We bought our black 2002 BMW M3 exactly five months ago. We paid exactly $30,000 for it on 11/21/07. And since that day we've driven the car almost exactly 6,000 miles. The day we drove her home from the Santa Barbara, California BMW dealer the odometer read 49,042 and just the other day it crossed the 55,000 mile mark...
So are we happy with our purchase? Does Barack Obama have a funny name? Even with 55,000 miles under it, the black M3 is the best car in our fleet. It's fast, comfortable, solid and just plain cool looking. One run behind the wheel and you wonder why all cars don't feel as good.
Still, we're always looking down the road. Come November the M3 will have to go. What should we replace it with? I'm thinking a C5 Z06 Corvette.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 55,370 miles
cargeek4 says:
04:34 PM, 04/21/08
I think you guys should add a Dodge Viper to your longterm fleet.
estreka says:
05:52 PM, 04/21/08
S2000!
So who's going to buy the M3 from Edmunds?
daytona_500 says:
07:00 PM, 04/21/08
Add that 1979 Chevy Caprice Classic shown earlier as an April Fool's joke. I would love to see that or a similar car.
tmanz says:
07:21 PM, 04/21/08
"One run behind the wheel and you wonder why all cars don't feel as good."
And why don't they look that good either? Does it really cost more to build a good looking car?
A Vette sounds like a good addition. Or maybe a Porsche of some sort.
huyracing says:
07:37 PM, 04/21/08
Any used performance car with questionable reliability and high maintainence cost would make a nice car to test. The M3 test probably set people at ease who were interested in the car, but had said concerns preventing them from purchasing one.
A C5 Z06 would definitely be a good idea since so many are available for cheap with low miles. A Viper would be nice as well, since the older models are affordable. Along the same lines, maybe an older NSX. the 2003+ Superchaged E55 AMG would also be a hell of a car. Maybe add a newer used Ferrari to the fleet.
I don't think an S2000 would offer any insight as we all know its rock solid... if you want to see a fun convertible added to the fleet, then a Porsche Boxster might serve better for evaluation since early models can be had for as little as $8,999 (as i found on autotrader searching my local area) and reliability is always suspect with german cars.
Just my 2 cents.
firstwagon says:
07:42 PM, 04/21/08
How about a 1991 Miata? A simple inexpensive sports car that anyone can afford to buy for a toy or a daily driver.
chrishs2000 says:
08:56 PM, 04/21/08
Definitely an early model NSX...91-93. Find one with 150k+ miles, beat the hell out of it, and see if you have to do anything besides change the oil. That'd be a great apples-apples comparison with your Ferrari.
sylvialegacy says:
09:40 PM, 04/21/08
How about something realistic?
2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS?
2000 MR2 Spyder?
Or not realistic..
93-98 Supra Turbo?
I like the C5 Z06 idea.
tmanz says:
10:12 PM, 04/21/08
I agree with huyracing. It is fun having ones that are 'dream' cars but we tend to be afraid of in preowned (out of warranty) form.
clarkma5 says:
11:52 PM, 04/21/08
I like the idea of having an affordable, late-model performance vehicle be a standard in the fleet. The C5 Z06 is a great thought but a used 911 would also intrigue me.
1487 says:
05:40 AM, 04/22/08
"One run behind the wheel and you wonder why all cars don't feel as good. "
Probably because most cars sold cost far less than a new M3.
Get a used Phaeton when this car is out of the fleet.
dougtheeng says:
06:02 AM, 04/22/08
I'd like to see one of the new Subaru Impreza, WRX or STis.....The hatch version.
sabastian says:
06:26 AM, 04/22/08
I'm going to second the "get a Porsche" comments. Though some German cars have a reputation for being expensive to repair, it seems that Porsche's have always been fairly reliable. Let's see if that's true! I've seen a few 2000-ish 911's on autotrader and eBay for around $30k, so it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility.
vacagrande says:
06:57 AM, 04/22/08
Did you guys ever get an explanation for those "side airbags not operational" stickers?
stingray454 says:
07:00 AM, 04/22/08
I agree with the C5 Z06 idea, especially since I own one :) (bought it new in '02, and still have it). It would be interesting to see what your staff thinks of it, and in comparison to the M3, as that was the same decision I had to make. I had an '02 M3 on order for 9 months before cancelling it and going with the Z06 instead.
bobjonesesq says:
07:24 AM, 04/22/08
BMW Isetta.
daytona_500 says:
07:35 AM, 04/22/08
Phaeton sounds good. I liked it a lot more than the A8.
joefrompa says:
07:51 AM, 04/22/08
I'd love to see an NSX....the everyman's supercar. I saw one for sale with 300k...yes, 300k miles on it. Original owner....had been rock solid reliability wise.
2nd to that, I'd say a 95-98 Porsche 911. The last of the air-cooled Porsche's, they are also known for their awesome build quality and intense driving experience, while being the least likely to pendulum when being driven hard (of all the 911s before 99).
