Lancer Evos vs E36 M3s
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Lancer Evos vs E36 M3s
I don't mean to be ignorant but I obviously know nothing about the Lancer but from what I've been hearing they are some of the best rally cars out there. Having said that, my wife just had an accident(hit and run btw which pisses me off to death) in our 525 so I'm considering buying yet another car. So far my target was a 1995 M3 with a blown engine + an M3 Evo motor (swap) which is considerably more powerfull than the standard North American version. Now, I've heard so many good things about the Mitsubishis and Subarus (WRX), for that matter, that I'm thinking of taking a chance and getting a Lancer Evo. Mind you, I know nothing about these cars except from what I've heard and I was wondering what your experience has been. I would love to hear from some of you who owned both an E36 M3 and a Lancer (not sure what the roman numeral designations stand for, please feel free to enlighten me on this one), and the experience you've had with either.
Another thing is that I've had a chance to autox with guys that own those and I have to say that some of them would hold their own against my (and others' M3, which I thought was amazing; the car costs like 2/3 of the price of an M3 if not less). So, the bottom line is I *think* I like the car and I would appreciate any feedback that you guys could provide.
Another thing is that I've had a chance to autox with guys that own those and I have to say that some of them would hold their own against my (and others' M3, which I thought was amazing; the car costs like 2/3 of the price of an M3 if not less). So, the bottom line is I *think* I like the car and I would appreciate any feedback that you guys could provide.
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From: CT
Well do u want a car with luxioury or just a car to AutoX and other stuff. Becuase if its Luxioury (i cant spell) id say get an M3 but otherwise i much rather have an EVO but now that i think about it i just much rather have an EVO that my prefrance that and its cheaper. It has great handling and exiting corners for AutoX. Youd also get a new car oppsed to a used one too.
Last edited by DaTenshi; Jul 2, 2002 at 09:20 AM.
Best person to ask would be Claudius. He went from a Euro spec M3 to an Evo 6 and hasn't looked back. It's really a question of luxury vs. performance. The Evo is much rougher than any BMW including the M3. The thing is the US specs are yet to be released so this is all speculation at this point.
Mark
Mark
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Yes, I had an E36 M3 3.2l (321bhp) for 2 years. I personally found the acceleration very disappointing and went to a tuner for a dyno test and remap. The car produced 308bhp and after the remap 324.8bhp. I changed the exhaust (Hamann) and air filter and got an AC Schnitzer short final gear ratio. That was better but still nothing special. The car just didnt rev up quickly enough. 
It goes without saying that I changed the suspension
to Bilstein monotubes with custom made springs. That made the car much faster around corners, although the oversteer was amazing. Drifting on command But slowly. When I drifted the thing around corners at say 50 mph, I looked in the rear view mirror to check I wasnt holding anybody back, not joking!
The M3 is a very easy to drive car and it feels very quick FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT.
I think it looks good and has very good quality interior. The gear lever was very unpleasant to use, lacking precision.
Concerning the legendary "German reliability": the plate holding the rear diff broke off and the diff almost fell off and the gear box broke. The chief mechanic at BMW in Monaco told me that the M3 is a good car to go fast, but not a rally car. He was right. And I got a rally car. No more problems whatsoever.
Regarding the performance, a standard E36 M3 is inferior to a standard Evo in all areas (roadholding, acceleration and braking). It costs much more to tune an M3 than to tune an Evo and the results are FAR better on an Evo than an M3. (This is obviously due to the fact that the Evo is turbocharged).
To choose between the 2, it really depends what you want: a nice luxury relatively fast car? Get the M3. Raw performance, no compromise and the ultimate driving experience and you dont care about interior quality? Get an Evo.
It goes without saying that I changed the suspension
to Bilstein monotubes with custom made springs. That made the car much faster around corners, although the oversteer was amazing. Drifting on command But slowly. When I drifted the thing around corners at say 50 mph, I looked in the rear view mirror to check I wasnt holding anybody back, not joking!The M3 is a very easy to drive car and it feels very quick FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT.
I think it looks good and has very good quality interior. The gear lever was very unpleasant to use, lacking precision.
Concerning the legendary "German reliability": the plate holding the rear diff broke off and the diff almost fell off and the gear box broke. The chief mechanic at BMW in Monaco told me that the M3 is a good car to go fast, but not a rally car. He was right. And I got a rally car. No more problems whatsoever.
