[wheelspeed]

Hi folks,

Been watching this forum awhile. Just wondered if anyone came from an M3 or Porsche or some other classically good-handling car and how you can compare.

I'm basically shopping across a '22 BRZ, older Cayman, '05 M3, 1LE, possibly a 1SS, and a C7 Vette.

Honestly the '22 BRZ is feeling strong for my 4.5 mile drive to work, with a 1.7 mile curvy road. But I know a momentum car can get you in trouble flying into turns before seeing the exit, and the sound of a big V8 is incredibly toxic and I'm 51 and never had one before, so that's a strong plus. But in a different sense, we don't drag-race in Pittsburgh. Fun cars have to be flingable on bumpy backroads.

I have an awd SUV, and motorcycles for nice days, so mostly looking for a fun, flingable car for wet or cold days that I can't take the bike. I'd have all-season tires on it, so that should help with the flingability.

Anyway, I'd be happy to hear from ex 370Z owners, Miata, vette, M3 owners, etc.

[N Camarolina]

Based on your description of how you want to use your car (drive to work, back-roads, "flingable"), it sounds like you have no intention to track it (road course). If that's the case, then I'd suggest you go with something like a BRZ.

The 1LE is very quick (both in a straight line and the twisties), but the traction limit is so high that the necessary speed you'd have to run to make a corner exciting (chucking the car into a corner, inducing slip angles, etc) would be unsafe for public roads (limited site lines and lack of run-off areas). I recently lost the rear end pulling 1.4G around a 90mph corner at VIR and had a about 0.5 sec in which to save it and keep it on track (I failed, BTW, but the generous run-off area meant no harm was done to the car or me). Don't get me wrong. It can still be fun to drive on back roads, but you just need to realize that you'll be limiting your driving to something like 6 or 7/10s.

Now, it you are going to track it (like some of us do), then hell ya the 1LE is probably the best bang for the buck you can buy today!

[m6-lt1]

The 6th gen camaro actually feels like a bigger version of an e46 m3.

[redcoats1976]

BRZ would probably be a good fit.i dont look for gas prices to stay low in the long run,and older porsches are high maintenance cost wise,plus have likely been rode hard by someone in their past.BMWs are also high cost for maintenance.with the BRZ you would have a warranty to back you up,always a good thing.

[Village Idiot]

Biased obviously but I'd go with the Camaro. I can't think of one road in the area that's even close to the limits of a 1SS let alone a 1LE, and it'll be a lot more fun in straights.

[zaimer]

Kinda across the board for options... LOL. I personally wouldn't consider a 2005 anything, let alone an M3. I love the M cars, but I would want something drastically newer.

[Malbjey]

Originally Posted by wheelspeed

Hi folks,

Been watching this forum awhile. Just wondered if anyone came from an M3 or Porsche or some other classically good-handling car and how you can compare.

I'm basically shopping across a '22 BRZ, older Cayman, '05 M3, 1LE, possibly a 1SS, and a C7 Vette.

Honestly the '22 BRZ is feeling strong for my 4.5 mile drive to work, with a 1.7 mile curvy road. But I know a momentum car can get you in trouble flying into turns before seeing the exit, and the sound of a big V8 is incredibly toxic and I'm 51 and never had one before, so that's a strong plus. But in a different sense, we don't drag-race in Pittsburgh. Fun cars have to be flingable on bumpy backroads.

I have an awd SUV, and motorcycles for nice days, so mostly looking for a fun, flingable car for wet or cold days that I can't take the bike. I'd have all-season tires on it, so that should help with the flingability.

Anyway, I'd be happy to hear from ex 370Z owners, Miata, vette, M3 owners, etc.

Sorry for off topic, but do you have any favorite Pittsburgh roads? I commute from the city to Cranberry area and there are a lot of good backroads I'm finding in the Sewickley Hills area.



I ran this route the other day, which has a decent mix of straights and curvy roads:


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/2...eafccc!1m0!3e0


The beginning of the route (Rochester Road) has a couple tight corners as you ascend the hill. I found out about that road from watching a Pittsburgh Youtuber who reviews cars on it.



I'd like to eventually take a day trip over to Ohio to check out State Route 536, which some motorcycle groups call Ohio 'Tail of the Dragon-ish'


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.6...39.6772423!3e0

[Crushin_LT1]

If you want a 2005 BMW, develop either the right skills/tools or make good friends with a BMW specialist... Especially an M3.

They're great cars, very fun, very much driver's cars, but you'll be needing odd repairs and specialized parts. The I6s are great though, beautiful sound, smooth, powerful, very well-balanced platform.

[cthulhucaller]

I think it depends on if you like drinks with umbrellas in them or not.

