Corvette or M3
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 29
From: Berryville Virginia
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08
C5 benefits
They are getting darn reasonable! Many nice cars available at 20K.
Mine is a daily driver unless it is calling for snow, and I love the commute!
Adding power is easy and relatively cheap compared to other cars.
There is a dealership everywhere so parts are easy, and many specialty shops and reputable vendors.
I get kids and old gear heads waving at me everywhere I drive. I am not sure they would recognize a M3 from a camery.
V8 rumble (need I say more?)
The BMW M3 is a very nice car, just not what I am looking for.
They are getting darn reasonable! Many nice cars available at 20K.
Mine is a daily driver unless it is calling for snow, and I love the commute!
Adding power is easy and relatively cheap compared to other cars.
There is a dealership everywhere so parts are easy, and many specialty shops and reputable vendors.
I get kids and old gear heads waving at me everywhere I drive. I am not sure they would recognize a M3 from a camery.
V8 rumble (need I say more?)
The BMW M3 is a very nice car, just not what I am looking for.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
From: Chesterfield Virginia
I realize I'm on a Corvette forum, but there is a reason why I'm looking into a C5. I can't afford a new M3 and definitely not an M6. If I could afford that, I would just buy a new Z06. But anyway, I'm looking into a C5 targa top for about $30K or less. I realize it's faster than an M3 and all that stuff...and that's why I'd rather have a vette. Only thing I like about the M3 is that it just seems more practical.
Bro - There is nothing practical about owning a BMW. I bought my girlfriend a BMW 3 class and it always seemed to be something going on with it. It was one warning light after another. Fun little car, but it does not turn heads like a C5 will. You will never look so good.
GO WITH THE C5 !!!!!!
PS - You do have to watch out for a possible [I][B]MOD Addiction Though!
Before Mod Addiction
After Mod Addiction
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
The vette definitely sounds better when I look at it from those points. The funny thing is that the people on the BMW forum complained about how unreliable their cars are...they didn't really have many negatives about a corvette.
I want to drive one soon, but it's hard to go to a dealership and just test drive one cause I'm 20 years old and they'll probably think I'm some kid who just wants to beat it up
I want to drive one soon, but it's hard to go to a dealership and just test drive one cause I'm 20 years old and they'll probably think I'm some kid who just wants to beat it up
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,660
Likes: 9
From: Charlotte, NC
For me, one of the things that truly makes a car FUN to drive is the presence of TORQUE. The ability to give the car some throttle, without downshifting, and you instantly take off. The Bimmer won't deliver that feeling like the C5 can.
Not sure if you care, but the ability to remove the targa roof on any C5 coupe is also a pretty attractive feature to me. Most other cars that offer this feature do so at a $5-$10k premium but yet comes standard on the Vette.
I understand your dilema and was really impressed when that version of the M3 came out. Corvette-like performance at the same cost but in a sensable four-door sedan. Sounds like a great idea.
It will probably come down to which one you would rather be seen in.
Oh, and there are many more C5s than M3s. So you could probably find a better deal on the Vette. There are a lot of low mileage (less than 30k) C5s out there for under $25k.
Good luck! I don't envy your car insurance premium no matter your decision (at the ripe age of 20!!).
Not sure if you care, but the ability to remove the targa roof on any C5 coupe is also a pretty attractive feature to me. Most other cars that offer this feature do so at a $5-$10k premium but yet comes standard on the Vette.
I understand your dilema and was really impressed when that version of the M3 came out. Corvette-like performance at the same cost but in a sensable four-door sedan. Sounds like a great idea.
It will probably come down to which one you would rather be seen in.
Oh, and there are many more C5s than M3s. So you could probably find a better deal on the Vette. There are a lot of low mileage (less than 30k) C5s out there for under $25k.
Good luck! I don't envy your car insurance premium no matter your decision (at the ripe age of 20!!).
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 10,804
Likes: 25
From: PORTLAND OR
St Jude Donor '15
I know, they are two TOTALLY different cars. But these two are the ones that I'm serious about...for whatever reasons I may have. I think the M3 is more of a daily driver, but it isn't as fast and I've heard that they're very unreliable. What are some positive things about the C5 that I should know of? How does it handle? How is the power and torque curve? Thanks to anyone that can answer my questions.