Regarding the performance, a standard E36 M3 is inferior to a standard Evo in all areas (roadholding, acceleration and braking). It costs much more to tune an M3 than to tune an Evo and the results are FAR better on an Evo than an M3. (This is obviously due to the fact that the Evo is turbocharged).
To choose between the 2, it really depends what you want: a nice luxury relatively fast car? Get the M3. Raw performance, no compromise and the ultimate driving experience and you dont care about interior quality? Get an Evo.
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From: So Cal
Evo's are for someone who really likes to drive and will take full advantage of their car. They are 4WD and turbo-charged, they haul. Also, not too many people have Evo's in North America. It would be cool to have something different.
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Originally posted by SuperLancer
In The UK only hair dressers drive M3s....
Claude what job do you do now you own an Evo
In The UK only hair dressers drive M3s....
Claude what job do you do now you own an Evo
Anywho, I see your point but what you are saying about performance is only true to a certain extent. The M3 is a naturally aspired car and is pretty close to the turbo charged Lancer in the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times. So I would think that all you have to do is put a comparable turbo system on the M3 and you have a rocket with luxury. Do you know what types of Lancers are sold in the states?
Do Lancers and M3s ever compete in a proffesional circuit. I've never seen M3s in rally races.
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Originally posted by M3PanzerFaustM3
In Poland we drive over britts with M3s.
In Poland we drive over britts with M3s.
Originally posted by M3PanzerFaustM3
The M3 is a naturally aspired car and is pretty close to the turbo charged Lancer in the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times.
The M3 is a naturally aspired car and is pretty close to the turbo charged Lancer in the 0-60 and 1/4 mile times.
Evo 6 0 - 60 in 4.9s
M3 3.2 0 - 60 in 5.6 s
Originally posted by M3PanzerFaustM3
So I would think that all you have to do is put a comparable turbo system on the M3 and you have a rocket with luxury.
So I would think that all you have to do is put a comparable turbo system on the M3 and you have a rocket with luxury.
and drifting, I couldnt think of a more fun car 
Another question that comes to mind is the reliability of such a conversion....
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From: Up to 80 miles north of Gilroy
Originally posted by M3PanzerFaustM3
Do you know what types of Lancers are sold in the states?
.
Do you know what types of Lancers are sold in the states?
.
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Originally posted by Claudius
Oooooh, that's not nice!
Yes:
Evo 6 0 - 60 in 4.9s
M3 3.2 0 - 60 in 5.6 s
True, but with a small problem. I looked into that when I had the M3. You get mainly compressor conversions such as the G-Power one. I've also seen a twin turbo conversion (450 bhp or more, cant remember), but not for sale. The problem is that you do not get enough traction / grip with an M3 to put that sort of power to the ground in the first 3 gears. But if you like burnouts and drifting, I couldnt think of a more fun car Another question that comes to mind is the reliability of such a conversion....
Oooooh, that's not nice!
Yes:
Evo 6 0 - 60 in 4.9s
M3 3.2 0 - 60 in 5.6 s
True, but with a small problem. I looked into that when I had the M3. You get mainly compressor conversions such as the G-Power one. I've also seen a twin turbo conversion (450 bhp or more, cant remember), but not for sale. The problem is that you do not get enough traction / grip with an M3 to put that sort of power to the ground in the first 3 gears. But if you like burnouts
and drifting, I couldnt think of a more fun car Another question that comes to mind is the reliability of such a conversion....
Well, the reliability depends on your setup, I guess. And 450 hp is too much for someone who doesn't have the urge to replace vital parts of the engine every few thousand miles. But, considering that the engine can handle 8-10 psi of boost without opening up the motor puts the M3s ahead of the Lancer without sacrificing the reliability. But still it is a difficult decision because I don't want to spend more than ~$13K and I know the Lancers are going to be expensive. On the other hand I can get a 95 M3 body for 6K buy the motor and transimission for another 7K and be set.
True, but with a small problem. I looked into that when I had the M3. You get mainly compressor conversions such as the G-Power one. I've also seen a twin turbo conversion (450 bhp or more, cant remember), but not for sale. The problem is that you do not get enough traction / grip with an M3 to put that sort of power to the ground in the first 3 gears. But if you like burnouts and drifting, I couldnt think of a more fun car Another question that comes to mind is the reliability of such a conversion....
and drifting, I couldnt think of a more fun car Another question that comes to mind is the reliability of such a conversion....
Most of them are done by this company...
http://www.activeautowerke.com/
Making over 400hp for either 95 OBDIs and 96+ OBD2s...