I usually don't post that much but I split right now about selling my ITR. I was wondering if there are any ITR owners that moved on to an M3 03' to 04' model. Did you regret selling the ITR later or did you keep both. I'm eager to hear from you guys. Please chime in if you have any input.

 

When I was looking into buying another car, the M3 was probably one of my top three choices. My friend lent me his for a week to convince me. After a few test drives, I finally realized it just wasn't me. Back into the honda scene I went. There are a few guys here who have sold their R's for M3's and been very happy. Im sure they will chime in.

 

E46 M3s get a from me.

 

Len and Rene would both be members who have made the switch.

 

Len and Craig, but they're both fairies so pay them no mind.

 

yes i did and let me tell you. the m3 will get you high class hoe, but all they want is your money.lol i went back to my itr and loving every min. of it. theres no car it the world can beat a front wheel drive race car. stay with your itr.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Aquafina &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Len and Craig, but they're both fairies so pay them no mind.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Jackson

His ITR got stolen and replaced with a M3.

After riding in the M3 for a while it just didn't do it for him. He likes his M3 it just didn't have the same feel.

So he ended up buying Rhetts ITR.

Now he is happy as a school girl.

He still has his M3

 

own both, sold the M3, and happy since.No BIG payments and MAINTENance etc..fast,smooth, luxury, but $$$$$$.

 

I'm sorry, but the relatively recent M3's are polished turds. I have a fair amount of seat time in an 07' and I was not impressed at all. If you want to go fast with lots of creature comforts, then the M3 is your cup of tea. If you want basics with lots of user feedback from the auto, the R is for you.

 

Len has been without his for almost a year now i believe. I know Craig still has his though.

I have always wanted one as a daily, but i am just not prepared to drop that kind of money on a car yet. Things such as a house and its belongings are far more important.

To the OP, good luck with your decision process.

 

It all depends on what you want out of the car. Personally, I'm going to be getting an '03.5 or newer in February after selling my '97.

I just spent 24 hours demoing one that I considered purchasing from a local dealership here in Raleigh and it was a blast! I think I put 100+ miles on it and used almost a 1/2 tank of gas. Anyhow, the torque is absolutely amazing but the connection and communication is not the same as the ITR mainly b/c (IMO) it's such a larger car that's relatively quiet.

The good:
-power and torque
-exhaust note (this is a love/hate thing for many)
-braking power
-RWD!
-telescoping wheel
-great steering wheel (the Sport Club, or CSL, offers an even better design)
-high-revving n/a powerplant
-6 speed
-fuel economy (I averaged 19mpg- almost what my ITR gets around town)
-it's not an ITR from a theft standpoint (no more nightmares )

The bad:
-try to find one with the sunroof delete option
-18 or 19" tire$
-long throw shifter
-additional maintenance
-rod bearing recall ('03s and older)
-leather
-is it really worth two Type R's monetarily?
-half the ones in the market are either vert or f'in SMG!

 

Craig was tracking his M last weekend.

I drove it up to the store, and WTDR 1 I drove most of the way back. Awesome HWY car, but for me... tooling around town it just didn't fit.

 

my personal experienced, if i would buy another M, it MUST have:

19"!!! my 18's make my "M' looked cheap and i did not like it one bit !!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Utilitarian &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">-fuel economy (I averaged 19mpg- almost what my ITR gets around town)
</TD></TR></TABLE>


19mpg is a PLUS point?

 

If you are considering moving to an M3, you should consider looking at an M coupe. I was looking at an M3 but having driven many, the weight was a big issue. The M coupe gives you the same motor in a smaller package, does not handle as easily but the feedback is much better. Acceleration is even faster in the M coupe as it is lighter.

 

Stick to a Japanese car bro and get the Lexus IS-F when it comes out. It's supposed to kick the M3's butt

 

My friend has one, and it's actually been pretty reliable. It's really fast compared to my old ITR/S2000. BUT, I felt no more pleasure driving it than my Honda's. It's fun when you get on the gas peddle, but other than that, it definitely shows it's weight around corners and braking.

