chinx

if it's really a steal, then why not go for it and then if it doesn't work out or if you don't like the smg, sell it and get another 8

personally i'm not that crazy about m3's and would always prefer to own the rx-8. call me crazy. they're nice and fast and all, but they're too expensive and too much of a show-off-my-money car. but sounds like you can get an amazing deal so why not take advantage of it? might make some off money off it to spend on your 8

RX8-TX

I would be very tempted for the BMW with the following additional conditions:
1. I get the original warranty until it expires, at which time, if I haven't paid for the car, I would trade or get rid of it.
2. Insurance cost will be in the same ballpark as the RX8 ($80~$100 p/month)

About the SMG, I don't know how the M3s responds, but the MR2's is pretty neat. And given that it is an M3...I wouldn't mind. May I ask, what's a steal?

Pete

I had a bmw before the 8 . Two different types of cars.

take into consideration:
INSURANCE
SERVICE
ALWAYS LOOKING OVER YOUR SHOULDER WHEN YOU PARK YOUR CAR
INSURANCE ..... OHH I ALREADY SAID THAT ...LOL

TODreamer

M3's are really really cool... but I don't know about dropping 85-90Gs on the road for it..... rather have a 545

ROTORTHUG

Get the M3 dawg. My brother just bought one and I drive it more than my 8, can you believe that ****? 333 horse power ain't no joke...

JST

Interesting. I have an 02 M3, and while I like it, next to the RX-8 it feels like driving with oven mitts on. It's certainly fast, and compared to an RX-8 with stock shock absorbers it is a bit better damped over washboard roads, but the RX-8 handles a whole hell of a lot better.

It's down to what you want, I guess. Do you like fast in a straight line? M3 is the way to go. Do you like fast through the corners? Seriously, the M3 can't touch the RX-8.

DCD

Yeah when it comes to the insurance costs it will obviously be more with the M3, but not too bad, the biggest difference is in the excess should something happen to it. My policy is the excess is 1% of the insured value so yeah it will be a lot more, but only if something happens to it.

Ha looking over my shoulder where I park it? And you guys don't do this with your RX8's!! Haaa at least its not as bad as my last car, I couldn't leave it anywhere, it was too modified...

Hmm, I was doing some research last night on the blown engine thing with the M3s, I will have to check if it was produced in that rough time period that they seem to be having big problems with.

The deal is amazing because I am getting it though a relative. Basically my well off uncle is buying my aunt a new vehicle. Shes got the M3, got it from new, all factory specced up, drive it to work everyday thats it, done 10,000(ish)km, in two years! Well now hes decided its time for her to upgrade to a CLK 55AMG and they got the M3 to sell. Dealership is only gonna give them about $90,000 for it, and they decided for that money they might as well keep it in the family if someone wants it. I talked to them should be able to rangle it for about $80,000 being thier favourite nephew :D. Remember this is NZ dollars, I think you would be talking about $40-$45K in american money. really its just insanly good. (you can sell them privatly for over $100 over here but they arn't the kind of people to be bothered with that kinda thing)

As for the handling I will have to see when I take it for a drive this weekend. From what I remember it is definatly a heavier feeling car than the RX8, but from reviews etc... it sounds like it should be just as good through the windy bits as an RX8? I have never seen any direct comparisions, I guess the cars are too different.
Although in an australian mag the M3 won performance car of the year when it came out, and the RX8 came 8th in its respective year. M3 CSL came 2nd, in the same year as the RX8, beaten out by the gallardro. Remember that this test is quite heavily weighted by price. 2002 a Nissan S15 silvia won!
The RX8 let down according to them was the engine, they reckon if it had say a turbo 4 205kW heap more torque in the same form factor, same price it woulda won.

JST

The M3 feels big and heavy. It's handling limits through steady state cornerning are probably just as good as the RX-8, but in transitions (from left to right and back) the M3 feels ponderous. The RX-8 is easier to place.

The difference in power is remarkable. The RX-8 engine has power delivery that sneaks up on you, whereas the M3 just smacks you across the face. And it is damn fast.

Personally, the SMG would be a deal breaker. I won't buy a car with it. IMHO, it's a gimmick that offers no advantages on the street, and is substantially less fun to use than a normal tranny. Others, however, swear by it, so it's really a matter of personal preference.

livitup

Any one who bashes SMG hasn't driven one... especially BMWs SMG2.
I don't know if you noticed but x28 said... I punched the launch button and dialed in the maximun sensitivity on the SMGII That's right... launch button. Press the button, floor it, the computer will keep the clutch engaged and modulate the throttle until it hits 5k, and then dump the clutch and let the throttle go. Too awesome for words.

