E36 M3 or WRX?

I've just sold my good ol' 300ZX, and am getting ready to move on to a new (for me) car. I initially thought that I might go hunting for a decent turbo Z, but after buying a new house and needing some room to haul stuff and friends around, I decided that I need something slightly more practical. (In other words, 4 seats and a decent trunk.) I've decided to curtail my budget at around 15 grand, and after much soul searching, have settled between two cars: a E36 M3 and a WRX. In my mind, the advantages and disadvantages of each model are as follows-

M3 advantages:
Classic Bavarian lines
Very attractive, well made interior
One of the best chassis known to mankind
Sweet howl and on demand torque of 3.2L inline six
Sizable trunk and back seat, even in the coupe


WRX advantages:
Subaru reliability combined with abundant low mileage examples in my price range
AWD
Snorty flat four that likes to be flogged
Wagon option
Turbo makes for easy power adding options
More economical overall than the M3

M3 disadvantages:
Once good reliability ratings becoming more questionable in high mileage examples that my price range dictates
Well taken care of examples becoming harder and harder to come by (once again, as a result of my price cap)
More expensive to repair than the WRX

WRX disadvantages:
Transmission problems (expecially in 02 models)
Not quite on the same handling plane as the BMW without some serious suspension work
Extreme high school thug (read: idiot) appeal
Not quite the looker that the BMW is (I know, a matter of opinion)


As of right now, basic sensibility is guiding me toward the WRX. Can anyone affirm/ counter my inclinations? Is there any other car I should be thinking about? Thanks in advance for your help!

http://files.automotiveforums.com/gallery/watermark.php?file=/503/156513M3happy.jpg
True Story

But seriously, it all comes down to what you want in a car.

AWD grip or RWD oversteer?
Coupe or Sedan?
Japanese tuneresque styling or BMW slightly conservative but sporty styling?
N/A response and sound or turbocharged power and tunability?

I would personally go with the BMW just because I enjoy the type of driving that it encourages. AWD and Turbos have never been my thing.

Regarding reliability, the basic mechanicals of 90% of BMWs are near flawless, even in M3s. Where they go wrong is minor electrical systems. I would trust the engine and transmission of the M3 over the WRX unless there was a pretty large gap in mileage between the two.

An interesting mix of the two would be an Audi B5 S4. AWD turbo sedan like the WRX, but with better styling and luxurious like the E36 M3.

Die M3 fur sicher. Das ist unt zher gut auto.

Dont complain about my German, I dont even speak it.

I don't really care for Subarus in general. I would definately rather an M3

M3>Impreza. Nuff said.

Oh yeah, I forgot, bragging rights are key. Still M3.

Die M3 fur sicher. Das ist unt zher gut auto.

Dont complain about my German, I dont even speak it.

Du hast sehr schlecht Deutsch. :p

M3 FTW. But I guess it depends what you want in it. To completely different cars IMO.

The responses so far kind of suprise me. I figured at least one person would go for the WRX. For those who think the comparison might seem odd, it's worth pointing out that I am really wanting a four door M3, which means that for about 15 grand, the highest performance sedans I can probably gain access to are this odd couple. The only other choice I could think of was an Audi S4 2.7 turbo, but that car is out of the question due to its horrible reliability record. This is really a crying shame because, otherwise, I absolutely love that car. I liken it to being at a party and having the hottest girl there hit on you, only to have a friend warn you that she has a horrible case of the clap. You might still be mesmerized, but there ain't no way in Hell you're taking her home.

Anyway... At first I saw the four door models of each car as very closely matched. One has 240 hp, the other 227. Both are available with manuals, and have similar interior space. The only really big dynamic difference, at least in my eyes, is that one is AWD and the other RWD.

All this being said, I do think the M3 is without doubt more desirable until you throw in the wild cards of age and mileage. A nice M3 in my price range is probably going to have 80 thousand miles and sit somewhere near the 10 year old range. Do any of you think that an M3 of this sort will remain reliable another 5- 10 years? I find myself very wary of this idea. That's why I found myself leaning toward the Subaru (preferably in wagon form, which seems slightly less high school punkish).

