'99 M3 Vs. '03 RSX-S

[Balla5900]

I'm looking at either buing a 1999 BMW M3 that has about 65,000 miles on it and is in excellent condition... or a 2003 RSX-S with less than 20,000 miles. I want a car that will be reliable, fun to drive, look good and get a little respect in CAli (I'm moving there next summer)...

Thanks in advance,

[Balla5900]

Oh, and I prob. should say that I will end up paying about 2 grand more for the M3... so it's going to be a little more of an investment.

[kman10587]

The M3 is also gonna cost you a lot more in gas, insurance, and maintenance. That said, I think it'd be worth it to own one.

[15poundhead]

no sport compact, even one as good as the RSX, will ever give you the satifaction of driving any bimmer, but espiecially an M3

[NISSANSPDR]

M3 hands down and all the way

[CaTasHtRoPhE 67]

M3 you will get more respect

[DinanM3_S2]

Hmmm

RWD I6 or a FWD I4?
240hp vs. 200hp/210hp

If numbers alone aren't enough to convince you, go look up Car & Driver's article on "the best handling car at any price." You'll see that the E36 M3 beats out everything, including the NSX, Ferrari 355, Porsche Boxster and 911, and others. The E36 M3 can do alot more then a RSX-S can. The M3 has a nicer interior (IMO) is faster, handles better, looks better, and I just can't figure out a single way that the RSX-S is really competitive with the M. The M also has an amazing aftermarket. Test drive both, but I have a feeling that the BMW will win you over.

[MexSiR]

M3 0-60 Mph 5.4 secs

RSX-S 0-60 Mph 6.4 secs

M3 is a lot faster, handles better, more solid...its a little bit boxy though thats the negative...

[MR2Driver]

M3, nuff said

[kman10587]

M3 is a lot faster, handles better, more solid...its a little bit boxy though thats the negative...

I think the boxiness is a positive; not only does it give you more interior room, it gives the car a nice understated look.

[Janet Reno]

Are the 2001 M3's a little too high price wise? They get the sweet 333hp engine

I'd actually go with the RXS-S as much as I love BMW's. The only area you might consider the RSX better in is reliability and cost of keeping the car up(gas and yearly checkup stuff). And winter driving if you do that at all. It would be too hard for me to know that the M3 I bought was only a release away off of the next rendition with the 333hp engine in 2001. I don't think there was a 2000 M3.

[DinanM3_S2]

Theres a big price difference between the E36 M3 (240hp) and the E46 M3 (333hp). The cheapest I think I've seen a non-salvage title E46 M3 was around $40,000, while the E36s usually stay under $30,000

[NerveAgent]

m3!

[YogsVR4]

Those two cars are not even in the same league. The RSX is a competent car but the M3 is a few steps above.