Went Bavarian Instead
 

So, after 2+ years of following the development of the BRZ/FR-S and even putting a deposit on the FR-S I've decided I'd rather have something else; a 99 BMW M3. My decision was mostly just basic economics:
If I bought a new FR-S I'd have killed my motorsports budget for a couple of years...plus I'd be less willing to really drive the car on the track (as an advanced/instructor level HPDE driver I am far more likely to wad up a car than a novice driver) with or without track day insurance.

I found a great deal on a decent mileage E36 M3 that is in fantastic condition and that has a full service history and decided I'd be far more willing to throw away a <$8000 M3 than a >$25K FR-S. The M3 will still need a suspension refresh and another set of wheels and tires before hitting the track, but for about $10K I'll have a fun track toy.:burnrubber:

I am flying in to Atlanta on Friday, picking up the car, heading to The Mitty for Saturday, then making the 13 hour drive home.

I'll post up some pics once I have the car.

One of us! One of us! I absolutely love the e36 M3. One of the best driving cars out there for the money. What color combination did you get? DSIIs or Contour wheels?

Black and Sandbeige. Not sure what the wheels are called.
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j1...B/IMG_0881.jpg

Cosmos on sand, very nice! Your wheels are Contours. Very cool. If I couldn't find stamped LTWs, I would have gone with those wheels.

You made a logical choice for the track, although I'd feel worse balling up that M3 than a BRZ....of course you'd be out more cash if something happened to a new BRZ. I'm excited about the BRZ, but I wouldn't feeling completely comforable tracking one until they drop in price.

Nice pick up. It seems every 99' I come across for sale is a AT convertible.

^ Definitely, see far too many of them here in California... funnily enough.

OP: Have fun with the new car! :-)

Just curious, what are you BMW owners' opinions on the 128i/135i? Are they as sporty and fun to drive as they seem on paper? What about the latest 3 series coupe? I'm sorta in the same boat where the BRZ/FR-S isn't a viable option, but an '09-'12 entry level Bimmer with low mileage is. I've heard some 90's BMW drivers say the new models are bloated pigs in comparison.

Nice car. Just saw an alpine white 95 with black interior with lowish mileage I thought about for a few seconds :)

Still going for the BRZ here though.

Nice bimmer.

...cough... more pics of the Legrand ...cough...

Sadly, the Legrand is gone...but here are pix from the 2010 DC Pro

ugly :D

You bite your tongue! :D

They can't all have LTWs.. :D
http://i865.photobucket.com/albums/a...ingitright.jpg

I've never driven a 1-series but my parents have a 2007 335i coupe that i've driven several times over the years and i have a 2004 M3.

the turbo 6 in the 335 is a gem and it's supposed to be even better in the lighter 135. if you can get past the looks i'd say the car is probably quite good. it'll cost you a lot more but you'd be drifting circles around an FR-S.

IMO the 128 gives up too much to be performance oriented, you're losing the power, the wheels/tires and the brembos. so what's left?