The new M3's are beautiful, however, the one validating aspect of speaking about the M3 on a G35 forum is the relative cost similarities. Many people that are into G35's are financially in a position to afford an E46. The E92 is on a completely different plane fiscally. I feel the Veyron is a fantastic machine, but I don't see the point of discussing here. Not attempting to be mean here, just logical. Saying you don't like the E46 is certainly fair and valid...but I don't see how it adds any value to the forum. The point of starting this thread was to state my opinions of a car I have owned in comparison with one I currently own. I felt some people driving G35's might be curious about the M3 and find the first hand experience helpful, or at least entertaining. Alternately, I felt some others may have followed a similar pattern of ownership and might add their own thoughts. I didn't intend for this to be just a general car comparison, which do you like/not like thread. I don't feel a G35 forum is the best venue to compare M3's. Believe me, check E46fanatics, M3forum, etc, and you'll see that plenty of that already exists.

 

g35's and m3 do share SOME of the relative cost similiarties but in almost all rolls of the dice cost is going to be g35<m3

stock for stock comparisons people who can afford to buy/own a g35 should be able to cross-shop a m3 as well pending if they wanted to throw in an extra $5-10k. To some it might not be huge at all but to others who have mommy and daddy holding them back they aren't getting it (LOL).

I do a couple of friends who own e36 and e46 m3's and we share prices on what we pay for in terms of parts, insurance, fuel and normal car related things. Yes everything is subjective but the M3 just demands a normal +15% preminum over what stuff cost to on a g35. Of course i do think the M gets a lot more bling factor and without a doubt its an ENTHUSIAST's car, where as the G35 is just a nice common car.

A normal joe blow can end up owning a g35 but a Joe blow will almost never end up with a M3/M5. 2 different cars designed for 2 purposes. If you wanted to keep the m3 feeling but wanted 4 doors should of gotten the E39 M5. Otherwise just gotta take a step down into something like a G35/G37/IS350 and etc.

I think you did the right move for the little one.

 

When I was looking for my latest car (the G35), I considered M3's. So I checked out their prices. For about $2000 more I could have gotten an M3 with 50,000mi vs the 25000 that my G35 had. So obviously the same milage M3 in good condition will be more than the G, but potential buyers can still afford a M3 with plenty of life left in it for close to the same cost.

Ultimately I decided against an M3 due to their rate of theft, and against any BMW due to maintenance costs.