Welp. What car should I get

"Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur" (velocity860)
07/15/2014 at 20:06 • Filed to: BOOST

The boosted IS300 fell through. The dealer was being very sketchy (as most used car dealers are) and wouldn't let me get the car checked out by any mechanics. Yeah...no.

I'm sad but I gave it all I had, and it didn't work out.

BUT this now gives me an opportunity. Oppo, what car should I get for about 14 grand?

Personally, I'm thinking E46 M3

DISCUSSION (63)

Nibby > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:07

Buy a Ford Excursion, lifted diesel.

Or, uh... E39 M5?

Arben72 > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:08

14k would be an equal split of sti and m3 for me, maybe with a side of Evo. Good luck choosing.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Arben72
07/15/2014 at 20:09

I'd prefer to keep RWD as I love RWD. But Evos I like a lot. I'd rather go M3 in the case of Evo vs M3 though.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Nibby
07/15/2014 at 20:10

No and...maybe.

Louros > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:10

Mitsubishi mirage, duh

Manuél Ferrari > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:11

I support your decision!

Step 1: Buy E46 M3

Step 2: Install M3 CSL exhaust

Step 3: Live the dream life

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Louros
07/15/2014 at 20:11

Ha.

Decay buys too many beaters > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:11

You should be able to find a really clean S2000 for that

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Manuél Ferrari
07/15/2014 at 20:11

This is true. I'd still be a JDM fanboy at heart though

Nibby > Louros
07/15/2014 at 20:12

Or Versa!

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Decay buys too many beaters
07/15/2014 at 20:12

This was an option until parents shot it down for being too small

Nibby > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:12

Is this going to be your DD,?

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Nibby
07/15/2014 at 20:13

Yes, gas mileage doesn't matter though.

RotaryLover > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:14

c55 amg.

Arben72 > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:15

I'm more of a boxer engine guy so for me it would be a tough choice between sti and m3. If I didn't have my e92 (or winter to deal with) the e46 would be a clear winner. I'd throw in my kidney for an alpine white over cinnamon e46 with competition package.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > RotaryLover
07/15/2014 at 20:15

I would prefer to have something at least a tiny bit reliable. Lol. Although smoky burnouts are tempting...

McChiken116 - Patrick H. > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:15

E46 M3 is the way to go!

Garrett Davis > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:16

135i w/ M package? Not going for all that much more than a nice E46 M3 these days. I actually seriously considered one before going with my Focus ST. Strange how far away I landed from one, heh.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Garrett Davis
07/15/2014 at 20:17

My budget is strictly at 14 grand or so. I can't find a 135i for under 14 at all.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:18

Kinja'd!!!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:20

Why not S14?

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/15/2014 at 20:21

Uhh because too old

Garrett Davis > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:21

Ah, OK. I must not be up to date on where E46 M3's sit anymore. Also, I probably should have read the part in your post where you said 14k, lol.

AM3R > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:25

$14k buys you an okay E46 M3 or an alright E39 M5. Doooooo it.

You could also get a mint E36 M3 lol.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > AM3R
07/15/2014 at 20:27

Don't want an E36 lol

Garrett Davis > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:32

Actually, I just did some looking around. I really, really don't think that a $14k E46 M3 is an E46 M3 that you want to touch with a ten foot pole. Just looking around craigslist, anything in that range is either a salvaged title, looks beat to hell, or is too sparse on detail to be legit. Just saying, that's very much on the low end for these cars, and that's scary.

RotaryLover > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:32

I've been dreaming about it since my friend's gf got a C300. Not related, I know. But while searching for 6 speed C250s, I stumbled on a c55. Felt in love, when I saw the interior. Even more when I heard it.

M3 is indeed a great choice. How about a Corvette?

AM3R > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:33

go for an E46 M3 or even a ZHP. Overall the ZHP will be cheap to run and insure and fuel buuuuuut it also isn't an M3.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > RotaryLover
07/15/2014 at 20:33

Don't really like American cars from that era (early 2000s), too plastic

Manuél Ferrari > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:34

Hmm

Do you want to expand your horizons or would you rather stick with JDM?

How much is an SC300/SC400 going for these days?

I know the Supra is already too expensive

BRZ/FRS?

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Manuél Ferrari
07/15/2014 at 20:35

SC is too old, BRZ is too much cash money. I'm expanding my horizons clearly if I get an M3 lol

RotaryLover > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:36

Yea, understandable. I really don't have any other cars to suggest lol.

YSI-what can brown do for you > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:36

What is the age requirement?

