What's your age?

[No.401_Speed]

65

Got into street cars/racing in my early 20's with a hopped up '68 400ci/4 spd MT Firebird. In those days, we thought foreign cars looked like toasters on wheels and if you pulled alongside a group of V8 muscle cars with your six cylinder, you were laughed off the lot. Just goes to show how time and age influence technology and attitudes since my S55 six would absolutely crush 99% of those cars now, and I've come to view these early E series cars as automotive art.

Followed up 10 years later with a '71 455ci 4 spd auto Trans Am white with blue stripes, beautiful car, torque monster, but absolutely no comparison with my E92 and not even in the same league as my M4. But, in it's day it was a hoot to drive and I remember pulling into the A&W parking lot and doing brake stands that would choke the place out with tire smoke. Another change as you mature is that I'd never do something as stupid as that at my age and with my M4.

Enjoyed an '85 Trans Am for a few years, but that car was junk. Poorly made and poorly engineered, it was gutless and only looked good until the paint peeled off due to Pontiac's faulty paint primer.

Drove SUVs after that until retirement from the Army and that's when I bought my first BMW. I liked the look of the Mustang, but would not buy a Ford if it were the last car on earth. Didn't like the look of the Camaro and vowed never again to buy another Chevy following GMs criminal handling of their faulty key locks which contributed to the deaths of scores of innocent people.

The E-92 was my buy-and-try and that followed five years later with the addition of the M4. I keep them both because they are fabulous cars, each in their own right.

In my day, a young man could not get a car loan, period. Unless mommy or daddy signed the loan with your not-so-friendly local bank loans manager. I remember being turned down multiple times when first applying for a car loan. Never succeeded in getting a loan in my teens, my family had zero resourses so they were no help, so I just had to wait to build up a credit rating one small purchase at a time. Eventually, I convinced them to loan me $1,200 to buy my first car. Years later I paid $55,000 for my first house; my M4 cost more than that.

How times have changed. Credit is easy to get, interest rates are at historical lows and the job market is good. You young guys buying $80-$100K cars shouldn't loose sight of the fact that your parents did not have these options for most of their adult life. So count your blessings.

From an ol' dawg, to the young wolves.

[m4h2o]

Originally Posted by No.401_Speed

65

Got into street cars/racing in my early 20's with a hopped up '68 400ci/4 spd MT Firebird. In those days, we thought foreign cars looked like toasters on wheels and if you pulled alongside a group of V8 muscle cars with your six cylinder, you were laughed off the lot. Just goes to show how time and age influence technology and attitudes since my S55 six would absolutely crush 99% of those cars now, and I've come to view these early E series cars as automotive art.

Followed up 10 years later with a '71 455ci 4 spd auto Trans Am white with blue stripes, beautiful car, torque monster, but absolutely no comparison with my E92 and not even in the same league as my M4. But, in it's day it was a hoot to drive and I remember pulling into the A&W parking lot and doing brake stands that would choke the place out with tire smoke. Another change as you mature is that I'd never do something as stupid as that at my age and with my M4.

Enjoyed an '85 Trans Am for a few years, but that car was junk. Poorly made and poorly engineered, it was gutless and only looked good until the paint peeled off due to Pontiac's faulty paint primer.

Drove SUVs after that until retirement from the Army and that's when I bought my first BMW. I liked the look of the Mustang, but would not buy a Ford if it were the last car on earth. Didn't like the look of the Camaro and vowed never again to buy another Chevy following GMs criminal handling of their faulty key locks which contributed to the deaths of scores of innocent people.

The E-92 was my buy-and-try and that followed five years later with the addition of the M4. I keep them both because they are fabulous cars, each in their own right.

In my day, a young man could not get a car loan, period. Unless mommy or daddy signed the loan with your not-so-friendly local bank loans manager. I remember being turned down multiple times when first applying for a car loan. Never succeeded in getting a loan in my teens, my family had zero resourses so they were no help, so I just had to wait to build up a credit rating one small purchase at a time. Eventually, I convinced them to loan me $1,200 to buy my first car. Years later I paid $55,000 for my first house; my M4 cost more than that.

How times have changed. Credit is easy to get, interest rates are at historical lows and the job market is good. You young guys buying $80-$100K cars shouldn't loose sight of the fact that your parents did not have these options for most of their adult life. So count your blessings.

From an ol' dawg, to the young wolves.

Enjoyed reading this. Thank you👍

[HyeM3]

Originally Posted by Nativetexan

What was the ISF like?

I've been a die hard Toyota fan my entire life : ) Landcruiser especially!

