I have a BMW 330i with the Performance Package. I drove this and the M3. The M3 has more horse power BUT the 330iPP handles like a dream. Its the best handling BMW ever made. Thats coming from BMW themselves and tests they conducted. Before that the M3 was the shit for handling but the PP surpasses that. If you can find a way to test drive a 330iPP try it. You’ll fall in love and its $15000 less than an M3. I got mine in Imola Red. Plus its a 4-dor sports car. You get some more room and you dont have to deal with the annoyance of lifting he seat to get people and stuff in and out.
If you can get your hands on one I would get a Buick Grand National! That is one bad mofo.
The m3 would be awesome just be ready to pay more $ to keep it maintained. Also what year M3 would you get because only over the last few years did they use the 333hp engine.
Sonny:
I live in Michigan, so I have the manadatory SUV (explorer). The Elise will be my really nice day and track car. I’m really surprised that more people aren’t saying the Elise is the greatest sports car. If you go anywhere in the world where they are currently sold and it is always the car that is brought up the most. I’m sure that will change once they start trickling in this year. Considering there is up to a 1 1/2 wait for one right now, I guess some people here know about them.
BTW-I use to have a Mustang Cobra convertible. Fun car with a lot of power, but really lacks the refinement. I wouldn’t even consider one now. A bucket a rattling bolts in my opinion.
your comparing a BMW m3 to THOSE cars ???
-if so, get the neon
jaystyles
You have to understand that comparing these cars is like comparing apples to oranges. Yes, an M3 is a great all around car. But, it will get abused on a track by a Lotus Elise. In a drag race, a Cobra Mustang will blow the doors off the M3. Every car has it’s pros and cons.
Its amazing to me no one is really giving any props to the rx-8 by mazda. Does the rotary power mean anything to anyone? It is crazy how 1.7 liter can put out 230 horses. That may not be much when compared to the firehawk, mustang cobra or a few others, but keep in mind this car weighs next to nothing, and as far as handling, hands down number one. It looks hot to, go test drive one if your skeptical, it will make the decesion for you.
Out of the cars listed I think the 05 Mustang would be my choice V8 RWD thats what sports car should be, I like the G35 over the 350Z back seats and better finish. The Sti and Evo are good performers for the money, but they are boxes with wheels! Im going to save my money for the next ZO6 Corvette which should be and everything killer, considering the present one hangs with cars like 911 Turbo and 360 Ferrari.
There should be two different categories, out of the cars listed arent the 350Z, Sti and Evo the only ones over 30Gs, hell the SRT-4 is 20grand and will flat out beat all but 2 cars on that list, and with the factory upgrades will be toe to toe with the EVO, STi.
The Wall Street Journal has a good write up of the Elise today (April 9th). Among the comments were, “…it appears ready to smoke similarly priced cars, from the BMW Z4 to the Honda S2000. And with luck and a good driver, we think the Lotus stands a chance of beating more expensive minimalist racers such as the $200,000 Ferrari Stradale. Which, by our rough calculation, leaves $160,000 left for celebratory Champagne.”
Car and driver.com also has some good reviews with the rx8 s2K G35 etc. They were all in the 10 best for 2004
For just a tad more you can get a kick ass nissan 350 Z. Better yet find a used on with about 10,000 miles. Great pimp ride. Also, keep you eyes out for BMW to release it’s new 1 series. There will be a coupe option, and 4 door. They will be priced around 25,000. Should hit USA in the fall. Well,… thats my 2 cents.
On paper I agree that the M3 beats the RX-8. However, there’s something about the RX that gives me a semi. I can’t say that about the B-mer. Sorry.
PGA 200z: Just finished an hour or so at the C&D website, and they had really good things to say about your car.
Test-One: yeah, the RX8 is hot looking.
I read the write up on the new Vette ZO6, and it has amazing numbers. Out of my price range though.
It’s a dream to drive. Tight turning. Its like it sticks to the road. I wouldn’t trade my 330i PP for an M3 if they cost the same $$$. Drive it. You’ll be 100% impressed. Its so damn nice I might buy it at the end of the lease.
BMW has the best lease progrm on the planet. PERIOD. Bumper to bumper waranty for four years (most leases are three years), they replace wiper blade, breaks, break pads etc. The first time you bring it in for maintenance is 15,000 miles!!! The quality, power, beauty and service they give has won me over as a customer for life, though they wont know that when it comes time to get a new one…
What are you paying a month for leasing it? And how much did you put down?
PGA, let me know what you’re paying bro. I’m curious!
Talked to my cuz yesterday, he’s leasing an Acura 3.2 CL or TL. He’s paying 350/mo for 36 months, with 1500 down.
That’s $14,100 plus taxes and fees, so say $14500 total. And God forbid he go over the mileage limit…those fees are outrageous.
So he’s paying almsot 5gs a year for a car he won’t own.
Doesn’t seem financially sound to me, esp. because he doesn’t have a high income.
Anyway…let me know
Evo, no contest. Street legal race car.
There is not a single “sports” car in your list. A true sports car is built by companies that only build sports cars and do not make sacrifices to meet a price target or for the general public. Some “true” sports cars (used) are less than your target price. Stick to those cars.
gtapp do you mean companies like Ferrari, Lamoborghini, Porsche? they dont care about price and they make only sports cars(supercars) except for Porsche’s SUV which would still beat all the cars on this list. I dont think you’ll find any of them under 33grand even used. Im no Ford fan but I’d say the Mustang is a true sports car and most likely started the whole market back in 65.