[Skiptomylou37]

So my e90 M3 will be gone next week. It was a great car and I hate to see it go but I am driving more now for my job(about 12-15k miles/year) and need something a little more practical. I also live in Western PA and snowboard on a regular basis which makes it hard for me to not have an AWD car during the winter. The two cars that I am interested in most are an 04-06 Evo 8/9 and an 02-05 E46 M3 + a cheap winter car. If I got the Evo I would probably do a turboback exhaust, intake, and tune and if I got the e46 M3, tune, exhaust, and intake. I've also thrown around the idea of buying an 05-06 G35x and supercharging it with a Vortech Kit. I am a little hesitant to supercharge a daily driver however Vortech Kits are known to be extremely reliable and I have a friend with a Mustang who has put over 70k miles on his car with a Vortech Kit and currently having over 105k miles on the stang, hasn't had one problem with it. To sum things up, this is what I'm thinking now:

Evo 8/9
Pros: Best performance potential for $, AWD, least expensive of the three to maintain
Cons: Fast and Furious styling, cheap interior, only manual transmission option

E46 M3
Pros: BMW, awesome styling, most exotic car of group
Cons: Would need a winter car, expensive to maintain, limited performance upgrade potential

G35X w/ Vortech Supercharger
Pros: Super unique/sleeper car, Japanse reliability, AWD
Cons: Possible supercharger problems

Please let me know your thoughts about my ideas for possible cars and if there is a car that I don't have listed here that you think I should look into. I am looking to spend 20k or less since the car will be a daily driver(minus an e46 M3 in the winter) and most likely something I will hang onto for a few years at most.

[mdosu]

whaa? They're all downgrades in my eye. I use to own an Evo 8, I would never go back to that car again. it was fun for what it was worth, but it really wears you out driving it.

[IFX]

HPF M3.

[dom_cmh]

Originally Posted by mdosu

whaa? They're all downgrades in my eye. I use to own an Evo 8, I would never go back to that car again. it was fun for what it was worth, but it really wears you out driving it.

+1

[pharmdphd98]

Originally Posted by Skiptomylou37

So my e90 M3 will be gone next week. It was a great car and I hate to see it go but I am driving more now for my job(about 12-15k miles/year) and need something a little more practical. I also live in Western PA and snowboard on a regular basis which makes it hard for me to not have an AWD car during the winter. The two cars that I am interested in most are an 04-06 Evo 8/9 and an 02-05 E46 M3 + a cheap winter car. If I got the Evo I would probably do a turboback exhaust, intake, and tune and if I got the e46 M3, tune, exhaust, and intake. I've also thrown around the idea of buying an 05-06 G35x and supercharging it with a Vortech Kit. I am a little hesitant to supercharge a daily driver however Vortech Kits are known to be extremely reliable and I have a friend with a Mustang who has put over 70k miles on his car with a Vortech Kit and currently having over 105k miles on the stang, hasn't had one problem with it. To sum things up, this is what I'm thinking now:

Evo 8/9
Pros: Best performance potential for $, AWD, least expensive of the three to maintain
Cons: Fast and Furious styling, cheap interior, only manual transmission option

E46 M3
Pros: BMW, awesome styling, most exotic car of group
Cons: Would need a winter car, expensive to maintain, limited performance upgrade potential

G35X w/ Vortech Supercharger
Pros: Super unique/sleeper car, Japanse reliability, AWD
Cons: Possible supercharger problems

Please let me know your thoughts about my ideas for possible cars and if there is a car that I don't have listed here that you think I should look into. I am looking to spend 20k or less since the car will be a daily driver(minus an e46 M3 in the winter) and most likely something I will hang onto for a few years at most.

If you want to stay stock the E46 with ZCP, assuming you can find one, is the best of the choices. I am biased about the evo because I had both an 8 and a 9 and I had to sell them due to a relocation 6 years ago. I miss them dearly to this very day. God, what would I do to get my red evo 8 back; one of the best cars I ever had.

[EddieSantor]

They're all downgrades in my eye.

[Kayani_1]

Out of your choices I like the E46 M3. However, if I was you I would get a CPO or slightly used N54 335i. One of the best engines BMW has made in my opinion. It sounds great and has plenty of power. It is also decent on fuel economy. You can get close to 400hp/400 lb-ft with just a simple tune etc.

Also, with BMW covering the HPFP for up to 6 yr/100K and twin turbos up to 8 yrs/ 82K miles thanks to a recent loss of a law suit. I say N54 is the choice. I was pretty much a NA guy. All my previous BMW's were NA. and one still is. I would say I would take my N54 tuned or not over my 4.4 liter NA V8. I get to drive both side by side many times. Some how the N54 feels the more exciting of the two. The 4.4 liter feels more smoother of the two and bit less exciting.

Anyways good luck.

[audioMeth]

why not audi if you're flirting with awd?

[Skiptomylou37]

Audi's are about as reliable as Oprah's cholesterol. I have a bunch of buddies that have had A4s and S4s and they have had nothing but problems with them. Yeah, an N54 335xi could be a good idea. I actually had an 07' 335xi before my M3 and I loved it. Looking to do something a little different but that's something I would consider going back to.

[bimmerjph]

Of the options I would pick the E46 m3 w/ a cheap winter car. However I would keep the E90 M3 and get a super cheap winter car.

[Sedan_Clan]

How could an E46 ///M3 be considered any more "practical" than the E90 ///M3? Gas mileage is comparable between the two.

[Alex07M3]

2010 Audi S4 with a tune! That's it that's all!

[Skiptomylou37]

the e46 M3 is more practical because I can pay cash for one as opposed to having the payment for my e90 M3. also, not interested in putting 30k miles on my M3 over the next 2 years and then taking a huge hit when I go to resell it.

[Kwando]

Please don't get a G35.

[M3maniac20]

Either get a new or used 335i. I think that is the best option for being practical. Like you, I'm probably going to be selling my car here soon in the near future. Same reasons of being practical and will be doing more driving and it won't be in covered parking. I'm going to lease a 335 and then get the new M3 when it comes out. Stick with BMW.

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by Alex07M3

2010 Audi S4 with a tune! That's it that's all!

This.

[duk]

E90 335i with tune

[Mike van D]

Would look for a CPO 335xi.

[Mike V8]

Sti?

[redline9001]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

How could an E46 ///M3 be considered any more "practical" than the E90 ///M3? Gas mileage is comparable between the two.

Not even close on gas mileage... E46 is wayyyyyyyy better

[py0413]

Originally Posted by Skiptomylou37

the e46 M3 is more practical because I can pay cash for one as opposed to having the payment for my e90 M3. also, not interested in putting 30k miles on my M3 over the next 2 years and then taking a huge hit when I go to resell it.

aren't you taking a hit if you are getting out of a 2011 E90 with monthly payment?

[Keik E92 M3]

wth!