Downgrading from an M3

[Never Convicted]

Put the kid in public school and let him fend for himself. Get your damn priorities straight!

If you were to actually downgrade, I'd look at a Toyota 86 or Subie BRZ. My neighbors' son just got a BRZ, and the thing is a hoot to drive. You can just drive balls out everywhere because of the lack of power.

[nicknaz]

I think it's really "I want an excuse to sell my m3 to get a new car" as the corrected thread title

Edit: I would take a Miata over brz for reliability under hard use and aftermarket support

Edit 2: I also always struggle with GTi and don't know why it's recommeded. That's such a big change to go fwd. and it's down on performance vs civic r and other hot hatches. I'd roll the dice with a 986 S or c5z or some other old sports car before I went with a commuter car like gti

[Doctor///M]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I think it's really "I want an excuse to sell my m3 to get a new car" as the corrected thread title

Edit: I would take a Miata over brz for reliability under hard use and aftermarket support

Edit 2: I also always struggle with GTi and don't know why it's recommeded. That's such a big change to go fwd. and it's down on performance vs civic r and other hot hatches. I'd roll the dice with a 986 S or c5z or some other old sports car before I went with a commuter car like gti

True dat.

E70 X5Ms have come down in price substantially. If you can get a low mileage 2013, they're fantastic! Plus you can take the kid and wife around with no issues and still have fun with 555bhp

[summilux]

Buyback your M3 and finance.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by summilux

Buyback your M3 and finance.

Maybe if it was ZCP and sakhir interior I would, but it's not my ideal spec for a car I want to own for the next 5 years.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I think it's really "I want an excuse to sell my m3 to get a new car" as the corrected thread title

Edit: I would take a Miata over brz for reliability under hard use and aftermarket support

Edit 2: I also always struggle with GTi and don't know why it's recommeded. That's such a big change to go fwd. and it's down on performance vs civic r and other hot hatches. I'd roll the dice with a 986 S or c5z or some other old sports car before I went with a commuter car like gti

LOL my lease will be up! I don't really need an excuse!

Ditto on the GTI, I love them, I had an MKII in high school... the only thing holding me back is FWD. I like the Golf R, but my buddy has one and I don't usually like to get the same car a close friend already has.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I think it's really "I want an excuse to sell my m3 to get a new car" as the corrected thread title

Edit: I would take a Miata over brz for reliability under hard use and aftermarket support

Edit 2: I also always struggle with GTi and don't know why it's recommeded. That's such a big change to go fwd. and it's down on performance vs civic r and other hot hatches. I'd roll the dice with a 986 S or c5z or some other old sports car before I went with a commuter car like gti

Reason for GTI recommendation is that it's $20k ($22/23k out the door) and doesn't feel like a bare-bones car.

Civic R, Golf R, etc, are $40k - double the price! Miata and BRZ are also good, fun recommendations.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

Reason for GTI recommendation is that it's $20k ($22/23k out the door) and doesn't feel like a bare-bones car. .

why not just cheap lease a regular 3? At least it's rwd and has a similar interior as f8x

I might be in the minority but each time I push a fwd car somewhat hard on an on ramp, I'm reminded it's a commuter. It's so boring and "pedestrian" and that's where the downgrade feeling comes from. Not interior materials or badge

Edit: but f3x and other modern cars have lesser steering feedback and squishy suspensions so that's a downgrade feeling too. Guess it's time for old/modified cars

[KevinM]

M2C - manual.

I think I'm going to buy one, not for financial reasons but because I really want to drive this car! However, I do agree with the lease caveat noted above.

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

why not just cheap lease a regular 3? At least it's rwd and has a similar interior as f8x

I might be in the minority but each time I push a fwd car somewhat hard on an on ramp, I'm reminded it's a commuter. It's so boring and "pedestrian" and that's where the downgrade feeling comes from. Not interior materials or badge

Edit: but f3x and other modern cars have lesser steering feedback and squishy suspensions so that's a downgrade feeling too. Guess it's time for old/modified cars

Drive an RS3 bro and your opinion will change. It's one of the best handling cars I've driven and the acceleration is insane since it puts the power to the tarmac so well with its Quattro system

[prodigymb]

not a single car on that lease will lease well.

M2 comp is new and will likely fetch 900/ mo
RS3 is 1000/ mo
I got quoted an Alfa QF for 1250/mo

Cayman might be the only one that you can get for under a 1000

also this is all assuming around 1500-1800$ total due at signing.

what does lease well now is a F80 M3 - you can get a car with comp and exec packages in the 800s. but if you actually want to save money you can get a Golf R or an S3 for around 500/mo or an S4 for around 650/mo. but is 150/ month really gonna put a dent in that private school bill??

[shockin330i]

Save yourself a lot of money and buy a pre-owned e90 m3 or f10 m5

[DS_BMW]

Civic type R. It will also hold its value.

[jc05e46m3]

Originally Posted by shockin330i

Save yourself a lot of money and buy a pre-owned e90 m3 or f10 m5

Good advice. Both can be had at prices that are a complete steal these days

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Snappy Phoenix

Drive an RS3 bro and your opinion will change. It's one of the best handling cars I've driven and the acceleration is insane since it puts the power to the tarmac so well with its Quattro system

How will an rs3 change my opinion about a gti?

