BMW M3 and Infiniti G35 Coupe; M3 Worth Price Premium?

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis

Originally posted by: boyRacer

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile

Originally posted by: boyRacer
There's this girl in my school with a blue S4... her license plate says... Rated S ...

PICS????????????????????????????????????????????

DROOL...and I ain't even seen her yet! Is SHE HOT?????

I'll try to take pics if i see it again... the_good_guy probably saw it too... since its always parked on the street instead of the parking lot. The girl is ok... looks high maintenance... :heart:

Is she as hot as Vanny?

lol... i'm not even going to respond to that one.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Is the E46 M3 worth the extra $20k over the G35C? No.

Would I buy the E46 M3 over the G35C if I had the money? Hell yeah!

Would I get a E30 M3 and a G35C instead? Definately! (But that's not the poiint of this thread).

I don't like the new S4, I mean i like it, but not as a performance car like the M3. Its much too heavy with that V8 in the front.

 

[SithSolo1]

I just like to say that for the $56K you spend on the M3 you could have a fully loaded 6-speed G35 Coupe w/ a supercharger bumping the HP wo somewhere in the range of 360 at the wheels and other mods with money left to put back in the bank.

 

[vi edit]

I don't like the new S4, I mean i like it, but not as a performance car like the M3. Its much too heavy with that V8 in the front.

I thought I've read in several places that the V8 was LIGHTER than the TT V6 it replaced.

As for me, I'm a sucker for the Caddy CTS-V in that price range.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

I don't like the new S4, I mean i like it, but not as a performance car like the M3. Its much too heavy with that V8 in the front.

I thought I've read in several places that the V8 was LIGHTER than the TT V6 it replaced.

As for me, I'm a sucker for the Caddy CTS-V in that price range.

Wait, I think I may have it confused with the RS4 (or is it the RS6)? The model thats raced in the Speed World Challenge Touring Car series. The one thats so heavy it hates to turn (you can actually see it plowing thru the curves).

Yeah, the CTS-V is the definite winner in this class.

I'd take apart the interior and slap in a rollcage too!

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: vi_edit

I don't like the new S4, I mean i like it, but not as a performance car like the M3. Its much too heavy with that V8 in the front.

I thought I've read in several places that the V8 was LIGHTER than the TT V6 it replaced.

As for me, I'm a sucker for the Caddy CTS-V in that price range.

Wait, I think I may have it confused with the RS4 (or is it the RS6)? The model thats raced in the Speed World Challenge Touring Car series. The one thats so heavy it hates to turn (you can actually see it plowing thru the curves).

Yeah, the CTS-V is the definite winner in this class.

I'd take apart the interior and slap in a rollcage too!

Yeah that was the RS6... ...it wasn't bad during starts and straightaways... but everyone else made up ground in the corners because it was quite porky and was eating up its tires within a couple of laps.

 

[Excelsior]

This is a bit off topic, but what do you guys like so much bout the E30 and E36 M3? I don't like the styling on the E30...am I just weird?

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
This is a bit off topic, but what do you guys like so much bout the E30 and E36 M3? I don't like the styling on the E30...am I just weird?

Styling is one thing, but the purity and performance of the E30 is another. It is by far the purest //M ever made. It was a racecar designed for the street.

The E36 M3 we got here, well its castrated compared to the euro version which made something like 320hp while we only got 240hp.

 

[Excelsior]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: Excelsior
This is a bit off topic, but what do you guys like so much bout the E30 and E36 M3? I don't like the styling on the E30...am I just weird?

Styling is one thing, but the purity and performance of the E30 is another. It is by far the purest //M ever made. It was a racecar designed for the street.

The E36 M3 we got here, well its castrated compared to the euro version which made something like 320hp while we only got 240hp.

Oh, ok. Thanks for clearing that up! :beer:

 

[flood]

Originally posted by: Excelsior

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: Excelsior
This is a bit off topic, but what do you guys like so much bout the E30 and E36 M3? I don't like the styling on the E30...am I just weird?

Styling is one thing, but the purity and performance of the E30 is another. It is by far the purest //M ever made. It was a racecar designed for the street.

