hemants

Still undecided.

I drove an 03 M3 this weekend. Steering was mind reading sharp, accelleration was kick in the pants but I was a bit underwhelmed, not sure why, maybe I had mythical expectations. Handling was okay but the rear was way to easy to knock loose, especially around turns. Bottom line -> great car but probably not for me.

So I'm left craving AWD again. The RL is definately the best of the V6 AWD sedans IMO (compared to M35X, A6 3.2, GS300 AWD) but I want a car that is faster than my type S.

What does that leave? A6 4.2? S6 when it comes out? S4?

Not many AWD choices with a V8.

Or maybe a more luxurious option like the E500 4matic?

Decisions, decisions.....is there a supercharger for the RL yet? Someone put me out of my "misery"

GIBSON6594

how much you willing to spend?

Beltfed

Using the Sport button on the M3 makes a big difference, did you press it at any point?

The new Audi S6 is going to be like a $70k car.

The Audi S4 is not as fun to drive as the M3, but it's more practical. If the M3 didn't wow you, not sure how the S4 is going to wow you either.

You were underwhelmed by an M3, but you're talking about an RL?

Audi A6 4.2 or E500 4matic......nice cars, but yawn.

Luxury cars don't really help with a mid-life crisis, maybe an M5 or E55.

Get yourself a C6 Z51 Vette coupe and be done with it, assuming you can deal with a 2 seater.

Other than that, the M3 is the best of both worlds or an S4.

Crazy Bimmer

Agree with Beltfed.

Are you worried the M3 might not be as safe since the rear broke loose?

Anyways the S4 is a good choice if you want to feel safe in corners with AWD.

415ua5

Corvette

jdone

The new E500 sedan is no longer available with 4matic, only the wagon.
Cadillac STS V8 can be had with awd and they can easily be purchased for invoice.

oneilc

Another vote for the Vette

g1underground

iTrader: (1)

One more- no question
That will make you happy just hold on to your hat

GreenMonster

Mid Life ?? Vette or Porsche 911... if you want AWD, a used 993 C4 would fit the bill...

Don't forget, you're required to date women 1/2 your age too...

GM, who turns 40 next year...

derrick

If it's a midlife crisis car ... then it doesn't have to be practical. Need to drive it all year? Carrera4

dom

Vette w/Z51.

Or if money is not an issue spring for the Z06. If you can wait that long.

03 CL TypeS

Corvette Z06: exotic supercar performance for the Regular Joe's midlife crisis salary.

Just pick between 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006.

GreenMonster

Skip the 2001 Z06, they had some oil consumption issues... Probably fixed by now (via re-ringing the pistons), but with price difference between a 2001 and 2002 being what it is, I'd skip the 2001's...

cM3go

for mid life crisis, Z06 for sure. Power and at an affordable price.

cob3683

If you really want to have AWD, then get the RL.

If you can live without it, add another C6 vote.

Nicky Pass

C6....In my Mustang magazine,they said that a stock C6 with full exhaust ran a 12.3 in the 1/4!!!!

Lister00169

x349808932^2

mio

Get a Lamborghini Gallardo~

fdl

03 CL TypeS

Yep, and the 02-04's have an extra 20hp anyway!

SpeedyV6

G35X or Legacy GT

ilitig8

Sport "mode" on the M3 does nothing but remap the throttle response, in a straight line it makes it "feel" quicker but nothing more, for the original thread poster it would do nothing but make it easier to break the rear end loose. I am interested in what tires the M3 had and how worn they were, though it is easy to break loose if you don't know how or when to apply power in a turn it has pretty high limits and favors understeer stock. Bottom line if you are oversteering an M3 stock with proper tire pressures and decent tread left you either meant to or you are applying either too much power or at the wrong time. Now if the car was modified it is a differnt issue, my track setup is non-staggered 265s which along with tire pressure dials all the understeer out which makes the car very neutral BUT you can power oversteer at will but nothing like a pre 996 911. If you just want higher limits you can go up to 265 in the front and 285 in the back but will still have a little understeer without tire pressure adjustment (after market wheels needed for 285s, max 275 stock rim width).

