In need of advice

[CSanto]

I'm not going to lie to myself.

I'm a little bored of my M3. I have almost 16k miles on the car, and the only time the car excites me is when I have an empty twisty road in front of me and I keep it in 2nd or 3rd gear.

I don't want to hate on the automobile, as I think its amazingly well rounded. In fact there's nothing you can buy for the money that is more well rounded than the E9x M3.

Here's my dilemma. As much as I love DCT for its speed and its ability to be converted into a full automatic transmission, I just think its so damn boring. The motor is so smooth it hardly makes any noise during cruising and its still relatively tame at WOT.

So I'm looking for opinions: Would a 6 speed enhance the thrills of this car? Would engine work enhance the thrill of the DCT? (I would never do anything over the top like a SC or anything. Also, I'm 100% against deleting the primary cats)

I cant afford something like a GT3, and I'm afraid a GTR would be equally as boring just much faster. I've only had the car for 2 years and there are no liens on it.

It also looks like I wouldn't be able to sell the car or trade for something else without putting up a decent amount of cash. I guess the financially responsible thing to do is just keep it until it makes more sense to sell. After all, I haven't even had the car 2 years yet.

I realize this is more of a rant than anything else, but nobody else would listen to it haha.

[elh0102]

Anything becomes boring once it is your new normal. I just sold a GT3 and will be picking up an M3 Monday at the PC. I've quit doing track stuff, at least for a while, and the GT3 doesn't add much to the street driving experience. My advice, leave the car stock, or consider only minor mods, and then try something different when it better suits your financial sensibility. I've owned a good many cars, and for fun street use, it's hard to beat a ZO6, and it's also extremely competent on track. Of course, it has the obvious limitations of a two seater, and the well-criticized crappy interior, especially seats. But, it can't be matched for thrill value. Essentially, you have the car bug, and you're screwed for life, so just accept it and start shopping.

[Meff]

Get her some implants - oh wait, you're talking about being bored with your car

Nevermind...

Originally Posted by HREM3

I realize this is more of a rant than anything else, but nobody else would listen to it haha.

We're here for you brother - it'll be ok

[Krozi]

6spd man! Always keeps you involved!

[Leozap]

Supercharge it.

[yemenmocha]

You sound like you could use some serious torque in your life.

[MVF4Rrider]

Buy a motorcycle. Cars are just transportation.

[Leonardo629]

M cars are born from the racetrack...so in order to spice things up a bit...you need to track it.

Also....you think you're bored of the M3? even more so the other way around....if all you do is pace the car around town...

[CSanto]

^^ I actually think you're right. Car might be bored of me..

[CSanto]

I think you're all right. Thanks for the replies.

I def could use some Torque

I could def use a track

and I def have the car bug and screwed for life

[photogS]

Originally Posted by HREM3

So I'm looking for opinions: Would a 6 speed enhance the thrills of this car?

I'll skip the rest and address just 6speed vs DCT. I'm sure some will disagree, so cool down, just my opinion

Normally, I'd say 6-speed all the way. I've always loved manuals for the fun factor, always had at least one manual in the garage, and probably always will.
My M3 is also a 6-speed.

I've said it once or twice here, but I'll say it again... and again, and again.
M3 manual/clutch combo is horrible, one of the worst I experienced in sports car.
Clutch is not progressive at all (hard to modulate) and gearbox is sloppy.
Heck, 5 years ago I sold my C230 with 6-speed and it had a better transmission

I learned to regret getting 6-speed. Count your blessings for having DCT (even though it has some problems too, or so I've heard).
Why BMW couldn't make something like you could find in S2k or at least any modern Porsche? Rowing gears in 2sk was super fun

[Groundpilot]

I think my car is bored of me as well. Because i drive it like an old lady most of the time(cant afford any more speeding tickets) and i decided not to track this car. Its a good thing i was able to afford another high performance car to use as a daily driver and to take it to the track a few times a year. I am talking about 135i with DCT. Not as good as e90x m3 in stock form, but if you spend a few grand on suspension it can be as fast or faster on the track.

[DefBringer]

The M3 is not a fun car to drive at 5/10ths. For cars that are fun to drive, day-to-day, look at Evos, Miatas, or Corvettes - none of these are as perfect a gem as the M3 but for a daily driver they have more character. In my humble, unprofessional opinion.

[Finnegan]

Yeah, you're screwed. Go drive a 'Vette, Cayman S, or any of the others mentioned. You could sell the M3 and buy a used Cayman S or 'Vette and come out about "even" on the depreciation front.

That's what I'm going to do at some point. No more new cars since I have to face the reality they're like changing socks for me. I'll just buy them lightly used, have fun, get bored, and move on to another lightly used car. No more massive depreciation hit for me--novelty not new car smell runs my world.

[DefBringer]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

That's what I'm going to do at some point. No more used cars since I have to face the reality they're like changing socks for me.

