Don't forget about the BMW name... I know most people will scoff at this but the truth of the matter is, for the normal non-enthusiasts on the road, they will glance at the E46 a lot more than the Z just because of the name appeal.

 

Oh this is kind of funny to me. I have owned both. lol. I had an 03 M3 and I got rid of it to get my 07 Z. I did like my Bimmer but here's a thing or two to think about. Service costs of any BMW is rediculous. Just to get an oil change is expensive because the oil reccommended for an M3 is almost impossible to find at any retailor. the car is nice but you have to deal with the fact that unless you want to buy one with more than 50k miles on it you are going to spend more than $38k on your used bimmer. The Z handling, awesome, the M3 handling, also awesome but it is going to be worn from being driven hard from the previous owner or owners. Insurance on my M3 was about 50 dollars more a month for a car that has 28 more hp stock. Anyways, that's my input. Oh, also I don't know if you looked into the aftermarket but parts for tuning the e46 but they are rediculously expensive. My exhaust for mine cost me about 3 grand.

 

My point is that even in the used car market the m3 costs almost the same as a brand new Z. What does that tell you? And a 27k M3 is usually not an average price, it's probably on the low scale. The average is about 33k, which is more than the average new 2007 Z.



I agree the handling is close, especially with equal tires, but the main difference between the Z and the M3 is: to get the good handling the Z sacrifices a lot of ride quality. I don't know if that is still true for the 06-07' models, since I've heard they're more refined, but my 03' on a less than perfect road will practically beat your backside up. The ride is just downright unbearable on anything bumpy. THe m3 still rides remarkably well on bumps.

and yet still keeps high levels of handling. You've got to be in awe of that.










They're not in the same league. The 07 Z has closed the gap in the straight line area, but the refinement and feel still aren't there yet.

And I'd rather have my Z than a Lotus Exige for a daily car. Sorry, not a fan of a car like that for daily duties. Great weekend car though. But you can't really compare the two.

The M3 is still a damn good daily driver, the Exige is not, and the Z is really not. BMWs are not the best performers nor the best looking cars, but they just feel good to drive in any situation on almost any road. It's hard to explain sometimes, but it is true.

It's easy to be a Z owner and justify your purchase by dissing the M3, but I can't do it. I'm not going to put the blinders on and diss on something better than what I have. Not going to do it. Sorry.

 

You mentioned used vehicles though. Anyways, yes the BMW value stays high (at least until the new model) because people who can't afford expensive cars new, wait until they are cheaper.


I see what you're saying, and I agree to an extent. The stock Z tends to crash into bumps, and ride rough. However the M3 tends to feel too disassociated with the road. (I'd prefer more road feel). After driving a Lotus for more than an hour, I noticed how well it drove over bumps. It was stiff, yet read the road fantastically. I was more comfortable in the Lotus than the Z, actually. I went and bought Zeal suspension for the Z, and the car rides fantastically, while increasing the handling and road feel.

The Z does rattle and such, so if you want a luxo quiet and soft car the BMW is the best choice. However, I don't really care.


I dunno. I'd be happy driving the Lotus every day. But I agree for most people they would not. However, for me, a daily driver should be good on gas and easy to drive. Driving any car during the traffic grind is a shame.


eh. To be honest, I got bored in the M3 I drove. Just because it's better built, has less rattles and is quieter doesn't mean it's "better". I usually drive with no music or any distractions. Just the sound of the car, road and environment is good for me. In the BMW my senses weren't satiated, but if you like quiet, than the BMW is better.


Nobody is asking you to diss anything. You obviously like a quiet luxo car that shifts well. The Z or Elise will never satiate you. On a strictly performance level, the M3 squeeks out the stock Z, but takes a lot more money to do so. The Z certainly does squeek and rattle more, though. Plus it doesn't handle bumps as smoothly.

If I REALLY needed the 4 seats, and a quiet ride, I'd take the M3.

 

Don't get me wrong, I really like the Z for money. $ for $ the Z is a better deal/performance but the point is that I prefer an M3 more than a Z. It's demoralizing when I have to read about Z owners talking about modding a Z to hang with a family car. It's like a honda ricer talking about modding his civic and spanking a stock Z at the track all day long (and it will with some $$). In stock trim the M3 would pull away from me at about 120mph on those long drives to Vegas. I don't mean to ruffle anyone feathers but we have to keep this in perspective. It's like the FI guys taking about how their Z's with 10-15k mods will hang with a far superior car. Stock on stock is what counts. I love my Z despite my lust for the M3.

 

07s have great suspension travel along with bump absorption. They ride smoothly over everything really, even on 305s.

 

I don't think anyone believes an M3 is a family car. It's an expensive sports sedan with 4 seats.

 

I agree, I had a 05 aniv Z it was very bumpy, but I loved the feel of the road, the 07 is much softer even with springs installed and feels more stable without hop at high speeds..I hit 150 the other night

 

I'm glad to know they seemed to have fixed that. That was the worst thing about the 350z, the fact it never handled bumps well.

 

I'm not sure why people were saying the Z is so harsh. They've never been in a race car with stiff suspension. My 04.5 rides great on factory wheels. With '06 wheels it's a little stiffer. Add some sways, nicer tires (factory tires suck) and you really have a slot car with a great ride. Most people do at least that with their car.

