Cars that speak to you - Page 2

Theo · 05-10-2017, 10:43 AM

I tend to never lust after or look at cars out of my lifetime price range. Zero interest. That said after 91 I started liking all of my purchases. Would I want to own all of them again. Of course not but they all do have a place in my heart.

If I had to revisit a couple I would say the E36 M3 and MAYBE a 94-95 turbo MR2.

The only other cars I even want to look at right now are the E92 6spd M3 and an 11+ 987.2 Boxster S.

JST · 05-10-2017, 10:47 AM

Credit where it's due--I think Clyde came up with "ultimate compromise machine."

Both JV and FC hit on an interesting point. Like music, cars can resonate on an emotional level and a car that you owned at a particular time in your life can develop resonance that's all out of proportion to what the car actually did.

And of course your baseline changes over the years, and the reference points change, and the cars that you remember as being world beating may not be so great in retrospect.

I tend to agree that the E36 M3 is an amazing car. I've said before and I'll say again that it might be the best car ever built, in terms of doing everything well, and it might be the best car that ever *will* be built, given the trends in the industry.

The E46 330 was a brilliant car, too, and probably better than the M3 overall, but I always felt like the M52/54 was a little too lacking in personality to be a really outstanding engine.

I'll add the R56 Mini as a car that just spoke to me (and in which I finally felt like a halfway decent autocrosser).

And the 987 Boxster has an amazing combination of traits.

dan · 05-10-2017, 11:37 AM

Nick M3 · 05-10-2017, 11:42 AM

I'm really enjoying my E36. Everything about it just feels right in a way that so few other cars come close to. And the S50B32 radically improves the feel of the car. (It's much more about the way the engine feels than the moderate power bump.)

The E46 is nice, and I've got mine to a point where it really feels good, but it just doesn't have the steering and cockpit feel and mechanical sense that the E36 does. (Even though it should be better by every technical definition.) E30s are also very entertaining, but they don't match the overall package that the E36 offers.

Jeff_DML · 05-10-2017, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undefined

fitting post for this

http://bringatrailer.com/2017/05/09/...uring-5-speed/

Nick M3 · 05-10-2017, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff_DML

fitting post for this

http://bringatrailer.com/2017/05/09/...uring-5-speed/

Not 100% sure it's the same car, but...

*Plaz* · 05-10-2017, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by undefined

The Archivist

(and yes, I appreciate the irony of my post)

John V · 05-10-2017, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick M3

I'm really enjoying my E36. Everything about it just feels right in a way that so few other cars come close to. And the S50B32 radically improves the feel of the car. (It's much more about the way the engine feels than the moderate power bump.)

I really must find a way to get behind the wheel of this car. Though that could be a very expensive test drive for me.

wdc330i · 05-10-2017, 01:27 PM

The E46 must have resonated with me, since I've owned four of them in various iterations (330i step/non-sport; 330i manual/sport; 325xiT step; M3C manual.)

I had the 330i manual/sport for 7 years. And it was an extremely satisfying all-around, semi-practical car.

Plaz, I also drove the CRX back in the day and loved it. Ended up with a manual Accord EX hatchback instead (more practical). Liked that a lot and kept it for 9 years.

I drove only one E36, but it was a convertible and pretty ragged.

The M240i is fun, but in a somewhat synthetic way. Turbo power, fake exhaust sound, adjustable suspension, etc. Oh, and an auto transmission.

It is however, the hit of the eleven-year-old boys club.

All my son's friends want to ride in it.

Short of a real sports car with a stick, I can't imagine anything I'd rather be driving currently. (And I wouldn't want to drive that sports car with a stick everyday, nor would it have enough utility for our second car needs.)

If I hadn't wanted a convertible, I might have opted for the M2. But, probably not. I can't see putting up with a two-door unless it's a convertible or a roadster. I would have just kept the E91, which was a great car in its own right--although not a standout in any one area.

So, I guess that leaves me with the Ultimate Compromise Machine. Again.

Car list (before I can't remember anymore--I don't remember the MY of the early ones.) Thirty-seven years of car ownership, including the spouse's primary cars:

Mazda GLC
Accord EX Hatchback
Accord EX Sedan
Volvo 850 Sedan
2001 330i
2002 330i
2001 Z3 2.5 (spouse's)
2003 325xiT
2006 530xiT (spouse's)
2006 M3C
2009 X5 3.0 (eventually the spouse's)
2012 328iT
2016 X5 50i (spouse's)
2017 M240i CV

We're done for awhile. Unless the Boxster bug bites again.

Edit: I'd say the E46 M3C was my favorite. Power, handling, top-down capability. But I know I struggled with the harsh ride on DC streets from time to time. And I only had it for a couple of years or so.

Jeff_DML · 05-10-2017, 01:32 PM

I liked my e46 when I had it but afterwards compared to some of my other cars it is pretty soft,numb and squishy. It was still fun kind of sliding/pushing it around on the track

I bitch about my E90 M but it was better drivers car over the E46(guess it should be since M). E36 M was better then E90 M for me.