I've seriously considered trading in my RX-8 and my 02 325i for a new M3, as it would be an almost even exchange, but three things keep me from doing it... My wife, the 325i actually gets decent gas milage, and my wife.

You'd be insane not to go for it.

---Andrew

JST

I've driven one. Actually, I've driven two different ones. On the track, it's a useful feature. On the street, it's only useful insofar as it prevents you from having to use the clutch pedal in traffic. On the autocross course, it presents no particular advantage that I can see.

It costs a lot, does nothing that interesting, and makes driving less fun. Yeah, that's a real advantage.

VikingDJ

It may make driving less fun for you, but there are tons of people who find it makes driving even more fun and interesting. It's a personal preference, and not everyone will like it.. Just as there are people who do not like the rx8. I wouldn't mind trying it out to see for myself. You get what you pay for, so if you buy am m3, you get a better car. It's just for some people they don't think they are getting a better enough car for thaqt kind of money.

XUrotaryrocket

Sweet car. If the price is right go for it. Personally I wouldn't trade the 8 for anything, but to each his own.

As far as speed and overall performance??? Well, there's a reason I haven't sold my 3rd gen. RX-7. The 8 is a nice daily driver - not as ballsy as the M3, obviously. But, I have yet to come across a car (especially an M3) that could hang with the 7. It goes fast in a straight line AND around the twisties.

Those M3 guys sure do get pissed when a "piece of ****" Mazda leaves them in a cloud of tire smoke and unburnt gasoline fumes !!! Oh, it is priceless.

RX-Hachi

Hard choice.

I've owned several BMWs, including an E36 M3. Have test driven the E46 M3 in both stick and SMG form many times. (My BMW sales man just let's me take 'em out whenever, as I've bought several cars from him.) The M3 has a lot going for it and I fully intended to buy one.

But I was a rotary junky from years ago and could never get the RX-7 out of my system. While the M3 cries "respect", they're also all over the place. While the RX-8 doesn't have the power of the M3, the M3 felt heavy in comparison. The RX-8 feels better connected and is more nimble (IMO). Ultmately, I felt the RX-8 gave me as much driving joy as the M3, was more unique, had better sports car like styling, and saved me a bundle to boot. But then, I may have just been tired of BMWs as my wife still has our 540.

Anyway, if you do go for the M3 here's my advice:

1) Get a 2003+ if you can. There was a whole batch of 01-02's that had the engine blow.

2) I prefer the stick. I like the feel of engaging the clutch pedal and snicking that stick into each notch. SMG is cool too, But clicking the steering wheel paddles or pushing the shift **** up/down just doesn't do it for me. Also, the SMG in auto mode is terrible, way too jerky. Also, road tests have shown that the stick is faster than SMG.

Maestro

You speak my language !!!!!

Go buy a Series 8 FD. In fact I have acccess to a 2000 RZ Limited.

Factory 280ps

0-100km/h in under 5 secs
0-400m iin under 13 ses

All for $50,000NZ

Also has Bling Bling Carbon Recaro Racing Seats as standard.

Will happly smoke a 355 Ferrari or M3 with ease.

Keep the RX-8 though. In 5 years time you won't have lost 1/2 the money you do for a M3.

shelleys_man_06

Stick with the RX-8. I still believe this car will have the same aftermarket support as the previous rotaries. It just takes time; it's almost as if aftermarket companies keep having to go back to the drawing board.

StewC625

A good friend has a 2003 M3 Convertible with SMG. That SMG tranny is the greatest! You get the power of a fully-manual gearbox with no torque converter "slush" because that's exactly what it is - it's a full manual gearbox with electronic servos that manage the shifts and an electro/hydralically operated clutch. It shifts WAY faster than any human could shift, yet when you're using the paddles or shifter in manual mode, and you have the option of fully automatic operation when you want it for traffic, the wife, etc.

I hope that this idea catches on - it really is "the bomb" as another person wrote.

If you like it and it will make you happy, go for it. I probably would too. As much as I love my -8.

Stew

TODreamer

I'm sure the SMG would be great to experience, but if I had to drop my hard earned cash on it.... I'll pass.


Remember guys... yeah... the M3 is a much better car. BUT you ARE paying for that difference (....and paying dearly if I may add). That thing is like twice the price of an 8, don't forget that. Personally I don't see much else out there thats actually a better deal than the 8 when you look at everything.

If your gonna pay that kinda cash I'd rather have a C6 than a hopped up 3 series bimmer. I know its hard to compare the two as a C6 is a 2 seater, but if your spending that kinda money on a performance car, I'm sure its not your only car.

Nothing against the M3... I just don't know about that price tag