c5 or e36m?

This is a weird comparison of two cars that aren't in the same price category.

Given the choice of what seems to be a $15-$20k budget...

I'd buy the E36 M3 and spend the rest on making it 110% awesome.

Or just buy an E46 M3.

The vette is a hell of a performance bargain, though. There's just no way i could live with one daily.

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: The vette is a hell of a performance bargain, though. There's just no way i could live with one daily.

Wait.... this from the same guy that daily drives a turbo MX6 with the exhaust coming out the front bumper on crappy coilovers? And you call ME a pansy?

Bobzilla wrote:

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: The vette is a hell of a performance bargain, though. There's just no way i could live with one daily.

Wait.... this from the same guy that daily drives a turbo MX6 with the exhaust coming out the front bumper on crappy coilovers? And you call ME a pansy?

I have crappy coilovers now? When did you buy them for me?!?!?! Thanks Bob, you're the best!!!!

I should have elaborated. I can't see out of a Corvette. Visibility is a big deal to me. I also wouldn't want to spend many hours inside of one.

I've had an E36 M3, E46 M3 as daily drivers and track cars. I have a 951 with an LS1 swap in it for the track now.

The M3 excels as a "do everything" car. It has plenty of space for people, luggage, nice road manners and is easy to live with as a daily driver. It's also incredibly fast on the track.

As a "toy", I'd have to go with the Vette. I've gotten a bit of a taste of what they're about with my engine swap and the LS1 is a sweet motor. It'll easily make the same power as the LS6 with just a cam swap. More support than you can shake a stick at too.

BigD wrote: And like many cool American cars, it has a very pleasant subculture. This is personal opinion but I dislike the BMW crowd in general. Most of its members are only interested in thugging around in one (one guy I know who works at a BMW dealer in the parts dept, has got to the point of refusing to sell M badges to kids without WBS VINs).

I agree with you on the fanboi culture of BMWs in general. It helps to own and drive one of the most "hated" models to see what a bunch of stuck up snobs they can really be

In reply to mad_machine:

There is plenty of ignoramus to go around in the Vette fanboi club too. In fact, some large % of all self-proclaimed car persons are actually douchebags looking to associate their miserable bigoted nature with something that is safe to hate in public.

The correct way to separate out the people worth spending time with is to look for the ones with dirty fingernails and helmets.

Almost all clubs have their share of douchbags, you have to ignore them for the most part. But I agree, the BMW club seems to have more than it's share. But there are a lot of good BMW club members out there, so don't let that stop you.

Now if you're looking for the club that's the most fun, I'd say Lotus. That is easily the most fun car club I've been around. The answer then is probably Elise!

Seriously, you need to drive both and decide, they are very different cars. I like both, but would prefer the M3 for a daily. But it'd be close. Of course I like my car to sit low. Maybe I've spent too much time in a mod car.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: The correct way to separate out the people worth spending time with is to look for the ones with dirty fingernails and helmets.

Haha, quoting for the truth!

92CelicaHalfTrac wrote: This is a weird comparison of two cars that aren't in the same price category. Given the choice of what seems to be a $15-$20k budget... I'd buy the E36 M3 and spend the rest on making it 110% awesome. Or just buy an E46 M3. The vette is a hell of a performance bargain, though. There's just no way i could live with one daily.

This isn't really a comparison per say. I have been eying up an e36 for a couple of years now. I have driven one and I liked it alot. But my wife would be far more excited with a vette. Plus it's much easier to find a very nice low mileage vette than it is an e36 M. I can find a nice vette for $15+k and an equally nice e-36 M would still be $12+k. So they aren't that far apart. The vette would likely stay in stock class for a few years longer than the M would just because it's already a better track car. So I would save $ that way.

And while I can't speak for the sub culture of vettes, There are some serious snobs in bimmer crowd. Fortunately though I have found none of them in my club or local to me. So if I got an M the local support would be good.

I had a 2002 Z06 for a couple of years. It's a good car, but no way to really know if you like it until you drive it. Personally I don't really love the styling. While the car handles well I really wanted more feedback in the steering (and a better steering wheel). The stock seats are comfortable, but not nearly supportive enough for how hard the car corners. I should mention that the seatbelts auto tension and try to keep you in place. The interior is... GM. Instrument cluster is nice and HUD rocks! The Z06 is also an exercise in restraint when driving it on the street. Redline in 2nd gear is breaking every speed limit. The sound of the LS6 is just delicious. Even through the stock exhaust.

All that being said I would rather have something else that's been LSX swapped (RX7). Or pick up an E46 M3.

