Sup Veeky Forums,
Looking to buy an M3 in the next year or so and I'm currently having the debate of which would be better, an E36 or E46? E30 is out of the question, but if 996 911s keep falling that might be a possibility as well.
What would you prefer and why?
If you can afford it, E46. The E36 is a more fun car to drive at lower speeds, but mostly due to its lower limits, better midrange, and better steering feel. The E46 makes most of its power at high rpms and it's a way faster car all around so you really gotta drive like a fucktard to enjoy it.
They both have bad structural defects (subframe tears on 46, rear strut tower rot/tearing on E36), and the simpler, more reliable S52 is offset by being put into a older body made during a particular malaise era of BMW where they chose to put the cheapest plastic in places plastic simply didn't belong.
I'd get the E46 M3 definitely over a 996 911, and the E36 M3 over a 986 Boxsters S. Both are comparable, but the BMWs are far far cheaper to fix (just price out replacement engines) and have a better aftermarket. Cheaper and more practical, too.
The E36 is more akin to a S2000/RX8/Boxster S in performance. The E46 is closer to a Evo/STi/370Z.
Thanks for the feedback, I've been leaning towards the E46 all along, but in my searches I keep seeing the E36 pop up and they don't look bad at all (but I always kind of thought it was a bit lesser of a car).
It's definitely a lower performance car. It's still relevant in 2016 being as quick as many 10 year old sports cars and new sport compacts despite being 20 years old. But the E46 is still better.
Figure $10k for a nice E36 give or take $2k. The E36s are appreciating just because they're so old, nice ones are hard to find.
$16k for a nice E46 give or take $4k. There's more of them out there, but avoid SMG cars unless you can deal with changing a $2000 pump.
>e46 closer to a 370z or STi
stock for stock the E46 walks any STI, EVO or 370z every day of the week
Get a 996, it's actually a proper sports car and not an tricked out entry level luxury car
Not to mention even the base model 996s can outperform M3s
youre delusional as fuck
the m3 is faster on track and straight line than a 996 and has 10x more aftermarket and is 10x cheaper to upkeep
>The E46 is closer to a Evo/STi/370Z.
you are a fucking moron, A 330ci maybe but were talking about and E46 ///M3
>10x cheaper to upkeep
And you call me delusional
kek, even the ancient E36 M3 hangs with the 996 ''proper sports car'' lmao
you`re either a nocar or a complete retard