The M3 has been the car I have wanted since I saw one in 1990. The Evo is my daily driver; I did some auto-x and what not. My previous car was a 323, I really liked the car, however as well know that car is seriously underpowered. I used to think the RWD was the way to go, I have since changed my mind I think that AWD is also excellent. I don't really have any dislikes other than, maybe I am getting a little bit tired of the stiff ride on the evo. That however is not really the reason why I started looking the M3's. My Other concern is the cost to keep the Evo running after the warranty goes.

 

The M3 is not slower than a stock Evo. You really have to know how to drive your Evo to whip an M3. If they have paddle shifters, they will leave you in the dust unless you are ready to launch off the line. To them, it's just floor it. To us, it's a concentrated process and clutch abuse.

Either way, you will get raped on a trade since the car is so new. You have to keep it several years to show any depreciation stabilization.

 

I will get to drive one with the SMG tomorrow as well; I am looking forward to see how that will be. I have always driven manual cars. The research I did on that trans tells me that the SMG is not really an automatic.

Anybody here with extensive experience driving the SMG

Thanks,

 

Good luck. Hope you get what you want. Truth is BMW's are overrated

 

Damm I pay $2,300 a year for my EVO..... Just because I live in a #@&%ed up city....

 

My rate may have to do with my age (35), plus a clean driving record for the past 4 years.

 

My opinion is although SMG is not a classic automatic it surely feels like one since there is no clutch pedal. Everytime I drive an auto I miss the clutch, the shift lever and doing something other than just pressing the gas pedal. I hate auto and will most likely never own one unless my wife makes me buy one for her.
Test drive it and see if you like it, then think about driving it every day without the clutch and shifter...

 

I'm 33 with a clean driving record for the last 11 years.....


FRED stick with the EVO