What about the E46M does it for you?

[elbert]

You can fit four 275 tires in the back seat ?

NT01 in 275/35-18. I also got 275 BFG R1 (which is even wider) to fit as well, just barely
People are surprised when they see me unload the car.

[Obioban]

I suppose besides some exotics, I doubt too many twenty plus year old designs still command thumbs up from the enthusiast crowd. Albeit certainly not as much as earlier years (it was downright ridiculous...), but still get them to this day.

I feel like the the thumbs up have been following a bathtub curve. Tons when new, less from ~2010-2018, but recently way up again. I feel like I can’t go anywhere in it now without a thumbs up and/or people talking to me about it.

[Jimbo's M]

I suppose besides some exotics, I doubt too many twenty plus year old designs still command thumbs up from the enthusiast crowd. Albeit certainly not as much as earlier years (it was downright ridiculous...), but still get them to this day.

[Nate047]

All I know is mine was very rough when I bought it (still is in many ways compared to some cars on this forum) I have spent a small fortune restoring and just like, bringing it up to date. Why didn't I just sell it right away and cut my losses? I think you guys all get it, it's the driving experience. It's a super fun and rewarding car. I know I'd miss it if I got rid of it.

[TexaZ3]

Its the package. There are cars that look better, there are cars that have better engines, better suspensions, and handle/perform better. There are cars that are more luxurious, or more sporty, better appointed, and just better in any of the multiple areas and metrics that you can measure the car's performance, looks, etc. E46 just has combination of those qualities that makes it pretty darn hard to beat. Swiss knife of a sports car.

[Obioban]

(And also in a coupe, yes)

[erickhoyos]

You can fit four 275 tires in the back seat ?
This car needs an award !

Sure can, try it in a convertible with a broken top. Ask me, I would know.

[loudspeaker69]

You can fit four 275 tires in the back seat ?
This car needs an award !

[Obioban]

It’s the right size— hugely important to the driving experience IMO.
The engine rewards hard driving, which makes you want to drive it hard.
Perfect level of tech— Everything not related to driving it automated, nothing related to driving is automated.
Clear be informative cluster.
No gimmicks.
looks great.
great interior.
stupidly practical for how small it is. I LOVE the ability to have four 275s in the back seat, and still have the trunk for gear/stuff. Or, people.
easy to work on.
after locking down the big 3, surprisingly reliable. 15 years and 300,000 total miles into e46 M3 driving, I’ve been stranded once.

[Flat-Six]

S54

[simonnim]

Aesthetics. It has that right amount of power in my opinion. I've owned faster cars and they can go from 0 to jail too quickly. This lets me ring it out and enjoy it in the onramps and non obscured sweepers.

Something about the layout of the engine bay and other things that make service easy and want to work on it.

E90 is probably better than E46M. But, just preference of body style and package fits my current lifestyle. It might change when I have less time to work on it myself and will have to pay for more service in future.

[oceansize]

For me it was a case of aesthetics first. Everything about our car's interior and exterior looks good to my eye and has since it was released. It appeals to the artist in me like few cars do. Proportions are right, lines are right, curves and bulges are right, materials are right, on and on. There is a mechanical appeal now as well. I've had the opportunity drive many different cars in the last year and even in my much less than optimal convertible when I return I congratulate myself on a car well bought.

[cobra]

I used to attribute it to the performance this and that, but over time I've realized it's quite simple. It's a small car with good visibility and in my opinion looks really nice. The technical aspects like engine and handling are just icing on the cake. I have driven other cars that might technically be better on paper, but are always some huge boat or sit you way down that it feels claustrophobic!

[erickhoyos]

Perfect size for just about anything and no unnecessary distracting functions/buttons like modern cars are consistent featuring now.

[Tbonem3]

It has the "magic"

Like homebuying, when you feel it, you know.