OK Help Me ASAP-S3, Type-r, VRS, ZT, MR2 or ???

[olv]

v8 supercharged version?

 

[TripleT]

Mmm you git, very nice motors, get some pictures up in "Show us..."

 

[panthro]

which m3's are you listening to? the only m3 with a respectable exahust note is the CSL, the rest sound awful, even owners admit it, its bordering on embaressment for them

My dads M3 Convertible....each to his own, I liked the sound of it. But he put a Miltek system on there (the car is sold now) so it sounded even nicer.

 

[Will Gill]

v8 supercharged version?

4.2 SC yes

I posted one pic a while back, I have a blackberry out here and it doesnt have a camera but I will sait you appetite for piccies as soon as I can

its basically this thing

I wish I could say its mine, its just the company fluffer wagon, totally wasted in NYC I never ever drive it, always quicker to walk

 

[Will Gill]

My dads M3 Convertible....each to his own, I liked the sound of it. But he put a Miltek system on there (the car is sold now) so it sounded even nicer.

which generation m3 was it, I expect we are discussing totally different m3's

 

[panthro]

which generation m3 was it, I expect we are discussing totally different m3's

E46

 

[Will Gill]

hmm ok well as you say each to their own

most people think it sounds awful, which is a shame because the car itself is utterly brutal, I love them to pieces, and believe me if and when I buy one I would admit to it sounding pony

 

[gaz1234]

I bet five pounds to a charity of your choice you buy none of these cars

or coz im an american ill make that $10

you just come across as someone who knows nothing about cars and are just posting a list of cars that you are watching drive past your window, BMW's dont have a decent exhaust note I know I drove a 330 for years, the M3 is as good as it gets and it sounds like a strangled cat! You then bring up a seat - the only thing a 330 and a seat have in common is they are both cars, you really couldnt have a larger variation why not get sensible and stop dreaming about 330's and s4's and tell us which cars you can actually afford. While you are at it tell me which insurance company took away your protected 6 years no claims bonus after one crash, I must avoid them like the plague!

I will buy one of these cars. Im sure the 330 would sound better with the 6cyl!

 

[Will Gill]

$10 says you dont

do you think the 330 I had was a special version without a 6cylinder engine?

 

[[TW]Fox]

I was hoping the 3.0 Straight Six in the 3 and 5 would sound brilliant, I'm sure I remember it sounding pretty cool when I was in one a year ago

 

[gaz1234]

$10 says you dont

do you think the 330 I had was a special version without a 6cylinder engine?

Well ive just been out in another 330 and the 6cyl sounds nice, although the turbo in the leon feels faster!

Question for you then, out of the Cupra R, S3 and 330ci:

Which is the chepest the run, maintain?
Which will Handle the best and most importantly which will hold its value?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Which will handle the best? I thought you'd driven all 3?

 

[D4VE]

I was hoping the 3.0 Straight Six in the 3 and 5 would sound brilliant, I'm sure I remember it sounding pretty cool when I was in one a year ago

Sounds utterly lush to me

I want to throw another car in the mix - Integra Type R, can get a nice one for that money.

 

[BigT]

Hmm, my 330Ci sounds decent enough but not as good as other cars with similar performance. Same goes for the M3s I've driven. Standard exhaust sounds great compared to most cars but not Scoobs, Evos and exotica that go as quick as the M3.

To help you with the running costs of a 330Ci, here's some real world figures I can remember off the top of my head (apologies if I'm wrong but haven't got the bills in front of me), main dealer where approrpiate:

Replacement fuel management chip £255 fitted
Tyres about £100 a corner on the standard 17" 7 spoke alloys
£120 for a ball joint or brush or something or other to do with one of the wheels. (How vague can I be )
19 mpg in stop/start town traffic
30 mpg on motorway cruises
Group 17 insurance

Don't think you'll be getting a decent one for £10K though.

The only other car I've driven that you mention is the S3 which was not as good handling IMO, not as smooth day to day driving, not as quick (don't know the stats to prove that one way or the other though) but I did prefer the interior.

For your budget, if you find a 330Ci, it will be lower spec so will exclude toys you could have on the other cars listed. Doubt you'll get one with Sat Nav, parking sensors, rain sensors, electric seats and possibly even leather.

 

[[TW]Fox]

As I keep saying, get a 330i over a 330Ci with this budget - it's the *same car* but you can actually afford one.

 

[BigT]

Got to agree with Fox, but I guess if you can't get past the styling of that particular car then for some its a deal breaker (there is no other difference right? apart from it being cheaper to buy second hand like-for-like?). I know I didn't like the look of a 330i even though there are plenty of 4 door cars I do like the look of. And although a 330Ci is just the same chassis with a couple of doors knocked off, for me it was a compromise too far to go with the saloon, even though financially it made sense.

 

[gaz1234]

Got to agree with Fox, but I guess if you can't get past the styling of that particular car then for some its a deal breaker (there is no other difference right? apart from it being cheaper to buy second hand like-for-like?). I know I didn't like the look of a 330i even though there are plenty of 4 door cars I do like the look of. And although a 330Ci is just the same chassis with a couple of doors knocked off, for me it was a compromise too far to go with the saloon, even though financially it made sense.

Completely agree! Ci or not at all for me!

 

[[TW]Fox]

They look virtually the same - I'd understand it if you were a saloon hater but you are clearly not as the Jag X-Type and MG ZT are on your list!

I cannot believe you prefer the 330Ci would be happier to get a car you dont like as much than get one with 2 extra doors?

A comparison shot:

You'll note the Coupe is a pre-facelift and the saloon a facelift. Before you complain you need to remember the Coupe was not facelifted until some time after the saloon...

 

[gaz1234]

They look virtually the same - I'd understand it if you were a saloon hater but you are clearly not as the Jag X-Type and MG ZT are on your list!

I cannot believe you prefer the 330Ci would be happier to get a car you dont like as much than get one with 2 extra doors?

A comparison shot:

You'll note the Coupe is a pre-facelift and the saloon a facelift. Before you complain you need to remember the Coupe was not facelifted until some time after the saloon...

See your point, what however is the age difference between the both and also the body kit is different! ideally i prefer the ci with the sport body. is there any saloons like the above in my price range??? They seem to be a little cheaper but not much on autotrader.

 

[BigT]

lol, you do make me laugh Fox. Comparing the looks of a coupe to a saloon and presenting images from an angle that minimises the differences in the styling i.e. not showing much of the side and hence the doors!

Personally I'd present two images like this to argue the case that one looks much better than the other:

But at the end of the day it really does come down to the fact that it is possible to like the coupe version of a particular model and not like the exact same model in saloon form and yet also like other saloons.

You will never understand it as it just seems illogical to you. Your view Fox is by far the more sensible I agree, but gaz I understand completely where you're coming from on the 3 series coupe/saloon looks front.