Guest jdllaugh Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 I'm looking for opinions on performance-oriented daily drivers. I've been driving a VW GTI 1.8T for the last year and it's a great car, but it's a four cylinder auto front-wheel drive. I'm feeling a burning urge for more horsepower in a rear-wheel car with a manual trans. The Z project won't be on the road any time soon, so I've been out shopping. I'm looking at three car types: Camaro Z28/SS, Mustang GT/Cobra and BMW M3 (all slightly used). Corvette is lurking in there somewhere, but it’s a long shot because of expense and concerns about it being a comfortable daily driver. The Camaro has the most grunt, but least attractive body package, IMO, and seems big. The Mustang is a little cramped and I wonder about handling. The newer Cobras have IRS, though. The BMW is way nicest from a daily-driver standpoint, has the best handling, but offers the least adrenaline rush. Insurance on the Camaro and Mustang is brutal, but maintenance costs on the BMW are a concern. I would work on the BMW myself, but doubt I could run down to Pep Boys for the odd part. I want to end up with a car that I can autocross and take to open track days. I'm hoping to remain bascially stock, but may do some minimal suspension upgrades (springs & shocks). What do you guys think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PETEW Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 All three of those cars would keep you entertained and are a lot faster than what you have now. The Camaros and Mustangs are pretty much bullit proof if your not abusive. The nice thing about them is parts are cheap as are the mods. The new Cobras are supposed to be blazingly fast that have handling to boot. If your buying used, the only problem is finding a model that hasn't been thrashed. Now to the M3. They are a neat car that rides like a luxury car but handle like a vette. The latest version, E46, has all kinds of motor troubles luking around it (problem 1). They are maintenance whores (problem 2). They are not easy to work on and the parts are not available except at BMW dealerships (problem 3). My friend has the previous model, E36, and the thing needs maintenance like it's going out of style. Every time it goes in for service it costs him $600. But like I said, it is an amazing car, just don't count out the maintenace issue. To recap, all three are great cars but have different costs. Them BMW is a world class machine with world class costs. You could buy a new mustang for the price of a used BMW and have a waranty to fix anything you break. Heak, lease a Cobra for three years and hand it back to them after you abused it. If you buying a used 'stang or Camaro really look, they are half crashed and abused. Whatever you do, good luck in your search and get the car that you think would make you happy for the next few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J Taylor Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 M3's are the sweetest of the 3 but I would probably have to opt for the cobra. I had a modded 94 cobra as a daily driver for quite a while and it was awesome. Cheap and easy to hop up....add a little blue bottle and they will fly. Hoping my 86 turbo toyota pickup will now feed my need for daily speed once I get it like I want it. JT Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLKMGK Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 If you're looking at the )3 Cobra I PROMISE you that it's the one with the most "grunt". With VERY little work you can be pushing over 400RWHP with tons of torque. That is one nasty critter and of those choices it would be mine. The M3 is a more refined car though if comfort is your desire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 What about the Impreza WRX? Nice little package. Just got back from the LA Auto Show, some very nice stuff on the horizon!!!! Especially from the likes of Buick, Pontiac and Cadilac. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudge Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 M3 for handling, Camaro for power. The Mustangs are making decent power now, but will never touch the Camaro NA, 400 RWHP is more than easy to obtain. Sure they seem big but weight is going to be about the same as the Mustang. If you compare it to a 2200 pound car though, yes its big. Lower profile, wide, made to handle where as the Cobra IMO is a terrible platform for road course use, this I'm sure explains why the Cobra R while more expensive than the Z06 still had its ass handed to it despite all the racey parts and stiff springs they put on it. I had a 97 Cobra with no IRS (the IRS is still a bit of a joke, it uses stock mounting points FWIW), and that car was excessively spin happy, where my Camaro is very predictable, and yes I made over 411 RWHP even with my old LT1. LS1/6 though, no contest, 10º smaller cam will still pump out 10+ more RWHP, and pass smog. As for the Cobras engineering, give me a friggin break, anyone can slap a blower on the car and make power, I want to see it do that NA. If you want 480+ RWHP stick a 6psi blower on an LS1, but I am not a blower guy, I want reliable NA power where a blower is more a risky venture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 240hybrid Posted January 4, 2003 Share Posted January 4, 2003 Didnt he say a corvette was lurking in there somewhere too. Corvette is a good platform to build upon IMO. It relatively light, produces good power/torque from the factory, handles pretty good for autocross. One great thing about the 350 is that you can get great mods and is a reliable motor unless you got outrageous. Pricing is up there, but a M3 isnt any cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drax240z Posted January 5, 2003 Share Posted January 5, 2003 Depends on the M3... but that would be my choice. Older (late 80's, early 90's) Bimmers aren't bad to work on at all, and seemed robust in my experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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