I'm looking to trade my Spec V for either of these cars.

I am looking for the better handling, more fun to drive car. Straight line speed is not as much of an issue for me.

If you had to choose BETWEEN THESE TWO, which would you go for, and why?

 

M3

Better quality, resale, pedigree.

Looks meaner. Better interior.

And I think the M3 handles better, ive driven both.

 

Between those two. Deffidently the M3.

 

m3 no doubt.

 

why not a evo?

 

without question, the RX-8

When was the last year they made the e36, 1998?

so you'd be buying a 7 year old car versus one that is a year or two old.

 

i would do tha rx-8 hands down! my wife drives one and they have alot of potential! and so fun 2 drive! and will turn alot of heads! and cheaper!

 

To me the RX-8 is a disappointment, its power is weak and is not easy to upgrade. Great handling car and great balance, but you need forced induction on that car to make any decent power. Get the RX-8 and watch the 7,8,9 year old M3's walk away from you. The M3 will handle at least as well. I used to have a 98 M Roadster with the same engine in it as the M3 of that year. Flawless engine, a highway beast. go for the M3 you won't be let down. Also rated the best handling car in the world 1997.

 

i shall refer to my fav car show: Top Gear, as i do very often. in their rx8 review, it had the SAME lap time as the E46 M3 (i'm pretty sure it was the 46, not 36) so.... yes rx8 is weak in torque, but just to give u an idea of how it makes up for that.

 

Actually it was 1999. I was torn between the m3 or evo, but I wanted a new car. 2 of my friends had a 98' m3( same car they sold it to each other), that is one phat car overall. You got to drive one, to really apprecaite it. IMO the rx-8 is gay. Nothing like a rear wheel drive inline 6 that handles likes its on rails. Their built to last, have one of the highest resale values ( some of the 80's m3's are going for 15K $ plus) and are fast as hell.

 

Go for the E36 M3 =)... Yes the last year E36 M3 is 99.. I have 97 E36 M3 and loving it... I never drove the RX8... All I can say is the E36 M3 handle good and have the luxury feeling.... But nothing compare to the EVO if you want to feel the power =)

 

I'd say the M3, but if you're going to get a used car, why not an RX-7?

 

how about a civic

 

Having driven both, I prefer the RX8. The handling on both are good, but the M3 interior looks aged IMHO. The RX8 will also still have a warranty, which is a big plus IMHO.

 

I live in Canada. The EVO is not available here. I REFUSE to buy an STI or WRX, there is no good reason except they just do not appeal to me.

I have seen the Top Gear episode mentioned, and Jeremy Clarkson's only real complaint was the stock tires not gripping well in the rain. I've read articles on the RX-8 in Car and Driver and Road and Track where it comes out well in comparison tests.

What really got me interested was the article in Sport Compact Car where JIC tuning managed to break the SCC slalom record by adding FLTA2 coilovers, front and rear sway bars, front and rear strut tower bars, and Yokohama tires. The RX8 goes for about $40 thousand Canadian up here. I test drove it, and although unimpressed with the torque, thought it felt more balanced and easier to drive than anything else I had driven before. I would prefer to buy new because of all I hear about the RENESIS rotary being sensitive to proper break-in and maintenance.

On the other hand, the E36 M3 is available for about $25 thousand Canadian, and although I really don't know very much about it, I was really blown away by the styling and mystique of that car from back when I didn't know much about cars. I've yet to test drive it, but hear there is some decent potential for modifications. The down side is that modding a BMW would be costly, as would maintenance and the fact that it IS after all a 6-7 year old car.

That's about as much as I know. More opinions, please?