So what justifies the BMW M3's extra $20k?

[Mani]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: cjchaps
Some people are just snooty sometimes...

Originally posted by: NFS4

i think if you have to ask why the 20k is justified, you shouldnt be driving one

True

Well, if you don't know what the hell the car is, then how can you say that you can't justify the price?

Pretty much all the reasons people have listed I already knew about, so I've done the research - the only thing I haven't done is driven one. I've told my local dealer to call me as soon as they get one in (next one should be in Oct or so).

And to the people that say chicks dig it- sheeyat, girls can't tell the diff between a base 325i and a fully loaded M3.

 

[cjchaps]

BMW has done an excellent job of convincing the american public that their cars are top of the line, and you have to be rich to afford one. For people who don't live in the US, you have probably seen BMW's driving around as cabbies, and seen BMWs at more reasonable prices. I'm not saying beemers here in the US are bad, I personally think they are overpriced for what you get. I think the M3 is an awesome car The latest innovations with their "automatic" manual gearbox are incredible, and I hope that other companies start using similiar technology. I don't think I would ever shell out the money to buy a new one unless I had tons of extra money to get rid of. You can find good deals on used M3's, which perform wonderfully, and will cost you a fraction of the original price.

Are M3's all that? It really depends on the driver. Last year I lapped a few M3's in my stock WRX at gingerman raceway in Michigian. One of the guys I went with toasted Supras, M5s, RX7s, and a few other "super-cars" in his stock s2000. He basically got the 2nd best times on the track against 30 or so other awesome cars.

I can't justify an M3's 20k + pricetag over a 3 series just because 20k because I think you can get more bang for your buck other ways. To each his own though. If you want out-of-the-box performance and refinement, it's going to cost you.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: cjchaps
Some people are just snooty sometimes...

Originally posted by: NFS4

i think if you have to ask why the 20k is justified, you shouldnt be driving one

True

Well, if you don't know what the hell the car is, then how can you say that you can't justify the price?

Pretty much all the reasons people have listed I already knew about, so I've done the research - the only thing I haven't done is driven one. I've told my local dealer to call me as soon as they get one in (next one should be in Oct or so).

And to the people that say chicks dig it- sheeyat, girls can't tell the diff between a base 325i and a fully loaded M3.

If a girl can't tell the difference between a base 325i and a fully loaded M3, then she is either blind or blonde

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: NFS4
If a girl can't tell the difference between a base 325i and a fully loaded M3, then she is either blind or blonde

Or she just doesn't care about cars - like the vast majority of girls I've met. Put the 2 of them side-by-side, and the only thing the girl will see is the M badge on the side and boot.

From any reasonable distance on the open road, very few people care enough to tell whether the oncoming BMW is a M3 or 325i. Hell, I bet a lot of people couldn't spot the difference between a 3 and 5 series.

I think your interest in cars has made you blind to the fact that most people don't give 2 sh*ts about different makes and models.

The M3 is an amazing car, and it's worth every penny if you're an enthusiast that can appreciate the German engineering. If you only want a Bimmer to get laid, then you're better off with a 325 or 330i.

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: bmacd

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Yes, but it's a sweet car.

fo sheezy

-=bmacd=-

Shizzle my nizzle bmacd!

 

[Mani]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Mani

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: cjchaps
Some people are just snooty sometimes...

Originally posted by: NFS4

i think if you have to ask why the 20k is justified, you shouldnt be driving one

True

Well, if you don't know what the hell the car is, then how can you say that you can't justify the price?

Pretty much all the reasons people have listed I already knew about, so I've done the research - the only thing I haven't done is driven one. I've told my local dealer to call me as soon as they get one in (next one should be in Oct or so).

And to the people that say chicks dig it- sheeyat, girls can't tell the diff between a base 325i and a fully loaded M3.

If a girl can't tell the difference between a base 325i and a fully loaded M3, then she is either blind or blonde

You haven't talked to many girls, have you?

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: KnightBreed

Originally posted by: NFS4
If a girl can't tell the difference between a base 325i and a fully loaded M3, then she is either blind or blonde

Or she just doesn't care about cars - like the vast majority of girls I've met. Put the 2 of them side-by-side, and the only thing the girl will see is the M badge on the side and boot.

From any reasonable distance on the open road, very few people care enough to tell whether the oncoming BMW is a M3 or 325i. Hell, I bet a lot of people couldn't spot the difference between a 3 and 5 series.

I think your interest in cars has made you blind to the fact that most people don't give 2 sh*ts about different makes and models.

The M3 is an amazing car, and it's worth every penny if you're an enthusiast that can appreciate the German engineering. If you only want a Bimmer to get laid, then you're better off with a 325 or 330i.

I'm telling you, girls can tell the difference. I mean, these chicks have shoes for everyday of the week and can pick out a cheap brand of lipstick on another woman from 20 feet away.

Hell, my MOM knows the difference between an M3 and a 325i and she doesn't even DRIVE! And of the many females I know, they know their cars Maybe I just hang in good company

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Originally posted by: NFS4
I'm telling you, girls can tell the difference. I mean, these chicks have shoes for everyday of the week and can pick out a cheap brand of lipstick on another woman from 20 feet away.

Hell, my MOM knows the difference between an M3 and a 325i and she doesn't even DRIVE! And of the many females I know, they know their cars Maybe I just hang in good company

Just for kicks, I asked a gal in my office if she knew. Wanna know what she said?

"The M3 is a 2-door and is a lot smaller...no wait... the M cars are the new generation after the I series, right?"

Close, but no cigar.

 

[vi edit]

My fiance can tell you that the "M" series of BMW is the go fast line, just like the "S" series of Audi is their go fast line. As far as specifics though, she wouldn't know.

As far as actually telling the difference, I don't know if she could without looking at badging. The M3 does have dual exhast while the standard 3 series is a single exhast, she may notice that.

 

[bUnMaNGo]

Originally posted by: cjchaps
BMW has done an excellent job of convincing the american public that their cars are top of the line, and you have to be rich to afford one. For people who don't live in the US, you have probably seen BMW's driving around as cabbies, and seen BMWs at more reasonable prices. I'm not saying beemers here in the US are bad, I personally think they are overpriced for what you get. I think the M3 is an awesome car The latest innovations with their "automatic" manual gearbox are incredible, and I hope that other companies start using similiar technology. I don't think I would ever shell out the money to buy a new one unless I had tons of extra money to get rid of. You can find good deals on used M3's, which perform wonderfully, and will cost you a fraction of the original price.

Are M3's all that? It really depends on the driver. Last year I lapped a few M3's in my stock WRX at gingerman raceway in Michigian. One of the guys I went with toasted Supras, M5s, RX7s, and a few other "super-cars" in his stock s2000. He basically got the 2nd best times on the track against 30 or so other awesome cars.

I can't justify an M3's 20k + pricetag over a 3 series just because 20k because I think you can get more bang for your buck other ways. To each his own though. If you want out-of-the-box performance and refinement, it's going to cost you.

As you said, it all depends on the driver... especially when it comes to autocrossing... although I have found it easier to heel toe in an M3 rather than an Integra GSR and another thing... about your first comment, it's true, you're getting a BMW not only for performance, but for "class" as well

 

[BigSmooth]

I think for most people the extra $20K is NOT justified because most people would not truly be taking advantage of the added benefits of the M tuning. If you're not the type of person to go driving on mountain roads just for fun or even to take your car to the track once in a while, then a "normal" 3-Series is probably more than enough car for you.

For an enthusiast, however, I think the $20K is worth it because even at that price point, you are getting one of the best-performing cars available for around $50K.