Cheap M5 Alternative

First time poster after lurking for a while. Great board and magazine! Never found something so geared (my humor is a little corny) toward the limited budget enthusiast. Rode in a friends '09 M5 yesterday. Nice but, very EXPEN$IVE obviously, and I don't like that much luxury stuff. Any ideas for for a sporty, fast 4 or 5 door, under about 10K? Newer or probably considering my budget, older....?

4 door E36 M3!

88 m5 (I'm on an e28 kick for now - I'll get over it as soon as I get one).

BMW 540.
V8 with manual trans.

Or as stated above a BMW M3 in 4 door format.

97-00 540i /6speed.

May I suggest a1989 Dodge Dynasty.....towed behind your buddies M5.

I'd try to find the parts for an LSx Catera conversion.

93celicaGT2 wrote: 4 door E36 M3!

That's what I'd go for.

I'll pass on maintenance for the M60/M62

Bmw 3-series, Mercedes C class, Audi A6, Caddy CTS, Bugeye WRX?........

I keep walking past a not great but usable condition e28 (I don't know which motor, the rear badges are gone) but I wonder if a 535i e28 with a turbo of proper sizing and such with a Megasquirt and generally updated ignition and fuel systems and such wouldn't be a wonderful way to move about. I don't see such a thing munching up nearly new M5's but it shouldn't be too bad.

mw wrote: 97-00 540i /6speed.

Do it.

Ask Dilysidave He had one.

LS1 powered E36 or E39

540I sport is what you are looking for.

JFX001 wrote: I'd try to find the parts for an LSx Catera conversion.

I want more info on this one, I like the body, the motors were crap though.

I thought the GRM Chatty Borg already classified the Catera as "way more trouble than it's worth" with all sorts of weirdo expensive things just waiting to happen.

In reply to upwardlymobilehome:

2000 Audi S4 2.7tt

Expensive to own, but a pretty sweet ride for alot less than an M5 of the same year.

e36 M3/4/5 probably makes the most sense, you'll have to wait a while to find one since they're significantly less common than the coupes. No where close to the same refinement or power of the e60 m5 but it's about the best you can expect in that price range.

Volvo S60R's are getting there. A Cop Hemi Charger would be the ticket. But, a true GRM ride would be a Dodge Spirit R/T.;)

E36 four door Alpina B8? Don't know if those ever made it to the US, though.

JFX001 wrote: I'd try to find the parts for an LSx Catera conversion.

Do you have any idea how long that's been rolling around in my head?

XJR? Can be had for pennies on the $$ compared to other luxo car's Think of it as a $20k for $10k and keep $5k in hand for repaires. There was a guy on Corner Carvers who picked one up for $10k and was fixing the little things a lot cheaper than you might think. Similar age/miles Lexus were selling to Sheeple for over twice as much.

And from what I hear, the straight 6 XJR is pretty robust compared to the later, more powerful V8.

ignorant wrote:

mw wrote: 97-00 540i /6speed.

Do it. Ask Dilysidave He had one.

Indeed. Loved that car. It would cruise effortlessly down the Atlanta Autobahn, eating up miles with quiet authority and getting a respectable 22 mpg combined, then if the nerve struck me, Camaro embarrassing hoonage was as close as a push of the ESC button.

Just watch the BMW V8s for timing chain noise. More and more instances of worn chain guide rails cropping up, and failure will lunch the motor very expensively.

Gotta go with the suggestion of e36 M3/4/5. I like mine so enough so that I don't really feel the need to ever buy another car. (not that I won't). It's probably one of the last series of BMWs that you can maintain yourself also.