Went Bavarian Instead - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

oneday · 04-23-2012, 10:13 AM

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.

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.

Mitch · 04-23-2012, 10:37 AM

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?

oneday · 04-23-2012, 11:51 AM

Black and Sandbeige. Not sure what the wheels are called.

Mitch · 04-23-2012, 12:00 PM

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.

Sammyzuko · 04-23-2012, 03:19 PM

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.

WhiteGDB · 04-23-2012, 03:32 PM

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

Capt Canuck · 04-23-2012, 04:42 PM

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

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

zygrene · 04-23-2012, 07:37 PM

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.

Dave-ROR · 04-23-2012, 09:48 PM

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.

Dimman · 04-23-2012, 10:09 PM

Nice bimmer.

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

oneday · 04-24-2012, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dimman

Nice bimmer.

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

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

torquemada · 04-24-2012, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oneday

Not sure what the wheels are called.

ugly

Mitch · 04-25-2012, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torquemada

ugly

You bite your tongue!

They can't all have LTWs..

f0rge · 04-27-2012, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zygrene

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.

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?

04-23-2012, 10:13 AM	#1
oneday Opinionated Join Date: Dec 2009 Drives: Something Red Location: Holland Posts: 311 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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. 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. __________________ Most of the cars I drive have nets for windows.

04-23-2012, 11:51 AM	#3
oneday Opinionated Join Date: Dec 2009 Drives: Something Red Location: Holland Posts: 311 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Black and Sandbeige. Not sure what the wheels are called. __________________ Most of the cars I drive have nets for windows.

04-23-2012, 12:00 PM	#4
Mitch form follows function Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: RIP '13 BRZ Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 688 Thanks: 42 Thanked 234 Times in 122 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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. Last edited by Mitch; 04-25-2012 at 02:07 AM.

04-23-2012, 04:42 PM	#7
Capt Canuck Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Drives: BMW E36 323is Location: Bay Area, NorCal Posts: 685 Thanks: 47 Thanked 72 Times in 42 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	^ Definitely, see far too many of them here in California... funnily enough. OP: Have fun with the new car! :-) __________________

04-23-2012, 09:48 PM	#9
Dave-ROR Site Moderator Join Date: Dec 2010 Drives: Stuff Location: Florida Posts: 10,317 Thanks: 955 Thanked 5,965 Times in 2,689 Posts Mentioned: 262 Post(s) Tagged: 8 Thread(s)	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. __________________ -Dave Track cars: 2013 Scion FRS, 1998 Acura Integra Type-R, 1993 Honda Civic Hatchback DD: 2005 Acura TSX Tow: 2022 F-450 Toys: 2001 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, 1993 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1994 Toyota MR2 Turbo, 1991 Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 Parts: 2015 Subaru BRZ Limited, 2005 Acura TSX Projects: 2013 Subaru BRZ Limited track car build FS: 2004 GMC Sierra 2500 LT CCSB 8.1/Allison with 99k miles

04-23-2012, 10:37 AM	#2
Mitch form follows function Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: RIP '13 BRZ Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 688 Thanks: 42 Thanked 234 Times in 122 Posts Mentioned: 7 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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?

04-23-2012, 03:19 PM	#5
Sammyzuko Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: E36 M3 Location: Arlington Posts: 4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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.

04-23-2012, 03:32 PM	#6
WhiteGDB Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Drives: Civic Si sedan Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 320 Thanks: 5 Thanked 7 Times in 4 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Nice pick up. It seems every 99' I come across for sale is a AT convertible.

04-23-2012, 07:37 PM	#8
zygrene Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Drives: 1991 Formula Red NSX Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 218 Thanks: 69 Thanked 59 Times in 30 Posts Mentioned: 1 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	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.

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