If you could choose: E36 M3 vs AP2 S2000

[southpaw]

Like it says.


Background:

For an 18 y/o male.
I'm big on track racing/autocrossing
I also like to "stance" cars and make them look good

Here's what i have

Honda S2000:
Pro:

• Most AP2's have 20-40k miles
• 6-speed
• Perfect 50-50 wieght distrubtion.
• light wieght
• great HP vs Liter
• amazing shifting
• HIDs stock
• MPG is decent
• Honda reliability
• top drops quickly
• Great engine (ceramic coated cylinder walls, forged aluminum Pistons,higher flowing head than most etc)

Con:

• "Honda name vs BMW name"
• No torque
• 4 cylinder
• Convertible = ghey
• 2 seater

E36 M3
Pro:

• I <3 the BMW community
• It's an M3
• Costs less than AP2
• Cheaper insurance
• Great handling/styling
• Classic BMW
• Plenty of interior room
• I don't have to buy Kosei's haha

Con:

• Used E36s usually have 100k+ miles
• It's an old car (problems/less appeal)
• Everybody and their grandmother's have them
• Clean ones with low miles are rare
• 5-speeds
• Maint and parts are $$$

Thats all I have, help me add more to all 4 catagories.

But at the present moment, I'm leaning more towards an AP2.

Thanks,

-Brandon

[Tabaka]

The S2000 you listed above. I use to own one and would like to get another. Mine was an AP1 with an AP2 front and rear bumper, black on black, H&R coilovers, CAI, and a few other minimal upgrades. Good luck with your search. The S2K forums have some great cars for sale.

[Stolzy]

im 18 as well and have thought about both cars for possibly what i will look at in the next couple years. personally, id love an s2000. the bmw scene is great but like you said e36's are getting way to popular.

[B Rod]

How tall are you? I'm 6'4" and have MAD issues driving an S2k because my line of sight is exactly where the top of the windshield frame is. At each traffic light I had to duck a bit to look through the windshield or poke my head up to look above it.

[Stephen]

i dunno. id do e36, s2ks just arent really my style. I also dont feel that m3 parts are going to be that expensive. I almost bought a parts car with tons of goodies and mods for 1500

[southpaw]

How tall are you? I'm 6'4" and have MAD issues driving an S2k because my line of sight is exactly where the top of the windshield frame is. At each traffic light I had to duck a bit to look through the windshield or poke my head up to look above it.

I doubt i'll have that issue.

I'm 5'8, 118lbs.

[aar0n.]

I doubt i'll have that issue.

I'm 5'8, 118lbs.

Jesus, and people say I'm skinny at 140lbs at 5' 9''

I like both cars, personally I'd rather be in an S2K as it's a bit newer and really in a class of its own but E36s are timeless

[wheelfetish]

s2k > e36

Simply because everyone has them.

[Frag]

S2K is probably one of my all time favorite cars, so I am probably bit biased. A shame they stopped producing them.

[schroedin]

AP2 FTW. Buy a hardtop, coils, and wheels and you're set.

[aar0n.]

AP2 FTW. Buy a hardtop, coils, and wheels and you're set.

This thought goes through my mind a LOT lol

[Frag]

Words cannot express how much I love this car.

[Zack01GC]

E36, no question. Yes, they're played, but I would drive an E36 M3 over an S2K any day.

My reasoning:
-S2K is ridiculously small. Uncomfortably small. Totally unreasonable as a daily driver, at least if you have to take anything over the size of a backpack with you.
-No torque until 85,776,925 RPM. Seriously. The car makes no power at usable/cruisable RPM's.
-Convertible. I'm over them.
-Transmission. I've been driving manual transmissions since I was 16, and I can't get used to it. The clutch feels weird and so does the shifter. The throw is short, which is great if you're racing all the time, but the pattern is so close in city driving I can't tell what gear it's in.

My GF's dad has had two of them, both AP1's. I didn't care for driving either of them. These are just the things I noticed. I'm trying to be unbiased, but having driven both, that is my opinion.

[raffi91]

From one 18y/o male to another, i say go for the S2k. Im 6'3'' and fitting in the honda was a hassle, but you shouldn't have that problem. It was a blast to drive and i loved the look. Also, as gay as verts are you could get a JDM hatch conversion witch looks killer. I can easily say the e36 chassis is my least favorite BMW and the US e36 M3 shouldn't be considered an M car due to lack of ITBs. Sure they can look cool with some work, but no offense E36s are a dime a dozen. Best thing to do is get behind the wheel on both and see witch you like more and go from there.

[BeemerBuyer]

Dude... E36 M3 for sure.