Any advice for a guy who is confused?

I have my 2002 SC430 which I just bought used. I either want to put ten grand or more into the SC430 (kit, wheels, exhaust, system, suspension) or sell it and buy a M3 and all I would do to that would be wheels and a system which would save me tons of cash. I was going to just get a coupe so I could save some money this way, I think? Maybe I could even get a newer M3 than a 2002. I want to drive my car hard and fast while I'm young (27) but I hate losing money on the switch, I guess its a win/win situation. I have it all paid off and I guess since I bought it under blue book I might have a good chance getting my money back.

Any thoughts??? Or am I crazy?(I thought I saw a thread on this a while back but I coudlnt find it)

 

they are completely different cars imho, that's all about you. granted though, we also considered the m3 coz' of the similar price tag.

- yes the m3 handling and performance simply wins over sc430 any day from almost every perspective
- howeve the m3 has much less appeal than the sc430 imho. it's not really as exclusive, doesn't have as much class
- the m3 has far less comfort and luxurious feel inside it. think of it as a driver's car. the sc430 is a nice cruiser
- reliability and quality is always something i worry about bimmer
- are you sure you will JUST get wheels and system for the m3? i have heard that from people a lot of times, but usually it ends up with lowering, then kits, then exhaust, etc... it's all about peer pressure. and keep in mind, if you think stuff for the sc430 are expensive? think again. you want stuff for the m3 and it could be killing you. just the AC strut bar is like 800 bucks i believe

all in all, the way i see it, modding the sc430 and modding the m3 would cost me pretty much the same, i don't see much room for the difference. the cars themselves are very different. if you want performance, the need for speed, the m3 is the car to get. the sc430 is more of a comfort cruiser where you go out and enjoy driving in a different way.

i am also 27, but sometimes i think i have changed. i used to urge for the need for speed. but now i kinda wanna enjoy it differently

 

whats the quater mile time difference between the m3 conv and sc430? just you know for personal knowledge not to compare the two

 

i wouldn't be surprise if it's almost 1 sec apart

 

I think M3 vert. can usually do high 13's for the 1/4 mile, so it's approx. 1 sec. difference between the M3 vert & SC430.

 

so the sc430 does high 14s? man that's slow i think my gs4 can do better than that. somehow i thought it would belike mid 13s to mid 14s. but either way i think 1sec is a good number, which is BIG

 

I just said "approx. " . Some articles did said the SC430 can do the 1/4 mile in 14.4 sec. : links HERE & HERE .
But I do remember seeing high 14's 1/4 mile times from the magazines. So it depends on the sources.
Lexus also claimed the SC430(Pre-06) "can" do 0-60 in 5.9 sec. under certain conditions, but the best magazine tested time I've seen is 6.1 sec.

 

I currently own a 2002 M3 and a 2003 SC430. It is difficult to compare these cars because they are totally different. I'll tell you though, I get more compliments when I drive my lexus. When things get interesting on the road and someone wants to play, I'd rather have my M3. Both cars are solid but offer there own characteristics. The M3 will do circles around the SC430.

 

If you had to chose one what would you take?

 

if you ask me, 2 yrs ago i would choose the m3. but now, i would choose the sc430. if i have to choose something like the "m", it will be the m5 or the m6

 

I think M3 is & will still be more fun to drive than M5/M6, but there are too many look alikes 325's flooding the roads that it has lost it's exclusiveness & uniquemess which makes it lose some of its desirability . . .

 

I like the new competition package for the M3 with the Interalgolas Blue Color. If I sell my SC than I should pick up one of those. I cant lose either way. Sorry if I am seeming unloyal to the SC430, I really love it, its just that I am thinking I might be better off with the M3. I cant lose, either way I'm rollin hard.

 

dunno, the m3 is a bit lighter and smaller, but given the history of bmw, the m5 in my eyes is always a far superior machine than the m3. for the e39 you got a v8 NA pushing 400hp, that's something in my eyes. and given a car of that size and still the superb handling and such, i am still amazed by it.

and competitiion is nice (some of them), but personally i think it's a lot of money for that change. plus i don't care about the 19" csl wheels for example so that's a waste of money to me.

 

E39 is the size of the G35 sedan
hahah, I mean in interior space, it's actually 500+ lbs heavier, as it should be & being a V8 too.
It's an awesome car for sure, but the M3 made Car mag's all time top 10 driver's car list, which are dominated by mostly exotic cars like Ferrari's, NSX-R & Porsche's, the M5 did not . . .

 

How much do you think I get for my 2002 sc430 with 28k miles on it? It has over two years left in the warranty. I might go the M3 instead before I spend tons of $ on my 430. You are right about that competiton pack, it does look like a rip off on second thought. If anyone has seen my pics and knows anyone interested in a blue/black pleaz let me know. Im in no hurry though. I hope to get at least 45G's.