| Author |
Message |
Mark (Study)
Member
Username: Study
Post Number: 359
Registered: 10-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 01, 2003 - 4:39 pm: | |
I agree, the 350Z convertible is the best replacement for what your looking for. |
Dave (Maranelloman)
Member
Username: Maranelloman
Post Number: 631
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 01, 2003 - 4:17 pm: | |
Scott, I also drive a 1997 M3 coupe as a daily driver...and I love it! I also track it quite often. How about this idea? Why get rid of it? Why not either transplant a Euro motor with its magical 321 HP & its 6 speed tranny (about $15K installed for a good motor) and have a great car, weighing 3100 lbs, with almost as many HP as the new M3 with its 3500 lbs? Or, do some engine mods to your current car w/o replacing the motor? For about $5K plus labor, you can replace intake, header, manifold, cams, cat-back exhaust, & software mapping, and have a 300 HP car that will pretty much spank the new M3's??
This is all predicated on you being willing to not require a convertible....but you'll save a mint--money better spent on a driving school, tires, kids education, wife, etc etc etc.
Food for thought... |
Tino (Bboxer)
Junior Member
Username: Bboxer
Post Number: 203
Registered: 8-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 01, 2003 - 3:43 pm: | |
2003 350Z convertible, 6 speed with optional Brembo's. Gobbles of torque and a nice price. Available in a couple of months. |
Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
Junior Member
Username: Scott
Post Number: 99
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 01, 2003 - 2:24 pm: | |
Ben--Yes, I want a drop top. M3 is available in coupe or cab, same motor, etc. Corvette is available as a manual trans cab (though the ultra-performance Z-06 is only available as a hardtop)--but even the "base" 350 h.p. V8 is plenty fast. Mustang Cobra available both ways as well, only difference is that the cab suspension is a bit different (softer) but engine is the same. The bigger issue in the middle to upper end market is that many "mega-motor" drop tops (Mercedes, Jag) are available only with slushboxes.
Tenney--M5 is a great car, but not especially nimble (though if were available as a cab I would be all over it). You are totally right--no need to rev it to the grave to get it to go. Z8 is an interesting thought--prices are just dropping below 100K on used ones, which is unfortunately a bit more than I want to spend. Porsched TT is coming in a Cab, but it will likely have an initial long wait and/or price premium over sticker, plus running a Turbo engine hard when cold isn't especially kind.
|
John Bicsak (Funshipone)
Junior Member
Username: Funshipone
Post Number: 160
Registered: 1-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 01, 2003 - 2:15 pm: | |
I think something like this discussion should be in Off Topic. |
Tenney (Tenney)
Member
Username: Tenney
Post Number: 295
Registered: 2-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 01, 2003 - 2:01 pm: | |
Like that gen M3. Fun, nimble car. Bottom end was helped w/lower gearing (ever find yourself reaching for a 6th that isn't there?).
Re: Torque issues: Hybrid won't help much torque-wise. SVT Cobra/Vette will answer that call nicely, though. Recent Porsche TT has plenty of bottom-end, too, and is due in ragtop form. If you're still jazzed about BMW and can go non-convertible, the M5 (has a sunroof) gets down the road okay w/out having to grab it by the throat. Z8 has the M5 motor and no top. No first-hand experience with this one but bet it runs okay (think prices have been dropping a bit, too). |
Ben Lobenstein 90 TR (Benjet)
Member
Username: Benjet
Post Number: 959
Registered: 1-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 01, 2003 - 1:51 pm: | |
Scott -
First a question, when you say "I want a Cabriolet of some type (automatics need not apply)"......I'm totally missing something. I generally assume cabriolet to mean convertable, as in spyder, or open top'ed cars, yet it seems as if you are referencing the manual (or semi maunal) transmission. Maybe I'm wrong here but didn't the "souped up" M3's and Mustangs (and Corvettes for that matter) only come as hardtops (no matter what transmission)???
then have a look at this thread:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/discus/messages/21/131144.html
-Ben |
Scott A. B. Collins (Scott)
Junior Member
Username: Scott
Post Number: 98
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 01, 2003 - 1:07 pm: | |
OK--I really need to consult a psychiatrist, but maybe this board can help. It is time to replace my daily driver--a '97 M3. For those who don't know, that iteration of the M3 didn't get the barnstorming 300+ hp engine from Europe, but the U.S. did get a 240 hp motor that performed far better than the spec indicates (can you say torque). When shopping for my first Ferrari, the 360 wasn't really on my radar screen (price, styling, etc.). I was working my way through the Dino 8 family (cheers, Frank)--the 348 was cool, and the 355 was a screamer. Then, by chance, I got to test drive a 360. Holy stump puller (all you V12 guys please indulge me)--the torque won me over. Here was a Ferrari that was still quick without winding out the motor. Cool.
Anyway, on with the ramble. I had assumed that I would replace my M3 with a new one (probably a cab, probably with BMW's take on the F-1, called SMG). By all test reports this is close to a sub 5.0 second 0-60 car, and at least one 360 owner on this board also has a current M3, and it is "almost as fast". SO--time to replace the daily driver, go drive the new M3 and--blah.
It seems dead lower in the rev range. It doesn't make the same magically noises higher in the rev band as our prized F-cars do. It doesn't feel at all like it is putting out 333 h.p. It kind of reminds me of the Honda S2000--fast when driven like you are mad at it, otherwise more sedate than a Civic.
Which leads to the dilema. As a daily driver in Oregon, it would be abusive to probe the M's 8000 rpm redline on my way to/from work, as the oil isn't really appropriately warm. I want a Cabriolet of some type (automatics need not apply), and while I'm not hung up on 0-60 times specifically, I want a quick car. More specifically, I want something that feels peppy in routine driving. Automatics are out. Until Maser offers a factor sponsored lease program, the depreciation risk is too great there. Porsches have never really turned my crank, but I guess I need to give them a closer look. The Mustang SVT Cobra is a remarkable deal, but is both relatively crude and (last I heard) production had been suspended because of engine issues. Maybe I need to get over my issues with GM and look at a Vette?
Or maybe I'll just explore my green side and buy a hybrid...
|
|