If you just want higher limits in the back the C5 Z06 is a good choice, and the coming C6 Z06 even more but the market adjustment will be stiff for a while. The 997 also has incredible limits if the C6 cabin isn't up to your par, with wheels, Techart for instance) you can get 305 meats in the back. If you just want AWD and the inherent understeer it supplies then get in line for the RS4 it likely won't be as tossable as the M3 but it will certainly be faster. If your wallet is extremely fat or the crisis is huge forget the 2nd team Lambo and get a F430 but then again power oversteer doesn't seem to be your bag.

masmole

hehe, you're all over the place.

You mention mid-life crisis but you're considering an RL or similarly bland mid-size/compact luxury sedans? Doesn't compute. If you go ahead and get one of those sedans, you're definitely not doing yourself a favor with regards to getting your mid-life crisis fix and will likely still have that itch to scratch at a later date.

My vote goes for the E46 M3.... it's a great car, go for the competition package, and good deals can be had from the dealer since the announcement for the E90 M3 is imminent. However, beware of buyer's remorse when the E90 does come out. Here's another idea: 30-month lease (good deal going on now with bmw) since it is rumored that the E90 M3 won't arrive on US shores until almost that long which will time it perfectly to trade-up at the end of your lease, then you can buy the E90 version. The Z06 idea is not bad idea either. Personally can't see myself paying $70k for a chevy but you definitely can't beat true supercar performance for that price if pure performance is what matters most.

F23A4

After this weekend's BMW experience at Shea, the 650i vert is my midlife crisis car. That car is simply SICKER than I thought it'd be.

masmole

Why settle for a 650 vert when an M6 vert is in the works and will almost certainly be available in the US to compete with the AMG SL?

cob3683

The M6 vert will be about $35,000 more than the 650iC. Besides, Any SL > Any 6-series

Cruz_msl

I've been poking around for about two months now, getting away from the CL-S. I love the car, but it's been in an accident and the frame is tweaked. It has been a long road trying to find the perfect car again because of budget constraints and not being able to pull anything over 15K out of the Acura.

I have narrowed it down to either a 1999 BMW M3 or a 1999-2000 corvette. After getting prices for a clutch on an M, ($4000) I'm now looking harder at the Corvettes. I drove an auto with a modded exsaust and it drove very nicely. I loved the HUD and the way the seats move back and steering wheel retract when exiting the car. As well, I got WAY more looks from girls driving the vette. So I'm really leaning hard towards the vette now. I'm currently budgeting more money than before for this purchase as I can't find a decent one under 25K.

We will see.

cob3683

Corvettes

Great M3

ilitig8

I think that is a BS price on an M3 clutch, I had 3 E36 M3s and NEVER paid NEAR that for a clutch, you can get a Dinan Stage 1 light weight fly wheel AND clutch for an E36 M3 for 1,700 and they aren't the chepest ones, and even with the flywheel it is like a 5 hour install...

Beltfed

Thanks, I also have an M3....2004.

Sport mode imho makes the car much more entertaining overall.

The car I find boring without it, but then again my last car was a Viper GTS.

Crazy Bimmer

4k for a clutch


where did you get that quote from?

ilitig8

Must say I am not a sport mode fan, I find it much easier to lay the power down smoothly coming out of a turn on the track without it on and heel and toe downshifts would require me to relearn from my "true" track car to the M3 just doesn't make sense.

Again I think the sport mode just makes the car harder to drive smoothly, which I only really have an issue with on the track. Bottom line not a fan of anything on a car that makes it "seem" faster but in the end does not actually make it faster.

I can see the issue with the Viper though, if you did a lot of track time in the Viper you would be slower into the throttle after apex since they have so much power and love to swap ends (not unlike my old FFR "Cobra" track car), coming out of one and into the M3 would allow you to use similar speed and pressure on the throttle as the Viper.

Plus leaving sport mode off makes the washing machine (bucking bronco) cycle MUCH less likely!

BTW what color/tranny

Mine is Imola Red over Imola Red Coupe manual 04 as well Did you take performance delivery?

rezurex

im jumping ship for a e46 330xi 6spd. H&R springs and ASA s/c are the mods im planning...

it is a bit small but the awd 330xi is a nice car. the only thing i hate about it is the stock suspension, so goddamn high

Cl2TLS

one vote for me for the C6, but I am bias. I have one on order right now, its being built on october 10th. I will get it late october yes this was my mid life crisis car at 26.