Your opinion please.
Discussion
Z4 M coupe, 33K
CSL, 33-35K
E46 M3, 22-25K
Bearing in mind a few factors including price which car would you take, I understand the question is vague as there are so many factors involved.
Just interested in people's thoughts. Kinda expect the stock M3 to come out on top.
But what do I know.
... would adding an E90 M5 @ 15K make things interesting...
where does ur vote lie???????????
CSL, 33-35K
E46 M3, 22-25K
Bearing in mind a few factors including price which car would you take, I understand the question is vague as there are so many factors involved.
Just interested in people's thoughts. Kinda expect the stock M3 to come out on top.
But what do I know.
... would adding an E90 M5 @ 15K make things interesting...
where does ur vote lie???????????
f13ldy said:
Looking at it from a depreciation perspective you'd be foolish to buy anything other than the CSL.
Or decent e39 M5! Just sold mine but in next months EVO mag there's gonna be an M5 write up so no doubt they will be in demand and holding money. Great value car,lots of power to play with and an awesome allrounder. Dont rule out the E46 M3 CS too if you don't want something as hardcore as the CSL, its meant to be a bit nicer than the M3 in terms of a few little improvements (IMO the CSL isnt really hardcore anyway, only the seats suck a littlebit, a noble/exige is hardcore, a CSL is an EASY daily driver)
Out of those, I think I'd look at a z4mc - I'd not go for a CSL as I think its pretty much more of the same of the e46m3 i have now for a lot more dosh (I'll get shot down but I dont care). The z4mc is a different animal IMO.
that said, e46csl prices should remain good for the next year at least. I strongly suspect that the new e92 CSL will be a firebreathing monster, in fact, I think that most e46 csl owners who hark on about the CSL being 'focussed' will not like the e92 as it really will be. We are seeing reports of no rear seats/ceramic brakes - this thing looks to be squaring up with the gt3 rs type affair, and a lot of people will miss the comfort of the e46 going to the e92 csl- this may firm up e46 even more!! just IMO time will tell..
Out of those, I think I'd look at a z4mc - I'd not go for a CSL as I think its pretty much more of the same of the e46m3 i have now for a lot more dosh (I'll get shot down but I dont care). The z4mc is a different animal IMO.
that said, e46csl prices should remain good for the next year at least. I strongly suspect that the new e92 CSL will be a firebreathing monster, in fact, I think that most e46 csl owners who hark on about the CSL being 'focussed' will not like the e92 as it really will be. We are seeing reports of no rear seats/ceramic brakes - this thing looks to be squaring up with the gt3 rs type affair, and a lot of people will miss the comfort of the e46 going to the e92 csl- this may firm up e46 even more!! just IMO time will tell..
stuthemong said:
I'd not go for a CSL as I think its pretty much more of the same of the e46m3 i have now for a lot more dosh (I'll get shot down but I dont care).
More of the same? Well thats true with all cars to a certain extent. The CSL is a totally different animal to the E46 M3 and anyone who thinks differently has not driven a CSL...Totally agree about the Z4M, its a total bargain at the moment. Some 6 -12 month old models at £31k - £33k ... thats a BIG fall from £46k.
Best advise is to test drive all and see which you prefer.
Like I say oola, I knew CSL owners would come a stomping telling me I'm wrong, but to be honest, I just dont think a CSL would be different enough for me to add 15K to my car, to get one in a rubbish colour with a rubbish gearbox (OK, head firmly above parapet there 
).
Also, I really can't get on with the offcentre steering, it really annoys.
Hindsight being the amazing thing that it is, I really should have bought a CSL first time around, but now I have a M3 (manual), I just dont massively desire a CSL. When I bought my car, if a CSL was available in estoril, or manual, it would perhaps have swayed me, but I wanted manual massively, and wanted a pwetty colour
Thats why I'd look z4mc if I was moving, as its manual, a modern shape, and different for my money.
None of this is to the say the M3 is better than a CSL, of course it isnt, just a CSL just seems like a tricksied up m3 to me, which is a good thing, but not a revelation, all imo, ill get shot, etc....
Stu
).Also, I really can't get on with the offcentre steering, it really annoys.
