E46 M3 compared to other sports cars you've driven

[01SG]

Agreed that the garden variety E46 is a fine car. Maybe unremarkable next to a Porsche, but compared to most, any classic three series is enjoyable. Still has the 50/50 weight balance, rear drive, and manual.

The US E36 M3 remains a blast without the proper engine. Look how fanatical people are about the 330 ZHP.

[Obioban]

Funny, that’s how I view the S54… you can actually put your foot into it without going to jail.

maw

Top of 2nd is exceeding the speed limit everywhere, top of 3rd is loss of license...

0-60 in the 4s isn't slow, unless you're comparing to EVs
(I was in a Plaid last week, and will say it made all my cars feel slow... and better for it)

[maw1124]

Great steering, great chassis, great balance, slow enough that you could really wind out/work over the motor without going jail/kill me speeds. It was just wonderful.

Funny, that’s how I view the S54… you can actually put your foot into it without going to jail.

maw

[Obioban]

The s54 is a masterpiece and without it the e46 would be bordering the unremarkable.

I don't agree with this statement in the slightest. One of my favorite all time cars to drive was my mom's old e46 325i wagon. Great steering, great chassis, great balance, slow enough that you could really wind out/work over the motor without going jail/kill me speeds. It was just wonderful.

[MTiz]

The s54 is a masterpiece and without it the e46 would be bordering the unremarkable.

I feel like this statement applies to pretty much all of the M's.

[Icecream]

I've pretty much driven every street legal Porsche besides a 918 and I'd still choose the E46 M3. I've driven most BMWs and the E46 platform seems the best to me in terms of bang for your buck. The M3 also has this forum. The S54 still stands as my favorite engine.

The s54 is a masterpiece and without it the e46 would be bordering the unremarkable.

[Arith2]

I've pretty much driven every street legal Porsche besides a 918 and I'd still choose the E46 M3. I've driven most BMWs and the E46 platform seems the best to me in terms of bang for your buck. The M3 also has this forum. The S54 still stands as my favorite engine.

[mtech9]

Driven a lot of JDM sports cars, (GT Starlet, GTX, GTiR, VR4, Evo I, III, STi v3, V4, Supra, 350Z, Type R, Euro R...) - they are waaaaay inferior.

Driven most of the later ///M cars. And a GT3. The GT3 is superior of course.

The m2 tempts me as a daily, but so many people say the went from e46 > M3 and regret it.

[force4rmr]

The Cayman 987.2 is definitely there - but it’s such a different driving experience.

It’s a go kart! The way that car soaked in bumps and would keep the noise stuck to the inside corner was a feeling no front engined RWD car has provided yet.

The engine & exhaust sounds are absolutely amazing and it feels absolutely stout. P cars need few mods; mine had lowering springs, IPD plenum & GT3 TB with Fabspeed race exhaust and it an amazing drive.

It also attracts *way* more looks and attention from regular people.

but…

The 3.4 just fell flat - pun intended.

I test drove a 997.2 4S and that felt like a boat.

I went back to E series M cars for a very specific reason: the S54/65/85 engines.

BMW M has made some of the best attainable, naturally aspirated road car engines ever.

Have to agree with you on the 987. Mine was a first gen car but to this day one of the most rewarding to drive. Only mod was a short shifter and some wannabe Cayman R graphics. Steering was perfect, and rowing through the gears with an oem short shifter was sublime. But short on power and gearing was a little bit too long. Back then, I had a tendency to go back and forth from M cars to P cars, always seemed to be a debate going on in my brain between wanting a practical sports coupe and a true sports car.

[Epoustouflant]

First post here and found this an interesting question. From past cars I've owned, comparing stock to stock reasonably priced cars , would have to say all 3 Cayman generations I've owned surpass my E46 M3 in smiles per mile. Not the most powerful cars but so well balanced and rewarding to drive. When you factor in the classic styling, practicality, etc, hard to beat the E46 though.

The Cayman 987.2 is definitely there - but it’s such a different driving experience.

It’s a go kart! The way that car soaked in bumps and would keep the noise stuck to the inside corner was a feeling no front engined RWD car has provided yet.

The engine & exhaust sounds are absolutely amazing and it feels absolutely stout. P cars need few mods; mine had lowering springs, IPD plenum & GT3 TB with Fabspeed race exhaust and it an amazing drive.

It also attracts *way* more looks and attention from regular people.

but…

The 3.4 just fell flat - pun intended.

I test drove a 997.2 4S and that felt like a boat.

I went back to E series M cars for a very specific reason: the S54/65/85 engines.

BMW M has made some of the best attainable, naturally aspirated road car engines ever.

[maw1124]

If you enjoy taking the long road through the canyons, banging gears upshifting at redline and sliding the rear out when nobody's around there is none finer. The motorcycle-like throttle response with linear power delivery, heavy steering … and the predictable balance are what embody the experience.

No other car gives you so much value for money. It's luxurious without being overly so. It's sporty without being overly so. It's fast without being overly so. When I sit inside, it feels like a cockpit. When I walk away, I look back.

100% … Even more so with the top down so you can hear all the havoc the car is wreaking… and the extra bonus is the car is still fun “doddling around town” with the top down… the only thing more fun than a sports car is one that doesn’t have to be one all the time… the M version of a 3 series convertible is a compelling package, and I’m slightly pissed they didn’t do the M version of a 3 or 5 series wagon in this vintage.

maw

[Casa de Mesa]

I often used to say the e46 m3 was the best car under 100k. If you're a hairdresser in a cab (just messin with you maw) or doddling around town going to car shows/meets (sup sharocks), it's a pretty boring car.

If you don't like working and being rewarded then it's not the car for you. If you enjoy taking the long road through the canyons, banging gears upshifting at redline and sliding the rear out when nobody's around there is none finer. The motorcycle-like throttle response with linear power delivery, heavy steering on coilovers and camber plates, heavy clutch and the predictable balance are what embody the experience.

No other car gives you so much value for money. It's luxurious without being overly so. It's sporty without being overly so. It's fast without being overly so. When I sit inside, it feels like a cockpit. When I walk away, I look back.

^^^THIS. Completely agree.

[force4rmr]

First post here and found this an interesting question. From past cars I've owned, comparing stock to stock reasonably priced cars , would have to say all 3 Cayman generations I've owned surpass my E46 M3 in smiles per mile. Not the most powerful cars but so well balanced and rewarding to drive. When you factor in the classic styling, practicality, etc, hard to beat the E46 though.

[01SG]

Couldn't say it better than above. It's simply a terrifically balanced car, both in driving attitude and in general.

I think it's a disservice to all these cars to treat them in such a black and white manner. They're all unique. How many could you even basically compare in the past twenty years? High rpm engine, manual, rear drive format leaves Ferrari, Aston, Porsche, the newer Mustang, and the s2000. And then it's still very different from any of those.

[lastMleft]

My next mode are seats looking at recaro’s, also would like to do a carbon roof.