PAUL GEE

Avi,
What have you started

Avi

Not knocking the M3, I'd love one.. just commenting on the amount about. For such an expensive car , it shocks me how many i see near me!

Seen two in Odsall, Salford the other Day , one cab with L Plates on it and a pretty handy looking fella driving it!

SkodaMan

I work on Salford Quays and I've never seen any M3s anywhere near Ordsall. Old shape I suspect? You can pick up a 5 year old M3 now for 15K.

Speaking as a Skoda driver, I really like the new M3, and the old M3 Evo. You can't argue with the quality of German engineering. I'd trade up my vRS for one anyway Are they becoming too commmon? Maybe. Perhaps it's indicative of a population becoming increasingly wealthy.

Five years ago when I drooled at the thought of owning an Impreza, they were strictly an enthusiasts' car. Last week I got burned off at the lights by a 60 year old biddy in a WRX. Quality cars are now within the reach of the masses, perhaps...

[Edited by SkodaMan - 4/22/2003 7:15:41 PM]

[Edited by SkodaMan - 4/22/2003 7:16:22 PM]

davyboy

When people talk about an image problem, it is in fact the green eyed monster. What they are really saying is "I cant afford [BMW/Porsche/AN other] so I will make a lame excuse saying why I don't want one (but really I do)"

[how many people are we going to say they could afford X now]

Have you ever considered the image of an Impreza lately?

As it costs twice the cost of a Scoob, it does not have to be twice as fast neither does a £50 bottle of wine have to get you more pissed/pissed quicker than a £10 bottle.

A pair of £100 Nikes don't make you run faster than you would in £20 Hi Tek Silver Shadows do they

SkodaMan

Precisely - that's not the point of a £50 bottle of wine. You could get pissed on Thunderbird if that was the only point to drinking wine.

I really like the M3. The more common they are the better - I might be able to get a good second hand one on the cheap when they change the shape (again!) 8)

...if I ever part with my beloved Skoda

J4CKO

iTrader: (1)

Avi, not surprising is it, them ending up in Salford, its like a black hole for cars !

They go in but never come out.

GaryC

Chris - Evo have the 911 turbo at 0.1 sec faster than the TuscanS to 60, and 0.1 slower to 100....and that was one of the infamous press cars

But you miss the point, its a £50k TVR and still only just matches the 911 turbo. Go back 5/6/7 years and the £33k 4.2 cerbera destroyed a £90k 911 Turbo. The 911 is now £10k cheaper and the TVR is £15k more expensive and the perfomance gap has evapourated...and the quality/reliability whilst a league ahead of the cerb, is still 2 leagues behind the Porsche.

Take the more realistic Tuscan Speed Six (which is the one you started taling about ) against the identically priced M3 and it offers no massive performance benefit (a bit on the straight line but loses out on the handling...M3 will lap a circuit faster), has worse reliability/kit/running costs/residuals/etc etc blah blah. When the last M3 came out, the equivalent TVR (the Chimera), was faster at £10k cheaper

TVR is one of the most beautiful cars on the planet, but only realistic as a 2nd car

neil@domino.org

I see alot of the mass market produced cars every day in London. Everyday I see at least one Impreza and an M3. Impreze in that 20 Regal King Size colour and M3 in Carbon Black. Yesterday I saw the new facelift on an Impreza and its a marked improvement, the uglyness of the old Impreza was unbearable. SL500's are the most common car to see around at the moment, there are literally hundreds of them floating about London. I also see more SL55's than M3s or Imprezas, and don't talk to me about Porkers :-) Frankly though, they are all great cars and whatever one you have you would be happy with.

Regarding which is best or better, you pays your money you takes your choices. My household has gone through 4 BMW's in the last year. 3 with one dealer, 1 with a different one, changing dealer was one of the best things I did, always go to a small dealer with one branch rather than one with 4 or 5 branches, the difference in service is amazing. My current M3 that I've had for a year now has been outstanding and well worth every penny I spent on it, so good I'm trading it in for a new one, I looked at alot of alternatives but for me and cars are always subjective, nothing really came close to the M3.

Comparisions to Supra and Skyline then in my view you probably haven't driven any of them and Corrado boy keep dreaming!

The Iraqi information minister talks more sense than anyone who says that people buy cars because image. The only people who do that tend to drive cabs and you see them freezing their **** off with the top down in February.

