What to do: keep the vert or get an M3?

[lylefk]

It's not something I'll do right away, but it's something I've been tossing around for a while...The car is a daily driver and will have a garage spot.

Which option would you choose?


1) Keep the vert. It's a super clean 92 with only 85k miles. Zero rust or body damage or issues. At the moment it's stock with a Dinan chip, and dark silver with gray leather. 5 speed. I've owned it for a couple of months and have already done all the belts and hoses, water pump, thermostat, tires, replaced all the worn out buttons and switches and installed a Clifford alarm with a proximity sensor. I have new calipers and pads sitting here.

Plans for the car, somewhat in order: Suspension and wheels. Pull out the back seat and do an install with 2 JL 12's and JL amps with 6.5's in the doors...convert the interior to Cardinal. TSX HID's in smoked ellips. Hard top. At 100,000 miles, do a mildly built S52 swap with exhaust and then eventually repaint it and make some mild changes to the exterior (euro grills, remove side markers, etc etc).

Pros: Drop top for the summer. Already own the car. The car is in great condition to start a project with. Maintenence issues are already handled...clean slate.

Cons: Road noise when the soft top is up. Not as sporty. All the drawbacks of having a soft top during the Pacfic Northwest winter.



2) Sell the vert and pick up an e30 M3. Black or silver with cardinal interior. Engine choice really depends on what car I find. I'd most likely keep the S14 if there is one in it and probably wouldn't yank it out for an S52 unless it had massive damage. Wouldn't be totally against a swap if it came that way. Racier build up in general, not sure about the back seat yet.

Pros: Sportier, faster, rarer. I've always wanted an M3. They're just sexy, I don't have to explain that to you guys. It's an e30 M3, one of the greatest cars ever built.

Cons: Don't already own it. No vert for the summer. More expensive to buy and build. Most likely will need much more maintenence and general work before I can get to mods.



I don't have a ton of money to put into it. We are in the middle of buying a house, so I have financial obligations.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Thanks for your feedback!

Lyle

[IRON-E]

M3





/Thread.

[VacMan]

Buy a hardtop. Keep the cabrio. Buy an M3 when the right opportunity presents itself.

[Nicademus]

I agree, get a hardtop. I think the hardtops make the cabrio's look amazing. I wouldn't want to own a cabrio without a hardtop or at least the plan of getting a hardtop.

[smonkbmw]

owning a vert in the NW to me is just pointless. the ratio of days where its warm/sunny enough to drive top down isnt worth it (to me at least).

although im not a fan of verts i say keep it.

the cash youd get from selling the vert outright would still leave at least $6-$12k to come up with out of pocket (unless you have a source for a sub $10k m3 that we dont know about). you are correct, youd have to sink money into preventative maintenance before mods. UNLESS you pay the $$ upfront for a car with records etc. the lowest priced e30m3 on autotrader is in CA for $12k. which as i stated before would mean youd have to come up with a minimum of around $5k AFTER selling the vert.

on the upside, e30m3s are not getting cheaper. they are becoming a rarity and are appreciating in value. so you could look at this as more of a investment, because chances are if you keep it and restore it (no ebay items, "racer" parts) to stock you could end up with a car that will fetch over $20k in the future.

oh and good luck finding a car with FULL cardinal interior, those are few and far between.

[dashboardmonkey]

M3

[SynSyx]

since it will be your DD, i would say keep the vert, get an m3 if/when you can afford it.

DDing an e30 m3 would scare me, just because id be afraid something would happen to it

[chucko]

If you plan to leave the M3 stock then it's not a bad car to own even as a DD. The problem with the M3 is that it's difficult to just leave it stock and OEM parts are stupid expensive (the Evo bits are especially over priced but sexy). Since it's such an enthusiasts car, non-OEM parts are generally not preferred (with some exceptions). You will have to keep up on the maintenance but the good thing is that the car is not so complex that you can't do some work at home. The car is very raw (noisey, bumpy ride, no power below 4500) in other words, not refined, so if you're looking for comfort, stick with the vert. Also the $15K E30M3 rule is probably closer to $20K now. HTH :up:

Oh, one other thing, if you have a GF she will not like the M3, just giving a heads up.

[Danny]

Aren't you a young guy?

You don't have enough money for an M3.

[88e30is]

I like verts....not a big fan of the wide body of the M3. Thats just me though.

[smonkbmw]

18 votes for the m3, but only 8 replies.....hmm.

[Nicademus]

Oh, one other thing, if you have a GF she will not like the M3, just giving a heads up.

This is very true. I've been talking about getting an E30 M3 and selling my IS300. My GF thinks I'm smoking crack.

[88e30is]

I think your cat is smoking crack.

[MC Hammered]

Keep the vert and find a hardtop.

[lylefk]

Buy a hardtop. Keep the cabrio. Buy an M3 when the right opportunity presents itself.

That's kind of what I was thinking...I want to have it for at least one summer...

owning a vert in the NW to me is just pointless.

I disagree...the summers here are fantastic, the best around...

good luck finding a car with FULL cardinal interior

I'll piece it together, not too worried about that. The stuff is out there...

If you plan to leave the M3 stock then it's not a bad car to own even as a DD. The problem with the M3 is that it's difficult to just leave it stock and OEM parts are stupid expensive (the Evo bits are especially over priced but sexy). Since it's such an enthusiasts car, non-OEM parts are generally not preferred (with some exceptions). You will have to keep up on the maintenance but the good thing is that the car is not so complex that you can't do some work at home. The car is very raw (noisey, bumpy ride, no power below 4500) in other words, not refined, so if you're looking for comfort, stick with the vert. Also the $15K E30M3 rule is probably closer to $20K now. HTH

Oh, one other thing, if you have a GF she will not like the M3, just giving a heads up.

Very well thought out response, thanks...I don't really plan on keeping it stock, but won't go TOO crazy with it. Oh, and my fiance is not like most girls...she drives a chevy truck with full exhaust and gets a kick out of parking garages...she'll like the car.

Aren't you a young guy?

You don't have enough money for an M3.

No, I'm 29. And I paid $43k for the car before my e30.

not a big fan of the wide body of the M3. Thats just me though.

Yes, yes that is just you...lol

Keep the vert and find a hardtop.

Mentioned by a lot of people, this will be my short-term solution I think (12-24 months)...maybe after we get married (8/2010) I'll start looking seriously at picking up an M3.

Thanks all...any more thoughts?