Decided to trade in my E92 M3 for a FR-S

[BlackMonarch]

I went from a 335xi to the 86 and I miss the power and handling every day, even for a larger car. I can't imagine what parting with an M3 would be like for the 86 twins. Definitely would not do it. Plus, let's be honest, you can add lightness and get the same experience - Just CF everything.

[mhughett]

My last two "sports cars" have been a Z4 M coupe and an Audi TT-RS (which is actually faster than the e92 M3). Both were very thirsty when pushed hard and you couldn't explore their potential without risking your license unless you frequent the track. The Audi has a nice interior but in both cars, the technology is old school. I love the size and handling of the BRZ and have moved on from the others.

[srt4evah]

Originally Posted by Koa

"At 150 mph, the regular Viper coupe generates 100 pounds of downforce; at the same speed, the Viper ACR generates 1000 pounds of downforce.

Read more: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...#ixzz3SyQAOuAv"


JEEESUS. What a setup. But look at that disparity betwen the regular and "ACR" model for downforce alone.

There's a huge reason why Vipers are notorious for being involved in single vehicle crashes... few can harness the power and they're not known for handling well. That ACR looks awesome, though.

On the contrary, they're known for handling incredibly well. They're not know for forgiving shitty drivers.

The 2010 Viper ACR held and holds many track records for street legal production cars at many world famous tracks.

The Viper ACR will test your skills and your bravery, and if you don't pass the test you crash.

OP, where in Texas are you located? I know a dealer offering BRZs at $1500 off MSRP, and that offered me a 2015 WRX at invoice if I place a factory order, they may do the same for BRZs...

[daiheadjai]

Originally Posted by Ddreder

This ---^

That M3 looks really nice.. comfort alone I think would sell me on it if I could afford it.. lol

If you really wanna track that badly why not spend $2000ish on an NA Miata. Spend another $3000 on parts and BUILD a track car that you can enjoy AND appreciate. I find that is the biggest thing I am missing from owning my FR-S is appreciation for it. Yea I put $9k down on it and I am in dept for life but I still appreciate my dinky little NA way more. When you have spent blood, sweat, and tears crafting the ultimate little street machine, nothing you can go out and buy will ever seem to compete.

Just my 2 cents though.. BTW that red fr-s in south carolina IS SUCH A GOOD DAMN DEAL.. I want it lol

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83090

I love this car simply because it encourages you to tinker with it... I imagine the Miata is the same, except sans roof and with "2" "rear seats"

Not sure if I would tinker with something German though.... Das ist nicht gut....

[strat61caster]

Originally Posted by Vracer111

I would also subscribe to going with a used NA Miata or some other dedicated track car if you want a track vehicle as well... you will have spent much less money while having a just as capable track car that is way more solid, proven, and reliable in that environment.

NB's seem to get a lot of love at the moment, the 1.8L is definitely preferred over the 1.6 (dat VVT) and they're almost even in price at this point with mint NA's going for more money than great NB's, and beater NB's are only a couple hundred bucks more than beater NA's of equal quality.

[Defuser]

I find it hilarious that so many people are trying to talk a grown man out of buying something he wants.

Trying to make sense out of why a guy wants a particular car at a particular time is like trying to figure out why a girl changes her shoes/clothes/purse five times before you can leave the house and go eat dinner. There is no sense to it.

I believe the question was about pricing?

All I can say is I got an FR-S for below invoice, ONLY because I had a trade-in that they put a ridiculously high valuation on. My advice is to go to any dealerships within a reasonable distance and see how willing they are to negotiate. I typically initiate contact with dealerships via the internet sales department, as they seem to cut to the chase much faster, and don't play as many "numbers games".

[Basket Case]

why, oh why, would you trade in an e92 M3 for an 86?...

[BlueDubbinTDI]

Originally Posted by xuimod

I don't think that's true but depends on how far you are willing to travel. If you live in a big Texas city (Houston, Dallas, Austin, SA) You should be able to find a 2013 for under $20k very easily within 150 miles or so. Actually $17-18k is fairly easy to find.

Use cars.com. Do advanced search.

Btw, by jumping around from car to car so often (M3 ---> FRS ----> Viper) you are setting yourself up to lose thousands of dollars (could be easily over $10k).