You meant "no more new cars", not used cars....right?

I quit buying new cars because it has to be one amazing car for me to not be absolutely sick of it within 18 months.

[SDSmurf]

In a purely childish manner - my first car was a 1.3l 1/2 tonner bakkie. It was the best thing in the world, because it was mine.

I then started to get bored of it (not hard), and put a full stainless freeflow exhaust and cone filter. It made all of 4hp more but the NOISE!!! While not massively loud, the racy blat and roar rejuvenated the driving experience a huge amount. Kept me smiling another 10 000km until I wrote the poor thing off.

Maybe that's all you need, but also maybe not; we're all different.

[Scoobe]

A really fun car to drive is the GT500. Theres no computers or gadgetry with the drivetrain (except a traction control that can't keep up). And its 10-20k cheaper than vettes/Caymens/etc. Only comes in a 6MT, and its monsterous torque/HP always keeps you awake. It has a nice ride but still handles well, not as good as a vette or Cayman but has a better ride imo. Next year the car gets an aluminum block which lifts 120lbs off the nose giving it better handling than previous years. Slap a ford racing exhaust on it and it's bark makes you want to sink your foot into the throttle at every opportunity. It's a bargain at 48k.

2011 GT500 smoked the 2010 version around Virginia speedway by 9 seconds.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/18/v...-nine-seconds/

[Moe's M4]

Bored? Get yourself a 6-SPD like I did. My 2010 M3 rocks, always. I wish I could be driving it 24-7-365. Trust me, you'll never say the word "bored" again...

Originally Posted by HREM3

I'm not going to lie to myself.

I'm a little bored of my M3. I have almost 16k miles on the car, and the only time the car excites me is when I have an empty twisty road in front of me and I keep it in 2nd or 3rd gear.

I don't want to hate on the automobile, as I think its amazingly well rounded. In fact there's nothing you can buy for the money that is more well rounded than the E9x M3.

Here's my dilemma. As much as I love DCT for its speed and its ability to be converted into a full automatic transmission, I just think its so damn boring. The motor is so smooth it hardly makes any noise during cruising and its still relatively tame at WOT.

So I'm looking for opinions: Would a 6 speed enhance the thrills of this car? Would engine work enhance the thrill of the DCT? (I would never do anything over the top like a SC or anything. Also, I'm 100% against deleting the primary cats)

I cant afford something like a GT3, and I'm afraid a GTR would be equally as boring just much faster. I've only had the car for 2 years and there are no liens on it.

It also looks like I wouldn't be able to sell the car or trade for something else without putting up a decent amount of cash. I guess the financially responsible thing to do is just keep it until it makes more sense to sell. After all, I haven't even had the car 2 years yet.

I realize this is more of a rant than anything else, but nobody else would listen to it haha.

[MVF4Rrider]

You're bored with your M3 because you don't live in Germany. There you would appreciate DCT much more as you drive exponentially harder than in the US. There's nothing like hard braking while simultaneously blipping down through the gears on the best sweeping B roads in the world. DCT also allows mid corner gear changes and short shifting under power that a 6 speed manual can't dream of. It's so much more involved if you have the brain for it. Enjoy what you got!

[shchow]

Show me the most beautiful woman in the world, and I'll show you the guy who's tired of f**king her...
Don't know if you're old enough to remember the movie "Dead Poets Society", but there was a scene where Robin Williams made all the students stand on a desk and view the room from a totally different perspective.
I agree with what has been said. Take her out onto a track or mod her. You'll see your car in a different light...

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by DefBringer

You meant "no more new cars", not used cars....right?

I quit buying new cars because it has to be one amazing car for me to not be absolutely sick of it within 18 months.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking, but clearly not what I typed!

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by Scoobe

A really fun car to drive is the GT500. Theres no computers or gadgetry with the drivetrain (except a traction control that can't keep up). And its 10-20k cheaper than vettes/Caymens/etc. Only comes in a 6MT, and its monsterous torque/HP always keeps you awake. It has a nice ride but still handles well, not as good as a vette or Cayman but has a better ride imo. Next year the car gets an aluminum block which lifts 120lbs off the nose giving it better handling than previous years. Slap a ford racing exhaust on it and it's bark makes you want to sink your foot into the throttle at every opportunity. It's a bargain at 48k.

2011 GT500 smoked the 2010 version around Virginia speedway by 9 seconds.

http://www.autoblog.com/2010/05/18/v...-nine-seconds/

There's also the 04 Mustang SVT. S/C, and with a few mods easily makes 500 HP and a ton of torque as well. And, it has an IRS as well! Can be had used, 40-50K miles for around 20K or so.

Probably not as good as the new GT500 as the 04 has an iron block and is a bit front heavy, but it's a lot cheaper....Personally, I like the previous style 'Stang look better.