Best thing about driving this car...

[khaos]

... is that it's basically on par with newer cars.

Seriously, besides the maintenance, which is a bitch, my car has more bells and whistles than most of my buddies newer cars, not to mention more horsepower and better handling.

Looking back on a year ago (when I bought the car) for better or worse maintenance wise I'm really glad I got a $5000 1997 M3 versus a $5000 2000 some Civic...

Guess that's the upside to buying a car that came loaded from the factory 15 years ago...

[jayjaya29]

Can actually work on it without having a PhD in electrical engineering.

[scoobiedoo2029]

Can actually work on it without having a PhD in electrical engineering.

+1 that an there is less plastic

[Mtatlow]

Fairly easy to work on, parts are cheap, still a good looking car and of course PAYED off!

[Ronan1]

Car handles awesomely. Never ceases to put a smile on my face. And with only 240hp, its low weight makes it lively on the freeway.

[SnakeOil]

Every time I drive it with my 2 year old, he says go faster and holds on. So since its an M, I do, and we both grin ear to ear:)

[breakfast]

even new hyundais have more bells and whistles than these cars now..

not that I would get one but the packages cars come with now...way more stuff.


a 2000 civic is the same era as these cars.... its nice that we still have some sauce to beat a lot of things...but sadly there are a lot of cars that will keep up/beat us and they are family sedans. but thats how things go unless you buy a really fast old car.


this car has good balance across the board. luxury,speed,handling, reliability, mpg and cost to buy, easy to work on etc. thats what makes them great imo

[MasterKwan]

It's cheap. Parts are cheap. Good performance for the money. I was pricing older subaru's the other day and I simply can't find a cheap one. Even 03 WRX's with blown motors are more expensive than a late '90's M3 needing regular maintenance. It's amazing to me. Makes me want to pick up a $3000 328 and work on it over the winter time.

[Pcase]

I think the best thing is the feel. Sure, new cars have more power, are faster, get better MPG, have more options, blah blah blah. But in an e36 you feel the road, which makes the driving experience more enjoyable.

[New2M3]

Rwd and getting sideways without even trying...
I love //M power

[jasonn]

I don't know how you can say it's on par with the gadgets and power when a camry is more loaded with more hp

[Uliman]

I don't know how you can say it's on par with the gadgets and power when a camry is more loaded with more hp

I've had my 99 M3 for about 6 months now and I have come to agree with the above. There are a host of new(er) cars on the road that have as much if not more HP than the M3. And I am talking family sedan type of cars. Seems like the average mid-range 4 door sedan is pushing 250+ HP these days. Now a lot of times these weigh a bit more and have slower shifting automatics so that equals things out a bit.

But it is a bit disheartening to find out that some of these newer cars can simply beat the pants off your M3. Mine only has a CAI and a catback so I definitely need to put some more NA mods on the car to see if I can get to 260/270 (crank HP) to even things out a bit more.

Ultimately, I am going to go Twin-screw supercharger to, hopefully, be at 400 HP (crank). I love my M3; the only car that I ever plan to replace it with is a 993 Porsche (95-98 with the air-cooled motor).

Even if some of these newer cars can beat me on the straight-aways, very few can beat me in the corners. That is where the M3 shines. So far only a Porsche has beat me in the corners and a Miata (of all cars!!!).

And, in my humble opinion, the M3 is a much more stylish car than at least 90% of the others out there. Happy Motoring!!

[Jrcanes55]

I don't know how you can say it's on par with the gadgets and power when a camry is more loaded with more hp

I might not have more gadgets but I kept up with a Maserati Quatroprte the other day. Absolutely love my car.

Even better was when I pulled up to the light the guys asks "what you got in that thing?" Grinning ear to ear I reply "3.2 Straight Six"

The look on his face...... Priceless!:redspot

[99MPower]

I might not have more gadgets but I kept up with a Maserati Quatroprte the other day. Absolutely love my car.

Even better was when I pulled up to the light the guys asks "what you got in that thing?" Grinning ear to ear I reply "3.2 Straight Six"

The look on his face...... Priceless!:redspot

are you Leif? :confused

[gk325is]

I don't know how you can say it's on par with the gadgets and power when a camry is more loaded with more hp

HP is over rated, new camery 0-60 is over 6 seconds because it is fat and front wheel drive

[NakNak]

Looks good, fun to drive, parts are not only cheap but plentiful :D.

