Limits of the car too high to enjoy

[yhp2009]

Sounds like you have some worn out bushings somewhere.

Hmm I was always led to believe that oem rack was crap by design? I guess I should check the bushings

[Obioban]

Im going to guess you have the zhp steering rack? Or something even faster? My oem rack is dead at the center

Sounds like you have some worn out bushings somewhere.

[Sharocks]

I'm in the south shore of Boston so a shit ton of traffic all the time. I can't use the damn thing so I just drive the M5 lol

[yhp2009]

The steering has lots of feedback, .

Im going to guess you have the zhp steering rack? Or something even faster? My oem rack is dead at the center

[akamin68]

Unless being disciplined in addressing my needs vs my wants I would be divorced and sleeping in a fully tricked mint condition e46 m3.
I appreciate the premise of your post that we are extremely unlikely to approach the limits of the stock M3 on city streets so why endeavor to extend the limits out further.

[Jickel180]

Compared to newer sports cars I think a well-modded N/A E46 M3 is just right for enjoying on the street. Still fast enough to get you in trouble, but not too quick where you're deep in the triple digits with two flicks of a PDK/DCT paddle. I have old Pilot Super Sport street tires that are easy to slide around, and I can wring it out in 2nd and 3rd to listen to the airbox without the threat of severe jail time. The steering has lots of feedback, and the brakes just feel perfect. The car is super rewarding to drive.

I wouldn't want anything slower personally.

[D-O]

The Miata route is very enticing, but another option to consider is racing karts. I am not talking about the snail like 4 stroke stuff you find at amusement parks, I mean full on 2-stroke race karts. If there is a kart track near you then you should check it out.

Jesse

[pawa_k2001]

It's a lot more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow.

Jesse

That is what people in Miatas continuously tell themselves. 🤣

[D-O]

It's a lot more fun to drive a slow car fast, than a fast car slow.

Jesse

[yhp2009]

I'm one of those people who love keeping their e46 m3 stock. But threads like this really tempt me. Curious to see at the least. Especially lately cars are just so much faster in general and the age is starting to show.

[lcrain]

Buy a miata and find out if that scratches the itch. They are cheap, reliable, easy to work on and great tools for learning driving dynamics.

I have owned two NA miatas. Granted both were/are race cars, so I have zero experience driving one on the street. Miata #1 was a spec 1.6 and the one I own now is a bit better than spec 1.8 and we use it for endurance racing. I also have a nasa gts3 spec e36m3 w/s54 racecar. Totally different driving experiences, both very fun.

With the miata, you will never get yourself in trouble with your right foot. That allowed me personally to approach the cornering limits of the car comfortably. I know I am not going to overwhelm the car with throttle, really, really hard to do with ~120 hp and sticky tires. So is starkly different from my M3 which loves to throttle oversteer. With the miata, I can learn how to carry more speed into a corner and dance on that edge of grip through a corner. You really have to work hard and have skills to be truly fast in a miata. Those skills also translate to when I take out the m3, which is a nice benefit.

[newton22]

This is where my 2016 Focus ST fits in. Bought it new for a DD and I've modded it as well but none of the mods are power related. SSK, slightly stiffer motor mounts, larger turbo intercooler, tune (a little power added here), exhaust, careful suspension upgrades, good tires, lighter wheels, etc... Super fun as a daily driver and I can push it to the limit easier on the back roads. My e46 which feels more special, I guess because it was always a dream car, is super charged so it can be a little much to handle at times. Track visits aren't in the equation for me, life is currently too busy as I've got 16 year and 18 year old kids but maybe one day.

Edit: I know it is front wheel drive but don't discount the fun factor an ST provides. Stupid little car is fun.

I just sold mine after owning it for 4 years, bought new in 2016. Loved that car. Awesome steering ratio. I agree it's such a great car for driving around on the street.

[repoman89]

If this work from home stuff sticks around, which it sounds like it will at both my and fiancee’s jobs, I will move closer to central MA at the first opportunity. There are plenty of great roads out there and further west, but that’s minimum 45 minutes to get to them from where I currently live, so not really a casual weeknight activity. Still though I’d rather be working a slow car hard to drive at speeds that seem dangerous rather than not even stretching a faster car’s legs at dangerous speeds.

Track days will definitely cheer me up once they’re back on so the car isn’t going anywhere!

[Steve]

You guys just live in the wrong area. 😁

Truth. Every road is straight here so an extra 200 hp would be nice

[Obioban]

You could put on crappier tires 🤔

Track days should cheer you up.