Anyway, it is too much pomp for me. If I really had to "upgrade" from the R, it would be an Exige.

 

When I was buying another car, I heavily favored the E46 M3. But after test driving it over and over, I just didn't want a $$$ car that revved high and sounded like my ITR.

I ended up w/the S4. God I love torque!

Still have the ITR... it really is a tossup to decide on what to drive (most of the time)... unless I know I'm going out on a night on the town!

 

exige or nsx would be only upgrade/replacement for my R. nothing else
maybe elise

but the m3 for sure gets u the girls

 

Can anyone please give me heads up on E36 cuz I've been thinking to trading ITR for a while now, cuz its not so expensive as E46 is and not a bit worse than ITR performance wise.

 

mcoupe has the m3 motor?

 

wow, you guys are saying almost exactly what I told Antonio.....!

But driving your boss around at work in an itr =

 

Coming from some one that owns both, it really depends on what you want. If you want something with a **** ton of power and decent handling and 4drs, gofor a CTS-V or something. The M is a great car, but by no means the top of the power/handling curve compaired to other cars in the same price range. The reason why I got mine was because I always wanted one since they came out... period.

Now compairing it to the ITR is night and day. In the M you can actually talk on the phone while doing 100mph. Its got cruise control and is great on long drives. Plust the fact that its RWD and 300+ hp un modded, you can drive the **** out of it and not have to lay a single hand on it to fix it or do maintanice. BMW service handles everything except wear items (tires mostly, unless you are in CPO, then they don't cover trim).

The ITR however is a great car if you love spirited/track driving. The car is so light and responsive compaired to the tank... errr I mean M3. Its braking is unbelievable and its ability to be tosed around corners make it one of the funnest cars to drive.

If I had to choose one, then I would base it on what I do more of. Do I track the car more or do I simply use it to get me from A to B? Personaly I'd go for the ITR if I could only have one.

Now on to some of the pros and cons:

The good:
-power and torque & RWD... yes its nice to roll on the trottle and drifto
-6 speed: 3k @ 80mph is nice
-fuel economy is decent. I get 19mpg in the city and 26mpg on the highway. This depends greatly on your driving style (~6mpg on the track btw).
-Park that bitch anywhere not not worry too much about it. Door dings are a bitch however.
-Maintance: As long as you are on warrenty, you don't have to touch it.
-Damn Sexxy: this is personal however.


The bad:
-Braking power: this is no where near the ITR even with hot brakes (VR's on the track) I still got alot of faiding due to its weight.
-18 or 19" tire$: Yes they are. Roughly $350 per tire for decent 19's. However, with todays market going bigger and bigger with rims, 19" tires are getting cheaper.
-long throw shifter and long clutch throw: this can be fixed with a SSK and changing the clutch pedal.
-rod bearing recall ('03s and older): Yes this is bad, but I had it done and I have 100k warrenty on the motor for as long as I own the car.
-leather: **** is hot as hell and makes you sweat, but it does smell nice.
-Mods: For a decent header, cat and x pipe that makes power, you are looking around $5k or more not including software.
-Good percentage of owners are douch bags. Sorry but its true. Not all of them, but they are there.

Over all if you can aford it and aren't pushing the ITR to the max then i suggest getting it if that is what you want. I get **** all the time from people saying they could have gotten and STI or C5 for less and been faster. Frankly I don't really car, I bought it because I like the way the car looks and feels.

Any way, what ever car you end up getting, just make sure you drive it like you stole it

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itr1244 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but the m3 for sure gets u the girls </TD></TR></TABLE>

If that's one of your motives for getting a BMW, you've got no game and will date the wrong kind of girls.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SerGTR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can anyone please give me heads up on E36 cuz I've been thinking to trading ITR for a while now, cuz its not so expensive as E46 is and not a bit worse than ITR performance wise.</TD></TR></TABLE>

While it's not as expensive as the E46, you will certainly have to do a fair share of upkeep on the E36 M3. RTAB, oil nut, rear subframe, etc. are all areas of concern on the E36. I've driven a few and they are awesome cars. However, the thing that scares me away is the maintenace and repairs.