And I'm guessing you will probably want to mod the FRS soon after you get it.

This. You're not gunna be satisfied with a stock frs coming from an M3 very long. That will get expensive and then all your viper savings will go down the toilet. Keep the m3...believe me the frs is so slow it hurts sometimes.

[Mr.Impreza]

I drove the M3 E92 coupe on some back roads and took it up to about 160km/h which felt good, however the car has the same issue as many high end luxury cars and that is you only begin to have fun past 120km/h
Driving it in the city, it felt like any other BMW.

I think you made the right choice, i came from the 335i coupe, not a M3, but enjoy the FRS way more as the 335i felt boring almost all the time.

The only think you will miss i think is comfort and a quiet cabin when your tired. In the BMW i could drive 600km and feel fine. In the FRS, after 300km you begin to get tired.

Anyways, instead of paying stupid payments on a BMW, i sold it and now have a honda accord for daily and work and FRS for summer and fun. The accord does everything the BMW did, give me a pleasant ride that is comfortable and quiet.

[Quentin]

Originally Posted by blackhawkdown

your gonna regret your decision. e92 m3 is sublime. even if the m3 is out of warranty, if your a DIY kind of guy, it should only cost the same as a BRZ/FRS maintenance. replace the bearings, and your good to go. solid, reliable engines the S56 is.

Replace which bearings? No car still under warranty should need new bearings of any kind.

And the maintenance won't be close. Brakes, fluids, and tires are going to be massively more expensive on the BMW.


Sent from Tandy 400

[Vracer111]

Originally Posted by strat61caster

NB's seem to get a lot of love at the moment, the 1.8L is definitely preferred over the 1.6 (dat VVT) and they're almost even in price at this point with mint NA's going for more money than great NB's, and beater NB's are only a couple hundred bucks more than beater NA's of equal quality.

NA's are only 1.6L until 93, 94-97 are 1.8L. NA because its the roomiest and lightest chassis.... and subjectively the best looking as well - NB is the absolute ugliest miata gen, all the wrong kinda curves and roundness on it.

For a cheap track car I'd be interested in an NA with the Mini-Tec Honda J32A2 or J35A4 V6 swap I recently read about in Grassroots Motorsports... pretty sweet and inexpensive.

http://www.superfastmiatas.com/

[pantdino]

Originally Posted by Mr.Impreza

I drove the M3 E92 coupe on some back roads and took it up to about 160km/h which felt good, however the car has the same issue as many high end luxury cars and that is you only begin to have fun past 120km/h
Driving it in the city, it felt like any other BMW.

I think you made the right choice, i came from the 335i coupe, not a M3, but enjoy the FRS way more as the 335i felt boring almost all the time.

The only think you will miss i think is comfort and a quiet cabin when your tired. In the BMW i could drive 600km and feel fine. In the FRS, after 300km you begin to get tired.

Anyways, instead of paying stupid payments on a BMW, i sold it and now have a honda accord for daily and work and FRS for summer and fun. The accord does everything the BMW did, give me a pleasant ride that is comfortable and quiet.

Solution? I am keeping my E36 M3 for weekends and am enjoying it more than I did when it was a daily driver. Just slogging thru traffic was not fun in that car.


The FRS is much more fun as a DD than the M3- low seating position, quick steering, and you don't have to be breaking any laws to have fun.

[Koa]

Originally Posted by srt4evah

On the contrary, they're known for handling incredibly well. They're not know for forgiving shitty drivers.

The 2010 Viper ACR held and holds many track records for street legal production cars at many world famous tracks.

The Viper ACR will test your skills and your bravery, and if you don't pass the test you crash.

OP, where in Texas are you located? I know a dealer offering BRZs at $1500 off MSRP, and that offered me a 2015 WRX at invoice if I place a factory order, they may do the same for BRZs...

I never said the ACR wasn't a handling beast.. as per my comment comparing the base viper's 100 ftlbs downforce to the ACR, which had ten times as much at 1,000 for starters

[mkivsoopra]

Haha, that's funny. I just picked up an E92 M3 to complement the BRZ. The BRZ is definitely more nimble, but both are great cars. You may miss some of the refinement going from E92 -> 86, though, if that's important to you.