what would you rather have?

 

bmw e46 325i/328i coupe around y reg

 

or Merc clk 2.0 coupe around the same age e

 

cant think of any other cars in the same leage and price rang

Edited January 15, 201114 yr by Mikey

had an e36 m3 evo myself, amazing car. would have a clean one over a clean Z anyday, superiour power looks handling, and if u care, MUCH better fuel economy :-)

 

the best one is Estorial blue, 2dr with rainbow spoiler... :-)

 

and would you say the m3 was quicker than the twin turbo manual 300zx?

M3's are really good cars, ive had 3. All E36 Evo's. I dont think they are that fast tho.

My broters got an E46 M3, and that feels much faster.

As for the Zed, im sure when closer to 400bhp, you'll lose the M3 easy!

There is no contest between an M3 and a 300. The 300 is rare, exotic and timeless. The M3 is more often than not the choice of the chavs. Although its normally a 316i for them with no wheel trims.

I dont see the M3 as a chavs car. But many chavs try to make the smaller engined cars look like M3s.

and would you say the m3 was quicker than the twin turbo manual 300zx?

 

If you took standard for standard and put them side by side and went at 100% from the line there would be almost nothing in it.

 

I found my M3 Evo was quieter, more refined, more comfortable and handled much better. Out and Out speed was about the same.

 

However

 

The 300zx is more fun, more interesting and feels more of an occasion to drive. Also for lazier overtaking, the superior torque from the 300zx's motor just wins hands down. The M3 was quick, but you had to work for it!

 

I got rid of my M3 for two reasons, first one is that this slicktop I have came available and the other was that it was almost too good. I found it boring, as most of the time it drove like a normal BMW, 328i etc. Comfortable quiet economical. Then when you could be bothered drop a couple of a gears and your off. Where as even doing 20mph the zed feels like an occasion, its hard noisey and so impractical. Its better for being a worse car. I shoudl mention that I drive alot for a living, so quiet comfortable and economical is what I have from my astravan, the M3 just didnt feel special.

 

As to the original question, 10 year old merc was in the mid life crisis stage I think? poor build quality and questionable materials. Really not well build at this age, new ones awesome, late 80's early 90's equally good. Late 90's early 2000's shabby i believe. I'm also a BMW man, so regardless id say get the BMW... will be better to drive and of course dont bother with a 4 pot, the straight 6's are famous for a reason!

I dont see the M3 as a chavs car. But many chavs try to make the smaller engined cars look like M3s.

 

Totally agree. A nice, well cared for M3 is a desirable car. Pretty similar story to Zed's, look after them and they'll repay you in smiles per hour.

I think the man makes sense! The M3 you could drive as a daily, the 300 is more of a toy.

I think the man makes sense! The M3 you could drive as a daily, the 300 is more of a toy.

 

Absolutly, if I could claim milage rather than having a van, I would buy an E46 M3 in a hearbeat and use that until it stopped, and buy another one!

 

It was interesting though, i drove an Rs4 and thought hmm yeah this is nice, bit quiet and refined and light though. After I got home, I purposly went out in the M3... And it suddenly brought back all the "fun/special occasion" of my first zed. Because it seemed so raw compared to the RS4.

 

Problem is, I quite fancy a change again but I just dont know what/why/is it worth it/do I even need a fast car? Do i use it enough?

But many chavs try to make the smaller engined cars look like M3s.

 

Which is EXACTLY why its the choice of the chavs

I tried both Merc and BMW. Nearly bought a AMG55 and then decided the BMW was a better ride, and a lot of the Mercs

on the same sort of year were showing signs of rust

 

I have a e46 B3 Alpina

ok so what would you rather be seen in a m3 or a zed?

ok so what would you rather be seen in a m3 or a zed?

 

Hard to say but one thing that can be said is that there isnt anyone in the land who will let you out of a sideroad when you have a BMW with an M badge on it. Instant hatred.

 

The zed is rarer and attracts alot more attention, the M cars dont look too different to "normal" bmws so they appear more of a wolf in sheeps clothing.

 

Infact, if you debadged an M3 and put it next to a Sport model of the same year you would be hard pushed to tell them apart unless you were into cars!

i have an M3 E46 convertible, i think it will fill the gap that used to be filled by a zed

i have an M3 E46 convertible, i think it will fill the gap that used to be filled by a zed

 

i was toying with trying to find a black one with black leather as they are well lush and if you have one im bloody jealous man

Hard to say but one thing that can be said is that there isnt anyone in the land who will let you out of a sideroad when you have a BMW with an M badge on it. Instant hatred.

 

The zed is rarer and attracts alot more attention, the M cars dont look too different to "normal" bmws so they appear more of a wolf in sheeps clothing.

 

Infact, if you debadged an M3 and put it next to a Sport model of the same year you would be hard pushed to tell them apart unless you were into cars!

