E36 M3 article

[m3f_NSX7]

cool article - I am definitely keeping my E36







http://www.roadandtrack.com/car-cult...m3-e36-review/

[m3f_Bobbyr5]

Interesting article

[m3f_Pierre i am]

Good article; I do feel like they don't really understand the currenty market though. The 10k rule is long gone now.

[m3f_M_Parallel]

Fun to read. E36 late 1990's styling? The first produced E36's are 1989 cars, so the design even predates that.


Anyhow, everyone disliking it, just look at that main pic. 3 factory new ones. Makes you realize again these were premium luxury/sport cars. Love watching these old brochure/press pics.

[m3f_Dr. DC2]

"There are a few rarer models to be aware of. First, and oddest, are the forty-five Canadian-spec cars that predated the M3's official entry into North America by a year. Essentially 1994 model-year Euro-spec cars, there were just 45 of these imported under a market loophole. If you happened across one, it wouldn't be a difficult cross-border import."


This is completely inaccurate. A Canadian spec car can be imported into the United States (prior to the 25 year classic car exemption) if the manufacture provides a letter declaring the Canada spec variant is substantially similar to the U.S. spec model--this requires the cars to be mechanically identical.


In this case, the uber rare 45 Euro spec imported Canadian E36 M3 would not be eligible for this exemption because they're substantially different than the standard North American market E36 M3.


"There are also no real deals to be had. E36 enthusiasts refer to something called the $10,000 rule: if you pay $9000 for a car, it might only need $1000 to make it near-perfect; if you buy the craigslist bargain for $4000, you'll be dropping $6k over the next year just to keep it on the road."


The '$10,000' rule is closer to '$15,000' nowadays.

[m3f_cracky]

well apparently someone has already imported one(see the other thread).

I personally feel its not worth it for one of those cars.

Id rather buy a 3.2 from japan(which we have many of here too)





good article thanks.

[m3f_2manym3s]

This article made me not want to read road and track anymore.....lots of false info and outdated facts. Oh well. I guess I'll have to deal with people saying "Dude, I know your car is worth 10k, I researched it"

[m3f_cscat87]

I like the last line, "Let's put it this way–I can have any car I want and this is the one I am keeping."



People ask me all the time, now that I have my Lambo, why do I still have my E36. Because I love the car! It still puts a smile on my face.

[m3f_Cha5en]

Where did this write get the $10,000 price from?



Overall a decent article if you're not selling a clean e36 lol



Also I must have missed the part where he mentioned the Sedan is the choice one to purchase?

[m3f_M_Parallel]

"the M3 has developed the usual creaks and rattles of any car not initially designed to be a roadster. "

Do people just write stuff down randomly?


The E36 from the get-go was designed to include a topless version. This is literally mentioned in one of the brochures.

[m3f_RND1]

What a disappointing article. It appears to be written by someone who did a google search on E36 M3 and read forum threads. There was no indication the author has ever sat in or driven an M3, let alone owned one.


To compare the E36 M3 power to a first gen miata is laughable. The only comparison to a Miata is fun factor. Even the new ND has no torque and feels like an appliance compared to the E36 M3 - I was thinking of getting one until the test drive.

[m3f_NSX7]

From how I read it, the reference to the miata was strictly in the handling area and how easily both cars can rotate, hence the number of these cars at track events

[m3f_usedunderwear]

This article made me not want to read road and track anymore.....lots of false info and outdated facts

The part about maintenance - the cooling system, rear shock towers, oil pump nut, etc is not what I view as "lots of false info"

my two cents


The part I see as false info that stood out to me is the "$10k rule"

[m3f_westopher]

I think it's a rad article and very informative. Some things are wrong but you guys have to remember these writers aren't nearly as obsessive about these cars as all the forum nerds (us).

The line about being able to have any car and still choosing the e36 is really cool, and I've heard things of the sort from many people now.

[m3f_RND1]

From how I read it, the reference to the miata was strictly in the handling area and how easily both cars can rotate, hence the number of these cars at track events

From the article:



"the E36 is sort of a German Miata. The 240hp rating means a V6 Camry will probably walk away from you in a straight line, but as a momentum car for the circuit or twisty backroad, it's excellent."



The E30 M3 is a better comparison to an early Miata which is more of a "momentum" car.



It would have been far more interesting if the author drove a V6 Camry and then an E36 M3 and then described the difference between the two on paper and in the real world.