[Village Idiot]

Originally Posted by Malbjey

Sorry for off topic, but do you have any favorite Pittsburgh roads? I commute from the city to Cranberry area and there are a lot of good backroads I'm finding in the Sewickley Hills area.



I ran this route the other day, which has a decent mix of straights and curvy roads:


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/''/2...eafccc!1m0!3e0


The beginning of the route (Rochester Road) has a couple tight corners as you ascend the hill. I found out about that road from watching a Pittsburgh Youtuber who reviews cars on it.



I'd like to eventually take a day trip over to Ohio to check out State Route 536, which some motorcycle groups call Ohio 'Tail of the Dragon-ish'


https://www.google.com/maps/dir/39.6...39.6772423!3e0

None immediate area but if you're willing to take a trip these are my favorites. All are 55mph speed limits too so there's no worries.

1. Grafton, WV Route 50 to Route 72 to Route 26 back to Pittsburgh.

2. Waynesburg Pike Rd, Cameron, WV

3. Ohio State Route 555, Zanesville, OH

4. Ohio State Route 26, Marietta, OH

5. Ohio State Route 164, New Hagerstown, OH

6. Prosperity Pike, Prosperity, PA (I nailed a deer on this road so watch out)

[WhyUMad1LE]

My close friend had E46 and E90 M3s, and a modded E30 non-M. I test drove the others.

The E30 was so fun, like a tincan kart- you can't compare it to a modern vehicle. E36 had good steering feel but needed more power to make use of the chassis. In road feel the 6G is closest to the E46 but more stable and less agile. The E90 chassis was less engaging, though the engine made up for it. The F80 was fast and soulless. Haven't tried the G80.

[LT1ornothing]

As fun as a brz might be around a bend, nearly every car on the road will gap you on the straights. Are you going to be ok when a soccer mom in her odyssey minivan loaded with kids takes you to Gapplebees? I would also avoid older cars, yea you may get lucky, but the odds are it will become a money pit to keep running right.

[UnknownJinX]

Having owned a C7 Corvette for a short while, it's a very nice car. You sit very low and it's a very different feeling compared to other cars(more exclusive, as others said), but generally, I like my SS 1LE as much as I did my C7 Z51. I prefer the manual trans in the SS 1LE, for example. 7-speed feels odd.

If you don't mind a finicky machine that you don't have to rely on everyday and it's for when weather isn't as nice, try an RX-8. Yes, rotaries are pretty thirsty and require more care, but the latter is true for any BMW as well. I suppose you already have a motorcycle to rev high with, but revving to 9000 RPM smoothly in a car is a different experience. The chassis is also pretty good considering how cheap they are right now, and if you just dislike the rotary that much, there are also some swap options out there. If you want some tips then feel free to DM me on this forum. I can point you to the right direction for keeping them running.

Originally Posted by 1LEornothing

As fun as a brz might be around a bend, nearly every car on the road will gap you on the straights. Are you going to be ok when a soccer mom in her odyssey minivan loaded with kids takes you to Gapplebees? I would also avoid older cars, yea you may get lucky, but the odds are it will become a money pit to keep running right.

The newer ones with the 2.4 will rectify the issue somewhat, though I really don't like how they have that torque dip during a certain RPM range(about 3000~4000 RPM).

I personally like the ND2 Miata more since it feels more fun(have tried the old BRZ and an ND2). And if you can find a lightly used 2.0T 1LE, that could also be fun if you don't have to have a V8. Still way faster than a BRZ, particularly at the lower band of the RPM range.

[JSH]

I bought a new '11 M3, which was a very nice car but not as fast as the ZL1

Originally Posted by wheelspeed

Hi folks,

Been watching this forum awhile. Just wondered if anyone came from an M3 or Porsche or some other classically good-handling car and how you can compare.

I'm basically shopping across a '22 BRZ, older Cayman, '05 M3, 1LE, possibly a 1SS, and a C7 Vette.

Honestly the '22 BRZ is feeling strong for my 4.5 mile drive to work, with a 1.7 mile curvy road. But I know a momentum car can get you in trouble flying into turns before seeing the exit, and the sound of a big V8 is incredibly toxic and I'm 51 and never had one before, so that's a strong plus. But in a different sense, we don't drag-race in Pittsburgh. Fun cars have to be flingable on bumpy backroads.

I have an awd SUV, and motorcycles for nice days, so mostly looking for a fun, flingable car for wet or cold days that I can't take the bike. I'd have all-season tires on it, so that should help with the flingability.

Anyway, I'd be happy to hear from ex 370Z owners, Miata, vette, M3 owners, etc.