Evo vs. M3

[87e30]

Keep only the 318 and sell the m3. You don't need a project in college, and I bet you'll get burnt out on the m3 if you decide to build it for that long.

Everyone on this site likes to trash newer cars... but there is a reason everyone else on the planet buys them. If you want something "fun" and "rewarding" you still have your 318 which is realistically very similar to the m3. (steering rack and control arm bushings are the only non-horsepower differences that matter that I can think of)

I'd much rather have 10k in the bank than an m3 sitting at home that I'm not driving or maintaining properly because I'm away at school. Plus, you going to leave it at your parents house forever?

Save your money.

(college student)

[Holland]

Obviously the smart choice would be to keep the 318, but let's play in your M3 vs Evo game. I personally would build the M3, even knowing it's slower than the Evo. It would be so much more rewarding being able to out gun newer cars in a 20 year old relic. The M3 will be more rewarding and will be a much better car for improving driver skill, especially since it is slower than the new sheet metal. I suppose though I am biased because I am a huge advocate of underpowered cars.

[KenC]

The M3 isn't all that great to drive, but I'd drive it just for the body.

It handles about the same as your 318is, but is a little faster.

[Emre]

I've been driving E30s for years and I used to have a nicely tuned Evo VIII (close to 360 AWHP). The Evo is much, much faster, but it's also much heavier and less interesting to drive. I eventually sold it and went back to my E30.

The E30 is simply more challenging and rewarding to drive quickly. With cars like the Evo/STi/GTR you feel like you're on autopilot: just stand on the throttle and point the nose where you want to go. It's a little boring after a while.

If I were you, I'd keep the 318is for day-to-day use. It's a phenomenal daily driver. And I'd turn the E30 M3 into a dedicated track beast. Best of all worlds.

[RwMystery]

yeah this makes sense. I won't be driving much anyway because the town I'm going to college in is really bike oriented so I could just ride to basically anywhere I needed to go. I don't know, I guess after driving the STI my need for speed got pretty uncontrolable. Maybe i'll just boost the 318 and have a rice eater.

then buy a sportbike.

[tehwickerman]

why don't you just keep the 318 through college, save money, and when you graduate, properly build the m3 or sell both and buy whatever ricer car you want.

yeah this makes sense. I won't be driving much anyway because the town I'm going to college in is really bike oriented so I could just ride to basically anywhere I needed to go. I don't know, I guess after driving the STI my need for speed got pretty uncontrolable. Maybe i'll just boost the 318 and have a rice eater.

[TomSuddard]

The Evo will feel like a heavy 4WD monster, the M3 will feel like a precision instrument. It's all about what you prefer. I've driven a new GTR, and I have an E30 M3. The GTR was certainly much faster, and had lots of cool computers running it, but at the end of the day I liked the slower M3 much better.

What I'm trying to say is pick whatever suits you. Some people like big heavy cars with lots of power and technology. Others like light cars with little power.

Also, the M3 will be worth more in a few years, the Evo less. If nothing else, wait until after college to sell the M3 and buy the Evo, you'll get more for the M3 and pay less for the Evo.

[Jon325i]

why don't you just keep the 318 through college, save money, and when you graduate, properly build the m3 or sell both and buy whatever ricer car you want.

Well said sir. College won't be the place to have a really nice car (parking lot dings, potential theft, the ever-present Ricer fanbois wanting to street race). Just get your 318 fully sorted and dead-reliable for use as a college car. By the time you graduate, these Evos will have depreciated enough to where they will be performance bargains.

Just my

[briansjacobs]

I would take the STI over the MR anyday. yes, in the hands of someone with experience the MR is faster around a track than an STI, chances are you will never come close to the limit in either car so take the one less likely to break. I have driven both at or near the limit and an E30 M3 even with a 2.5 can not hang with a lightly modded STI or MR.

With that said what car would I rather drive at a track day? The E30 ofcourse, that is why I will never sell my E30.

IT IS NOT HOW FAST YOU GO, IT IS HOW YOU GO FAST!

[dvs909]

why don't you just keep the 318 through college, save money, and when you graduate, properly build the m3 or sell both and buy whatever ricer car you want.

this.

fancy cars in college are a hassle. i wish i had purchased my e30 after college, and just driven my toyota during it. would have saved a lot of money/hassles.

its not the most fun, but its good sense. high schoolers and fast cars usually equal trouble.

[yberther]

why don't you just keep the 318 through college, save money, and when you graduate, properly build the m3 or sell both and buy whatever ricer car you want.

[fryerfighter94]

heres a grand master plan. Sell 318is. Market it as an m3, and trick some newb into buying it for m3 money. With this money, buy an older wrx, and you may still have change left over. Invest change into m3.

[Wh33lhop]

EVOs and M3s are different experiences. The EVO grips and goes like whoa, where the M3 a joy to dance around corners. The EVO will understeer at WOT (unless you get a X model with active yaw control) whereas you can balance the M3 to be neutral.

[tehwickerman]

I'd have time to finish the m3. It'll take me about 3 years I'm guessing working on it with breaks and summer. The trouble is if I get an evo it will decrease in value and I wouldn't be able to just sell it and get the same M3 i'd have if I had waited and built it myself. Basically I'm just wondering if the e30 m3 is THAT good to drive. I mean everywhere says they're damn amazing but I can't see it being better then an evo or something of that sort....

[Iain]

Evo IX > E30