The E36 M3 we got here, well its castrated compared to the euro version which made something like 320hp while we only got 240hp.

Oh, ok. Thanks for clearing that up! :beer:

Also, the E30 M3 had 4 cylinders...
2.5L, 240hp, 8.7k redline, DOHC.... and this was in the mid eighties!

The E30's real strength is its chassis. It is the lightest and stiffest chassis of all M3s. With its lighter engine, it can corner better than the E36.
What I've noticed from autocrossing is that my E30 carries its speed through corners much better than E36/46 M3's.
The E36's are full on their brakes for some corners I only have to squeeze my brakes for. Watching videos of myself and other e36's autocrossing, I noticed that my total time in the corner is notably less. They come into the corner a lot faster and pull out of it faster with their extra torque, but I leave them behind in the corners.

I haven't driven an E30 M3, but from my experience driving my friends E36 M3 and my E30 325is, the E30 feels so much more 'raw.'

 

[Triumph]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

I don't like the new S4, I mean i like it, but not as a performance car like the M3. Its much too heavy with that V8 in the front.

I thought I've read in several places that the V8 was LIGHTER than the TT V6 it replaced.

As for me, I'm a sucker for the Caddy CTS-V in that price range.

It is, but it still sits over the front axle line instead of behind it, like the Nissan platform.

 

[dirtboy]

Originally posted by: Excelsior
This is a bit off topic, but what do you guys like so much bout the E30 and E36 M3? I don't like the styling on the E30...am I just weird?

Nope, I think the E30 & E36 are ugly.

Now the E46 M3 is dead sexy.

 

[boyRacer]

Originally posted by: dirtboy

Originally posted by: Excelsior
This is a bit off topic, but what do you guys like so much bout the E30 and E36 M3? I don't like the styling on the E30...am I just weird?

Nope, I think the E30 & E36 are ugly.

Now the E46 M3 is dead sexy.

To each his own.

 

[Ns1]

if you're asking "can i afford an m3" you should buy the g35

 

[freebee]

I think everyone forgot the z06. Ok fine, the interior sucks and the sightlines are horrible but the power makes up for all those shortcomings.


z06>m3.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: freebee
I think everyone forgot the z06. Ok fine, the interior sucks and the sightlines are horrible but the power makes up for all those shortcomings.


z06>m3.

if you're talking raw power might as well buy a civic or a 5.0 mustang and spend 10k on engine work and have a 10 second car

therefore, after driving both

i would say m3 > z06

 

[freebee]

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: freebee
I think everyone forgot the z06. Ok fine, the interior sucks and the sightlines are horrible but the power makes up for all those shortcomings.


z06>m3.

if you're talking raw power might as well buy a civic or a 5.0 mustang and spend 10k on engine work and have a 10 second car

Negative. thats like giving an ugly woman a boob job. She can have massive boobs, doesn't make up for the ugly face.

 

[KokomoGST]

Honestly, if absolute total driving and performance dominance for the price was a factor... you wouldn't be even considering the G35 at all... and prolly not even the M3 even though it is a sweet "driver's car". You'd be looking at only 2 cars... Evo8 & Vette ZO6. That being said... you want a drivers car with 4 doors and a trunk, Evo + $$ will make it faster than a stock E46 M3 can't ever dare dream of. The Caddy is nice, but it's definitely no match for it's bro, the ZO6.

Personally, if you're considering an S4... I wouldn't consider the V8 powered one... only the 2.7L TwinTurbo S4s. What they lack in power in comparison to the V8 is easily made up for with a bit winding up on the turbo boost.

No doubt I HIGHLYHIGHLY doubt you'll ever drive an M3 to it's fully potential... but then again, there are very few people on this planet that can drive any car to it's full potential. M3s are decent daily drivers but I'd prolly prefer an AWD Audi for that job... at least in my area. I doubt it'll keep up with an M3 in the curves... mebbe the G35, but then again... it's easy to tweak a Audi S4 with turbos to absolutely DESTROY an M3 in a straight line.

