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Originally Posted by redduck1
The reason why I pose this question is that there is another thread on the forum about why people love Porsches so much. Is the 911 praised for it's around practicallity (i.e. price, quality, and depenabaliltiy) ? Is it the true next step into a super car, but not so high in the stratosphere that is too high to reach like the Ferarri and Lambo? For me, the 911 Turbo has always been a dream since childhood. I knew that I would not reach my pinnicale unitl I have one. And I'm getting closer all the time to it. But for now, my M3 is good enough for what I want it for and what I can afford at this time in my life. This is my third M3, I've had a E36, E46, and now E92. Loved them all, but I'm always longing for that 911 Turbo. With the price of M3's now reaching almost 80k, it's not too far away from P-car prices, especially if you consider certified pre-own cars under 5000 miles and close to 100K for 2009 Turbos. What do you guys think? Is the M3 that transitional car or are we all just going to buy M3 after M3?
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Based on what you have posted, it seems to me that the answer to your question in your instance is a "Yes" since your longing is for another model whose cost, at least for now, is prohibitive. However, the often used "poor man's car" is at best one that has multiple interpretations.
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Originally Posted by James T. Kirk
Is The M3 "The Poor Man's Super Car"?... Is a good philosophical question, so let's not get entangled in the definition of rich or poor.
Another way to look at it is this... Given unlimited funds, would the M3 still be our favorite car of choice? Or is the M3 a compromise for something else you or I would prefer to be driving? I must venture to say YES, the M3 is the Poor Man's Super Car.
I purchased an E90 because I have a practical need for 4-doors to accommodate an occasional family outing. I also wanted an all-in-one daily driver with performance power and handling to spice up my commute.
All the money in the world? The Aston Martin Rapide would have been ideal... starting at $199,950. Too rich for my blood... for now. 
I suppose a typical E92 driver would prefer to be in a GT3RS... starting at $135,500. Only double the price of an M3. 
Certainly, who is poor or rich for these numbers is relative.
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To play the role of devil's advocate...Unless the Rapide became the end all to present and future supercar wants, it too would ultimately suffer the branding fate of the M3 since it, the Rapide, would assume the role of "poor man's car" the instant something more expensive became the focal point of your supercar desires. Ain't that a b!tch?
Quote:
Originally Posted by redduck1
Very well said. If dropping $150K on a car wasn't an issue, I most likely would not be driving and M3, but would deffinitely be driving a 911 Turbo.
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If money was not an object, I'd probably be flying rather than driving streets and road with open-wheel cars stashed away for road circuit stints on a whim. My ability to appreciate the M3 for what it is satisfies my desire for a vehicle that performs within a specific range, and the same is true for any other vehicle(s). I suppose that is why some find it necessary to have warehouses for their specialty cars as opposed to multiple stall garages.
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Originally Posted by mr_yogi
OP - Your question can't be answered without specifying what you consider to be a "poor man" and what you consider to be a "supercar". If I could afford a Veyron, chances are that almost all of the people that look to the 911s (TTS, GT3, etc) as they're dream car are probably "poor" in my books. At the same time, there are people out there that dream of the day that they will own a car like an Acura, Inifiniti, etc. True life example - When my dad bought my mom a 2001 Accord EX, my mom teared up and said the following: "It's always been a dream of mine to have a car that has a moonroof". We were by no means poor, but that's just where her expectations were set. Fast forward 10yrs and she's since had a 5 series and currently an S-class. How the world turns.
That being said, sure you can ask your question, but what kind of answer are you looking for? On the broad level (the level with the most generaliztion), I would answer your question as such: The M3 is not the poor man's supercar. There are other cars out there that give you more horsepower per dollar spent (A regular Corvette to name one). I'm sure people will argue that horsepower alone doesn't define a supercar. I agree 100%. Just keep in mind it's a broad answer to a broad question.
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I think you are correct about needing greater clarity from the OP to better answer him. However, I'm choking on the notion that an M3 is a supercar since it wasn't created for that role. As for what is a "poor man"...To me, a poor man is what each of is since we have limited resources and are cursed with unlimited wants. For practical purposes, a "poor man" is one who has ambitions toward owning that he cannot and will never be able to have. He then purchases something that is affordable and tries his damnedest to convince himself that he is happy with his predicament.