Cayman S or E46 M3?

Cayman S. Amazing to drive and it looks good. And depending on the wheels/ride height, it can look very good.

Plus it seems everytime i see an M3, it's driven by those "One arm on the wheel, cap flipped and loud music" type.

 

Consider a E92 335i Coupe. Six speed manual, rear wheel drive, close to 400hp with a mild tune. Great looking and professional appearing car in my opinion. Faster than a E46 M3 in some cases.

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Go with a Porsche....if you need back seats find a less expensive 911.

 

E46 M3 is really starting to look dated. I find the E36 and E90/E92/E93 way more interesting and attractive. Cayman wins hands down vs the E46, with better styling and driving performance.

 

I don't know about the VANOS system but I do know the Syncromesh or SMG transmission is to be avoided. I find the E46 lines a little puffy for lack of a proper design term and the Caymans roof a little too pronounced but it is the more striking of the two with the Cayman standing out as more desirable down the road. A Cayman S with some cool wheels can look pretty good. Out of the price range I know, but if you really want something neat that will really be desired down the road get a Boxster Spyder!
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I've owned both. To me the M3 is just a very capable coupe, the Cayman S is a sport car. You can own only so many cars in a lifetime--I'd rank the Cayman (at least the S) above the E46 M3. Interesting perspective, though, as both of those cars are gone, but I have an E36 M3 that is a long term car for me.

 

Why not a GTI? For what you position as "top of your range" $$ wise you get a car that has rear seats (4 doors if you want them), good gas mileage, has a manual transmission, and is sporty (if not a sports car). It'll also be a brand new car with warranty, etc, so fewer worries / less maintenance.

 

The E36 M3s are to me what defined BMW, Everything since has diluted the brand IMO. Saw a nice Alpine 97 M3 coupe slightly lowered with the big wing and lightweight M wheels, the thing had the presence of an exotic and I almost went and asked the guy if he wanted to sell.

 

He needs a car suitable for "a mid management corporate type". A GTI is more of a young boy or girl going to college car.

 

The Golf R is a better option than the GTI.

 

While I'm not a fan of the 996 scrambled eggs headlights, the 996 Turbo S is a supercar with Enzo performance for the cost of a loaded Honda Accord. While not as fast, the Cayman S and Cayman R are both great cars too.

 

The USA spec e36 M3 did not have M car performance. It had a single throttle body intake instead of the 6 throttle body the ROW e36 M3s had.

 

Recall, though, that in its day it won a "best car handling test" and was also the fastest 4 door sold (my E36 M3 is a four door). So yes, its power was diluted compared to its Euro counterpart. However, fastest 4 door sedan--I think that qualifies (in the day) as M car performance.

Also, I've driven Euro E36 M3's. Screamers on the autobahn, and on the track. But because of the torque difference, I'd rather drive a US spec one around US cities and towns (the track, however, would be another story).

 

Ouch! My daily driver is GTI. I see it as one car on the list that every car enthusiast should own. But, yes, it isn't a "make an impression" car.

 

How about the original E30 M3?
Now that set the tone for BMW

 

Is your 4 door M3 Alpine White? That's one car I am looking to add to the stable. Why does every nice M3 always come out of Oregon?

 

In reality it did but I didn't really pay attention to them. They were a little before my time. I became a BMW fan in 95 and my wife bought a BMW new in 96. I tried to make a case for her to get an M3 but it didn't work.

 

No worries, Scotty. I drive a GTI, too, and the client VP I drove to a meeting last week still takes my calls.

 

Give it a shot. Mine is dark grey and it looks very restrained. Definitely not boy-racer. I'd worry about you dumping lots of maintenance cash at an older BMW.