R32 or BMW M3?

[dawendy01]

Ive been thinking about buying an R32 for a while now but i just started thinking about the possibility of opening up my search to e36 M3's.

What do you guys think about the pros and cons of M3 v R32.

[Dubstatic]

2 very different cars....

the m3 will pretty much out perform the r in anyway.

both are $$$$ to fix.

r is better in the snow.

r may be a better car for a novice driver trying to go fast.

[mr lee]

depends on how skinny your jeans are...

[TetsuoShima]

Tough choice...I'd only go for the M3 just because it's an M car and I've never owned a RWD car. Test them both out if you can and see which one you think you can live with and/or which is more fun.

[arethirdytwo]

E36 I take it? Whats your goal? If you plan to track the car, get the M. If you want a better all around daily driver with a great engine note and power band... go R.

I have driven both. Yes the M is faster, period. That being said I like the R for personal reasons, none of which were cost based.

[teklord69]

They are both "douchey" cars. But M3 all the way, the R32 kinda says "I cant afford an M3"

[vasillalov]

The E36 M3 remains one of the most cost efficient cars for AutoX and track days. A well prepped E36 M3 will do wonders on the track and it will keep up with the best cars out there.

For as much as I like the MK4 R32s, I'd get a well kept and maintained E36 M3.

[cabzilla]

M3 all day every day. The r32 doesn't compare in any way aside from cylinder count

[too_slow]

They are both "douchey" cars. But M3 all the way, the R32 kinda says "I cant afford an M3"

Nothing screams poseur like a 530i.. Don't you wish you had the $ for a used 540i/M5 instead?

[teklord69]

The E36 M3 remains one of the most cost efficient cars for AutoX and track days. A well prepped E36 M3 will do wonders on the track and it will keep up with the best cars out there.

For as much as I like the MK4 R32s, I'd get a well kept and maintained E36 M3.

The E36 M3 has nothing fancy going on the suspension department. Just the good old McPherson struts and IRS at the rear. No exotic double-wishbone setup. With that in mind the car is so balanced and tuned perfectly that the simplicity of its setup works so well.

[WAR_GTI]

E36 I take it? Whats your goal? If you plan to track the car, get the M. If you want a better all around daily driver with a great engine note and power band... go R.

I have driven both. Yes the M is faster, period. That being said I like the R for personal reasons, none of which were cost based.

Exhaust note...you're hearing the R's exhaust note...not the engine note...and opened up right I think the s50/52 sounds better...personally...

OP:
think of how few nice R's are out there...and then consider for every 5 nice R's you find, you may find one nice e36M...if your willing to wait and search, then search some more; I would go for the M...it will be much more rewarding to drive...

[20vtVdubb]

depends on how skinny your jeans are...

#paaaaahhhhhhhhhhh

[SVTDanny]

They are both "douchey" cars. But M3 all the way, the R32 kinda says "I cant afford an M3"

Considering that the two cars are completely different, I would say no, no it doesn't.

If anything, a 530 says "I could only afford a 5 series with a 3 series motor." Douche.

[Matt15]

They are both "douchey" cars. But M3 all the way, the R32 kinda says "I cant afford an M3"

who the hell sees an R32 on the road and compares it to an M3?

with that said, that's kind of a tough call. very different cars but both cool in their own respects. between the two i'd go with the R since it's newer and i've never owned an AWD car. however if the comparison was an E46 then i'd take that no question.

[babarber]

honestly unless you plan to turbo the r32 then dont get it. but if you would like to turbo later or right away then i say go with the r32

[Brendan@bwalkauto]

I've driven both cars quite extensively, and a well sorted E36 is simply more fun to drive. If you are a novice looking to get into tracking a car though, I'll echo Hustle-DubS's comments that an R is easy to jump in and drive quickly. It's a nice benign car (though once you've learned how to hustle a RWD car around, the E36 is cake to drive).

[teklord69]

Considering that the two cars are completely different, I would say no, no it doesn't.

If anything, a 530 says "I could only afford a 5 series with a 3 series motor." Douche.

Well if anything a Chevy Sonic says "I can't afford a GTI"

[gti5dr06]

amazed no one has brought up the DSG vs MT argument yet.

in other news, this is available close by..though the mileage is ridiculous the price reflects it.

http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/d...978244467.html

[helement2003]

amazed no one has brought up the DSG vs MT argument yet.

No DSG in the 2004 R32...so no need for the argument

[bificus99]

Well if anything a Chevy Sonic says "I can't afford a Rabbit or golf"

FTFY

[G_RockNYTN]

Well if anything a Chevy Sonic says "I can't afford a GTI"

The difference is that he wasn't the instigator saying that both M3s and R32s are douchey cars.

My E36 M3 that I had in the early 2000s was hardly douchey and that would be my vote as a serious response. That's the car I wish I could go back and keep out of everything I've owned.

My car in the showroom the day I bought it:

[sh{}e]

Ive been thinking about buying an R32 for a while now but i just started thinking about the possibility of opening up my search to e36 M3's.

What do you guys think about the pros and cons of M3 v R32.