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Manuél Ferrari
07/15/2014 at 20:36

I too support the E46 M3 route...except the CSL part you really want is the carbon fiber intake plenum.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/15/2014 at 20:38

Newer than 2000

Camry-Into-Canyon > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 20:45

Either 350Z + tons of mods, or G coupe S 6MT.

N51fanatic > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 21:08

a 14k e46 m3? Good luck.

DylanToback > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 21:18

The E46 M3 is an amazing car, but I have yet to see one for 14k that would be a good purchase. you can certainly find one for that price, but it will need a good amount of work to bring it up to good condition.

trmoore09 > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 21:23

I guess this rules out the terminator cobra and the gto as well.

However, +1 for e46 m3. We just bought one in may.

Decay buys too many beaters > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 21:27

This is why we can't have nice (small/lightweight) things!!!

YSI-what can brown do for you > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 21:34

350z? Plus you could get some long tubes for da sex.

Manuél Ferrari > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
07/15/2014 at 21:46

Oh nice. I haven't researched that. It could be a better option

Manuél Ferrari > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 21:47

Are you OK with getting a higher mileage M3 for under $20K and then spending as you go to fix things?

There are low mileage cars out there but they're all above $20K unless they have a salvage title...

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Manuél Ferrari
07/15/2014 at 22:28

Higher mileage ones aren't too bad unless they have vanos issues. The best one I found was at 120k miles, and doesn't seem to have any problems with it.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/15/2014 at 22:29

Ehh I don't really like them. Although I looooove how they sound

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > N51fanatic
07/15/2014 at 22:31

Manual, 120k miles, red, and very clean. 14k obo.

Easy

Manuél Ferrari > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 22:33

That and subframe issues if the car developed one and it wasn't addressed

YSI-what can brown do for you > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/15/2014 at 22:35

Get an MR2, or MRS. THOSE ARE AMAZING!

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Manuél Ferrari
07/15/2014 at 23:00

It is the quintessential CSL upgrade (apart from the bodykit) however getting one and installing all of the necessary components is pretty expensive (the intake plenum alone is anywhere from 2-4 thousand dollars) for limited performance gains (mostly from the necessary tune you'll have to run).

If you do look at high milage M3's plan your budget to include the Beisan VANOS upgrades and subframe reinforcement upgrades in the near future before doing any really hard driving.

CSL intake noise (presumably stock)

CSL airbox + Scorza Muffler + JVT headers

Manuél Ferrari > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
07/15/2014 at 23:04

on a slow connection, gonna watch these when i get home!

me gusta E46 M3 exhaust mods

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/16/2014 at 00:48

I do have an MR2 spyder fetish but too small for parents to approve

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > Manuél Ferrari
07/16/2014 at 00:49

Been looking stuff up. Subframe, rear springs, bushings, cooling, and vanos. I'll check it all out before I get one if I do

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
07/16/2014 at 00:51

Yeah the Vanos upgrades are necessary

YSI-what can brown do for you > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/16/2014 at 00:55

OHMYGERD. Fine. LS400. Turn it into a drift car. You will love it.

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/16/2014 at 00:56

Nope gotta be "reliable". JUST LET ME GET AN E46

YSI-what can brown do for you > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/16/2014 at 00:57

Dude, these things are bullet proof! The engine is super overbuilt for everything that car was made for.

Manuél Ferrari > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/16/2014 at 00:57

What's really cool about used cars is that you can often find a higher mileage car that's really well sorted for a good price. You might be able to find a gearhead-owned M3 with 100-150K miles on it that's had so much good stuff done to it that it's a better car than a 60K example that's had nothing but regular maintenance.

Manuél Ferrari > GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo
07/16/2014 at 01:00

Man that second car is soooo nice

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > YSI-what can brown do for you
07/16/2014 at 01:04

But it's automatic. And I don't want oneee

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/16/2014 at 01:04

It's what I'm currently saving up for, then muffler or CPI rasp eliminator, then I'll get to the subframe.

Edit: I prefer this forum ( http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/forumd… )over E46Fanatics for learning about the car, and if I'm looking for parts I use E46Fanatics

YSI-what can brown do for you > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/16/2014 at 01:16

Why won't you live my dreams through you?!! WHY!?!? Was the sound not enough to convince you. THE V8 IS GOD!!

saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars > Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur
07/17/2014 at 03:21

I know - shocking. I'm suggesting a 900 Turbo SPG. Drive one, you'll understand.

Kinja'd!!!

Velocity- Peuguette Connoisseur > saabstory | fixes bikes, breaks cars
07/17/2014 at 21:39

Mom would say it's too old. I would love one though