I was an active member on this forum for several months, searching for an 00 01 FBP or NBP Type R. My search ended in defeat with no worthy cars coming onto the market. I have since then looked into a 5spd IS300 but can't find a used 5spd only automatics. I have also discovered that for the same money as the above two cars I can afford a 1997-1999 BMW M3. My question is which would you choose? I realize this is a Type R forumn, but honest answers would be appreciated. Please don't flame me, I truely cannot decide.

 

I couldn't live with a civic w/altezzas, unless it had a big hairdryer under the hood. M3 or R, I'd say drive both and get whichever one you like more. First I'd get insurace quotes and find the difference in rates between all three cars.

 

Any of the cars I go with will be forced induction except for maybe the R because of the high compression ratio (probably turbo it anyways). I helped build a high eleven second GSR turboed 4dr and cannot live without a turbo because of it.

 

Honestly? M3.

If I was looking for a car right now and I didn't have this shitbox already, an E36 M3 would fit the bill nicely.

 

95 OBDI BMW M3 works great with turbo.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by importfreak02 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I was an active member on this forum for several months, searching for an 00 01 FBP or NBP Type R. My search ended in defeat with no worthy cars coming onto the market. I have since then looked into a 5spd IS300 but can't find a used 5spd only automatics. I have also discovered that for the same money as the above two cars I can afford a 1997-1999 BMW M3. My question is which would you choose? I realize this is a Type R forumn, but honest answers would be appreciated. Please don't flame me, I truely cannot decide.
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Totally different vehicles... I would say drive both.... get insurance quotes for both.... The R would be cheaper to mod and has cheaper maintenance cost in comparison to the M3. However, the M3 is a faster car stock vs stock.

 

ttt

 

I test-drove an IS300 when they first came out back in 2000 (?) and I really liked the ride and feel of the car. The only M3's i've been in have been shitty older M3's, so I can't really compare with that, but it depends what you want to do with your car.

If you want to drive to work every day in a well built car with a very comfortable 'sporty' ride, get the IS300. If that's not important, get the R

 

IS300... Nice, but slow.
M3... awesome car all around. Insurance is killer expensive.
ITR... Awesome all around. Theft prone.

Cops will hassle you less in the IS and M3. All nice cars though! I looked at all of them myself, and decided on an S4!

 

Personally,i would go for the M3.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by io_burn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> shitty older M3's,</TD></TR></TABLE>


Which years are you referring to?

 

It all depends on how hard core you will be in terms of performance and practicality. Will you be taking your car to the road course a few times a year? Do you have a second car?
If Yes, you will have a second car and you will be going to the road course, definitely go with the R, cheaper maintainance, and tons of after market support. Consider this quote from car n driver...."...feathery weight provides the kind of delicate responsiveness that cannot be duplicated by a heavier machine, no matter how wide its tires or stiff its suspension...".
I would first decide what exactly I want the car for, and then go from there,

die hard performance, less practicality, tuning potential = ITR
luxury, reliability, practical, newer model, decent street performance = is300
high performance, high price tag, high maintainance, decent practicality = m3

those are my somewhat cohesive mid afternoon thoughts...

by the way I was in the market for an is300 and went with the R and a second car, I bought a 1990 ls400 to quell my desire for comfort, luxury, and practicality. Now I have two cars both presenting me with a night and day difference....

 

Id have an Audi A4 1.8T Quattro or a M3 over a R, the insurance on R's is so rediculous that is should be almost close in comparison to a E36....where the audi is a sedan it will be lower. You can insure a S2000 cheaper then a R ... makes no sense

 

Actually, if you have no plans to track the car ever. go with the is300.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by io_burn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">shitty older M3's</TD></TR></TABLE>

There's no such thing as a "shitty" M3 IMHO.

Get the M3 and park it everywhere without worrying about thieves.

Also just worry about learning how to drive the car first, don't start making "plans" for future mods.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Reid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

There's no such thing as a "shitty" M3 IMHO.</TD></TR></TABLE>My thoughts exactly

 

Depends on your goals. Track? Autox? Drag? (judging by your choices, i'd say NO to drag obviously) Just a nice street car?

Track/street/autox - ITR or M3
Street only - IS300
Got big money, put a hairdryer (lol, nice one dave) under the hood of an IS and maybe it would be fun

I'd love to have an E30 and especially an E36.

There is no shitty M3. only a fat, bloated one: the most recent.
Which 'old' shitty M3 are you talking about Eli, the much loved E30??

 

Honda or Beamer?

Come on now

M3

 

Type R!! Way more bang fo rthe $

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Track/street/autox - ITR or M3
Street only - IS300</TD></TR></TABLE>

Honestly if this is going to be your first car, I'd get a CHEAP beater that you can beat the heck out of.

Then once you get that out of your system, get a nice car.

While it's perfectly fine to take good care of a vehicle, it's even more fun to beat on one. Beating on a car includes doing things like the following:

Run up to your car in the parking lot, jump on the hood, run up the windshield, then jump off the car and look at outraged onlookers. Then proceed to unlock the door with your key and confuse those who witnessed your actions.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slowassR &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Type R!! Way more bang fo rthe $</TD></TR></TABLE>

Used M3s and ITRs are going for the same amount.

Now that the bottom on the used M3 market has fallen out, it cannot go much lower which means the car will hold its value reasonably well.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Which 'old' shitty M3 are you talking about Eli, the much loved E30??</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a friend with a 97, and another with a 99 and in both the interior of the car is literally falling apart. Just seemed odd to me in such a new-ish expensive car. *shrug*

 

Screw the Is300 and get an R. The ITR is one of the best handling cars I have ever driven.

 

Since you want to turbo your car, the stock power doesn`t matter... Get the cheapest if you just want it for street. If you like to drag, get the M3 because it`s RWD. The R is a very n/a meant car, it`s expensive and it is stolen very often.. So this would be my last choice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MPH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Screw the Is300 and get an R. The ITR is one of the best handling cars I have ever driven.</TD></TR></TABLE>

haha! Yup best handling car I've ever driven...you should buy my car.

len, who will hopefully be in a lancer evo 7.5 soon