This will depend on what you will be doing. I had an MKIV R32 it was a blast and a good all around car. If you want a weekend track car then go with the M3. If you got money for mods the R32 is capable of good HP numbers on stock internals including the drivetrain (besides clutch) if going forced induction.

[gizmopop]

Ive been thinking about buying an R32 for a while now but i just started thinking about the possibility of opening up my search to e36 M3's.

What do you guys think about the pros and cons of M3 v R32.

One is RWD, the other AWD (you need to decide if this is a pro or con for you)

The E36 went out of production in 1999. The VW was only available in 2004 (in the U.S.) Both are going to be used, but the VW is newer.

There were only 5000 R32s for 1 year in the U.S. The E36 M3 was available for several years (in 3.0 and later 3.2 displacement) so the total # out there should be more than the VW...this maybe significant if/when looking for parts, but the VW does share components with several other cars in VAGs lineup... (TT, GTI, A3 etc...)

The performance between the 2 is pretty similar (even if they go about it differently).


OP, if you can, go out an drive both and pick the one that best fits you.

[Juiced6]

depends on how skinny your jeans are...

[Mike!]

Teklord is either the best Car Lounge troll ever devised, or its biggest fool.

[danny_16v]

M3 if you want a purer driving experience

[Internal Combustion]

Normally I'd smack someone for this thread, but I really think the E36 is starting to age. Replace the steering wheel for sure. I really like the torque of the I-6 and it's a great engine/trans/chassis combo. Both have great seats.

Basically- need AWD? Go R32
Want RWD? Go E36.


But are they in the same price range? I thought R32 had stupid high values, might be able to swing a E46 in there, which is a no brainer E46.

[teklord69]

M3 if you want a purer driving experience

Wow that is vague..Define purer driving experience?

[G_RockNYTN]

Normally I'd smack someone for this thread, but I really think the E36 is starting to age. Replace the steering wheel for sure. I really like the torque of the I-6 and it's a great engine/trans/chassis combo. Both have great seats.

Basically- need AWD? Go R32
Want RWD? Go E36.


But are they in the same price range? I thought R32 had stupid high values, might be able to swing a E46 in there, which is a no brainer E46.

The '99s actually had a good steering wheel. M 3-spoke vs that crappy standard E36 4 spoke. Doesn't add much value but I had to throw that in.

[true story]

In my totally biased opinion... drive both and pick for yourself.

[roadtripper]

when i was young, european car did a "which would you buy for $50K, Boxster or M3 cab" article. i was hooked. couldn't get it out of my mind. two total amazing cars for reachable money. each so delicious.

five years later, i stumbled into a situation where it was possible to put it to the test. we had a baby on the way, i figured the 4 seat M3 made more sense, so i started there. wouldn't you know it? the wife doesn't feel comfortable with our son back there. so F this, i say, i might as well have gotten the two seater. so i did. so then i sold that, because i had been on the R32 waiting list for 11 months, and the dealer stayed true to his word and held the very first one coming into the state for me. 11 miles, fresh off the truck in my presence.

we drove. mountainous pass, blazing switchback, rollicking hills, we drove. i didn't sign the paperwork that night, i didn't bring the cash, it had gotten late, we'd do it after work tomorrow after a more complete road test. i slept on it. stopped by on the way to work to tell him not to waste the miles on someone's new ride (i actually passed it along to a nice CT vortexer who was quoted three months).

i couldn't quite get over just how much i missed the M3. It was so f-ing good. the R32, feeling like my old mkiv gti glx truly turned up to 11 nonetheless, i knew, would just piss me off.

if you can find a pristine one, and you're man enough, and you intend to care for it properly, treat yourself to the legend. i am partial to estoril blue over dove grey.

[Fahrbomb]

My vote is for R32. Not the fastest car, but still plenty fun to drive, great to live with on a daily basis and great for all types of weather.

[danny_16v]

Wow that is vague..Define purer driving experience?

Well the M3 is a bit more connected in everything.

To me the M3's steering is better.
It's handling is more balanced.
The car itself is more 'grown up' as it's not a hatchback.
I'd say both engines are gems... I'd even say the R32 exhaust note is one of the best. The M3's isn't bad either (I have a Corsa RSC36 exhaust on mine).
The M3 is rwd so you have that... much purer sportscar layout 50/50 weight distribution.

I hardly remember what a stock M3 drives like but it was very easy to drive. On stock staggered wheels/stock alignment/suspension it understeered a bit, but you could coax it into a slide easy. I now have much more aggressive suspension TRM coilovers 670/895 spring rates, camber plates, -2.5F/-1.5 rear alignment. BBS LM's squared 18x8 with 235 tires... it's very neutral and it's limits are much higher than my courage.

Both cars are nice, and I'd own both... I'd get sick of having AWD though.

[Hurt]

2 completely different cars.. Not very comparable at all.

[helement2003]

The car itself is more 'grown up' as it's not a hatchback.

Personally, I bought an R32 (and other hatchbacks) due to being grown up and needing some utility in my "sporty" cars.