Would You Rather Own: BMW Edition (Op. 1)

"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty) 11/02/2013 at 17:36 • Filed to: wyro, Would you rather own, e36, e46, m3, bmw, 3 series, zhp, 330ci, sedan, coupe, oppositelock

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This post marks the start of a new "Opposode." In introducing it, I have made the contest to choose to buy a car between two somewhat similar cars—however, the contests can be between two completely different cars from opposite ends of the planet. You are given a scenario to determine which car you would rather have; value should not be a factor, (just assume the car can never be sold and you are given the money to buy one). It will serve as the only car for the purpose. Here are the two, somewhat similar, cars and the scenario:

You are a father of 2 children who skis looking for a non-winter DD. You want a fun track day car that will comfortably haul your kids and gear around and were looking for a ZHP, but a rare opportunity to own a tastefully modified, mint, Euro 3.2 E36 coupe comes up. Which do you choose, both being worth around $10,000 in this instance, and why?

-330i ZHP (6MT sedan)

-E36 M3 (Euro 3.2 coupe)

offroadkarter > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:37

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I'd take the ZHP

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:39

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330i ZHP.

Have you tried to get young children into the back of a coupe? Also, stealth.

#4Doors4TheWin

drunkenup2 > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:40

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I'll take the E46, more modern, which is what I want in a DD, and not quite special enough like a Euro spec E36M to be afraid to rack up miles on.

Plus, I know what its like in the back seats of my E92, so would not want to subject my kids to the rear quarters of smaller E36..

ALSO, S54 SWAP

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:42

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Also, if I want to be pedantic:

-330ci ZHP (6MT sedan)

The 330ci would have two doors. Pictured is a 330i.

dogisbadob > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:44

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The E36! Just too bad it can't be a 3.2 Euro sedan!

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:45

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E36 love.

Z_Stig > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:45

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I'll take the 100 HP/L of the Euro-spec M3. Also makes about 100 horsepower more than the ZHP.

Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 11/02/2013 at 16:46

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Those ZHP's are fun as hell haha

Even though most of it is a trim package, it is tuned slightly differently.

I did a motor swap in one, and took it for a long drive afterwards.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Nick, Drives a Cobalt LT 11/02/2013 at 16:48

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I'm planning to skip the ZHP and get an E39 M5.

#ThisWillHappenItIsDecided

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > dogisbadob 11/02/2013 at 16:48

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It would be too easy!

PRBot II > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:49

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There, much better!

I'll show myself out.

Milky > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:49

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E36, give me a coupe any day .... esp. when its an M3.

IDROVEAPICKUPTRUCK > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 16:51

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God this one is really hard. Since it's Euro Spec I think I would take the M3.

Now I don't have any kids, so it's easy for me to say: throw em in the back! I might think differently if I actually had that life experience. But no, it's gotta be the M3, I love the ZHP but the M3 is just too special.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs 11/02/2013 at 17:10

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Dammit, I forgot to remove that. Initially, it was with a coupe. Thanks!

Dunnik > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 17:24

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I'd say grab the Euro spec E36 - they're pretty rare and the increased power will put you in good stead with today's traffic, plus the handling of that chassis is arguably better than the E46 (According to the Every Replacement 3-Series Is Fatter and Softer Than The One Before Theory).

But then again, you have two kids. Don't know their ages, but assuming they're older than, dunno, 3 or 4, a larger back seat and two more doors seems very practical. Also, the E46 is probably a little more safer, with more airbags and greater crash protection.

So as much as the E36 is my 2nd favorite Bimmer ever (next to the E24), for this purpose, I'd say go for the 330i ZHP.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Dunnik 11/02/2013 at 17:29

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Good arguments on both sides. The scenario is specially formulated for the post, but i wish I were in this predicament! I have the same top two BMW rankings as you, funnily enough, but I would have to agree as well.

