in weight doesn't win over loss of rear seat space and cargo room. Also in Canada no real $$$ savings compared to 335i.

M1 - Same as 135i. 340 HP will not cut it compared to 400 HP Dinan or JB3.

C63 AMG - no manual transmission available. M3 looks better, handles better, laps faster and costs less.

S5 - 335i is faster despite lower power. Costs more. Let's not even mention comparison with M3...

RS5 - costs too much, poor reviews, M3 looks better, GTR eats it for breakfast for less price and AWD.

RS4 - looks worse, costs too much for what it is, it's getting old and performs worse.

CTS-V - costs a lot, weighs like a tank, looks like my grandmas car...it's a sedan with a big engine. Not a sports car...yes I know it lapped Nurburgring pretty well...still doesn't convince me.

Corvettes - no rear seats. Otherwise these are the ultimate sport cars.

Runner ups for the bimmers:

996 Turbo - this car has got it all except it's just not as practical as an M3 or Mustang GT. Rear seats and trunk too small. Plus...its old. Old electronics would require remake of audio system.

Nissan GTR - it's costly. No manual transmission. Reviews say it's boring. All automated no connection between driver and car. Also not as prestigious or girl-magnet. But...it is holder of the fastest 4 passenger car in the world...

mustang GT 2011 - top competitor to bimmers. Magazines even compared them to the M3 and got a near match! I love the car, thing is that it just ain't German engineering and you can tell. It's less sophisticated, and it's got a horrible suspension over bumps and HUGE nose dive. Still best thing for price.

These are my thoughts based on 6 months research and test drives. I'm looking forward to your comments and thoughts.

Augustus

[Xx__xs]

If I could afford a Nissan GTR, I would take it.

I see m3's and 335's every single day. GTR maybe once or twice a year.

also, about the no girl magnet? girls where im from would throw their panties at a 335/m3

but they would throw THEMSELVES at a gtr. lmao

[lolsweet]

E92 M3 without question. How do you expect them to drop below $45,000 CDN though? The going rate right now is probably $60,000 on the low end (for a CPO)

[chenx15]

Originally Posted by lolsweet

E92 M3 without question. How do you expect them to drop below $45,000 CDN though? The going rate right now is probably $60,000 on the low end (for a CPO)

+1 on this.

[hipnotic]

m3 all the way

[Elie335]

335 / m3

[jaybird124]

M3

[Potty_Pants]

GTR>M3>335I>135I

ppp

[Ajs76]

If you're worried at resale at all, get the M3 or 911 Turbo. Any mod (dinan or otherwise) will probably be money thrown out the window.

Because the M3 is used and more rare, it won't depreciate like the 335's would...well more slowly anyways.

What you lose though is warranty and free maintanence, so probably tack on 4-5k in your head for a 4 year period to really consider the total costs.

Insurance is also pretty brutal on M3's from my experience.

[Potty_Pants]

^ please note the M3 has the V8 and will probably be the last M3 to have a NA motor.

this may be a colectors model down the road.

ppp

[Forcefed3]

1. 996 turbo
2. GT-R
3. M3
4. 335i

Dont buy any Dinan products.

[Potty_Pants]

DONT GET ME STARTED ON DINAN.... ^ yeah what he said.

ppp

[Baldur Abendroth]

996

[BenTrovato]

You mention that you like AWD a few times in your original post. I would nix the RWD cars you selected, it seems like you won't enjoy it as much unless you know how to take advantage of it. Comparing AWD and RWD platforms are totally different experiences so it looks like the power and features are important for you. Get your xi with stage 3.

08 M3's in Canada may hit high 40's low 50's by spring time but they will be private sale and not the cream of the crop.

[Kroy]

Originally Posted by gbreeE90

1. 996 turbo
2. GT-R
3. M3
4. 335i

Dont buy any Dinan products.

+1 to this list


OP, what is your budget? Your projected price for M3 doesn't seem very realistic to me. If you indeed find a M3 in that price range,it will likely be very high mileage and non-CPO. At that point I would start thinking about maintenance costs which will probably be a concern sooner rather than later. Out of all the cars you've listed, 335i is probably the cheapest to maintain as you'll likely be able to get into a nicer car and CPO warranty.

Have you thought about a s4? I see RS4 and S5 listed but no S4.

[Augustus]

Thanx for all the responses all.

My budget is between 30,000 to 45,000. CAD and USD are at parity and will likely remain so for the next year. I plan to buy the car in late Spring 2012. By this time with the new M1 and 3 series I'm expecting 08 M3s to drop to the low 40s in Canada and low 30s in US. Right now on auto trader Canadian M3s can be found at the 49000 to 55000 range. In the US they can be found on the 40000 to 45000 range . Add 6% import duty and 5% GST and maybe the 1000 fuel tax and it's still a few K cheaper to buy in US.

Regarding AWD vs RWD I will go only for AWD if the car has enough HP to overcome the extra weight (996 turbo, Dinan or jb3, GTR etc). Being in snowy Canada AWD would be preferable but I have learned throuh some research that unless you live in the mountains with mant feet of snow and lots of slopes it is not necessary. Where I live it does snow but it gets cleaned up and the place is flat for hundreds of miles. And AWD and RWD stop the same. I'm not bothered if I have a 0-60 of 15 seconds in winter...

S4 seems nice but just doesn't compare to M3 or even the 335 in looks, performance, and engine. btw I'm considering only E92s. I just hate E90 tail lights!

I'm surprised at the bash against Dinan. They are the only tuner which certifies their cars. Yes they are bloody pricey but I would assume it's because it's factory-quality mod products. what am I missing?

Augustus

[CPWINCH]

gtr

[jonni44]

I wouldn't recommend importing an M3 man, I looked into it too when I lived in Calgary, on top of all the fees and taxes you mentioned you are also REQUIRED to buy a canadian spec instrument cluster at the low low price of $2000 just for the part and have it installed by an authorized BMW dealer. (Someone feel free to correct me but I talk to customs A LOT these days and they're pretty adamant about that one)

As far as modding goes, personally I love my dinan stage 3, but I got it on sale through Calgary BMW when I bought my 335 and my car already had the required intercooler and oil cooler needed to run stage 3. To get the 400hp you're looking for from Dinan it will probably cost you around 5k whereas the JB3 is well under 1K for more aggressive gains.

Im sorry to say that on your budget I really don't think you can afford the GTR, the maintenance fees are ridonkulous! Mustang GT is nice and very fast but I'd drive a BMW over a Ford 6 days a week and twice on Sunday.

My vote: Mod a CPO 335 to the nines, it'll cost the same as stock CPO M3.

[madeinhongkong]

M3

[I335]

M3 or Mustang. The GTR is just plain ugly , inside and out, and clearly made for video game kids, no matter how fast it is...

[persian54]

Originally Posted by Potty_Pants

^ please note the M3 has the V8 and will probably be the last M3 to have a NA motor.

this may be a colectors model down the road.

ppp

You should never buy a car expecting it to hold any value down the road

In that respect, the GTR would be more of a collectors item as it's the first GTR to be released in the US

[persian54]

Originally Posted by jonni44

Im sorry to say that on your budget I really don't think you can afford the GTR, the maintenance fees are ridonkulous!

This