My automotive ADD hast gotten the best of me. Help!

So I have been having this debate with myself for about 6 months now about what car I will get. Now that my finances have turned to my favor my dilemma has become a real issue. The debate has been between a 04-06 Pontiac GTO, an e46 M3 and in distant 3rd a MS3. They are all achieved for a price 0f $15-$20k. I have driven the MS3 and the GTO and love both. I have a feeling that when I drive the M3 I will fall in love with it. The only problem I see with the M3 is increased maintenance costs and the fact that the top end of my budget is right around the $20,000ish range, and that will probably only get me a well used M3. The GTO seems to be the cheapest to add performance too, and I'm not gunna lie, I love me some LS power. The MS3 was awesome and raw, but the only thing I'm not sure about is how I will like all that power to the front wheels in the Chicago winter. Performance seems relatively cheap, but the trim and interior really doesn't compare to either the M3 or GTO.

So the question I ask is what would GRM do If you were in the same predicament that I am?

Dan

GTO!

GTO

Got To Own... but that's just me

toad9977 wrote: So I have been having this debate with myself for about 6 months now about what car I will get....

Since I drive a lot of miles for sales; I too have this arguement, debate, plan, and suggestions with myself.

Buy something old and obscure for next to nothing. Then spend the next year or two shoehorning a LSX in it.

You asked.

GTO for me cause I hate FWD and BMWs just don't do anything for me.

an 05 or 06 GTO is the proper answer.. way more power than the 04, and the subtle styling changes make the car look better.

one more for GTO although you might also have problems in chicago winter with that too

GTO

/thread

Lemme get my mazda whore on and throw a vote for the ms3. They're amazing in the winter with the right set of tires, surprisingly tail happy off throttle (add a sway bar for even MORE fun), and can haul way more than any of the other cars on the list. Were the ms3 not a consideration, it'd be the goat for me. Dead simple, pretty inconspicuous, and lots of LSx power.

I voted E46 M3 with my dollars ($18.5k) but it's hard to say that the GTO wouldn't be the better choice on a $20k budget, not only looking at initial buy in but maintenance. Insurance may be vastly more expensive with one over the other too, something else to consider. My choice was purely based on having this as a third car for track and autocross work, and the fact that SWMBO absolutely hated the GTO. I can say a GTO is probably very fast on track, judging by the bellowing G8 that kept running away from me last time I was there.

I would probably vote gto. I own an e36 m3 and it's a blast to drive. I always hear from e46 owners that the cars just don't have the same character as the e30' and e36's.

I also think you would have more fun modding the gto

If you're worried about driving in Chicago winter, ditch any thoughts of GTO. I've owned one. I'll sit here and write paragraph after paragraph about how awesome the car was....but....bad weather? No way. I never drove it in snow, but I got caught in rain a few times. With that experience, I'd never want to drive it even in a flurry let alone snow.

If you need to drive it year round, go MS3. Or get a GTO and spend $1k for a winter beater!!

Klayfish wrote: get a GTO and spend $1k for a winter beater!!

ding ding ding! we have a winnar!

I appreciate the input guys. I myself have kind of been leaning towards the GTO

In response to failbot and Klayfish I had that exact idea. Although I am curious to see how a good set of snows and the traction control would transform that car in the winter. Otherwise I'm never opposed to driving slidways!

$20K will get you the most cherry 05/06 GTO's on the market. You could easily buy a very nice $15K GTO, spend $2500 on a winter beater, and still have cash leftover to mod both.

So yeah, uh, GTO!!!

From experience, nice summer car plus winter beater= 2 unhappy cars.

I cant tell you the exact mechanism. but cars don't seem to like being parked for months at a time. Especially the modern ones with the pollution and electronic crap.

I tried this with a Miata and the Protege. Neither one was happy to come out of hibernation mode when their turn came. Ended up selling the Miata.

NOHOME wrote: From experience, nice summer car plus winter beater= 2 unhappy cars. I cant tell you the exact mechanism. but cars don't seem to like being parked for months at a time. Especially the modern ones with the pollution and electronic crap. I tried this with a Miata and the Protege. Neither one was happy to come out of hibernation mode when their turn came. Ended up selling the Miata.

I park the ms3 4 months out of the year and I never have a problem. I might be lucky though, who knows.

GTO.

I hope storage isn't a problem... i'm at a point in my life where i'm going to start storing 3 cars over winter.

I vote GTO + winter beater.

I personally find that the perfect daily driver is '99 Miata + 2000 Yukon XL! If there is something that you can't do with the combination of those 2 vehicles you probably shouldn't do it! I try not to let either sit too long and they both seem to be very happy with the arrangement.

In this order

GTO GTO GTO

and I don't like GM products!!!

I would regularly vote the e46 m3. It's an extremely balanced car. But for that price range you can also get a c5 vette. I would go for the vette over the gto.

FlightService wrote: In this order GTO GTO GTO and I don't like GM products!!!

Even though they were sold as Pontiacs they are Holden thru and thru, there's nothing 'GM' about them, except the LSx, that right there should basically tell you all you need to know, now go get one :)

OK, not on your list but Mazdaspeed6 or Legacy GT.

AWD+Chicago winter = Win.

The 'speed3 won't be any worse in the winter than a GTO or E46 M3. Snow tires FTW.

I say GTO / M3 and winter beater.

Few things are as destructive to a car than a winter in Chicagoland. Salt, ice, black ice, and a road-full of impatient folks rushing around do not make for a good situation.

Sure getting a bit sideways in the snow is kinda fun, but how about crossing over a bridge on the highway and spinning at 70mph when the ass end gets light. Nah, for the winter get a cheap beater with good heat and defrost.

You will be much happier when that shiny happy person slides into the side of your beater, instead of your pretty M3 or GTO.

Of course used STIs may be in that price range......Or a Forester XT!