[KnudsonsM3]

are you Leif? :confused

:rolleyes...I never said I kept up with that bugatti.


... is that it's basically on par with newer cars.

Anyone that thinks our cars are on par with other cars made today is dumb. Our cars have superior handling and can be made to compete with some very great cars with some suspension mods.

[99MPower]

Anyone that thinks our cars are on par with other cars made today is dumb. Our cars have superior handling and can be made to compete with some very great cars with some suspension mods.

are you saying they are better?

[KnudsonsM3]

are you saying they are better?

Are what better than what?

If we are comparing new audi's, camry's, corolla's, ford focus ect ect ect I would say theyre all junk and id take any one of my cars over them.

In a track setting I would argue that nothing is better than the e36 m3.

[Hova]

Are what better than what?

If we are comparing new audi's, camry's, corolla's, ford focus ect ect ect I would say theyre all junk and id take any one of my cars over them.

In a track setting I would argue that nothing is better than the e36 m3.

:confused

[KnudsonsM3]

:confused

thanks for an informative post.

[rubiconryan]

The best thing about being behind the wheel of this car is that I know I'm driving the best handling car of "its" generation. I could care less about comparing my car to those made today.

[KnudsonsM3]

The best thing about being behind the wheel of this car is that I know I'm driving the best handling car of "its" generation. I could care less about comparing my car to those made today.

yet nothing can keep up with me at autox. Im not talking about race spec cars however lol

[99MPower]

Are what better than what?

If we are comparing new audi's, camry's, corolla's, ford focus ect ect ect I would say theyre all junk and id take any one of my cars over them.

In a track setting I would argue that nothing is better than the e36 m3.

:facepalm:


yet nothing can keep up with me at autox. Im not talking about race spec cars however lol


double :facepalm:

[KnudsonsM3]

:facepalm:




double :facepalm:

I have results to prove it ;)

:rofl:

[Shock(/\)ave]

The best thing about driving this car is how it combines so many of the positive aspects of older cars with so many positive aspects of newer ones.

The 1990s was a golden age for what I would call modern classic automobiles, and the M3 was among the best available at the time. :buttrock

[Skunk]

I cant get into my car to drive it because the handles broke :shifty

[RRSperry]

This is too funny... Have any of you guys actually driven a new Camry? The most boring car on earth... It's only sort of fast in a straight line. God forbid you should have to make a turn...

You all have got to realize that the E36 was designed in the late 80's/very early 90's. When no cars really had bells and whistles.

You want bells and whistles? My wife bought a new Kia Sportage turbo. Sat nav, Sirius, backup camera, air conditioned seats, and GLOVEBOX storage, AWD, leather... The thing comes loaded... $29K. Unbelievable value. Toyota wanted $37K for a RAV4. (if you got the nav, you COULDN'T get bluetooth. You had to get one of those sunvisor things...)

[GREENMOBSTER]

I might not have more gadgets but I kept up with a Maserati Quatroprte the other day. Absolutely love my car.

Even better was when I pulled up to the light the guys asks "what you got in that thing?" Grinning ear to ear I reply "3.2 Straight Six"

The look on his face...... Priceless!:redspot

Next license plate gonna be "MASQLOL"?

[BMWMPow3r]

I find that BMW's are way easier to work on than most cars. Its the centered driveline that makes the biggest difference. FWD and 4wd are a PITA to work on.

[Moron95M3]

I just am amazed at 220k miles it's still a fun autoXer with no real issues. Everything works as it has since '94...

Pretty amazing, compared to a lot of newer cars that have close to that mileage (and usually many more issues).

[Volf]

This thread is hilarious

[boostinm3]

The best thing about driving this car is making any turns knowing that you won't spin out or flip your car.

[tjm3]

The M3

[RRSperry]

The best thing about driving this car is making any turns knowing that you won't spin out or flip your car.


If you believe that, you aren't going fast enough...lol

[KnudsonsM3]

If you believe that, you aren't going fast enough...lol

Not if you know your limits!

[Captain]

The M3

Best BMW poster of all time right here...I would love to see those recreated!