An E36 M3 could probably go 150,000 depending on how its been driven. A mile at 2,000 RPMs is going to be easier on the drivetrain then a mile at 7,000. I would avoid buying from someone under 26 or so because these seem to be the people that drive them the hardest. I'd also swing it buy a BMW certified technician before buying.

I wouldn't count out the B5 S4 until you've talked to some people that own or have worked with them. I do know people that swear that they arn't as bad as many say they are. A well taken care of S4 could be a great car. They arn't as fun to drive as the M3, but they have the styling, awd, and the tunability.

It's kind of funny that you should make that point. I just got back from the Petite Lemans at Road Atlanta about 2 hours ago, and while I was there I stood around watching the race and talking to several owners in a reserved lot filled with various Audis. (All hail the R10- victorious again!) I asked some B5 S4 owners how they felt about there ownership experience, and the general consensus seemed to be that "they are great cars if you have the money to keep them working."

Needless to say, I am still feeling bummed about that little bit of info. A couple of owners said they are pretty easy to live with if you don't mind working on them yourselves, but I really just don't have time for that right now. Sighhhhhh....... I'm kind of an Audi fan, and I'm really thinking about trying to pick up a urS6/ S4 now. (Remember the 5cyl. 20 valve models? Very strong- nearly bullet proof.) Another old car with high mileage, but my dad has one and loves it, and at least I have under the hood experience with that car.

Speaking of working on cars... anyone have any idea whether the E36 M3 is really difficult to work on? Surely it can't be much worse than my Z32 300ZX, right?

I apologize for all of my comments and questions. I haven't bought a car and in a while, and the whole process is starting to drive me up the wall. I'm beginning to wish I was someone who could just be happy with a late model Accord.:disappoin

it's worth pointing out that I am really wanting a four door M3,


:confused: :confused:

As far as Im aware there never was a Four Door M3. Infact the only M car I know of with 4 doors is the M5.

:confused: :confused:

As far as Im aware there never was a Four Door M3. Infact the only M car I know of with 4 doors is the M5.

There was an M3 sedan. The E36 series had as follows:
M3 coupe
M3 convertable
M3 sedan
And, fun fact, all could be had with an automatic tranny in case you never knew that.

The E46 M3 was coupe/conv. only. So there was a four door M3, unless your talking about the E46 only, in which case you'd be correct.


Du hast sehr schlecht Deutsch. :p

M3 FTW. But I guess it depends what you want in it. To completely different cars IMO.

Ja, mein Deutsche ist schlecht. You could go as far as to say it's scheiße. But, Like I said, I dont even sprechen Deutsche. Oh... I just did.

:confused: :confused:

As far as Im aware there never was a Four Door M3. Infact the only M car I know of with 4 doors is the M5.


Did a little digging turns out in the US, the UK and Europe there was a 4 door M3 cold in limited numbers in some generations.
You learn something everyday.

Call me crazy, but I think the 4 door E36 is better looking than the coupe. If I do get one- I'd like to hold out for one of those. A Disproportionate number of the 4 doors was automatic, though, which will make finding what I want that much harder.

See why it's tempting to say "screw it" and get a low mileage WRX?

Of course, then again, I could "settle" for a coupe if I absolutely had to.

As far as other M3s go, it's a shame they don't make the E46 in a sedan- or better yet- a wagon. Of course, even if they did, it's not like I could afford one.

As hard as I try I just can't get used to the subaru's ugly exterior.

Yes... I'm not a fan of the "bug eye" model either, but I do think the front end of the 2004- 2005 models is pretty good looking.

Another idea has come to me, though. Instead of looking all over hell and half of Georgia for a four door M3, why don't I consider a 2000 or so 328i manual? Not as fast in a straight line, but still a VERY satisfying vehicle. Great looking too!

How would you all feel about getting one of those over a WRX?

I would still rather the 328i manual over the Subaru

i would love to have an M3 like the black E30 one posted in Dinan's reply. i agree with the consensus, i'd go for the M3. hard to really compare these two directly against each other. i don't think they're the best comparo. nonetheless, bimmer for me on this one.