Plus, the 911s give you alot of options.
Carerra, Carerra 4, Carrera S, Carrera 4S, Targa, Convertible, Turbo, Turbo S
In 1995, you had the 270 HP version that had a little less emissions control, and in 1996-1998 you had 282 HP (VarioRam Intake system w/ more computer controls) on the non-turbo models.
Personally, I'd far rather finally read an edmunds ownership experience of a 911 than a Corvette. But I am a Porsche lover.
Joe
daxtripper says:
08:05 AM, 04/22/08
"Probably because most cars sold cost far less than a new M3.
Get a used Phaeton when this car is out of the fleet."
A Phaeton??? Dude, you're a weenie.
Porsche Boxster S, Porsche 911, Acura NSX, Corvette Z06
mnorm1 says:
12:33 PM, 04/22/08
"A Phaeton??? Dude, you're a weenie. "
+1
desmolicious says:
02:23 PM, 04/22/08
+2
joefrompa says:
02:54 PM, 04/22/08
+3...why not say a Lexus LS460...they are both about as exciting, except there would be more trips to the dealership with the Phaeton (probably).
I'll add an old RX-7 twin turbo (the newest of the body styles). It was so drop-dead gorgeous and held the exotic turbocharged rotary engine in it's highest form....
Joe
tmanz says:
03:05 PM, 04/22/08
"I'll add an old RX-7 twin turbo (the newest of the body styles). It was so drop-dead gorgeous"
That was one beautiful car. And an older rotory engine would be an interesting one to follow.
roadburner says:
07:02 PM, 04/22/08
How about a used Evo?
estreka says:
07:56 PM, 04/22/08
Buy this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1981-DeLorean-DMC-12-Great-Cond-Low-Mileage-Rare-Find_W0QQitemZ290224496957QQcmdZViewItem
Sorry for link length.
tmanz says:
08:57 PM, 04/22/08
A DeLorean, I like it.
That should run into a few more problems than an S2000 in 12 months :)
I love this line in their ad about the pin striping "It looks sharp and sets this DeLorean apart from the rest!"
I guess that is so you can tell it is your Delorean in the parking lot, not someone elses.
estreka says:
09:36 PM, 04/22/08
"I guess that is so you can tell it is your Delorean in the parking lot, not someone elses." - lol
joefrompa says:
09:33 AM, 04/23/08
Who wants a slow stainless steel pile of junk? :)
Air-cooled 911, NSX, or RX-7 twin turbo
You can't just go wrong with any of them. :)
Joe
doublea4 says:
10:55 AM, 04/23/08
You gotta get into a late model NSX. Honda is due to release a new one after they get the styling issue resolved and in the interim you have an NSX for a year to thrash...
stingray454 says:
12:01 PM, 04/23/08
NSX? Have you people forgotten that its SLOW? Yeah, it looks nice, and it handles pretty good, but it was hopelessley underpowered. Because of that, it was never a supercar.
louiswei says:
12:38 PM, 04/23/08
NSX is slow? If 0-60 in 5 seconds is slow for you then sure...
However, the NSX can practically run circles around almost any car out there on the track.
joefrompa says:
02:00 PM, 04/23/08
Slow? It weighed, what, 2800 pounds and had 300 HP...
SubyTrojan says:
03:16 PM, 04/23/08
Not everyone has a Corvette Z06 in their garage, stingray454. :o)
desmolicious says:
01:43 PM, 04/24/08
I'm all for the NSX.
chrishs2000 says:
07:40 PM, 04/24/08
stingray454 has an imaginary C6 Z06 in his garage, so everything is slow.
Seriously dude, go frequent a GM forum or something. Or do you also think the C6 Corvette is slow and just have astronomical standards?
SubyTrojan says:
01:19 AM, 04/25/08
I think he actually owns a C5 Z06.
avoirfiscal says:
12:10 PM, 04/28/08
996 911 w/o a doubt; it's a natural successor to the M3.
dasko says:
11:09 PM, 05/ 2/08
Laugh if you will but im gonna suggest a 2004-2007 Volvo S60R. They are under 30 grand, pack 300hp, awd and an excellent 6 speed.
m_thrizzle says:
10:29 AM, 05/14/08
Re: Volvo S60R
I test drove one and while the specs look like it should delivery good performance, the car doesn't feel sporty. The electronic damper control settings are all bad, from underdamped to overdamped with a push of the button. The clutch is light and the shifter is very smooth, but they offer no feedback. Maybe I am just used to my heavy clutch and notchy shifter in my E46 M3. Turning radius is bad and steering is overboosted and numb. It was pretty fast once the turbo kicked in and the seats are plush, soft and comfy.
Basically, the car is too numb and isolated, leaving you feeling disconnected from the road and thus not giving the driver a sense of involvement and sporty feel. They make great sleeper cars though.