M3 vs. Z06 - what would you do?

[Frank69]

Okay, here's the deal. I have a 1997 BMW M3 with 58,000 miles. I bought it brand new and it is still in perfect condition. It is an amazing car, probably the best I have ever owned or driven. I've been toying with the idea of buying a new one, or doing some performance mods to it. Over the weekend, I found out that a friend is selling his 2004 C5 Z06 LeMans Commemorative Edition. It has less that 6,000 miles on it. I have always loved that car too, and have always wanted a late model vette. He is trying to get $40k for it. Even though perfect and with low miles, I think the best that I could get for the M3 is $20k. Here are my choices:

1. Keep the M3, what are you nuts?
2. Go for the 2004 vette, sell the M3, suck up the difference.
3. Buy a new Z06, what the hell you only live once.
4. Buy a new M3, go ahead and spend the kids' inheritance (they don't appreciate it anyway).

Let me know what you guys think, and if there is anything I should be concerned with, as far as the C5/Z06 is concerned. Thanks!

Frank69

[zbugger]

Go test drive the Z06. Then make your decision.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

Either choice 2 or choice 3 .

[jy211]

Keep your M3 and buy my bike!

Having owned a 97' M3 Coupe in Cosmos black myself...I regreted not buying the car after the lease...now remember it will be 10 years old...things WILL go wrong with both cars, but the Vette is newer...

I'd buy a new M3....

[ProStreet R/T]

If you want fast your E36 is an easier platform to work with than the newer E46 and w/e the new unreleased M3 will be.

Do you use the back seats at all? The C5 is a nice ride but about 180* from the M3. That and $40k for an 04' Z is a bit of a stretch, they could be had for around that price new.

Are you looking for a quick daily driver or a track car?

Me personally i'd look for an 01-02 Z06 in the high $20k, low 30 range and make it a killer track car. Then try to find a nice E46 for a daily driver.

My g/f has an 03' M3, all black with the black/red interior, sun roof, bi-xenon headlights, real 6spd, 19's, sunroof, and I recently put a set of stoptech rotors on it. One of the most comfortable sport coupes i've ever driven and it will fly if you lean on it. Plus at 21 she looks damn good in it.

[camaro608]

#2 or 3

[F70t/a]

A new M3 is badass!!! #4 all the way

[Damn True]

I suppose it all depends on if you plan the car to be mostly street driven or mostly track driven.

Personally, if I had the means to have a track only car I'd have an E30 or E36 gutted, caged and ready to be flogged.

[Frank69]

Thanks for the advice, and please keep it coming. I've driven all of the choices and that doesn't make it any easier....all have their pros and cons. The car would see no track duty, it would be a weekend driver. I have a company car as my daily driver, and a truck for hauling. I have rarely needed the back seat in the M3. I've had the 97 since it was new, and never drove it over 7,500 miles in any given year. It's an awesome car, as is the new one (E46).

ProStreet R/T, did the 04 Z06's really sell in the 40K range? My friend still has the window sticker ($52k) and he says he paid about $50k out the door.

I'd be interested in hearing what people think that an 04 Z06 with really low miles should go for, and also what you think you'd have to pay on a new one. Thanks again for the help.

Frank

[ProStreet R/T]

Window sticker was low 50's on most but near the end of the run in 04' chevy had over $10k in rebates on the vettes (Z included) and many were picked up for low 40's right off the lot. Prices may have come up a bit in the used market since then, but I know for quite some time you could get a low miles Z for under $40k w/o much looking.

Here is a 5k mile commerative edition Z for $39k
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...45&forum_id=52

Look around, there are plenty of 04' Z's with under 8k miles in the high 30's. Though the Z16 (lemans blue one) has a carbon hood stock, and the funky stripes.

A C6Z is quite a jump in price, they are still in the high 70's from what I recall. With the discounts you can get a new viper for nearly the same price.

With that, I would say look for a Gen II (97-02) GTS For $50k you can get a beautiful GTS and it's 10x the car a Z will ever be.

[Damn True]

A C6Z is quite a jump in price, they are still in the high 70's from what I recall. With the discounts you can get a new viper for nearly the same price.

With that, I would say look for a Gen II (97-02) GTS For $50k you can get a beautiful GTS and it's 10x the car a Z will ever be.

But it will still sound like a cod trawler and be uglier than a bag of smashed chicken livers.



....BTW, I am kidding. Vipers are cool. But I just prefer other makes more.

[Patrick]

Why dont you check out Active Autowerks.

http://activeautowerke.com/600hp/1/main.php

They make turbo and supercharger kits for the M3s. The $20 grand you will spend for a vette will go a long way in the M.

If $70k is in the budget, Z06.

[Nine Ball]

The 04 Commemorative Z06's didn't get discounted much, those sold quite well without discounts when brand new. They also seem to hold their value a little better than other Z06's.

That being said, I wouldn't opt for a $40K used C5 though. You can find used C6 coupes with about the same mileage in the $42-45K range, and they are much nicer cars inside/out.

If you are looking for a Z06, look for an '01-02 with low mileage, you can find them pretty common for $28-30K with less than 20K miles on them. The main difference between 01-02 (385hp vs 405hp) was just a camshaft, not a big deal.

As for M3s, nice cars but way to expensive to modify. And they won't run 11s stock like a Z06 will.

[BA.]

I friend of mine has had both a 2002 M3 and after that, a 2004 'standard' Vette. (granted, not a Z06)


All I keep hearing from him is how the stock Vette brakes suck and are NO comparison for the M3, and ditto the cornering ability. Keep in mind that this is his perception, not numbers from the track. Other friends and I kept telling him that the M3 cornered firm and flat (stiffer) and the Vette is just softer sprung. This does not necessarily make it a worse cornering car. He's right about the brakes though.
He also had some quality problems from the Vette. Water coming in through the pass. window, knobs breaking off, electrical warning's, etc. Perhaps a 'Monday car'.
The Vette did seem much more comfortable to me though, but the M3 "looks" more aggressive to me.

I thought I'd pass that on to you to be sure you compared those aspects to draw your own conclusions.


If you decide on the Vette, I dunno that I'd pay the extra for the Commemorative edition, .....that's just me though.

Have fun dude, you'll be happy either way I think.

[rob07002]

Door number 3, but if its not in the budget, i'd consider a new M3

[Rick Dorion]

Isn't there going to be a V8 M3

[clonez28]

1. no thanks
2. nope
3. YES, this would be my choice
4. no, will be replaced by new model soon

FWIW - I've driven the new z06 and the new M3 (SMG) and really beat on them both. In terms of driving excitement the z06 kills the BMW for me. They are pretty different cars, I'd be tempted to run the m3 to Vegas but on Saturday nights it would be the 'vette.

[64Comet]

Keep the M3 and buy this: http://tinyurl.com/nxmq5

Its a friend of mines and I can say thats its babied, well maintained and garaged at all times. You could have the best of both worlds!

[Tiger]

I considered an e46 M3 myself when I bought a used car a couple of months ago but I needed some space and got a 540 Wagon with a six speed, its a blast but I know the M3 would have been better.
As for the vette I'd take a used C6 but thats just because I think its nicer than the C5 I have never driven either.

André

[ProTeal55]

Go for the new Z06.......