'18 Camaro SS 1LE switching to M3/M4?

[Flaudia402]

I have an '18 SS 1LE I purchased brand new in September of last year. I've recently been thinking about selling it and switching over to an M3. I drove an M4 yesterday and while it didn't have the same sounds or visceral car feel that my SS has, it just seemed so much more comfortable and daily driver livable. My 1LE has only 4k miles on it, and I've dumped money into with a full PPF of the entire front clip, rockers and HRE wheels. My original plan was to put a blower on it - would like be a high 500hp car on pump gas; roughly $10k additional for this.

I'll take a decent loss on the car selling it for probably $36k as it sits. My big issue is whether it's worth spending the extra $25k to purchase a pre-owned <10k mile M3 and skip further modifying the SS even though performance wise it definitely feels like more of the racecar. What are your thoughts if you were in my shoes?

This is my partial daily driver. On bad weather days I typically take my 4runner to work.

[Humdizzle]

the m3 won't be as fast or visceral as you said.

you could probably use that $25k difference to buy a used f30 328i or 335 that will give you the comfort and tech you want from a 3 series. Keep the Camaro for the go fast/fun stuff.

Camaro - race car
328i - comfort, tech, and relaxing car
4runner - bad weather and all purpose car for hauling stuff.

[Tazmn Jr]

Originally Posted by Flaudia402

I have an '18 SS 1LE I purchased brand new in September of last year. I've recently been thinking about selling it and switching over to an M3. I drove an M4 yesterday and while it didn't have the same sounds or visceral car feel that my SS has, it just seemed so much more comfortable and daily driver livable. My 1LE has only 4k miles on it, and I've dumped money into with a full PPF of the entire front clip, rockers and HRE wheels. My original plan was to put a blower on it - would like be a high 500hp car on pump gas; roughly $10k additional for this.

I'll take a decent loss on the car selling it for probably $36k as it sits. My big issue is whether it's worth spending the extra $25k to purchase a pre-owned <10k mile M3 and skip further modifying the SS even though performance wise it definitely feels like more of the racecar. What are your thoughts if you were in my shoes?

This is my partial daily driver. On bad weather days I typically take my 4runner to work.

The Camaro SS and the F80 M3/M4 Dct run the same 1/4 mile times. It is just a matter of preference. The F80 is easier to modify due to it being turbo charged. An Ecu flash and downpipes will give you an additional 100+hp for under 2000$. You also get a little more rarity with an F80 M3 than you do with a Camaro.

[Jojipoji]

Not sure why you would trade esp if you have a daily. Get something more fun like a vette or zl1.

[Thescout13]

I made this switch. I went from a Camaro (6th gen) back to an F80 after my wife got her F80. Never looked back honestly. They are just different cars. The Camaro is a hell of a performance car and I have tons of respect for it and that exhaust was wicked, but the M3/4 feels so much more put together and purposeful/mechanical with the M3 being my very strong preference and definitely go with the Comp package.

It's like when you watch the reviews that compare the C63s or Alfa or a Camaro to the F8x, the questions is, do you want noises and the emotions that come from that, or do you want a scalpel (something predictable, mechanical, precise). I have found that I am more the latter type of person. Also, the tunability in this platform is nuts.

One last note that may not matter to you as much, but in the area I lived with my Camaro, the amount of billy bob rednecks that flock to my car were annoying, and the local Camaro scene were two extremes of either rednecks or super ghetto purple wrapped $20k in mods but is a sales attendant at Best Buy (read drug dealer) who run straight pipes and rev their car at all time kind of people. It just got embarrassing driving the car or telling people (in my line of work) what I drive. The local BMW guys (BMW CCA, M Gruppe, and at C&C) tend to be much more normal. But this will widely vary depending on where you live and your preferences/work.

[nicknaz]

Keep the 1le. That’s a nice car with NA v8 sounds

Bath you’ll take isn’t worth it

[VR1]

Keep the Camaro. The F8X is a great dd but is not super exciting or thrilling to drive. I would not own one as an only car. Keep the fun car and buy a cheap dd.