I bought my car because I like it. My partner used to absolutely hate BMW's because of the image, then a couple of years ago I let her collect my 330i from the dealer on delivery day and the same week we were back in the dealership order her a car, she has had two since and wouldn't consider driving anything else, not because of the image but because of the way the car drives and I feel that alot of people on this thread haven't ever driven all the cars they talk about.

Regards,
Neil.

LordLuthor

couple of relevant opinions... someone mentioned green eyed monster as the reason people don't like the BMW's. That is simply not true. I don't like BMW's but I do like Porsche 911... if it was jealousy, surely I would not like all expensive cars that I can't afford?

Secondly, there is such a feeling on here that I don't understand. Why is it that people are *not* allowed to buy/own/drive a car based partially on image? I bought my car primarily on bang for bucks. For £4,000 I got a 230bhp sportscar. But also, when I take the roof off, the feeling I get from being in it is very real. I know some people like the look of the car and it is very nice to get a nod of approval from other road users when you pass.

If my MR2 had 120bhp I would not have bought it. It seems terribly politically correct to just judge a car on performance, but it is simply not realistic.

Yy car is a package. I like the looks, I like the way it handles, the performance, hell it is even cheap to maintain compared with other marques listed above. So can all you "performance only" people just have a little think and give a little ground to the people who do want the image with the car. Something else to remember is that if you criticise people FOR measuring image, then prepare to be measured yourself for NOT measuring image.

Andy

chrisp

Gary - I suggest you take one of the T350C out. My mate has a Tamora and managed to get in the silver T350C motorshow car at teh local dealers. I expected him to say it was similar to his Tamora but he said it was a lot better and quicker. The newer cars have a more user friendly power delivery. He was worried going from three Lotus (esprit, elise S1, elise s2) in a row to a Tamora that it was a mistake. Handling wise his said ultimately the Elise S2 was the best of the 4 cars but the Tamora was not that far behind and a very nice quick car to drive. Leaves my RA for dust but given the power to weight advantage thats not really suprising expect the RA will easily live with an M3 .

The new generation TVRs are a lot better and worth a look. Having said that I did see a pink Cerbera today and it sounded awesome.

[Edited by chrisp - 4/23/2003 3:33:48 PM]

rik1471

I look forward to the day I can say that!!

Skodaman: it was an brand spankin M3 with L Plates being driven by a "Henry LLoyd, Rockport, Sock-tucked-in to cartoon socks, scally Manc. Dealer" who was at the wheel. I know cause I was with Avi at the time.

sparkster

Lordluthor,

All i can say is "exactly"

I feel like i should be a member of the Borg from Star Trek


"You must like the BMW M3 and you must comply"

I want that GT40 that was shown on Dream Machine the other night.

Its not green eyed monster either. Maybe owners of M3's cant take it when somebody says that they dont like their car. Think about it!!

chrisp

There are some cars to I am really jealous of people owning, not slating them because I cant afford one but just pure excitement when I see one. That GT40 was nice but it would have to be a GT80 to get me in , great car though .

I dont care what you drive or own I think any true petrolhead wants to own a high power Italian sportcar be it a Ferrari, Lambo, Maserati or Bugatti. Of course on my list would be a Macca F1 and a cobra as well.

My dream would be to own a F355 as I think even the 360 was a step backwards and that car was a classic the day it rolled out of the factory.

The funny thing is an M3 would be cheaper for me to run than the scoob. Its cheaper and easier to insure and servicing is cheaper and I bet it does more than 17mpg.

[Edited by chrisp - 4/23/2003 8:21:46 PM]

sparkster

GT40 is mine!!!!! - lol

LordLuthor

oh man, that GT40 was sex. Ieven phoned in for the quiz but :.( no joy. I was pleased to hear they know what they are doing with the suspension, I run 0 toe in front and rear too! really makes the car lively and handle well. Make sure you fit solid bushes though!

hehe GT40... mmmmmmm 5 litre 330bhp v8 monster.

Did you hear that old guy "....this car will leave any modern day sportscar behind it" and who can argue with that?

jonmorris

I think of myself as a petrol head, yet I don't get excited by the thought of owning a Ferrari, porker or so on.. I like my FRS and would also be happy with a STi, Evo, M3 and other cars in this class.

On a track I've driven a Caterham and yes it's a great car (and I can see why people love the rawness - no doubt a TVR would be even more exciting) but it doesn't 'float my boat'.

Am I the only one? I personally love having a "normal" everyday car with some power. If someone gave me an Enzo, I'd sell it and buy every car in the top 10 performance car tests (CTR, Scooby, Mini Cooper, R32, 147 etc).