Axeman

Thinking of cashing in my MY99 baby and going for M3. Can anyone recommend any other performance coupe 2+2 alternatives for approx 20K. Definately dont want to go slower.

AudiLover

Think the M3 will be the best in its category although if you look around enough you could get 911 but they suffer from RMS so id just go with the M3.

Axeman

RMS?

Are M3's easy to mod?

SimonGawthorpe

Are you thinking new shape M3 or old shape?

Si

AudiLover

Nope M3s are expenisve to mod as theyre already highely tuned could probably geta bout another 40hp if you really wanted to without too much bother if you have the dosh.

RMS stands for Rubber motor seal (I think memorys a bit faded at the moment). All 911's suffer from it apart from the GT3 GT3 and Turbos'. Basically the engine starts leaking oil and the only way to fix it in the eyes of the dealer is to replace the engine. Its a design fault as porsche have tried usind different types of seals yet it still leakes. Some guys say its a porsche conspiracy as a way of getting money as it can happen every couple thousand miles if your unlucky. Never get a 911 without warranty. If you do have a warranty then porsche will just replace it no questions asked.

Axeman

911's sound a bit scary as I've loved the reliability of the scoob. Never let me down yet (touch wood) and its been a pleasure to work on modding it etc. I'd love another one but I just fancy something different as where I live it seems like everyone has got one

AudiLover

what about a old RS4 or S4 the turboed ones. Easy to get big power out of them and faily cheap.

Axeman

Just had a look for RS4 on autotrader and there aint one for 200 mile. How much for an import?

AudiLover

Just had a look myself and those RS4's have held their value amazingly well. You could get a maserati 3200gt for under 20k.

Hanslow

What about an RX-8? Probably a bit of a lower league compared to the M3 and probably a touch slower than what you have already, but it's a 2+2 (or even proper 4 seater?) coupe

Axeman

RX8's sound pretty good but not sure about modding the Maseratti an interesting idea but servicing and running costs?. I shall investigate further. Must resist talking myself into another scoob.

AudiLover

Maybe a evolution then instead?

Axeman

I feel that the evo would not be the departure I'm looking for although I will probably test drive. That Maseratti idea is bloody tempting tho it just looks the dogs and the prices are unbelievable. Are they reliable? running costs?. Tempted to say what hell and try one out tho.

Axeman

Apologies evo is a maserti just having a look now

Axeman

The evo styling is very average. The 3200 has my eyes at the mo.

SivMY05Sti

Ermmmm...........2005 Sti ???

Axeman

Bugger looks like approx £1000 servicing costs per year for the maserati. But it still looks good. There's a paddle shift option but supposedly the SMG paddle shift is the king.

Axeman

Dammit looks like the masa's out of the picture, too expensive to run
http://bbs.scoobynet.co.uk/showthrea...light=maserati

The search goes on...

Thanks for all your suggestions/comments thus far.

RS Grant

John Banks went from a MY00 Impreza in various states of tune to an E46 M3 with the SMGII Gearbox... you could PM him and ask his opinion and plus and minus points about the change.

Just do a search for his name, then send a PM.


Cheers,
Grant

Axeman

Will do cheers grant.

LG John

John usually has PMs turned off - just so you know