 

[GTaudiophile]

If I wanted a car strictly for the track, it would be either a 2005 US-spec Lotus Elise or a 2005 Honda S2000.

 

[imported_Mike]

KokomoGST, im curious about the 2.7 S4, what year make is it? The '04s are only the 4.2 right?

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: freebee

Originally posted by: NeuroSynapsis

Originally posted by: freebee
I think everyone forgot the z06. Ok fine, the interior sucks and the sightlines are horrible but the power makes up for all those shortcomings.


z06>m3.

if you're talking raw power might as well buy a civic or a 5.0 mustang and spend 10k on engine work and have a 10 second car

Negative. thats like giving an ugly woman a boob job. She can have massive boobs, doesn't make up for the ugly face.

i'm quoting you

but the power makes up for all those shortcomings.

don't contradict yourself

 

[KokomoGST]

Originally posted by: CheapArse
KokomoGST, im curious about the 2.7 S4, what year make is it? The '04s are only the 4.2 right?

Yeah, the 2002s (2003s?) are definitely still the 2.7L TT... I know a gal that owns a 2000 (though she moved to FL) and another guy that owns a 2000 as well. Both put some light mods into them (chips, intake, exhaust, etc) and now they have very comfortable high 12/low13 second cars. 300hp comes easily to those engines. I know some people have put down 400+ without reliability problems.

 

[SilentZero]

E46 M3's are not meant to drive in a straight line on a 1/4 mile track! Sure a EVO-8 or STi with 3k in modifications, or even a hooked up S4 will beat it in the 1/4 mile, but on a big track or autobahn...none of them have a chance. I bought my E46 M3 last year while working in germany and had the opportunity to drive it on the autobahn for 5 months before I shipped it back to the US.

I was doing over 160 mph daily in the car on the autobahn and none of the cars above could compete at that speed. Lane changes at 165mph were smooth with barely any body roll, and accelleration from 120mph-160mph was pretty darn quick. I also spend a ton of time on nurburgring on the weekends and it was a solid performer.

On a negative note...after getting used to driving the car as it was meant to be driven in germany, after shipping it here to hawaii it seemed to be a complete waste. Doing over 100mph here is just asking for trouble because this island is so tiny, and the only track here is only a 1/4 mile track with a very crappy road track (only about 3/4 mile or so).
The E46 M3 is built for performance driving, and anything less is just frusterating!

 

[codeyf]

I'd take the G35 and 25k in the bank. Unless of course I had so much cash that I was wiping my ass with it every day......

 

[WayneTeK]

Originally posted by: amgkid
I have both =)

Link for pix

Anyway, in terms of a sports car, the M3 wins hands down. I can floor the G35 and people don't really notice all too much. When I have passengers in the M3, they hold on for dear life. Comfortwise, the G35 wins for driver and front passenger. The seats are pretty nice and the ride is extremely supply compared to my M3 (keep in mind my M3 has 19" vs the G35 with 18"). The rear space sucks for both cars but the G35 is worse because of the slant of the roofline. Even if you're 5'6", your head will touch the glass in the rear seats.

After owning the G35 for a few months, I can say that the build quality is definitely not comparable to the BMW. The gas door is plastic and looks like it's loose even when it's closed. The interior trim feels fragile (prone to paint scratching off, etc.) Both cars drive solid and are very fun however. The M3 is obviously a lot faster. Accelerationwise, a 330Ci would be a better comparison. Handling, I'd give the edge to the M3, but the G35 is definitely very worthy. I don't like the longer wheelbase of the G35 (I'm not sure if it's longer but it feels like it is). Also, the turning radius is worse in the G and I find it hard to park in tight parking spots in LA. The M3 has no problem. The brakes on both cars are excellent as well.

If you compare the cars pricewise, the G35 wins in most categories. The G35 is completely loaded and only cost ~40k out the door. The M3 has all the bells and whistles except for heated seats, headlight washers, and lumbar support. Out the door was ~66. The 26g's extra is worth it if you're willing to pay for the speed and build quality. Otherwise the G35 is an awesome car to own. There's not much else out there that can touch it. =)

If you got any more questions, just ask.

why are you sooo friggin rich!