I know the bias that I'm going to get asking here but just looking for different opinions...

I daily drive 99 Camaro SS LS1 6 speed full bolt on engine and suspension and dyno tuned, currently laying down 333hp/337tq, redlines about 6K power peaks around 5.5K. It is a blast to drive and I dont mind the rough ride. Handles great and acceleration is awesome. Most everything has been replaced or upgraded except the engine, it runs strong but has nearly 220K miles so its days are numbered.

My wife drives the 06 G35x mostly, but I drive when we're together so I probably have more seat time than her. I love the G and all the little tings about it, one touch power windows for ALL four, and sunroof, seat heat, steering wheel controls, Bose, etc, etc. Extremely comfortable, yet sporty. Just came back from a 8,000 mile roadtrip in just under 3 weeks and we didnt get cramped once.

So more details, we plan on getting a larger vehicle later for a "family" car and we were thinking M35/37, which we would trade the G for. I dont want a two seater because I want to haul more than one passenger. So here's the options...

Spend tax money on an LS6 for the SS, giving it nearly 400rwhp with the mods I have and tuning and a 6800 rpm redline. Continue to build the SS and drive it for a long time to come.

Keep driving the SS until the G is paid for and then sell the SS, buy an M for the wife, and I drive and slightly/tastefully mod the G (shocks, tires, exhaust) and enjoy AWD.

Corvette-great power, handling, but two seater, and less practical for daily driver.

BMW M3-great power, handling, good DD, but expensive to buy, maintain, hard to work on.

So thats it, sorry for the long post but just trying to be detailed. I know I will miss the power of the V8 but I spend a lot of time fixing little things and trying to upgrade things that still fall short of a more modern car. If I stick with the G I wont do as much to it as I have the SS but I want to autox and an occasional HPDE with of course great street performance.

Thanks for your opinions!

 

hands down m3, hard to work on? i was told BMW is one of the easiest cars to work on. They have manuals and pictures of everything you need to do work yourself with out going to the dealer.

 

M and a G haha just because that would be an epic garage.

 

yep ^+1 -- M3 and G are the 2 best choices for good life and repairs etc and power of course

 

Make up your mind already!!


This would be my choice if I was faced with your decision. If it was in the budget though I'd buy the M56. It's a sweet car. http://www.autoguide.com/manufacture...rive-1352.html

 

^^^heh heh as much as I don't want a two seater, I really like Corvettes!

I don't like working on German cars, which is why we got the G in the first place instead of a 3 series. And they use 60 weight oil amongst many other parts that are not over the counter. Though I know they are "the ultimate driving machine"

I like the new M but the 5.6 is a little more than we need, it will be the family car after all, and I cant have the family grocery getter smoking my ride!

I think I might miss the LS1 roar and the torque, I'll have to look into power adders for the G. I would like to keep both but I also have a Land Cruiser for off roading so I cant keep too many vehicles!

Thanks for the input!

BTW here's a link to my Camaro and Land Cruiser, one of the SS pics is next to the G. (I dont spend much time on there anymore so I havent made a page for the G)

http://www.cardomain.com/id/mikedamageinc

 

Audi S5, 354hp, 4 seater, 2 doors

or Audi RS4, 420hp, 4 seater, 4 doors

both cars come in 6 speed manual. You can grab either for about $50,000 used!

 

Wow only 50K!?

Don't like the German autos, the M3 only gets consideration because it's an awesome car.

 

Drive em all....and buy what you like the most

 

^ That makes too much sense.

 

I was in a similar situation with my previous car, choosing to spend a chunk to make it run for a long time or get a replacement. The problem with your SS is that while the engine and trans might be good to go, you've got every other part of the car that's showing the 220k miles on it - trim, seats, electrical... it was keeping up with and trying to find those parts in good condition that made me ditch my old car. Engine parts are available anywhere, but trying to find a grey sunvisor retention clip when it breaks, or the passenger seat bolt cover? That kind of stuff got old trying to find.

If you have to "afford" an M3, it's not for you. They are absolutely awesome though, and if you hang on to the SS long enough that the G35 is paid for, you can probably afford it without asking how much.

Corvette, well, if your wife doesn't work, you can probably get away with it, otherwise, you'll have to do some family stuff in the 'vette and that's just not practical.

The M37 is definitely a good car, but I'd be a big worried about such a nice car w/kids all over it.

A Mazdaspeed3 hatchback would be a pretty good way to go, nimble, fast practical, easy to work on, reliable, cheap to maintain, and it's not one that you need to lay down seat protectors when the kids are going for a ride.

Coincidentally, anticipation of kids is what made me go with my sedan - if I had replaced my old car with a coupe, there's the chance that I'd have to replace it when kids came around, and I certainly couldn't afford a G35 6MT sedan with kids tugging at my wallet too, so I got an awesome sedan so I wouldn't be enjoying an awesome coupe, followed by a mediocre sedan later on.

 

Yea Wrathernaut, that makes a lot of sense with part replacement, kids, room, etc. When a clip or trim piece breaks its cool to find one in the junk yard for a few bucks, but I hate it when I need, say, a black piece and I find ten gray parts. And then just waiting for another piece to wear out.

And I plan on doing some test driving but its been raining every time I get a day off so thats no good. Plus I'm in a fairly small town, no bimmer or Infiniti dealerships so I'm stuck with whatever Carmax has on the lot. It's an hour or two to get to a good lot so that will have to wait.