[greasypeanut]

Originally Posted by Jojipoji

Not sure why you would trade esp if you have a daily. Get something more fun like a vette or zl1.

This, especially as you'll have to spend more money.

[M3R1]

I just went from this



To this



My 1LE had 900 mile on it. While I loved the driving dynamics of the car (at my limit), it just was not a great place to spend any time in. The Recaro's while supportive were not comfortable and the space was very confining. When I saw my current car on Bring a Trailer I just couldn't pass it up.

Point is I was not happy with my car in the way I needed to be, so I made the switch. I have made many automotive compromises in my life. It was time to buy a car that excites me all the time, not just at 10/10...

[Suds]

All I can say is if you are even thinking of changing cars don't put anymore money into the Camaro, it won't fix the issues that the M3 will alleviate.

[TrevorM3]

nice e92!

[mmmmQuattro]

To the OP, nothing sucks more than being disappointed in your new car.
I think you should spend quite a bit more time in an M3 before you pour more money down the drain.
Can't you rent one for a week ?

I haven't driven the Camaro, but I have driven a modded 1LE powered Aussie Commodore and it's completely different to the M4.

What I like about the M4, is that it's got instant torque and it's spread over a wide RPM range.

With the right exhaust and tune, the M4's a great daily driver, which can be quite a bit of fun driving slow, as well as driving it fast.

The exhaust isn't to everyone's liking, so you might want to consider a C63, if you like that V8 sound.

[Robin_Klein]

Originally Posted by mmmmQuattro

To the OP, nothing sucks more than being disappointed in your new car.
I think you should spend quite a bit more time in an M3 before you pour more money down the drain.
Can't you rent one for a week ?

I haven't driven the Camaro, but I have driven a modded 1LE powered Aussie Commodore and it's completely different to the M4.

What I like about the M4, is that it's got instant torque and it's spread over a wide RPM range.

With the right exhaust and tune, the M4's a great daily driver, which can be quite a bit of fun driving slow, as well as driving it fast.

The exhaust isn't to everyone's liking, so you might want to consider a C63, if you like that V8 sound.

completely agree with you.

[See5]

I'd keep the 1LE to be honest, unless you were upgrading to a Comp package or higher M3...

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by See5

I'd keep the 1LE to be honest, unless you were upgrading to a Comp package or higher M3...

When I had my f80 I was traveling for work a lot and commonly got camaro SS as my work rental car.

It was fun and fast, but ultimately in the same general ballpark (large and relatively heavy 4-5 seats compromise cars) as m3/m4

My $0.02 is hold out until you get really get a step change, like a c7z06 or GT4 or 69 454ci v8 something or SVT raptor. Something that is really emotional and a bit more hardcore because it doesn’t need to please commuters looking for ventilated seats and minimal road noise and a nice stereo

[dallastide]

For me personally if I'm picking heads up between the SS and the F80 its the M car every time, no question (shocking on this board I know). However, you are not picking heads up. If I already owned a low mileage SS I would drive it 2-3 years and then reassess. Unless your finances make it a non-issue (which mine do not) I just couldn't imagine taking the hit so soon after purchasing.

That being said I am generally the last person to tell someone else what they should drive. This is a very personal decision imo that only you can figure out when it comes down to it.

Cheers

[NCThreePedals]

Originally Posted by VR1

Keep the Camaro. The F8X is a great dd but is not super exciting or thrilling to drive. I would not own one as an only car. Keep the fun car and buy a cheap dd.

Sounds like you got the automatic

[DarthVaderM4]

Strange I test drove both cars, 1LE and M4, I picked M4. 90% of my cars I owned were turbo AWD, stick. 4 door or 2 door pretty much in mid 2000s went with M4-stick, twin turbo, lots of potential to make it fast.

sometimes its damn hard to pick the car you want, plus i need back seats as well.

[adc]

If you don’t need the practicality of an M3, stay with the Camaro. Performance is equivalent between the two cars, and even though the M3 depreciates slower you will never amortize the cost difference.

I have the CS map on mine and I absolutely love it. I’d only swap away from my car for a noticeable performance improvement, at the level of ZL1, GS, or 911 S/GTS.