I can't tell you how many times I've passed up a BMW for another type of sports cars. They just look too much like a family sedan to me. They just don't excite me at all. Not to mention the cost those poor BMW owners go through just to keep the car on the road. Ins is higher, maintenace is higher, registration higher. breakdowns higher. My family always hates bailing out the BMW from the shop. I keep telling them to get a Nissan. They keep buying BMW to be like the Jones. Mom finally bought a NISSAN and has had no problem. She has thanked me so many times for getting her out of the BMW / Lexus world it's getting

Go get your BMW and I'll laugh at you all the way to the bank. .

I mean we can buy his and hers Z's mod them to beat the M3 and still have extra bank over one new M3.
I think your wasting your money .... jmo

 

Well I had a 06 Grand touring with $ 5000 in mods, no wheels or brake work. Got totaled by a drunk driver. Bought an 02 M3 and loved the differences. Then I thought I made a big mistake and missed the Z. I test drove the 07 Z and am happy I have the M3.

Just a more refined car. I'm 59 so it fits. I will say though that the Z will out handle the M3 easily. Again though the M is no slouch just a different sort of car.

The Z is noisy with road noise and the seats are very uncomfortable on longer rides. The M is very comfy. The Z is a unique car to drive.

Again ones a sports car and the other a touring coupe. Different cars with different attitudes.

Yes the M3 is expensive to maintain, got those solid lifters than need attention.

If reliability is needed go buy a Toyota or Honda. After all the M3 is a detuned race care engine with a whole lot of attitude for a N/A 3.2L six.

 

spoken like a true fanboi



To each their own, you think the Z is the better car, more power to you. I disagree and most people who do not own a Z and are unbiased will disagree. But you're still entitled to your opinion. But don't make false statements such as :"My 04.5 rides great on factory wheels. With '06 wheels it's a little stiffer. Add some sways, nicer tires (factory tires suck) and you really have a slot car with a great ride. Most people do at least that with their car."

That's just a bunch of boloney. If you don't mind a stiff ride just say you don't mind a stiff bumpy ride. People who care about their backsides mind it. The first MY Z's have always been horrible on bumps. And please let's not call the Z a race car. It is not. Please.

 

Well, I not referencing the Z as a race car. It's far from it.

Here is one of my race cars:



You mis-read that part. Let me see if I can clarify it for you. I was saying if you thought the z has stiff suspension then you haven't been in a true race car with stiff suspension if you looked at the context of the paragraph.

As far as most sports cars I've driven this Z has a pretty smooth ride even with the stock tires. Try a Vette, or a Firebird, or an older Z's (of which I've had six) etc...

The reason the '06 wheels ride a little stiffer over my 17" stock rims is because those are 18's with a sidewall that is shorter and it still carries the stiff Bridgestone tires.

My wife commented on how much nicer the ride was in our Z over our other sports cars when we bought it and she pretty picky with the ride on our family driven cars and trucks.

Yes, you are right I am a huge fan of the Z. Ever since I bought my first one in '77. I've always looked at BMW and like there cars good. But, when it always boils down to a choice between the Z and a BMW...... I pick the Z.

 

Looks like you got jack.

 

eh? Ah yes, welcome to my350z.com I guess, where I must own a Z to appreciate them. Nice!! I suppose I'll just keep leaving my money in investments where I've earned ~30% in the last couple of months, while you can keep your ego.

 

Someone seems to be a little hurt.

I've defended the M3 throughout - more and more the Z is swaying me AFTER I bought it. That says a lot because I'm more critical of cars I've owned than of cars I haven't.

All that aside, this thread was useless. And comments abut earnings are also useless.

 

True, I would have liked to buy a 350Z, but I just bought my mom a CR-V, as her car broke down. At this point, for me to buy a 350Z, I'd have to liquidate a good chunk of my investments, which I'm not going to do.

I appreciate that you are honest in your opinion of the two cars. This was supposed to be my "toy" to get away from the hell that is my work. However, at this point, it'll probably take me a good 6-8 months to save up again.

 

Im in the same boat... right now Ive got an 06 z4m coupe, I traded in my 03 350z for it. after a year of payments ive decided that as much as I LOVE the car I may have to sell it and get an 03 m3 or another 350z. I am leaning towards the M3 mostly because I want a roadcourse ready car (2-3 events per year) that is comfortable every day. I am also attracted to the more plain jane looks of the m3 these days.

ya gotta LOVE the 8k redline of the m.... on paper these cars are "close" on the track I think the M will win... (I know my z4m coupe does, but thats a different animal)

 

Go drive an 07....its a completely different beast and you can get invoice pricing on them easily (maybe even get an 08 at invoice when they start shipping).

 

well the e46 is just as fast as the new z. but upgrades for the m3, are almost double the cost of z parts. aa supercharger is about 9grand. there nice cars, and i almost bought one just this past month, but i like the z too much. one pro about the m3 is its poise/balnce. its only roughly 3400lbs. not much heavier than a z, and its more solid, if i may, than the z. its all up to you in the end.