 

lol yeah i know mate i found that when i had my e36, dont u think the e36's are a bit old hat now, if you had an m3 evo one even a convertible, its a bit old crap but a zed which is almost historic, with the right bits done to it, and taking into consideration no one knows what they are, have a much more cool factor. one thing i wont argue is germans build much better cars than the japs so im sure an m3 is lovelly

i have a carbon black (which is actually classed as blue lol) with shitty grey leather which im hoping to change this year for a nice imola red leather trim

 

i bought mine as a damaged car and so far im on the mark to have it repaired and on the road for 9k, its a 2003 car with quite a few options like sat nav, heated seats, harmon kardon and so on

 

will be on the road very soon

lol yeah i know mate i found that when i had my e36, dont u think the e36's are a bit old hat now, if you had an m3 evo one even a convertible, its a bit old crap but a zed which is almost historic, with the right bits done to it, and taking into consideration no one knows what they are, have a much more cool factor. one thing i wont argue is germans build much better cars than the japs so im sure an m3 is lovelly

 

ever driven a passat?

i was toying with trying to find a black one with black leather as they are well lush and if you have one im bloody jealous man

 

My brothers is black with black leather, but his is a coupe.

there are some very nice E36 M3's knocking about

 

get yourself on http://www.m3cutters.co.uk beware though as most BMW drivers some are bitchy arrogent people on there so be carefull what you ask lol

there are some very nice E36 M3's knocking about

 

get yourself on http://www.m3cutters.co.uk beware though as most BMW drivers some are bitchy arrogent people on there so be carefull what you ask lol

 

WILL just ask them if they would like a race with a 20 year old datsun lol show em up

had an e36 m3 evo myself, amazing car. would have a clean one over a clean Z anyday, superiour power looks handling, and if u care, MUCH better fuel economy :-)

 

the best one is Estorial blue, 2dr with rainbow spoiler... :-)

 

Looks??? Whilst I can accept that maybe the E36 will outhandle a stock Z32 and the performance is too close to call, you must be blind mate! The E36 looks just like any other 3-series, which might as well look like any other 10+ year old car on the road now. The ZX still has that "rare/classic/exotica" look that the E36 just doesn't have.....

 

.....each to their own though!!

 

If you took standard for standard and put them side by side and went at 100% from the line there would be almost nothing in it.

 

I found my M3 Evo was quieter, more refined, more comfortable and handled much better. Out and Out speed was about the same.

 

However

 

The 300zx is more fun, more interesting and feels more of an occasion to drive. Also for lazier overtaking, the superior torque from the 300zx's motor just wins hands down. The M3 was quick, but you had to work for it!

 

I got rid of my M3 for two reasons, first one is that this slicktop I have came available and the other was that it was almost too good. I found it boring, as most of the time it drove like a normal BMW, 328i etc. Comfortable quiet economical. Then when you could be bothered drop a couple of a gears and your off. Where as even doing 20mph the zed feels like an occasion, its hard noisey and so impractical. Its better for being a worse car. I shoudl mention that I drive alot for a living, so quiet comfortable and economical is what I have from my astravan, the M3 just didnt feel special.

 

As to the original question, 10 year old merc was in the mid life crisis stage I think? poor build quality and questionable materials. Really not well build at this age, new ones awesome, late 80's early 90's equally good. Late 90's early 2000's shabby i believe. I'm also a BMW man, so regardless id say get the BMW... will be better to drive and of course dont bother with a 4 pot, the straight 6's are famous for a reason!

 

There speaks the voice of experience; he's had both the E36 Ms and a 300zx so IMO is qualified to comment accordingly!

 

Plus Quavey is right about the Mercs. I'm a Merc fan myself and would have a new Merc over a new BMW - however the late 1990s to early 2000 Mercs did suffer from poor build quality and rust; so on a car that age I would have to go with the BMW.

 

ever driven a passat?

 

Yes - I buy them as fleet cars for my staff! Nice quality feel, like anything German; they do everything OK but nothing really really well - just like any other rep-mobile. Nice, reliable, solid but very dull - certainly not for me!!

 

Richard:rockon:

My brothers is black with black leather, but his is a coupe.

 

oh so sexy! im jealous

bmw.

 

mercs are for wafting, bmws are for driving

my thoughts exactly!

Get the Bmw if you prefer a better built, higher quality car aimed more at the performance driver with superb handling and a top notch powerfull silky smooth straight 6 engine.

 

Get the Merc if you dont.

I love Mercs and would always recommend them, however please be advised that almost all Merc between 1999 and 2001 have serious rust problems. We're talking 1970s Fiat type rust here.

 

The E-class and CLK (same car) are the worst offenders.

 

Mechanically brilliant though.

 

I loved my 2000 E280 and was still faultless at 179,000 miles until it was written off...