Man let me tell you about that car... that thing had me completely bought in on Toyota reliability, such an amazing and fun car! There was one sold in 2016 with 400k miles that still had the original trans and motor. Decently fast, I'd say the equivalent of a 2016 mustang 5.0 with a few bolt ons. Really good 15 in. brembo brakes, 5/10 steering feel, not bad handling, and absolute horrible ride quality. My M3 is lowered quite a bit on KW HAS kit and it still rides 10x better than that car. The exhaust note when you put an aftermarket exhaust on it was insane, very exotic like (look up vids of the rr-racing bazooka exhaust). Trans wasn't bad, the up and downshifts were crisp and responsive. But if you tried to double downshift or double upshift the trans would get confused and take like 10 seconds to finish the second downshift/upshift. I abused the living hell out of that car every single day in the 120 degree AZ heat and it never had a single problem. When I tell you that thing was bulletproof, I truly mean BULLETPROOF. I tapped the limiter on like every shift because it would give a nice V8 backfire and apparently that's how you get the best 1/4 mile times since the powerband just keeps climbing all the way to the limiter. Tuners raised the limiter nearly 1000 rpm because there was so much left on the table with the stock tune. If you guys are frustrated with new BMW's not being able to have their ECU's cracked, it took 9 YEARS for someone to finally crack that thing... I miss being able to beat on that thing every single day with full confidence knowing nothing will ever break because we all know you can't do that in a BMW lol. My favorite part of that car was how nobody knew what it was so I would always get people stopping me confused as hell thinking I cammed or V8 swapped an IS250. It was hilarious beating mustangs, Camaros, and chargers and then watching them pull up shocked that they lost to a Lexus. Oh yeah and that car never had a SINGLE rattle even with 120k miles, a super loud droney exhaust, and horrible jarring suspension. The build quality was fantastic! Its nowhere near the fastest or best handling car out there but thats what made it perfect for little old irresponsible 19-23 year old me. So much respect for that car and Toyota, that thing owes me nothing and it could easily take 500k miles of abuse.

Sorry for the long post, that car will just always have a special place in my heart

[F80Noob]

Originally Posted by Nativetexan

What was the ISF like?

I've been a die hard Toyota fan my entire life : ) Landcruiser especially!

I had a 2012 for 4 years. I always wanted one since hearing it's v8 at the LA auto show waaay back in 2008. Put on 50k mostly trouble free miles. Maintenance was cheap, even at the lexus dealer.

Right at the end though I had a valley plate leak where the coolant would leak all over the engine top. Would have cost me $2500 but good thing I had a carmax maxcare warranty. I was really considering the GSF prior to getting the m3 but did not want a large car.

[PhatLyfe]

50, Got this as a early birthday gift from the wife - f83 AW/SO comp

[JamesF80m3]

21

[65fastback]

Originally Posted by PhatLyfe

50, Got this as a early birthday gift from the wife - f83 AW/SO comp

Really? where do you find this type of wife?

[deeldoo]

Originally Posted by PhatLyfe

50, Got this as a early birthday gift from the wife - f83 AW/SO comp

Can you adopt me?

[SD ///M4]

I'll be 70 in November. My 2016 M4 is my second ///M car, the first is my 2006 Z4 M Roadster, bought used in 2012, which I still have.

My wife is 52 and has a 2018 M3 CP.

[PhatLyfe]

Originally Posted by deeldoo

Can you adopt me?

Sorry mate, I have a 14 year old who's claiming the car already..

[PhatLyfe]

Originally Posted by 65fastback

Really? where do you find this type of wife?

College sweetheart

[kerkiraios00]

37

[jpy1980]

40 here, but just had a newborn during the pandemic and a raging THREEnager who is out of day care and doesn't like sleeping, so I feel like a 100 year old. SAVE ME!

BTW my f80 is my first F80, but I've always lusted over them since the e36 generation when I was in HS. BUT I really had to get the whole JDM thing out of my system first, as I'm Asian and we love RICE rockets =P jk

Hi, I'm Julian!

[NoSuchSol]

Originally Posted by jpy1980

40 here, but just had a newborn during the pandemic and a raging THREEnager who is out of day care and doesn't like sleeping, so I feel like a 100 year old. SAVE ME!

BTW my f80 is my first F80, but I've always lusted over them since the e36 generation when I was in HS. BUT I really had to get the whole JDM thing out of my system first, as I'm Asian and we love RICE rockets =P jk

Hi, I'm Julian!

Shoot... I felt old having one at 37. We called it quits @ 4 kiddos (9,8,5,3). The oldest is good with me driving like a maniac but my 8 year old says "no drfiting!"

[m3rxn]

48

[mrjsmith88]

31!! First M's (bought two at one time)...I see the stuff that goes on, as some would call it ratchet (understandable) I call it fun.. No matter what age the car was built for us to have fun.. Before my M I drove a 650 msport and all though the V8 twin turbo was good, it could not handle the mods to create power like the F80 & F85 can. Night and day difference for me and over the AWD option of my F85.. I always want to be in my F80 the car is just too much fun!!!

[drreid3]

54. First M car. Come from a long list of Hondas. I still have my S2000. I've had my 2016 M3 Comp. with MT for just over a year. I bought it for my retirement. I agree with some others about too expensive for most young ones that haven't funded their retirement yet. Getting into a house that appreciates should come before toys. But you might as well enjoy them if you got them.

[Mike.]

2 friggen 9

[FK80M3]

43 here, longtime M fan just got into an F80 a few months ago.

[SD ///M4]

Originally Posted by drreid3

54. First M car. Come from a long list of Hondas. I still have my S2000. I've had my 2016 M3 Comp. with MT for just over a year. I bought it for my retirement. I agree with some others about too expensive for most young ones that haven't funded their retirement yet. Getting into a house that appreciates should come before toys. But you might as well enjoy them if you got them.

I had a 2000 S2000 that I bought new in September 1999. Had it for 13 years until I sold it in 2012 to buy a used 2006 Z4 M Roadster, which was my first BMW. Way more power and torque, not quite as nimble, but overall, a more enjoyable ride. In 2016 I bought an M4 and really wish I had optioned for the CP, but it was introduced after I placed my order and I didn't like the wheels or the seats. Now my wife has a 2018 M3 CP and I really wish I'd changed my order!

[DocL]

53. First M car ever. BMW was never on my radar until a friend of mine finally convinced me.

[jbenegasi]

22, I bought the car a year ago at 21. Bought her with 27k and I'm about to roll over 40k. Loving every second!