Yes Rs3 is on my radar. Waiting for current owners to heavily track them and confirm whether Haldex can handle the heat or if it will shut off, like focus rs

Also What does a stock new rs3 trap at? 116ish? Shrug. Same ballpark as f80. A car with 130+ mph trap is "insane" in my point of view.

[Super Spartan]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

How will an rs3 change my opinion about a gti?

Yes Rs3 is on my radar. Waiting for current owners to heavily track them and confirm whether Haldex can handle the heat or if it will shut off, like focus rs

Also What does a stock new rs3 trap at? 116ish? Shrug. Same ballpark as f80. A car with 130+ mph trap is "insane" in my point of view.

Well when I recently was in the same position and wanted to downgrade to get some extra cash. I test drove many cars including the new Golf R and the Audi S3.

The Golf GTI's handling as great, the interior was decent and roomy BUT it didn't give me any excitement when I floored it, it's not slow by any means but when downgrading from an M car, you really don't want a car that would make you feel depressed about your downgrade everytime you floor it and feel nothing is happening. Also, the stock exhaust on the Golf R is crap, barely has any noise.

then I test drove the S3, the power was the same as the Golf R, not a surprise since they use the same engine but it was more refined on the inside in terms of interior quality and has the virtual cockpit as well. The exhaust is way better than the S3, it has a few bangs and burbles even with its stock quad exhaust. So I was set on the S3 and me and my wife visited the Audi dealership and were asking about the S3 when my wife nudged me and said "Hey, what color is that car there?" It was a Catalnuya Red RS3 that looked like an orange color to us as the lights were bright in he showroom. So we walked up to it and immediately fell in love with its aggressive styling like the front lip in matte aluminum and the rear diffused and big exhaust (RS Sports Exhaust)

The nappa leather in that car felt so luxurious and when I test drove it, I knew this is the car I wanna be in for the next 2-3 years. It pulls like a rocket from 0-100KMH and to me that's very important since I don't track my car and just ant to have fun at legal speeds without ending up in jail and that car offers just that. Usable power that is delivered to the tarmac with ease thanks to the AWD. The handling is so precise and the car feels very agile

Not sure about what you mean what is the trap, sorry

[jc05e46m3]

Public school is where it's at, unless where you live in incredibly unsafe. Safe bet, however, is that if you're on these forums, you're more than safe.

To answer the question though, my vote is f10 m5, unless size is an issue, and then e90 m3 would be the next logical option for a true "downgrade" with a significant financial impact.

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by Snappy Phoenix

fell in love with its aggressive styling

The nappa leather in that car felt so luxurious and when I test drove it,

It pulls like a rocket from 0-100KMH and to me that's very important since I don't track my car

Not sure about what you mean what is the trap, sorry

I cut and pasted a bit from your post. Sounds like you just fell in love with the car. Congrats on that.

By trap, I meant to say "trap speed in the 1/4 mile" which is what I personally use to compare the acceleration potential of a car. If 2 cars are within 5 mph trap speed (like stock vs. stock RS3 and F80 M3), I personally feel that's very hard to differentiate the acceleration potential on the street.

when looking for a "faster" car that I'll notice immediately when passing on the freeway, I like to try to go for a +10 mph increase in the trap speed

[Arcades]

None of those will lease well. Alfa Romeo Q.V. is pricier than a Benz C63S. M2 Comp and Audi RS3 also don't lease well either so...

Small car? Maybe RS3. 4 door, find a 2017 QV and haggle the dealership to death because there are plenty of those cars left on lots.

[gatorfast]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

I think it's really "I want an excuse to sell my m3 to get a new car" as the corrected thread title

Edit: I would take a Miata over brz for reliability under hard use and aftermarket support

Edit 2: I also always struggle with GTi and don't know why it's recommeded. That's such a big change to go fwd. and it's down on performance vs civic r and other hot hatches. I'd roll the dice with a 986 S or c5z or some other old sports car before I went with a commuter car like gti

You're being too hard on the GTI. It's recommended because for the price point there is really no better car out there. Many people in here have owned GTIs in the past (myself included) and know how much fun they are to drive. Yes it's fwd and no it won't handle or perform nearly as well as an F8x but that's why it is called a downgrade. It also costs about $30k vs $70k.

[Yes2m3cs]

I am fortunate enough to own both an M4 and mk7 GTI and love them both. I think mid 20's is a steal for the GTI. It does everything well and with an exhaust and tune is a blast to drive. I love my M4 but GTI is something to consider!

Good Luck!

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

You're being too hard on the GTI. It's recommended because for the price point there is really no better car out there. Many people in here have owned GTIs in the past (myself included) and know how much fun they are to drive. Yes it's fwd and no it won't handle or perform nearly as well as an F8x but that's why it is called a downgrade. It also costs about $30k vs $70k.

Forget F80, Gti won't handle as well as as s2k, e90m, evo, sti, mx5 cup or spec Miata, e36m, c6z or c5z and many many other cars you can get for $30k

If it has to be a new car, the ND Miata and BRZ and mustang GT and Camaro SS are there too around $30k

Many ways to go cheaper without fwd