Hindsight being the amazing thing that it is, I really should have bought a CSL first time around, but now I have a M3 (manual), I just dont massively desire a CSL. When I bought my car, if a CSL was available in estoril, or manual, it would perhaps have swayed me, but I wanted manual massively, and wanted a pwetty colour
Thats why I'd look z4mc if I was moving, as its manual, a modern shape, and different for my money.
None of this is to the say the M3 is better than a CSL, of course it isnt, just a CSL just seems like a tricksied up m3 to me, which is a good thing, but not a revelation, all imo, ill get shot, etc....
Stu
I get your point, and perhaps if I had one, I wouldnt want to upgrade to a M3. Variety is the spice of life 'n all.
I guess forgetting my ramblings, the original point of this thread is what to buy?
-I think the e46 m3 standard, at £19K or so for a 2002 FSH etc.etc. is a stunning car for the money. £3K gets you coilovers + exhaust + remap if you push hard, that gives you a pretty sweet damn m3 and you can build up to it if you so wish.
-I think the CSL @ £35K was a great buy 18 months ago when I got my M3, but given its value hasn't moved much in 18 months, I think it will start coming down, a few higher milers have dipped under £30K and I think that threshold has been broken now so the CSL's will start to come down slightly. Is a CSL as good value now as it was early 06 with 12K less miles and the same money? I find that hard to swallow, just me.
-I think the z4mc at £32K or so is amazing value for money.
So, IMO, if I had 20K it would be a M3, 33K or thereabouts, I'd get a z4mc as they'd be a lot newer and lower mileage than a similar spec CSL, and they have 3 pedals.
Personally I'd not entertain a M3 CS, as if I was spending that amount on a e46 i'd just get a CSL for sure.
Thats stuthemong's layman's musings.
I guess forgetting my ramblings, the original point of this thread is what to buy?
-I think the e46 m3 standard, at £19K or so for a 2002 FSH etc.etc. is a stunning car for the money. £3K gets you coilovers + exhaust + remap if you push hard, that gives you a pretty sweet damn m3 and you can build up to it if you so wish.
-I think the CSL @ £35K was a great buy 18 months ago when I got my M3, but given its value hasn't moved much in 18 months, I think it will start coming down, a few higher milers have dipped under £30K and I think that threshold has been broken now so the CSL's will start to come down slightly. Is a CSL as good value now as it was early 06 with 12K less miles and the same money? I find that hard to swallow, just me.
-I think the z4mc at £32K or so is amazing value for money.
So, IMO, if I had 20K it would be a M3, 33K or thereabouts, I'd get a z4mc as they'd be a lot newer and lower mileage than a similar spec CSL, and they have 3 pedals.
Personally I'd not entertain a M3 CS, as if I was spending that amount on a e46 i'd just get a CSL for sure.
Thats stuthemong's layman's musings.
I've noticed a rise of around 2K in CSL pricing since I sold my last one a couple of months ago and buying my current one. They are actually substantially more expensive now than they were back in '06, there also seemed to be far more cars available for sale then.
Agree about the Z4MC, great car at bargain prices. Hopefully it's price level on the used market will level out soon. But right now I can't think of more than a couple of cars that are holding value as well as the CSL - it's a classic in the making.
Of course I am biased
Agree about the Z4MC, great car at bargain prices. Hopefully it's price level on the used market will level out soon. But right now I can't think of more than a couple of cars that are holding value as well as the CSL - it's a classic in the making.
Of course I am biased
E46 M3, you know its the all round best option, I looked at a couple of CSLs, but couldnt get the pictures of them being thrashed to death out of my head, If I was looking for a second car to use as a weekend / track toy then it would be close to the top of my shopping list.
I have also been tempted by the E90 M5, but the running costs even in comparison to the M3 are considerably higher, unless you drive it round in boring mode! and in which case whats the point, the M3 puts a smile on my face every morning when I get in it
good luck
I have also been tempted by the E90 M5, but the running costs even in comparison to the M3 are considerably higher, unless you drive it round in boring mode! and in which case whats the point, the M3 puts a smile on my face every morning when I get in it
good luck
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