If you ever had to replace your e46 M3

[BTB]

Seems like a strong trend in responses ...

Obioban hit the nail on the head. E46 M is special in ways that aren't even that obvious at first. It's the right age to be easy to work on, relatively light/cheap to run but 'modern' levels of performance, especially modified. All the performance you'd really need on the street, anyhow, and very practical. I never can understand how Ford and GM get such poor trunk space out of their pony cars.

Not looking to replace the E46, but I am thinking that the most logical step from here would be a wicked fast DCT car, for street and occasional track work. Something like 991.1 GT3, AMG GT S (or R ... I can dream), or even a C8. Feel like this would be a good pair as E46 maintains the manual, analog experience. I'm not close to being in a position to buy at the moment, but it's fun to dream The question is whether or not it will make sense to have a fun daily car before something more exotic is feasible. Civic Type R, Elantra N, or even a Fiat 500 Abarth (they are so cool, so fun, and so cheap ..).

[fattycharged]

I've always wanted a 997.2. This is a great answer, dude.

My answer is: I refuse to replace it. I told my wife I'll be buried in this car. That being said, it's not my DD anymore anyway, so I'm thankful that I'm lucky enough to get to keep it. I did recently add to the stable, though. 991.1 Targa GTS. Not as powerful/fast as the GT3, but I've always had a long love affair with the targa and its history (Porsche was the first car company to make a car like that), I get the best of both worlds, and it's the last N/A 911 that isn't a GT3/GT3RS/etc. I LOVE this 3.8 flat 6 engine, it's a dream.

Love the Targa


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[PSUEng]

I wont' be replacing it. When it's time to sell, it's gone, and I'll just drive my truck, notwithstanding a significant change in my finances that provide me sports car options I would consider.

[LeopardM3]

997.2 GT3.

But that's not without tradeoff-- suddenly I need a trailer to go to/from the track, and the back seat is useful for a very short window of time for the kid.

Realistically, I wouldn't replace it. It's everything I want in a car. Reasonable weight (especially mine), amazing instant response high revving engine, reliable, easy to work on, good steering feel, good chassis balance fun at non suicidal speeds, kid fits in the back, or 4 track tires fit in the back, small enough to play within your lane on a back road, spectacular sound (CSL airbox), reasonably cheap to run, manual trans, RWD with an LSD. There's nothing that checks all my boxes nearly as well.

With a decade of FCP use, it basically just costs tires and gas to run... and it's not even that hard on gas or tires.

I've always wanted a 997.2. This is a great answer, dude.

My answer is: I refuse to replace it. I told my wife I'll be buried in this car. That being said, it's not my DD anymore anyway, so I'm thankful that I'm lucky enough to get to keep it. I did recently add to the stable, though. 991.1 Targa GTS. Not as powerful/fast as the GT3, but I've always had a long love affair with the targa and its history (Porsche was the first car company to make a car like that), I get the best of both worlds, and it's the last N/A 911 that isn't a GT3/GT3RS/etc. I LOVE this 3.8 flat 6 engine, it's a dream.

[MTiz]

I was wondering if we ever had to replace our e46 M3 what would you choose !

ps: I am looking to sale or replace my e46 M3 . I am just wondering

The short answer is nothing. My emotional attachment to it at this point defies all logic and reasoning. I have other cars but when I think about "my car", that's always the first one that comes to mind.

With that in mind the end goal is still some sort of GT3 generation. 991.1 being the cheapest & most obtainable it will probably be that one, but the dream spec is either a PTS Signal Green 991 3RS or a Guards Red 997.2 GT3 w/ buckets, CCB's, and E88's.

But even with the Porsche my E46 stays forever. I wanna pass it down to my future kids and grandkids if possible

[CrisSilberGrau]

Maybe I already answered. Dont care.

Dream garage:
1. CSL
2. F355 - Challenge mod inspired
3. NSX NA2 Type R
4. Porsche - 993 GT2/RS 3.8 - 996.2 GT3 RS Manthey

Out of the above the one I want the most, is the 355. Probably the most audibly pleasing V8 note of any car. Full Capristo header to tip exhaust. Having never driven one, I hope it can be made to be as nice to drive as the 46. Looks are on par with everything in that list, tied with the GT2 for top.