Matt
Matt
Drifting
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 1,904
Likes: 2
From: London(UK)/Troyes(France)
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 8,780
Likes: 1,936
From: LONG ISLAND
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
THE ONLY POSITIVE THING TO PURCHASING A C-5 OR ANY GM AUTO IS :
THAT YOU GET TO VISIT MR. GOODWRENCH FREQUENTLY !!!
...........and if you don't know who he is........i promise you will find out soon enough !!!
BUY THE M-3
THAT YOU GET TO VISIT MR. GOODWRENCH FREQUENTLY !!!
...........and if you don't know who he is........i promise you will find out soon enough !!!
BUY THE M-3
Last edited by 427SIXPACK; May 30, 2007 at 03:48 PM.
Pro
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 545
Likes: 4
From: Taylors SC
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Now I'm not sure how quick you decide on what car to buy, but I like to be pretty damn certain. I'm buying a new car...not another car. I work alot, and I'm not gonna spend $30K on a car that's going to break down, or a car that I won't be happy with.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 474
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
I wouldn't be bold enough to say the Corvette has been the most reliable car I've ever owned either. My benz has held up way better than, and even my Mitsubishis have had better reliability. Albeit, the issues I've had the vette aren't the type that'll leave me stranded (except CLB) but all these little things here and there are enough to drive me crazy.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
From: vancouver bc
A Corvette is a great car, but it is just a car. It's not like you're driving a $250,000 sports car. You're driving a car that can be had for under $20K these days. Ease up with the "state of mind" talk.
Now I'm not sure how quick you decide on what car to buy, but I like to be pretty damn certain. I'm buying a new car...not another car. I work alot, and I'm not gonna spend $30K on a car that's going to break down, or a car that I won't be happy with.
Now I'm not sure how quick you decide on what car to buy, but I like to be pretty damn certain. I'm buying a new car...not another car. I work alot, and I'm not gonna spend $30K on a car that's going to break down, or a car that I won't be happy with.
The M3 might have a great reputation in the performance category, but its no where near that of the Corvette's heritage. By the way, I use mine as a daily driver, with 200 miles to go before I reach the 100,000 mark.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
I've owned both and feel that the Corvette is the superior daily driver. The lack of torque, stiff clutch, and constant shifting make the M3 a pain to drive around town and especially in traffic. Additionally, BMW maintenance can be quite spendy.
Feel free to send me a PM if you have addtional questions.
Feel free to send me a PM if you have addtional questions.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Jersey Shore NJ
Just so you know, depending on what year M3 you plan on purchasing you'll have a possibility of catastrophic engine failure. My buddy blew the engine on his M3 that he purchased new. The car was not driven that hard, and had under 5,000 miles. BMW replaced the whole car for him. He refused to take a new engine replacement as the fix.
Check out this web-site. Based on this alone, I wouldn't buy a E46 M3.
http://yoy.com/yoy/auto/m3_failintro.shtml
Check out this web-site. Based on this alone, I wouldn't buy a E46 M3.
http://yoy.com/yoy/auto/m3_failintro.shtml
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
You're right. I was a Ford guy before I traded in my 97 Cobra for my 97 C5. I thought long and hard before I committed to buying a vette over a newer model Cobra (at the time an 01 model). I still am a Ford guy at heart, but there is something about owning and driving America's sports car that did it for me.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 760
Likes: 0
From: vancouver bc
It's funny that you say that, cause I've only owned Japanese cars thus far and I want something different. So obviously if I ask a Japanese car forum what car to get, they'll say the M3 because it's at least imported and it's more popular for a younger crowd. I knew everyone here would say to get the vette, but I like that you guys have let me in on a few things I didn't know before about it.
At the end of the day you have to drive both cars and only then will YOU decide. Of course, you can weigh in the pros and cons that each forum has provided you, but don't let each one tell you which to buy because of their dislike of the other etc.
Good luck with your choice!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,997
Likes: 1
From: Life is a game/Golf is serious. IA
At the end of the day you have to drive both cars and only then will YOU decide. Of course, you can weigh in the pros and cons that each forum has provided you, but don't let each one tell you which to buy because of their dislike of the other etc.
Good luck with your choice!
