Thinking about picking up a new car
 

Ok, after 5 years of driving my C4, I feel it's time for a change. My commute is about 80mi a day round trip, and lately with the economy getting better, there is a ton more traffic. Lately, it's been a lot more stop and go.

My thoughts are to retire the C4 and get a BMW M3 or M5 with SMG. Just drove the M5 a little bit ago, OMG, is it fast, quiet, smooth, and is a very nice place to spend some time, but it's BIG. The M3 on the other hand is like a smaller version of the M5. Both are about the same price, but I know the M3 will be cheaper to maintain, and hold value better down the road.

Man, that V10 is just so sweet!! But the M3 competition package is just as sweet!

The worst part, do I keep the C4 or sell it? I know this is my decision, I really don't want to let it go!

Are you referring to the E46 M3 or the E90? FWIW - I had an E46 M3 6 speed as a DD before I got my 97 993 DD. Coming from a 993, you may not like the M3. For me it was too big and heavy with comparatively uncommunicative steering and harsh suspension. Didn't like it at all and got rid of it quickly. I can only imagine the E90 being more of the same as it's even bigger and heavier than the E46.

Stick with the C4 :)

Cheers,
Joe

The V10 M5 is a big, fat pig and the SMG tranny will go down as one of the worst attempts at an automatic-manual transmission. The E46 M3 is a much better car. To be honest the E39 M5 (last sold in 2003) with the 400hp V8 and 6-speed manual will go down as the best M5 ever made.

The M3 will get you better MPG. Please keep the C4.

Test drive a 135is.

Same size and weight as our 993 but w/ a 300HP twin turbo.

E60 ///M5... better invest in a heckuvagood extended warranty! Those are not w/o their inherent issues and when the bell tolls, it sounds like a cash register being tossed down the stairs - eeek!

Neat cars, V10 wondrousness, and the SMG can actually be entertaining if you adapt to it's nuance. Bangelese styling FTMFL. Blech. I couldn't get past 'that' when I was replacing Alumibitch (//S8), the 600 won out for me. Bangle should be castrated, then burned @ the stake. IMHO, of course 8-).

E46 ///M3... the German IROC. Sad / true / unfortunate. And no matter how you slice (mod) it... they sound like six kinds of ground up ass. Torque? Wut???

E92 ///M3... neat cars. Dig 'em.

E39 ///M5... agreed, legendary. Wouldn't daily one 80mi/day tho.

135... sorry, I just have trouble not seeing a dozen clowns exiting one parked - despite how good they're supposed to be.

Tough to replace a 911 w/ a BMW. Maybe an ///MCoupe?

Tough crowd ! If you're going to keep the C4, get the bigger Bimmer. Sell the C4, go M3.

Closed minds are even smaller than the 135.

Keep both if you could......

What about the V10 Audi S6? Or an S4 or RS4?

I've always found the Audi styling much much nicer than anything coming out of BangleMW over the last 10 years.

Mike,

Get a MB E55 AMG. Getting cheap and fun to drive. Not a M5, but going down I5 everyday in crappy traffic, this car is ideal. Looks good, fast in straight line, decent mileage for having 469HP (0-60 in 4.2s)! You can pick up a 2003-2004 with avg mileage for around $20K. I wish it could be my company car. I can see the clients seeing driving up one now! ;-)

For what it's worth, I have sold 3 cars in the past in which I faced similar dilemmas at the time. I sold each on the basis of practicality and now regret selling all three of them. I would keep the C4.

A friend of mine, who owns multiple Vettes and other peformance cars, just bought a 135is for his daughter and he says it's a rocket. He ordered it wil some sort of chip which makes it a lot faster.

no not really

I really enjoyed beating the bag out of one, it was entirely rewarding. There's simply no denying the styling / proportions are a bit - er - controversial.

That's all, no need to be defensive.

Mike-

5yrs is about what I keep my heaps - you've had a good run with yours, and there's a LOT of good fish in the sea out there to try / enjoy.

Agreed on the //S6 V10, very underappreciated car - but auto only (if that is a issue for you). Lot of car for the dough, they depreciated pretty hard.

RS4's rock - but must 1000000% embrace with wide open arms 15k carbon enema's... damn FSI!

The Kompressor MB's are a hoot - not w/o their own issues (SC failures - gasp), but with any of ^these^ options you really ought to be lining the car / purchase up with an extended warranty. A couple of real issues can easily total 5digits on these complex / sophisticated new uber performance cars (BTDT - with warranty!!!)

You want a real chuckle - try a biturbo12 8-)

How about a water-cooled (gasp!) Porsche, with PDK? May as well have some variety since you have 2 993 C4s right now.

I say get a V8 R8. That would be the only other car I could imagine owning and loving. They are getting cheaper(relatively speaking).
--Michael