[CrisSilberGrau]

Love my E46 M3 'Vert, but if I had to buy something new it would probably be the GR86. I am actually contemplating dumping my X3 winter driver for a GR86 or MK7.5 GTI so I can have more fun in the snow

The ONLY thing the GR86 has on the 46 is lightness, nothing else. If you're close to 6ft enjoy some scoliosis on the house. Gen2 for the slightly better engine. I drove one for a month in Toronto winter weather, completely unremarkable. And it was one of the new cars on sale that excited me paired with he Emira. Surprisingly, the Elantra N is fuking insane good and amazing fun. Hooligan 4 banger turbo with the correct amount of broccoli head bangs and pops, and lift off oversteer. OH and the best OEM buckets I've ever sat in full stop. .... Albert did well on this one.

[chalaka]

just bought a 997.1 turbo this year, drove it roughly 1500km so far..
and finally got time to repair my SMG pump, and revived it~
owning the M3 since 2007 ...roughly 17yrs of ownership ..

drove out M3 couple nights ago after it was parked for like 2 years .. it's when i start to appreciate the overall driving experience E46 M3 gives.
not as fast and planted as the turbo, but, it's just... special. (maybe it was because i owned it for so long)

Porsche is definitely fun, and has that cool factor~ fast, but not as easy to drive fast like E46 M3 does~
(but Porsche is just having that much higher potentials)

I DD with a subaru, so by switching between 997.1 turbo > E46 M3 > Subaru .. i just find it hard to sell the M3 ..
really hope one day the value would go a bit higher, and let the market justify E46 M3's true value~

so going back to the question, you should replace it with a Porsche of some kinds .. .(GTs ..911s ..)
newer Porsche are much easier to drive around, and super fast, comfortable ..
older Porsche are just ... like wild horses .. to my limited experiences, older ones requires more attentions to handle them .. but fun process along the way for sure

[SQ13]

I thought about getting rid of my M3 and 981 GTS for a day a few weeks ago, then realized I’m an idiot for thinking about selling it. The replacement would’ve been a 997 GT3. I’d replace just the 981 with a GT3 though…gonna figure out what investments I should offload to cover the difference and go from there.

997 GT3 has been my dream since 2016, after I rode in a 7.2 3RS at the track—most visceral experience I’ve ever had in a car. And a couple of weekends ago I got the chance to drive a 7.1 3RS, so I’m even more hooked to it now.

[oceansize]

My brother is currently working on buying a 2023 Cayman GT4 (manual) which is far better than me owning it. Yesssssssss, lets go little bro.

[fattycharged]

The most recent M2 has caught my eye as well, such a distinctive boxy look to it, like a modern e30 m3 imo


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[simon_c]

I've been contemplating a 718 GTS manual or M2 CS.

[Tbonem3]

Possible getrag made some compromises for a better shifting experience at high load/rpm on these as well as durability. Anytime I'm full attack mode the car seems to shift perfect and feels great and generally speaking, they are bullet proof. Not sure how well the ZF holds up to track abuse. Just something to consider. If mine ever gives out I'd probably try and go ZF just so I know I can rebuild it and because I liked the 5spd in the S52 m coupe quite a bit.

This is an under discussed point. These cars are smoother and tighter at speed than grocery store parking lots. You need certain tolerances that pesent as clunking and such that we're all familiar with.

[Rudbari]

It’s been 17 years owning e46 m3 and it’s supercharged for 6 years now still don’t feel it’s time to move to newer car

[Icecream]

I'm not sure what his experience is, but that ZF unit is known to be nicer to operate than the 420G. I'd certainly take it over the Getrag unit. And the Z4M has a different exhaust configuration which leads to less rasp/metallic sound. All stock, they sound better for those that don't particularly like the tinny sound of the M3.

Possible getrag made some compromises for a better shifting experience at high load/rpm on these as well as durability. Anytime I'm full attack mode the car seems to shift perfect and feels great and generally speaking, they are bullet proof. Not sure how well the ZF holds up to track abuse. Just something to consider. If mine ever gives out I'd probably try and go ZF just so I know I can rebuild it and because I liked the 5spd in the S52 m coupe quite a bit.