I've seen a few mentions of e46, but good ones are getting out of my price range. I would guess that the mpg isn't as as good as the vette either. I drive 40 miles a day (total) to and from work, mostly hwy, so the 30+ mpg in the vette is enticing. Plus according to what many have said on the M3 forum the e36 feels more connected to the road. I would prefer that. Mods are cheaper on the e36 than the e46 too.

ApxAnimal wrote: The vette would likely stay in stock class for a few years longer than the M would just because it's already a better track car. So I would save $ that way.

This is actually not true at all. The E36 M3 is a very, very good track car in stock form. I'm not saying the vette isn't - but price the tires before you start spending that savings.

I think the E36 M3 can top 30mpg on the highway too.. if driven sanely

mad_machine wrote: I think the E36 M3 can top 30mpg on the highway too.. if driven sanely

I never got better than 28 IIRC. But that is at 80-85 cruising speed.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote:

ApxAnimal wrote: The vette would likely stay in stock class for a few years longer than the M would just because it's already a better track car. So I would save $ that way.

This is actually not true at all. The E36 M3 is a very, very good track car in stock form. I'm not saying the vette isn't - but price the tires before you start spending that savings.

Very good it is, but not as good as the vette. It's also harder to find one that is still all stock. It seems most of the vettes for sale are still stock.

ApxAnimal wrote: This is actually not true at all. The E36 M3 is a very, very good track car in stock form. I'm not saying the vette isn't - but price the tires before you start spending that savings.

Very good it is, but not as good as the vette. It's also harder to find one that is still all stock. It seems most of the vettes for sale are still stock.

This is at its heart an apples/oranges discussion but truthfully - I have put 40k track-only miles on an E36 M3 with oil, tire and brake pad changes. Those pads last longer. The tires are way cheaper. The lap times at tight, technical road courses are pretty damn close to a non-Z-06 C5. At summit point my IP M3 was quicker than all but the Z-06s on slicks.

This is my opine only - but a C5 Vette is a very fast car that is not much fun to drive. To make it fun you have to spend thousands on suspension and steering and it was already a pretty high "per event" brake pad and tire user. You can drop 10k on an E36 M3 (that includes the coilovers and sway bars) and go out and make yourself giggle for half a summer on the same set of race tires. So... all things being equal (and they are not by definition) the M3 is the cheap fun choice here for a track toy. At $2k a weekend in tires and brakes for a well driven C5 - you can buy an M3 every 5 weekends.

That is the one thing that scares me about the vette. It is VERY good at what it does.. so good that, at least for me, I would run out of talent before running out of car.

The M3 is also very good at what it does, but not being in the exotic/supercar class that the vette clings to (not in price obviously, but in abilities) it would more suit my (lack of) abilities

mad_machine wrote: I think the E36 M3 can top 30mpg on the highway too.. if driven sanely

So can the Vette.

yes, I know it can.. I just brought it up because somebody mentioned the vette can too.

Bobzilla wrote:

mad_machine wrote: I think the E36 M3 can top 30mpg on the highway too.. if driven sanely

So can the Vette.

So can the E36 M3.

So can a Civic.

Wait.... what?

mY C4 is getting 24 on the highway with 3 leaking injectors, low compression and burning oil.... does that count?

My Mazderp is getting 29-30mpg on the highway while leaving a cloud of black smoke that would make a chipped dually proud. Can i play too?!?!?

These two are at the root of the affordable true sports car market.

They both do what they do so well. I think while you're being a nut on the highway blasting well into the triple digits and making a smoke show from a stop light you're going to love the C5, but driving around town and to work and pulling into the parking lot you're going to love the M3. To me the M3 is a nice "luxury" car to most people while a Corvette screams LOOK AT ME!

You don't need the power of a Vette on a track or autoX. Yes it is fun but the M3 is plenty capable for a novice.

I go back and forth with this all the time. Out of college with my first full time job it would probably look funny to roll up in a Corvette the first month I worked there, but I thought about it. I decided on an E36 M3 for a bit more civility. Now 6 years later I still love my M3, but I yern for more power. I don't need more at the autoX but I'd love more on the street (ironic huh). I've had thought about trying to get into a C6, but I just bought a Tahoe for toe and winter DD duties so that's going to have to wait. I've also thought about putting an E46 M3 engine into my E36. Best of both worlds? Perhaps.

The 'My Little Mazda' in my garage is lucky to get 25 mpg on the highway and 20 around town, but that's probably because I love to hear the turbo noises it makes.

But oh have I always wanted a big, burbling V8. If only I could see out of the Corvette.