ransom wrote:sanman wrote: Why not a non-M3 e46?Doesn't the 330i with some crazy acronym (ZHP?) get a lot of favorable talk when it comes up?
Yup, the zhp fits all his needs/wants performance wise its similar to the e36 me but more couchy /comfortable and newer for a DD. No LSD though.
Another consideration would be the mazdaspeed6. They're cheaper than the speed3s.
In reply to poopshovel:
Dude, you are describing a GTO to the T. Sack up and go drive one.
Javelin wrote: In reply to poopshovel: Dude, you are describing a GTO to the T. Sack up and go drive one.
He already said he didn't like them.
Don't do this again.
z31maniac wrote:Javelin wrote: In reply to poopshovel: Dude, you are describing a GTO to the T. Sack up and go drive one.He already said he didn't like them. Don't do this again.
poopshovel wrote:Greg Voth wrote: http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/cto/4128013249.html Could be shaddy but worth a look.Yeah. That's the one that was $4k last night. I wonder if he's missing a "1" up front. Might give a call though. Wouldn't that be some E36 M3?
Now its 6k cash... no phone number, seems like a scam.
psteav wrote: How bad is the maintenance on a CTS-V? (I realilze I'm only stirring the pot here.) I would say that if the maintenance issues and reliability are typical early '00's GM (read: cheap, easy to find parts, and good reliability), then you can't go wrong with the Caddy for 12 grand. I had no idea they were getting that cheap.
Rear ends are fragile for the drag strip. Mine has done fine in the street, of course I don't do burn outs or dump the clutch. They have Ford 9" conversions that run $4500 or so. A newer generation differential is suppose to be stronger, so if mine does go I'll just spend the $1200 and get that. (It can go 3 times before I recoup the cost of the 9" conversion) Other than that, nothing else really stands out.
As the proud owner of an SN95 Mustang, I am saying this as strongly as I can with polite text; do not buy an SN95 Mustang. It doesn't fit what you want, at all, case closed. If you thought the interior of the GTO was dorky, you don't want this. If you want something modern feeling with good suspension engineering, at least from the factory, don't buy this. If you want to have some cargo space, unless it's a convertible, it's impossible to get large things into these cars. I did bring a large TV home in mine but only because the top goes down, and I probably wasn't supposed to do that to a TV even if it was in the box.
I would go find a 540i with a manual trans. That'd be the first thing I'd test drive if I had cash to pay and that much to spend and I didn't care too much about the mpg. I wonder what a 540 with Aerochambers or Ultraflow SS mufflers would sound like...
Yeah. Mustangs and GTO's are O-U-T. I'm sending homeboy an email on the caddy. Never know. Could be getting divorced and dumping assets, skipping bail, whatever.
And I'm kind of surprised at how CHEAP the 540i's are, compared to M3s of either generation with similar mileage. Most expensive (7x,000 miles, CLEAN) one I could find was $12k, but sadly, slushbox.
...that said, this makes my pants fit funny.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4090845677.html
I've always been impressed with the performance/dollar you get out of the E39 540i. My concern with the CTS-V is whether the interior would have held up well-enough to still feel nice after all these years. Most GM products of that era seem to show a lot of interior wear. That said, my E34 wore like iron on the inside, but I've seen lots of E36's that seemed to visibly fall apart before they were paid off. I don't think I could pay that much for a car and live with a shabby interior.
Has anyone mentioned the G35 Sedan yet?
ShadowSix wrote: I've always been impressed with the performance/dollar you get out of the E39 540i. My concern with the CTS-V is whether the interior would have held up well-enough to still feel nice after all these years. Most GM products of that era seem to show a lot of interior wear. That said, my E34 wore like iron on the inside, but I've seen lots of E36's that seemed to visibly fall apart before they were paid off. I don't think I could pay that much for a car and live with a shabby interior. Has anyone mentioned the G35 Sedan yet?
The interior is typical Lowbrow GM. Paint on radio buttons flake off, looks are blah, but it functions and I'm not in this car for its interior amenities. That said I can't say it's aged all that badly or anything.
HNNNNNNNGGGG. What's the "M-Tech" all about?
I think I mentioned this in the prior M3 thread, but is it odd that kbb is spitting out numbers about half of what most of these are listed at, or is $13k-ish pretty much the going rate for a decent E46 with 100-something thousand miles?
poopshovel wrote:
That is sex! But isn't that getting close to M5 territory?
Also Jav, how do you find so many cool cars?
poopshovel wrote:
Shift knob and door sills and other inconsequential crap got tagged by some retarded german kid with 3 crayons and a letter M stamp.
Nice car, but M-Tech was just a bunch of optional trim BS.
I would consider giving a reach around for any of these cars:
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4091951062.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4090845677.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4124116006.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4072480588.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4132624148.html
ShadowSix wrote: That said, my E34 wore like iron on the inside, but I've seen lots of E36's that seemed to visibly fall apart before they were paid off. I don't think I could pay that much for a car and live with a shabby interior.
Aside from the headliner being worse, both my E36s' interiors have been about the same as my E34's and my dad's E34. Door cards eventually start to unglue themselves and need to be repaired. Other than that, they're not too awful. A little cheap feeling, though.
If it were mostly highway I'd do CTS-V or 540i6. Back roads and city, M3 or Speed3 if FWD is your thing.
Every 5er I've driven has felt a little sluggish except when you're doing something dumb like power sliding it or really hauling ass. Even with lots of upgraded suspension parts they feel sedate most of the time. But they just EAT highway and are easy to drive when you get a chance to toss them around.
My M3 (E36) is fun all the time. The steering feel is crazy crazy good. Better than my Miata with welded up de-powered steering and poly bushings. Infinitely better than the recirc ball steering in the E34 and E39 540i. The only real downside is the gearing is a little busy on the highway. But even that isn't awful. I got the car assuming it'd be the 'around town' daily, but it's falling into the family hauler role on any road trip where there's nice driving at the far end...
Pretty stinkin' primitive by current standards, though.
jdbuilder wrote: Also Jav, how do you find so many cool cars?
It's just what I do. 
LS1 RWD WXR nice!
But isn't that getting close to M5 territory?
Yes. Yes it is.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/cto/4114102338.html
What I would buy.
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/ctd/4043823166.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/sat/ctd/4128963864.html
http://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/4134343749.html
Hnnnggggg DEM JAGS.
I'd take the first one, then dump it on some baller wheels.
poopshovel wrote: I think I mentioned this in the prior M3 thread, but is it odd that kbb is spitting out numbers about half of what most of these are listed at, or is $13k-ish pretty much the going rate for a decent E46 with 100-something thousand miles?
I peruse these on the regular (E46 M3's) and that's right in line with what I always see for 100+K mileage cars.
"cheap" ones go quick ~$12K. Most are listed $13-$15K and sit awhile longer.
That Imola Red is also equipped with the limited edition Manuel apparently.
Definitely go for the M5 if you're into E39's. There are a few more expensive maintenance items than the 540i, but it's worth it. It will also likely have been maintained better, as they've held their value more than the 540's. The 540's which are now on third-fourth lower income owners and just worn out.
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