If you ever had to replace your e46 M3

[Altaran]

I can imagine. I do think it would be fun to learn a new platform and work on that. But those cars are so good stock that I can't think I'd be doing too many things to them lol.

True. On the 991 I wouldn't screw with the internals. 9k revs, 520hp out of 4L and all being perfectly reliable. Doesn't get much better than that.
But.... Nobody to my knowledge has tried a 4.2L build (what they run in the GTE car) 🤔

On the 997 GT3 there's a bunch that comes to my mind.

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[Toby22]

Realistically, in the next 3-5 years, one of the following

1. R35 GTR
2. M2 competition
3. F80 M3
4. FType-R
5. F430 (if they ever get back down to $70k range)

[heinzboehmer]

Actually working on 911s can be just as rewarding. It's just different being a flat engine rear mounted.
You spend a lot more time underneath it 😅

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I can imagine. I do think it would be fun to learn a new platform and work on that. But those cars are so good stock that I can't think I'd be doing too many things to them lol.

[Dave]

I'd replace my convertible with a GranCabrio MC in the same colors (white over red), I suppose, if you held a gun to my head. Even so, I'd still prefer to - one day - recreate the gran touring experience with a full leather interior and S62 inside my current M3 vert. This answer is, of course, completely skewed by the fact that I also have an M3 coupe, so I've never even attempted to use the convertible for purposes remotely M3-like.

If we're only talking about coupes my answer mirrors Obioban's. Except, even having driven 997s, I'm not sure I'd rather have that over just a perfectly modded super-low mileage M3 coupe. Or if I'm going to Porsche, I might prefer the GT4. (That's one I haven't actually driven yet though.) I'm pretty confident, though, that if someone showed up at my door tomorrow and offered me a sub-10k mile GT3 RS straight up for my M3 coupe, I'd turn them down. I guess maybe I'd make the trade, then promptly sell it and buy and build another M3.

Threads like these are one of the few times that I am reminded that I'm getting old but am grateful for, rather than appalled by, it. Once upon a time the E46 M3 was a financial reach for me, and a 2021 Dave of that same mindset would do the same for something newer and more exotic/expensive. Now as I'm about to come into some money (well, I think), I'm much more stubborn and set in my preferences because I'm older, and know I'm not just full of shit when I say that even if I had millions at my disposal, I'd still just buy nicer, better kept E46s. Once in a while I'll appreciate a new luxury car for what it is (mainly comfortable), but otherwise? To me there's nothing that interests me more than what I already have.

The same is true of my girlfriend, incidentally, which also makes me count my blessings... (and keeps me out of trouble, heh).

[BMWahba]

718 GT4. It feels a lot like the E46 driving them back to back, I really enjoyed that car. But yeah, echo most of the things said here, these cars are irreplaceable

[Icecream]

GT3s have really been inflating lately. I remember when a 991 GT3 was $80k to 120k. Not anymore. A GT4 is a cheaper option. Those are more reasonably price and are almost just as quick. Their cornering ability is slightly more, they just need some mods for horsepower

For real. But, with the new ITB equipped GT3 and its new front suspension, maybe the older ones will stabilize in price especially if Porsche keeps building them for another decade. God bless those folks for not giving in haha. Plus, with how incredible the new “regular” 911 is I might be happy with one of those and not feel like I’m missing out on the Gt3 as much. They are just about as perfect as it gets for a daily and they look killer inside and out with the power to match.

[Altaran]

GT3s have really been inflating lately. I remember when a 991 GT3 was $80k to 120k. Not anymore. A GT4 is a cheaper option. Those are more reasonably price and are almost just as quick. Their cornering ability is slightly more, they just need some mods for horsepower

Agreed on this.

There are also some fun options coming for the GT4:
1. There is now an MR version
2. A factory GT4 RS is coming (really interested to see if they finally put the gt3 heads in the GT4)
3. There will also be an MR version of the RS with more fancy Aero.

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[M3GA]

Kept the M3 and picked up 997.2 911TT for added fun. Both get driven.


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[Circa Surviven]

My younger brother was the one who sold me the e46 m3 I have. He replaced it with a C5 corvette. I know he likes the exhaust note and being in something different, but he has commented on the cheaper interior. I think the cheaper maintenance/mod cost on the c5 is probably a pro.

With that being said, I don't see a car out there I'd rather have at my budget. If I had to replace the m3 and the market was over $20k for a decent one I would consider buying a miata and supercharging it. I sold my NB to fund the m3 purchase. I actually missed it a lot at first. The exhaust note is really the major shortcoming of it for me. The shifter is what I loved about it.

I have on a couple of occasions thought that I'd be better off having the n54 335 or 135i single turbod in place of my 535i and m3. My 535i feels like a boat around corners, but I'm not sure if the e9x is much better. The maintenance cost on those could be slightly higher than the e46 m3, but the subframe doesn't have to be welded on those at least. They are starting to look dated though and not near as subjectively good looking as the e46. Just my 02¢

[Cubieman]

This is exactly why I would just go out and buy another E46 M3 if anything ever happened to mine. The only (realistic) car I'd replace it with is a GT3. But I don't think I would be out in the garage messing with it as much as I do with the M3, which is half of the fun.

This.
I swear as of late working on the M3 has been more fun then driving it sometimes which may be a terrible thing to say but it keeps my mind occupied thinking about it which I like.
My dad has a 2004 996 GT3, since his ownership the engine has come out twice, the second time it was for some type vacuum line check valve deal, simply an access issue.
At the dealership in Omaha, NE they sent one of their techs to a school out of state before they would pull the engine, that is just crazy. The GT3 does not of course share the same engine as other 996 911's so that makes owning one cool but also if things go bad your screwed money wise and we don't have a lot of that to throw around.
I want to say only about 500 2004 996 GT3's are even in the US, could be wrong.
But for me it would have to be something I could work on myself and parts would have to be relatively easy to get a hold of.
I like the idea and looks of some of the Japanese cars (Supra/Skyline/RX) and with forced induction, that could be a DIY'ers dream as you could just keep going, but I am hooked on this German stuff.

If we are talking not stupid expensive, maybe a C5 Z06, seems like those can be built up fairly easily/inexpensively. But me in a vet, I just can't see it.
944 LS swapped..maybe.

[Kevin2772]

Have wanted a Gen 3 Viper for quite a while. Tough sell as the back seats are fairly necessary with 2 kids who love cars and always want to come along for rides......

[Arith2]

GT3s have really been inflating lately. I remember when a 991 GT3 was $80k to 120k. Not anymore. A GT4 is a cheaper option. Those are more reasonably price and are almost just as quick. Their cornering ability is slightly more, they just need some mods for horsepower

[Altaran]

This is exactly why I would just go out and buy another E46 M3 if anything ever happened to mine. The only (realistic) car I'd replace it with is a GT3. But I don't think I would be out in the garage messing with it as much as I do with the M3, which is half of the fun.

Actually working on 911s can be just as rewarding. It's just different being a flat engine rear mounted.
You spend a lot more time underneath it 😅

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[S3diment]

997 Turbo or Carrera 4S.

[heinzboehmer]

Plus I really did purchase my M3 as a project car and I think I actually enjoy the projects more than I do anything else.

This is exactly why I would just go out and buy another E46 M3 if anything ever happened to mine. The only (realistic) car I'd replace it with is a GT3. But I don't think I would be out in the garage messing with it as much as I do with the M3, which is half of the fun.