05-10-2017, 10:43 AM	#11
Theo Crazy Old Man Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M2C Stick Posts: 6,021	I tend to never lust after or look at cars out of my lifetime price range. Zero interest. That said after 91 I started liking all of my purchases. Would I want to own all of them again. Of course not but they all do have a place in my heart. If I had to revisit a couple I would say the E36 M3 and MAYBE a 94-95 turbo MR2. The only other cars I even want to look at right now are the E92 6spd M3 and an 11+ 987.2 Boxster S. __________________ Searching

05-10-2017, 11:37 AM	#13
dan redefined Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 14,896	__________________ "There's a freedom you begin to feel the closer you get to Austin, Texas." -Willie

05-10-2017, 11:42 AM	#14
Nick M3 Relic Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Bethesda, MD Posts: 12,458	I'm really enjoying my E36. Everything about it just feels right in a way that so few other cars come close to. And the S50B32 radically improves the feel of the car. (It's much more about the way the engine feels than the moderate power bump.) The E46 is nice, and I've got mine to a point where it really feels good, but it just doesn't have the steering and cockpit feel and mechanical sense that the E36 does. (Even though it should be better by every technical definition.) E30s are also very entertaining, but they don't match the overall package that the E36 offers. __________________ 2011 M3 2006 Sierra 2500HD 4WD LBZ/Allison 2004 X5 3.0i 6MT 1995 M3 S50B32 1990 325is 1989 M3 S54B32 Hers: 1989 325iX 1996 911 Turbo

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05-10-2017, 10:47 AM	#12
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,609	Credit where it's due--I think Clyde came up with "ultimate compromise machine." Both JV and FC hit on an interesting point. Like music, cars can resonate on an emotional level and a car that you owned at a particular time in your life can develop resonance that's all out of proportion to what the car actually did. And of course your baseline changes over the years, and the reference points change, and the cars that you remember as being world beating may not be so great in retrospect. I tend to agree that the E36 M3 is an amazing car. I've said before and I'll say again that it might be the best car ever built, in terms of doing everything well, and it might be the best car that ever will be built, given the trends in the industry. The E46 330 was a brilliant car, too, and probably better than the M3 overall, but I always felt like the M52/54 was a little too lacking in personality to be a really outstanding engine. I'll add the R56 Mini as a car that just spoke to me (and in which I finally felt like a halfway decent autocrosser). And the 987 Boxster has an amazing combination of traits.

05-10-2017, 01:27 PM	#19
wdc330i dogged Join Date: Dec 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: '22 M440 xDrive GC Posts: 13,295	The E46 must have resonated with me, since I've owned four of them in various iterations (330i step/non-sport; 330i manual/sport; 325xiT step; M3C manual.) I had the 330i manual/sport for 7 years. And it was an extremely satisfying all-around, semi-practical car. Plaz, I also drove the CRX back in the day and loved it. Ended up with a manual Accord EX hatchback instead (more practical). Liked that a lot and kept it for 9 years. I drove only one E36, but it was a convertible and pretty ragged. The M240i is fun, but in a somewhat synthetic way. Turbo power, fake exhaust sound, adjustable suspension, etc. Oh, and an auto transmission. It is however, the hit of the eleven-year-old boys club. All my son's friends want to ride in it. Short of a real sports car with a stick, I can't imagine anything I'd rather be driving currently. (And I wouldn't want to drive that sports car with a stick everyday, nor would it have enough utility for our second car needs.) If I hadn't wanted a convertible, I might have opted for the M2. But, probably not. I can't see putting up with a two-door unless it's a convertible or a roadster. I would have just kept the E91, which was a great car in its own right--although not a standout in any one area. So, I guess that leaves me with the Ultimate Compromise Machine. Again. Car list (before I can't remember anymore--I don't remember the MY of the early ones.) Thirty-seven years of car ownership, including the spouse's primary cars: Mazda GLC Accord EX Hatchback Accord EX Sedan Volvo 850 Sedan 2001 330i 2002 330i 2001 Z3 2.5 (spouse's) 2003 325xiT 2006 530xiT (spouse's) 2006 M3C 2009 X5 3.0 (eventually the spouse's) 2012 328iT 2016 X5 50i (spouse's) 2017 M240i CV We're done for awhile. Unless the Boxster bug bites again. Edit: I'd say the E46 M3C was my favorite. Power, handling, top-down capability. But I know I struggled with the harsh ride on DC streets from time to time. And I only had it for a couple of years or so.

05-10-2017, 01:32 PM	#20
Jeff_DML Old Fart Join Date: Oct 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: T4R,GTI Location: San Diego Posts: 8,563	I liked my e46 when I had it but afterwards compared to some of my other cars it is pretty soft,numb and squishy. It was still fun kind of sliding/pushing it around on the track I bitch about my E90 M but it was better drivers car over the E46(guess it should be since M). E36 M was better then E90 M for me.