Mosqvich > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 17:51

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Easy. 330i. Back seat access will be a big deal. Throw some snow tires on the 330i and the BMW's balance will make it a pretty good winter driver.

twinturbobmw > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 18:37

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ZHP simply because it is one of my all time favorite cars.

E30Joe drives a Subaru > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/02/2013 at 19:59

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Make the ZHP a wagon and it's a deal.

Otherwise E36 M3 race car.

xen0blade > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/03/2013 at 13:10

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E36 M3 Euro of course!

Greenmobile Supremo Commando, BRZ Extrordinare > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 11/03/2013 at 16:12

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I'd take the ZHP.

Partial to the E46's design, especially the ZHP, droool....
Oh, and the 4 doors, becuzkids

Poorsha > xen0blade 11/11/2013 at 00:28

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Agreed. Seems like an easy decision.

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/18/2014 at 13:20

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This is so easy

There is nothing I want more than an E36 M3 euro spec

It's the forbidden fruit!!!

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Manuél Ferrari 01/18/2014 at 13:49

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Exactly! Even if I had kids, I would have to say screw 'em and throw them in the back of the ultimate Ultimate Driving Machine! They take a backseat to a Euro E36 M3 (pun intended). I would also give up skiing (I don't actually ski much, but I know it's fun—not as fun, of course, as a Euro E36).

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/18/2014 at 14:06

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Totally!

It's not impossible to get kid seats in the back of a coupe. And if it got too hard and I didn't have money for another car I'd just sell the kids and use the proceeds to keep the M3 running!

I so want to drive the euro spec E36. I have a feeling that I'd actually like it better than my E46 M3. The power to weight ratio of the euro spec E36 is closer to the E46, and the E36 is smaller and lighter overall.

I really want to drive an E30 M3 and a Euro spec E36 M3 one day so I can compare all generations of the M3

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Manuél Ferrari 01/18/2014 at 14:19

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I forgot you had an E46 M3! I would love to drive one someday. From what I hear, the character of the Euro E36M is pretty much right between that of the E30 and E46. If that's true, it's a good combination of power, lightness, and driver involvement, although the E46 is really the sweet spot from what I hear. All three are very appealing, but the E30's price tag is pretty intimidating for what it is and the E36 is the hoonmobile of Europe apparently. Motor Trend did a video test with Carlos Lago, but it went like this:

OMG OMG E30 M3

Oh, E36. Meh. And it's USDM.

Wow, the E46 is a great car! But it isn't new and doesn't have a V8 so let's move on.

E90! It has the new car smell! It's fast! Let's drift for a while!

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/18/2014 at 14:26

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Where do you live? If you're in so cal you can drive my car before it's sold.

That sweet spot sounds perfect! The E30 is too expensive. Having a car that feels halfway between it and an E46 would be awesome!! If only the US spec had been the same as the Euro spec...

The E46 is awesome. But it is heavy. It was the first true luxury M3. The E36 was a simpler and lighter car.

There is a great video that compares all gens but I can't remember who made it. Really great camera work too. I'll check YouTube now to see if I can find it

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > Manuél Ferrari 01/18/2014 at 14:57

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Oh man that would be incredible but I am on the east coast! What are you planning on getting next? The Motor Trend test is better than I remembered it, actually.

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/18/2014 at 15:43

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Bummer, that's so far!

I couldn't find the video I was looking for. I found that one. The one I had seen wasn't from a popular mag or video producer.

No plans for anything next. I can't afford what I have now, haha. Too many car loans...

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/18/2014 at 15:44

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But I would love an Audi R8 V10 6MT coupe in Nogalas blue :)

Manuél Ferrari > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/18/2014 at 19:08

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Just watched this video you embedded. It was pretty good.

It had most of the same info that the other one I saw had. So not a big bummer that I can't find that other one.

The one cool thing in the other video - the guy said that the E30 M3's engine is based off the M1's engine. BMW lopped off 2 cylinders