I looked at M3's. I don't think it can be compared to the 370Z, though. It's a family car with some power and a heavily tuned suspension.

umm...... :pics:

No brainier, m3 all day! I love my z but if I could afford a m3 I would get one

So, have you cranked it up on a cold morning and flipped out yet? Most people do NOT expect what they hear.

I just traded in my M3 for my Z. The M3 and the Z can not be compared. Good luck finding things you don't like about your M3. You'll enjoy it too much to find much wrong with it other than the NAV software. If you don't have NAV, you're set.
I am enjoying my Z, but like most of the owners on this site, I'm doing a lot of mods to make it work for me. Back-up camera and changing out the hideous amber LED's are my current projects with sound deadening mat coming in soon.

so you went from e 92 to z? what made you make such a surprising switch? something most people would consider a "downgrade"

why? what happens if you start an m3 on a cold morning?

A downgrade it was, but a sports car fits my needs better than a luxury sports car. If I lived closer to the Autobahn than the DFW freeways, the M3 would be a keeper.

an m3 is one of the cars on my short list to replace my wrecked z. how would you rate the driving experience and handling of both cars? have you done any track driving with either of them? how are the steering, brakes, engine, gearbox, cornering ability, etc? also, the m3 is quite a heavy one, i believe it weighs a whole 3800lbs. is the excess weight noticeable? and lastly, what about reliability? is it a very bad idea to buy a used m3 with little to no warranty left?

M3 is closer to 3600 lbs.

It sounds harsher than a VQ at redline with no oil, lol

do it, you will never regret it. except when you go in for maintenance.

ouch! why would that be the case?

It was explained to me right before they cranked the NEW one on the show-room floor for me at the dealership. I begged them not to, literally, because I know how new cars smell. They did it anyway. Loud as hell when the guy revved it, and blasted new-car baking off exhaust odor throughout the entire BMW dealership. I was astounded that they would do that for someone who had point-blank told them they would NOT buy the car.

Anyway, I forgot the entire reasoning behind it, but it's normal and okay, however, it does cause quite a few calls/visits to the service dept. they claim. The best way to describe it is think of a push-rod V8 with all 16 rockers being loose a few turns.

i won't be going in for maintenance. I should be able to do most of the basic stuff myself. Would parts be expensive? My main concern is really about reliability. Would stuff start breaking down at random?