Hai guyz,


Okay- so the scirocco has been sold. My huge stash of wheels is slowly but surely getting liquidated. And now I have until spring to find a sweetass new replacement, which I have been thinking about night and day ever since the new owner drove my red rocket away. The 2 M coupes I posted recently didn't work out. The green one had a spotty history- and the one strangelove was supposed to drive ended up being sold before I could get all moneys together.

So I want a new car- and the choices are seemingly endless. So let's discuss. The 3 main cars I have been thinking about are the ap1 s2k, 99-00 M coupe, and 95-99 M3. The car that I want has to be relatively reliable, somewhat rare, and not be a depreciating rock that will sink to the bottom of the pond within 2 days of ownership. Then again- I'm all over the freaking place and really have been looking at everything. I have a maximum of 13k to spend.

Pros/cons for main contenders:

S2k
+hawt
+very reliable
+very affordable (9 grand gets you a solid car, I can lowball someone in the winter months)
+it's a honda
-small
-it haz no torque!!
-hyperexpensive insurance ($910/6 months full coverage)
-twitchy at extremes
-convertible (don't care for convertibles personally)
-prone to theft

M coupe
+timeless awkward shoe design that i love love love
+it haz torque!!
+S52 engine is relatively solid
+parts aren't too expensive
+super freaking rare
+insurance cheapest of the 3 cars ($600/ 6 months full coverage)
+has a boot
-hard to find, have to fly out- or drive several hours
-cracking subframe issue
-not too cheap (11-13k for 99-00)
-not bulletproof reliability like honder

M3
+4 door can be had with tons of space
+not too many out there, can be had in dakar yellow
+quick
+cheap parts
+easy to find
+not horribly unreliable
-not that rare
-dated styling
-second most expnsive insurance ($750/6 months)

Oddball ideas:

e39 540/530 sedans in manual. Mmmm, timeless.

Miatas perhaps?

Get a daily beater (95 accord or something) and a second fun car (miata, e30, etc) all for under 6g?

Prelude SHs? (kinda boooring, and old)

I just want ideas going, perhaps I have omitted options and or will get insight about one of the above.

no volkswagens plz.


Clarkma, no I don't want a mazda protege.

Mazdaspeed Protege.

If you are going to get an old german car then get a cool one like the 190E Cosworth.

Silvia/late model 240SX/S14/S15...

First generation/pre-bug eye Impreza WRX

M3

M Coupe

Would be badass

Of those options, I'd go (and will at some point) for the M Coupe as I'm totally enamored with it. Also, wow, the S52 M Coupes are so much cheaper than the S54s.

Thinking outside the box :

Your choices seem like a list of cars a friend of mine has been through in the last five years. In some cases multiple examples of them. He buys them when he knows he can sell them for more in a couple months. He's had a couple Prelude Type SHs (if not more than that), has contemplated Miatas several times (it's an itch I think he'll eventually give in to), he's owned three E36 M3s, and he's finally moved on to an AP1 S2000 (there's a bunch of other cars, but nothing on your list). He seems to be driving a different car everytime I talk to him, but it's the S2k that's really got him stuck. He loves the damn thing, and can't see himself selling it. If he did, he honestly has no idea what he'd get.

I'd probably go for the S2000 myself. Tons of fun, looks great, convertible (I know you're not keen, but I love 'em), Honda-reliability.

An oddball choice? How about a Saab 9-3 Viggen. The standard wheels are fragile, but that shouldn't be a problem for you.

E30 M3 with V10 swap. That would be EPIC

E36 M3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I think it looks awesome, and nothing in this group can beat the handling

E36's feel like they handle well because you can't get them to go quick in the first place

0-60 in 5.9 isn't what I would call slow...

I agree on the M3. Plus, that E36 is still the sexiest looking 3 series to date. Much sexier than the E46 and E92/92. Get that. Plus it does handle like the business!

Except for, I dunno...the S2k.



Oh no way. E30 or E46 ftw. The E36 looked good when it was new, but has not aged well. It looks like an old Japanese car with BMW badges on it.

No. That's where you are wrong. The E36, especially as a 2 door is the tastiest 3-Series out there. And that's a fact! Sorry mate.

No way man, I'd take a e36 after an e90/e46/e30 any day.

Word.

I'd go for the AP1. But I'm biased. If you do, check the corners of the soft top near the rails to make sure they aren't wearing. If they are, either patch it, or get ready to dish out a few grand for a new soft top. Also, check every single panel on the car for a Honda VIN sticker. All S2000's have them on EVERY single body panel. Fenders, hood, bumpers, doors, etc. If it's missing one, it's most likely been in an accident. Also, I would go with an 02+. The MY00 and MY01s are known to have second and third gears grind, and the itchy center console carpet. They replaced that in 02 with a leather console. And just a reminder, AP1's are VERY unforgiving cars. They are pretty tail happy, especially in light rain, snow, pretty much anything but dry, and it's a pain in the fucking ass to drive.

Carpet


Leather

Keep talking. I'm just reading on.

The z3 2.8 or 3.0 coupe also make very good options. Too bad the 3.0 is the rarest z3 based coupe of them all.

Have you ever been in one?
Maybe it's just me?

It's not blistering fast either, I acknowledge that. But its not bad for being stock. Some cars feel fast some don't. German cars in particular are known for being deceiving. You may be moving at 125 mph but it feels like your puddling along at 80.