02 Maserati sypder v. M3 Conv.

who cares they are cars, get the mesarati over the BMW if you have the choice.

 

I agree with Rob. You wont look like a drug dealer in the Maserati
Plus its a Ferrari engine.

 

Get the M3. It is faster, cheaper, will retain its value better, handles better, is more reliable, sounds better, has a better SMG transmisssion option and seats 4 to boot. If you want a $15k car in 5 years, buy a $90k Maserati today.

 

Id get the M3.

 

There seem to be a lot of low mileage '02 Maserati spyders out there, asking in the high $60s, which seems like a good deal to me. There have been a number of threads here discussing the Maseratis, all I can tell you is that my wife and I enjoy ours. As for further depreciation, I think the only thing that will save us is the sudden discovery of the marque by a larger group of buyers. I am not sure why these cars are not more popular, I'd think the warranty might answer concerns about reliability.

Squeakier?

 

The M3 convertible is definitely squeakier. I have driven many, many Maseratis and good number of M3 convertibles. If you know how to drive the F1 paddles, they are actually smoother than the SMG. We drive a silver SMG occasionally and I personally do not like its characteristics when compared to that of the Maserati.

But again to answer your question. The BMW is squeakier. However, there is still some cowl shake in the Maserati Spyder, especially in the 2002 models.

 

I have a BMW M3 Convertible and have had it for 2 years - daily driver. Not a single problem of any kind. It is fast, sounds great. I think that it is pretty solid structurally. It gets a little squirrely on tight bends with an uneven surface. But it doesn't really squeak. Very little cowl shake. I really like the car. Have not driven a Maserati spyder so I cant compare it.

Dont really understand the drug dealer comment from AMENASCE??? Helpful response - not.

 

Damn--I agree with both Frank and Allen. I owned a Maserati Spyder for 6 months ('02 cambiocorsa) and I now own an M3 convertible ('03 6 speed). I took a bath to get rid of the Maser, and I did it for one reason. The cowl shake was intolerable in the Maser. The M3 is significantly stiffer (yet, it still has some flex). Neither car "squeeked" or "rattled" significantly--both seems relatively well screwed together. Based on my experience with the Maser Cambio (negative) and an opinion formed on several mutli-hour test drives with the SMG (even more negatively)--I went with the 6 speed. Marty on this board has a 575 F1 (he loves it) and sold a 6-speed M3 to buy an SMG M3 (a decision he severly regrets).

BTW, my 360 has more squeeks than any of my 4 vehicles. But it is still the most fun ;-). And, it has much more space for a weekend trip than the Maser had.

 

Seriously? The 360 holds more than the Maserati?
Hmmm... can't remember if I ever looked in the trunk...

 

if it werent for the poor resale i'd take the maserati without a doubt...but I think i'd have to hand it to the M in this category, you will definately not be let down.

btw, in reference to the 'squeakiness'...you may look into getting one with the 18" instead of the 19" if you're not into a super harsh ride, and this will at the same time get rid of what little rattling/noises you may have out of the super solid e46 chassis.

...if it were me i'd buy a Noble M12, but that's completely off topic

 

If you did not get the spare tire kit in the 360, the trunk is much larger than the Maserati. I have them both and can that for a daily driver, the Maserati has not failed to satisfy my needs.

 

To add a bit more: I'm not sure that the Maser and the M3 should be in the same ballgame. They each have specific values to specific drivers. I use an M3 cab as a daily driver ( 6-speed ain't easy ) and it is solid, squeak-free ride. Excuse me, that was AFTER the right BMW tech, armed with experience and the proper German lube, and then a factory modification/repair to the top and NOW it"s great.

 

Not only is the 360 trunk bigger, but there is serious room behind the seats (whereas in the Maserati there is virtually NONE).

I must have gotten my M3 cab off of a different assembly line than others here--it is not what I would call stiff (though not flexy either). It doesn't squeek--but it does have both cowl shake and flex. As convertibles go it isn't bad, but certainly isn't among the best in terms of stiffness.