No doubt- it is an odd comparo. To be honest, though, the M3 is becoming more and more out of the question. I want one reeeeeaaaallly bad, but I need a four door that I can rely on as a daily driver for an extended period of time (like five years). I could wait for a nice four door M3 to show up, but my Z car is now officially sold and gone, and I need a ride asap. My wife is commuting with a friend, and I'm borrowing her car just to get to work and back. A low mileage WRX is pretty easy to find, has cargo room, and if taken care of, will serve me well for the next few years. And for 15 grand, I just can't think of many cars that meet all of those needs while delivering the kind of performance that can still leave a big, shit eatin' grin on my face. If ya'll can think of any other options, please let me know.

For the record, I'm still looking hard for a nice four door M3. I have by no means given up the fight. Dead leads and are just leaving me increasingly discouraged.

After looking at everyone's (very helpful) responses, I was beginning to wonder if I had lost my mind for even mentioning the WRX in the same breath with a six cylinder 3 series or Audi S4 (okay, someone else mentioned the Audi first). After a little research, though, I found out that I'm not the only person with such crazy ideas. Check it out:

http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/3615/two-against-one.html

A very interesting Car and Driver article that compares a BMW 330i, Audi S4, and a WRX. I found this article especially comforting since I drove a 2000 328i manual coupe this past Monday, and walked away thinking that I actually liked the Subie better. I honestly thought I was going wacky.

BTW, I'm aware that the 330 in the comparison article wouldn't be quite the driver's car that an E36 M3 is, but I figure it's still food for thought.

Its all about economics here. You have a choice. Your options are similar, but still very different. Now what you need to do is make your choice as to which car will give you the MOST BENEFIT POSSIBLE. And that may very well be the WRX. You need to think like this:

If you want bang for your buck, WRX.
If you want straight performance, M3 sedan.
If you want a good median, but not spectacular in either catagory, the S4.

Which opiton allows you want to maximize benefit while minimizing cost?

The Audi S4 has 4 doors and E36 M3-esque performance (when your considering the 95-99 model). It (IMO) is more in line with the WRX than the E36 M3 sedan. Considering both are 6's, AWD, and have 4 doors. But the Audi is an Audi, and a Subaru isnt an Audi. But an Audi isnt a BMW. And a BMW isnt cheap. So you my friend are in a conundrum here.

But from my stand point, the M3 is the best choice, but considering your situation, the S4 would be the best of both worlds. Shoot for the M3 sedan, but dont set your standards too high as to be disapointed with an S4 or WRX.

Welllllllll............

My search is over. After ALOT of thought, I ended up purchasing a 2004 WRX wagon this morning. I spent most of yesterday just test driving the thing all over the place, and was very happy with the car overall.

As far as the S4 goes, in a perfect world, that is probably the machine I would have gone for. However, after talking to quite a few people who actually own S4s, I decided that I was not willing to risk buying a car that could have so many potential reliability problems.

As for the M3, I just didn't have enough time to spend searching for one like I really want. Too many of them are ragged out, and the performance edge that the BMW has was offset by the Subaru's overall practicality and economic advantages.

It so happened I ran across one of the few used WRXs out there that has been left bone stock and was taken care of to an almost compulsive degree. The previous owner bought the car new, and is in his mid- forties. I saw the car, saw its history, and my brain immediately screamed BINGO! Couldn' t be happier.:icon16:

Thanks again for everyone's help! You are sincerely appreciated!

Congrats. I hope she treats you well.

^^ Agreed. Good luck with it.

Good luck with the WRX. Even though it wouldn't have been my choice, they are still very good cars.

porscheguy, I just noticed that the M6 that you revved in your sig was in neutral. Go back out, get in one, and rev it that high while in gear, its something that every BMW guy should experience.

porscheguy, I just noticed that the M6 that you revved in your sig was in neutral. Go back out, get in one, and rev it that high while in gear, its something that every BMW guy should experience.

Oh, I would if I could. Only I was in the carwash at the time, otherwise I would have been bitch slapped by my boss if it were anywhere else. So all I need is an M6 that needs to be driven and then we'll see what happens. But it most certainly wont.