Anyone own a new M3 Convertable also
 

I have th bug to buy a new car, can't afford the porsche, and have been thinking about the M3 Convertable, seems like a lot of car for 62K

You can always get a slightly used 996 for that price.

Re: Anyone own a new M3 Convertable also
 

Sorry you have to drop down to an entry level M3 at 62K a pop:( ! I actually like the M3 and BMW to boot. As far as a convertable, it is a pretty heavy car for sure. If it were up to me, I'd go for less serious road car and a more fun convertable. A used Boxster S would be nice and save you 20K.

The catch is I need a back seat that holds a rear facing car seat.

Having three young kids I have to ask....if the car seat is going in the back...why must it face rearward? The only time this is necessary is when you are installing a carseat in front to avoid airbag injury.

You could get a killer 996 cab, backseat and all, for well below $62k.

The law is that children under a year must face the rear of the car, and this can't be done in a 996

The new M3 is the absolute weakest sounding car ever, it's got a disgusting buzz to it when you hit the gas......that alone has totally turned me off to it, although it is a nice car other than that.

A good friend of mine had a new M3 ragtop for about 6 months. He enjoyed it at first, loved the power and 6 speed, but traded it for a year old 996. He didn't need the back seat as much as he thought and the M3 didn't have the sports car "soul" that he hoped it would.

Fowr the record, a 330ci would do the same job and leave extra $ for P-car projects!:cool:

Yeah, trying to find a used 330cic is hard, but a m3 not a problem if I went the used route.

I guess that says something about the m3

Does the E36 M3 have rear-facing child seat capability? If so, you can pick one up for a song, and reliably modify it to outperform a new M3 pretty easily.

I thought you were looking for an SC or early car?

That also!

Mike, you don't ever want to put a child in the front seat of an airbag equiped car, regardless of how the car seat is orientated, unless you can turn it off (like in a pick-up). Even with a car seat facing backwards, an airbag will do some serious damage to a child and a car seat.

I try to stay as up to date as possible on this stuff, since I help teach "auto-extrication" to our fire department.

I would never put my child in the front seat, that is why I need a back seat.

Guess it's a matter of determining which is more important....safety for the baby or fun for you. If it's safety for the baby....buy a Suburban. Your child will be much safer in the back of a big SUV than in the back of a small 300 hp convertible BMW.

A simple matter of priorities.

I already have a 2003 Denali XL, so I have that base covered. Wife says if I want a new sports car it must have the back seat, and then I can still get my Porsche.

Yup, it sure does. If you look, you might even find a 4 door Sedan M3 in 1998 models. That, however, was the last year they made a 4 door M3. Mine was probably the last one rolling off the assembly line.

why not just get a really nice 911 and forget the "new" sports car? I'm not sure I understand exactly what itch you're trying to scratch...

I don't mean to steal you post, but do boxters have the ability to turn off the passenger air bag? If so, is it OK to put a child seat in the front?

from what I understand, you have to use a Porsche car seat, and that will deactivate the passenger air bag.

An STI or EVO would be worlds faster....

runs and hides :p

yep:)

I've got a Z3 "M" that I picked up in late 2001 for about $7000 off list. It is one of the quickkest stock cars I've ever owned. The buzzing exhaust sound mentioned sounds more like ripping metal from behind. What you hear in the cockpit is not what others hear. With 315 hp it fairly hauls ass. It might not handle quite as well as a Boxster, but I can see the engine and a Boxster "S" will not stand a chance in a stoplight drag race. These were 2 very important issues for me. Being an "old" street racer, stop light drag races are in my blood; sorry.
And fwiw, it requires some skill to drive at the limits and; as one friend put it, it's a millenium Cobra. You drive this car, it doesn't drive you. Did I mention it was $20,000 less?

Regards,

Tom

yeah, last night a 996 decided to open it up a bit on our quiet street (jerk off). Horrible exhaust note. Amazingly bad.

And I still love M Coupes. Yes, the clown shoe.

GT3s have great exhaust notes.

Shocking that anybody lived through their childhood in the 30/40/50/60/70s. Some even went without seatbelts! :D

I still remember the steel dash board in my mom's 59 Rambler. Sat happily on the front seat, 3 years old, facing forward with no belts at all. Fortunately, I never kissed that dash....somehow, we survived.

I too love the M Coupe. Don't care for the Roadster but the Coupe is cool as hell. I've never heard of it referred to as a clown-shoe....I thought that was limited to the Viper.

I was in the market for a 02/03 M3 convertible and was heading towards one with SMG ...I had done tons of research and testing. Two days before a deal, I saw a black 993 Cab with aero kit, big reds etc ; test drove it and fell in love. I have never looked back.

Simply put, I leave you with this quote given to me by a well known authority in modern day sports cars: " The M3 is a great car, but nothing in the world drives like a 993. You will be bored with the M3 in months, but the 993 is a life time enjoyment" - thats the difference i found.

I also own a Rosso Red Lancia Integrale and a Black BMW 325I Cab (commute car)

Good luck!

I own a 03 M3 SMG Coupe. My previous car was a 97 M3. I do not have experience with the 996 but can offer the follwing comments on 03 M3.

Maximum acceleration: Very fast. As fast as a 996 from what I have read. Not a lot of torque at low/medium RPM.

Handling: Great handling but you do not get much steering feel.

Seats: The seats do not hold me well in place. My shoulders are not stable. May be the width adjustable seats would sove this problem.

SMG: All I can say is that I find it fantastic. Way better than any 6 speed. On the Roadfly E46 M3 forum all SMG owmners love it. Certainly a big plus over the 996

Confort: Except for the seats which are average, I am amazed at how confortable my car is.

Luxury: The E46 feels very modern and luxurious. My cinnamon interior is absolutely gorgeous. Most people on the Roadfly board feel the M3 interior is much nicer than the 996.

I did not consider the 996 because I find the Carrera 2 styling to lack character while being much higher priced than the M3. The 4S is beautifull but it is just too expensive.

I suggest you visit the Roadfly E46 M3 forum at: http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46m3/

These are just my opinions, others might think differently.