matt d

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by GaryC:
<B>
Not even close I'm afraid - My vote goes to the Caterham SuperlightR/BlackbirdT/R500 for the best pound for pound performance car. just a shame it has no roof, doors...... [/quote]

I did actually consider those! Love Caterhams, but I think scoobs are better all-rounders because they perform well in all conditions. I would not like to drive a Caterham in the wet (even with a roof), or for long-distances, so it doesn't cut the mustard for me, although I think they make fantastic fair-weather/track toys and may well get one in future, funds permitting!

matt d

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Andrew O'Hara:

Also why is it that an 11 year old E30 M3 EVO Sport still costs as much as some 2-3 year old Imprezas, answer is quality and the driving experience......

[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Actually it's scarcity - only 40 or 50 of them came over to the UK. Remember when scoobs were hard to get, they cost a lot more - simple supply & demand. Standard E30 M3s go for around 4-6k depending on condition, the Evo versions around 7-9k, Evo Sport around 11-12k. So a 3 fold difference for pretty similar cars. Anyway, while we're on the subject, having driven both extensively, IMO the P1 annihilates the E30 M3 Evo in every department except steering feel and engine sound.

AnthonyJ

I own an E36 M3 Convertible Evo SMG and a lightly tuned MY98 WRX. If I had to choose one as an A to B machine it would have to be the WRX - it is significantly quicker than the M3 at any legal speed and the handling is much more fun. Depreciation on the M3 has been a lower percentage, but at the end of the day the WRX cost me a lot less to begin with.

I think that the BMW dealers are a real bunchs of ****s (choose four letter expletive). I really don't want to like their cars because of their smug, arrogant attitudes. Having said that, the Subaru dealers won't even service my car because it is Japanese - so that's hardly great either!!!

The reality is that the M3 is more comfortable, quieter, much better built, one of the nicest cars to "live" in and slightly cheaper to run (fuel cheaper, servicing slightly more expensive). BUT - in my opinion, the M3 doesn't deliver the grin factor! Its performance envelope is too big for our roads / police (you only feel how good it is on a nice curvy autobahn hitting 8000rpm in 4th with two gears to go!!)!! Having said that, the new M3 is probably a different kettle of fish so I'm waiting to see what the new SMG is like. Has anyone managed to try it?

My solution: Why not buy one of each second hand instead of one new one (especially when you start optioning up your M3 to the north of £40k!)?! Total outlay would be roughly the same, although you'd obviously be hit more on the running costs. Overall though, you'd lose far less on the depreciation because a two year old car has done most of its big depreciation already.

As an aside, I'm also quite tempted by a Mercedes CLK 430 with a nice Spirit supercharger nestled in the middle of the V8. The dealers are much more polite, the depreciation is very good and the car is even nicer inside than the BM. Handling is not quite as sharp and the automatic could never compete with the SMG, but you can't argue with 450lbft of torque!!!

GaryC

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by AnthonyJ:
<B>I own an E36 M3 Convertible Evo SMG and a lightly tuned MY98 WRX. If I had to choose one as an A to B machine it would have to be the WRX - it is significantly quicker than the M3 at any legal speed and the handling is much more fun. [/quote]

The E36 was a dog compared to E30 and E46, and the SMG gearbox made the dog barely worthy of Battersea, and the soft-top made a too-soft handler even worse. I had a hardtop SMG for 2 weeks before swapping back to my 156 V6 E36 M3 was a great tourer, but no sports car, and the Mk1 SMG gearbox was terrible. I can still feel the crick in my neck

scoobycar60

Was ist dieses? Sie vergleichen Reisrakete von den kleinen Leuten viele von, lassen wem Dollarzähne und schräg gelegene Augen zu den mächtigen Straße panzers von den Obersten Ingenieuren im world.Go Ihre Öffnung mit snapps heraus waschen, oder ich schicke Ihnen alle Spezifikationen X5, um zu weinen an

GaryC

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by scoobycar60:
<B>Was ist dieses? Sie vergleichen Reisrakete von den kleinen Leuten viele von, lassen wem Dollarzähne und schräg gelegene Augen zu den mächtigen Straße panzers von den Obersten Ingenieuren im world.Go Ihre Öffnung mit snapps heraus waschen, oder ich schicke Ihnen alle Spezifikationen X5, um zu weinen an [/quote]


YEAH!!! Well said.....

gregh

The Zohan

Thanks Greg
IMHO a line has bween drawn underneath this at last


BTW - Arron, missing you all ready

[This message has been edited by Paul Habgood (edited 11 June 2001).]

spudgun

blimey gregh, now thats a gripe! just looked at the site...this fella is SERIOUSLY p155ed off!

Gareth Williams

Brendan Hughes.
I've just seen a fleet of pigs flying out of Heathrow tonight to add to your Pope story....
All I was trying to say was that If any of the 3 cars really blew me away I would do my very best to afford them. The fact that the M3 was the most expensive and a year's wait is something that I can't control and it doesn't influence the reason I've ordered one. A great deal of people here on this site consider/actually buying cars that they know in their heart of hearts are expensive to buy/run and therefore justify. But if it's something that puts a big smile on their face every time, then it's something to at least aim for and try to achieve. I believe it's something called being "a car enthusiast"....
Gareth.

STI-Man

Yeah BMW's now are two a penny, with a scoob you get a bit of exclusivity!

GaryC

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by STI-Man:
<B>Yeah BMW's now are two a penny, with a scoob you get a bit of exclusivity![/quote]



Let it rest

ARRON BIRD

Some worthwile comments on return from my holiday and the usual bull5hit.

ptholt

So you had a holiday and lost your rose tinted glasses then ?

&lt;tongue firmly in cheek there&gt;

Adam M

Once again, arron, I thought you were going! can you tell us why you have decided to stay?

On top of this, I have booked my test drive in the M3, and am greatly looking forward to it.

they informed me over the phone that the waiting list for the coupe was now 12 to 18 months, which puts me in about the right time zone to chop in my car.

Awaiting eagerly.

Incidentally arron, will you be ordering the SMG gearbox? I was hoping for a demonstrator with it, but they say not until december at the earliest

ARRON BIRD

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:<HR>Originally posted by Adam M:
<B>Once again, arron, I thought you were going! can you tell us why you have decided to stay?

On top of this, I have booked my test drive in the M3, and am greatly looking forward to it.

they informed me over the phone that the waiting list for the coupe was now 12 to 18 months, which puts me in about the right time zone to chop in my car.

Awaiting eagerly.

Incidentally arron, will you be ordering the SMG gearbox? I was hoping for a demonstrator with it, but they say not until december at the earliest [/quote]Adam you will enjoy it.
No I don`t want the SMG personally I prefer the manual version.